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the shizzle => shootin' the shit => music, art and culture => Topic started by: SA Chris on August 29, 2006, 08:50:32 am

Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 29, 2006, 08:50:32 am
Can't find the old thread, so time to resurrect this? The film I saw on the way back from NZ last september and recommended on the old ..films.. thread is now on general release here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/)

Although not the type of film I would usually go for, I thought it was excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 29, 2006, 09:43:43 am
I picked up this randomly a few weeks back and thought it was pretty good....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: soapy on August 29, 2006, 10:59:39 am
whoa!!

is that divine ecstacy the Lord is handing her..?

(http://ia.imdb.com/media/imdb/01/I/05/42/28m.jpg)

..sorted..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pemb on August 29, 2006, 11:18:07 am
Nice one Chris, I was just thinking that this thread needed resurrecting.

I saw Ong-Bak a few days ago and it was fairly amazing. When I saw that Tony Jaa had been described by Total Film as “Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li all rolled into one” I thought “yeah bollocks” but it is actually pretty spot on. There are some amazing stunts and fight scenes with no annoying wire work, stunt doubles or C.G.I and his Thai Boxing style looks really good on screen instead of the normal king-fu stuff. Highly recommended to any fans of martial arts or action films.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368909/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368909/)

Think Tony Jaa may have a film out at the moment called Warrior King and is also working on Ong-Bak 2 which should both be worth checking out as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 29, 2006, 11:47:19 am
I picked up this randomly a few weeks back and thought it was pretty good....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390221/)

That's one of the hardest, toughest films I've seen in ages.  Quite slowly paced to ensure the full hideousness of the situation sinks in. 

Isn't it a shame that so many ignore films with subtitles just because they require a sniff of multi-tasking when viewing?  Dubbing is the filth.  Except in Monkey: that's the only exception.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: soapy on August 29, 2006, 04:00:38 pm
i must watch more fillum; depressingly the last flick i saw was zatoichi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363226/), some 4 or 5 months ago

before that i had a mini-ki-duk-kim spell of fillum watching , with bad guy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307213/), spring, summer, autumn, winter..and spring (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374546/) and 3 iron (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423866/) being on the dvd-ola


*feels hungry for ribs and kimchi
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tubbs 15 on August 29, 2006, 04:02:11 pm
Great film i saw recently was 'DOGMA' and its a very good film. Also saw 'space odyssey 2001' and 'space odyssey 2010' both absolutely amazing films. A film i want to see is 'a scanner darkly' with keanu reeves because i love films that a different and not mainstream and that take a brain to enjoy.

Tubbs  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 29, 2006, 04:06:14 pm
Anyone seen The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon in the kiddie-fiddling lead?  Great film handling one helluva weird emotive subject.  Unsettling but compulsive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 29, 2006, 04:06:51 pm
Not one generally for thirllers but i rented the skeleton key the other day and thorougly enjoyed it. Apart from that... happy gilmore..just cant get enough of that film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pemb on August 29, 2006, 04:50:07 pm
Nice one Paul, I had totally forgot about Happy Gilmore! Going to whip it out tonight if I can find it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 29, 2006, 06:25:17 pm
I watched Nick Love's homage to East End wideboys living it up in 80's Spain 'The Business' on Saturday - don't bother it's shit.

However, the Minutemen documentary DVD 'We Jam Econo' is fucking brilliant...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on August 29, 2006, 07:18:20 pm
However, the Minutemen documentary DVD 'We Jam Econo' is fucking brilliant...

I know so very little about the Minutemen. I have heard of that docu a lot and will have to see it sometime soon. I'm getting the vibe from past recommendations that we like similar stuff Falling Down. Anything in a similar vein to that recommendation would be welcomed.

[/quote]
...and the film?
[/quote]

Ahh poor Pemb. He had just got back from a heavy cardio sesh at the gym though to his credit!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pemb on August 29, 2006, 08:28:23 pm
Haha, should have seen that one coming!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on August 30, 2006, 06:32:01 am
However, the Minutemen documentary DVD 'We Jam Econo' is fucking brilliant...

That sounds awesome.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on August 30, 2006, 06:40:55 am
Anyone seen primer? I thought very good. Right up Cowboyhats street I think
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 30, 2006, 07:01:21 am
I know so very little about the Minutemen.

Haven't seen the Flick of them, but I can tell you Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat LP (on SST) is blindingly good.  And you should have this before the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on August 30, 2006, 08:27:27 am
I know so very little about the Minutemen.

Haven't seen the Flick of them, but I can tell you Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat LP (on SST) is blindingly good. 

Almost everything they did is phenomenally good, bar some of the noodly crap on Double Nickels..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 30, 2006, 10:41:13 am
On the subject of band documentaries, has anyone got any feedback on the Flaming Lips one? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441758/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441758/)

Ta.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on August 31, 2006, 10:57:41 am
watched "the cock and bull story" t'other night. very funny for the most part, quite quirky
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on August 31, 2006, 02:20:57 pm
Quote Tubbs 15:
... A Scanner Darkly...

Heard mixed things about this film. Like Phillip K Dick as an author, but not sure how well his writing and narrative translates to the screen. His other works have been 'hollywoodised' as films whereas ASD is supposed to stay true to the book, which is commendable, but quite often falls foul of 'the books better' accusation.  A friend's seen it and said it's ok and the rotoscoping (special effect thing) is sposed to be good and trippy though, so may wait for the dvd. If it bombs in the cinema then it should be out in time for the mushroom season!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on August 31, 2006, 02:42:12 pm
A Scanner Darkly

...Worth a watch. Has it's faults, and it also has Keanu Reeves, but there are some good moments. Robert Downey Junior is entertaining as Barris, the paranoid druggie.

Quote
Barris: There's only one thing we can do to thwart the plot of these albino shape-shifting lizard BITCHES!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on September 03, 2006, 11:18:26 am
some casting directors seem to have used Keanu Reeves' inability to act half the time (and possibly over act the other haf to their advantage.. Constantine was reasonable value though the source material is better.... and so is night watch which is along similar lines)

back to the point.. which was... yep.. Johnny Pnemonic (however it's spelt) a bit dated but vastly underrated when it first came out..

sits back waits for abuse :whistle:

back on topic watched Lord of war last night... cruely funny in places - good use of humour to portray a massive problem......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 03, 2006, 12:23:24 pm
Check out old boy its a well put together film that some people will probably find very disturbing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on September 16, 2006, 11:22:24 pm
Just had our heads twisted by Polanskis' Death and the Maiden with Sigorney Weaver & Ben "I do a great nutter" Kingsley.  1st class.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on September 17, 2006, 05:21:41 pm
watched battle royale last night after hearing some hype about it, wasnt very impressed.

For any of you who are unfamiliar with it the story is as follows:
Teenagers become disprespectful to adults -> adults stick entire class of teenagers on an island for a battle to the death, they must kill each other within 3 days or they all get the chop.


However watched unbreakable during the week, thought this was pretty good (its on itv2 every night it seems) but I always have liked films from M. Night Shymalan....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on September 17, 2006, 09:10:07 pm
'the devil and daniel johnstone' intense doc about lo-fi legend, is well worth checking out (on DVD release now)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 17, 2006, 10:20:33 pm
Note to all that haven't seen it yet (and anyone who wants a second viewing)..."Brick" is out on DVD. Watch it - it's very good.

It's a twisty/turny thriller but set in the present day - an LA high school. The dialogue is a strange hipcat noir slang, which is a bit of a love/hate thing, but as a story I think it's fantastic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on September 17, 2006, 10:58:02 pm
I thought Battle Royale was (uuuuh, huh huh that's like uuuuh huh huh) pretty cool, albeit in an up late with insomnia and what's this on channel 4 type way.

However. Just watched "Tsotsi" on DaViD. Set in a south african township - about a rudeboy thug (tsotsi) who nicks a car with a baby in the backseat. Goes on to show how he's affected by the experience. Beautifully shot well paced, good story, fantastic acting (by a cast of amateurs, I think). Well worth a watch unless you can't abide subtitles (in which case why are you even reading this thread?) Check it. Word...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on September 18, 2006, 12:10:51 am
each to their own i guess on Battl Royale.

Really enjoyed Azumi, in an up late insomnia kind of way  ::), much better than crouching tiger hidden dragon.... think it must have the most blood in it ive ever seen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 18, 2006, 07:43:51 am

However. Just watched "Tsotsi" on DaViD. Set in a south african township - about a rudeboy thug (tsotsi) who nicks a car with a baby in the backseat. Goes on to show how he's affected by the experience. Beautifully shot well paced, good story, fantastic acting (by a cast of amateurs, I think). Well worth a watch unless you can't abide subtitles (in which case why are you even reading this thread?) Check it. Word...

I propped this when it was in cinemas. There may be a few new actors in it, but I have seen many of them in small roles in South African film and telly before.

It is good, insightful and well acted.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on September 18, 2006, 11:35:36 am
Wanted to see Tsotsi on the big screen, would have looked awesome, but vetoed by the g/f (sigh...)

Azumi you say, Paul B. Will watch out for it. Watched Battle Royale 2 recently... mmmm, may have been pushing the envelope of plot a tad far. There's only so many exploding Japanese schoolkids you can tolerate before a saturation point is reached.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on September 18, 2006, 12:11:44 pm
 :great: Yeah azumi, I recollect it being very long (3hrs?). But pretty good. Battle Royale 2? don't think i'd even give it a chance.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 18, 2006, 02:06:38 pm
Battle Royale 2 is quite probably the worst film I have ever seen, and this is speaking as a fan of the first (which rapidly became the "pissed film" of choice within my circle of friends).  My memory is thankfully fading, but my shuddering recollections are of horribly muddled scenes of po-faced pseudo political sloganeering and gross sentimentality taking the place of black-humour.  Lots of half-arsed "one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist" twaddle espoused by spikey-haired teenagers with big-hearts and no brains.  The director of the original died early in filming and it was finished by his son: making it not only a superlatively terrible piece of cinema, but quite possibly also an affront to the Japanese national religion of ancestor worship (Shinto). 

On a brighter note - I join in the recommendations for Tsotsi.  Deftly combined grimness with a sense of beauty - touching without being overly sentimental. 

Also recently saw Enron: the Smartest Men in the Building, a good documentary on the collapse of the company.  I was fairly familiar with the basics (a book recommendation: "Dot Con" by John Cassidy - entertaining account of the techno bubble) but was still amazed by incredible levels of hubris, selfishness and venality on display.  All with the collusion / compicity of the entire financial establishment, and to a degree the current Bush administration.  The arrogant coolly tones of Enron traders phoning Power Stations to ask them to "switch off for a while, just make up an excuse" or gloating over forest fires that were threatening California power line, hence enabling them to ramp up their charges will long stay with me.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on November 03, 2006, 09:29:04 pm
Watched Woody Allen's Crimes and Misdemeanours the other day. Very much enjoyed it. Doubtless there are a lot of Allen haters around, but a pleasant dark film all the same.

And I was made to watch Half Bakedthe other day by a room of stoners which wasn't fun. "Dude...how can you not like this shit, it's the greatest!"
"Fuck off".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 05, 2006, 10:24:25 am
Went to see Borat last night  :great: really funny and quite shocking in places for all sorts of reasons.  Some top slapstick moments too... well worth the effort of trecking to the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 08, 2006, 11:42:46 am
a quick "heads up" .  Kontroll - previously recommended on this thread (possibly by Bonjoy?) is on Channel 4 on friday night:

 02:20     Kontroll
   [subtitles] [widescreen]    
(2003) An undercover Budapest Metro Kontroll officer and his eccentric raggle-taggle comrades play pranks and face off rival ticket inspectors, and the odd serial killer, in this cultish comedy from Hungary. Nimrod Antal's debut feature veers from the surreal to the comic but is always accessible. In Hungarian with English subtitles.

The number of quality films hidden away late at night or on random, otherwise shit-filled, digital channels is pretty amazing.  The Battle of Algiers was on last week on some terrible digi channel, sandwiched between a load of plastic-surgerise-my-dog-USA style programmes!  It's tragic to admit but I have lately started getting a TV guide and going through it with an electron microscope and highlighting stuff in advance.

Also worth mentioning, "The Business" is on film4 this week - a far better and funnier film than it has any right to be given its pedigree.  If you liked Sexy Beast it's well worth a punt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on November 08, 2006, 04:08:30 pm
The nearest cinemas to me doesn't show things like Borat or X Men 3 (they have bars though) so if you similarly find yourself in an arty picture house full of ponces and darlings (and don't fancy watching going home to watch X Men 2 tonight) then Volver's good if it's being rerun and not just because Penelope Cruz is fit.

That Inconvenient Truth is bollocks, a fucking lecture.  If I'm going to patronised about the environment then I prefer it to be done by cartoon characters - those Studio Ghibli film's were awesome especially if you saw the ones with subtitles.  Flying islands, ornithopters, proper baddies, guardian robots and pirates all in one.  Forest Spirits and Wolf tribes.  Awesome `I want one of them' flying glider jobs and more airships.  A cat bus. Genius. 
 (http://www.rpgland.com/anime/totoro/totoro3.jpg)

That's what I want in a film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 08, 2006, 04:13:48 pm
I agree entirely, but what exactly is the film recommendation there, Paz??


On an older note, I saw The Incredibles on DVD recently, good film, good fun entertainment, well paced and some good humour - very little to dislike about it apart from a slight lack of "superheroes working in normal society".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on November 08, 2006, 04:17:43 pm
Saw the history boys a week or so ago, not my kind of thing but the soundtrack was pretty good.

I'm going to put in another vote for the classics: Rocky 1, 2 &3....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bonjoy on November 08, 2006, 04:21:18 pm
Catbus rules!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on November 08, 2006, 04:30:17 pm
a bit old, but genius "mr hula hoop" by coen brothers.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on November 08, 2006, 04:37:20 pm
My Neighbour Totoro is the one with the Catbus.  They were all on filmfour, but they only showed this one once which was a shame. 


My next favourites are Nausicaa (Valley of the wind), Princess Monoke and Laputa the Flying Island cos I like the sci-fi fantasy shit and heroine princesses.  But Porco Rosso, and Kiki's delivery service are good.  There were some other adult ones that I didn't manage to sit through, and there's a new one that was supposed to be awesome but I havent' seen that.

The Korean films got mentioned on rocktalk but I didn't see many of them.  I meant to thank someone for recommending Old Boy it was that good and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance was awesome. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on November 10, 2006, 09:53:45 am
a bit old, but genius "mr hula hoop" by coen brothers.



I think it's called The Hudsucker Proxy in english-speaking nations, Nibs..

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 10, 2006, 10:41:26 am
The Korean films got mentioned on rocktalk but I didn't see many of them.  I meant to thank someone for recommending Old Boy it was that good and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance was awesome. 

Then you saw by far the best of them... Oldboy is awesome... Lady Vengence wasn't as resonant (slightly hackneyed plot) but was beautiful to behold.  To be honest though I found most of the other recent Korean films to be pretty poor  and at best only redeemed by style.  If they were in English they would probably have received mediocre reviews citing muddled plotting and incredibly cliched stories before disappearing almost without trace.  I am partially convinced that a lot of the overly praising reviews are a result of critics not wanting to appear stupid when confused by their often very elaborate plotlines (e.g. similar actors interacting over multiple timelines).  Instead of blaming poor direction they secretly assume that any bewilderment was their own fault, but refuse to publically admit it and write posisitve reviews to cover up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on November 10, 2006, 04:31:53 pm
Wow, that really was good advice I got from cock talk then!

Quote
Lady Vengence wasn't as resonant (slightly hackneyed plot) but was beautiful to behold

Aye, I thought she was gorgeous at the start, but I can only find really good images of the film after that:
 (http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/ladyvengeancereview.jpg)
 (http://www.boxoffice.com/jpg/apr06/tji/ladyvengeance.jpg)
I was just wondering the night before last - is she the same bird as the one who played -wait for it this name is fucking cool- Lady Deathstrike in X2?  But I just looked it up and she's not, that's just me being thick. 

What you're on about with the critics is a classic case of The Emperor's New Clothes.  The Emperor's New Groove, now there's a film (disney feel good pantomine-esque cartoon).

I think the problem is your expectations when you go in - seen Taxi Driver last night.  It's alright, but it's not as good as they all reckon.  Maybe it was the original, and all other non Woody Allen films set in new york (most of them also by Scorsesee) have sinced ripped off its imagery, but frankly it and a lot of these other 100 best films to see before you die (apart from Old Boy), they don't live up to the hype of the grandiose title of the list.  I worry that there are easily influenced people who are like 85 or 90 who've just mail ordered 100 DVDs, who really should've been going bunjee jumping or on holiday.  Your life will be perfectly fucking happy and content without watching a load of movies that film buffs like.  Kagemusha looks absolutely awesome in the advert, but it's 3.5 hours long - you've already seen the cinematic bits!  It'd be great to watch in the middle of the day on a bank holiday spent doing nothing or something, but late at night you'll have trouble staying awake. 

Heads up on some Hungarian comedy Bonjoy mentioned on channel 4 2:20 tonight too.  You probably want to put the video on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 24, 2006, 02:58:26 pm
shiri is a korean flick that i thought was quite good the first time i saw it, but have subsequently decided is fairly rubbish.

i watched ultraviolet the other day. that was impressively shit. it started badly, and then got really crap. and then the twist was that it get even worse.

the african queen on the other hand was better than i ever remember. 

am quite looking forward to the night of the hunter tonight.

for all you biking fans, unscene is quite a nice lo-fi alternative to the collective and other highly polished mtb films

also saw pusher 2 and 3 recently.  maybe not quite as good as the original, but still very worthwhile watching

precinct 13 - outrageously ridiculous plot, but quite a lot of fun nonetheless.  bbc parkour bloke and some bald chap engage in heavy duty parcour to soundtrack of french hip hop.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 24, 2006, 03:58:36 pm
also, nearly forgot - puppet on a chain. great soundtrack. great wardrobe styling. great haircuts. not sure the screen adaption was that successful though...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on November 25, 2006, 09:10:40 am
Harsh Times

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0433387/ (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0433387/)

Bit of an odd one, set in LA. I thought it was worth seeing just for Christian Bale using 'Daawg!' and 'Homie' like a native.  ???
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on November 29, 2006, 12:53:38 pm
lately:
seven,
cyrano with gerard depardieu,
and

(absolutely brilliant) aguirre, wrath of god by herzog.

(http://www.atistoria.ch/ALBO/Cinema_storia/immagini_film/aguirre3.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 29, 2006, 01:01:49 pm

(absolutely brilliant) aguirre, wrath of god by herzog.

(http://www.atistoria.ch/ALBO/Cinema_storia/immagini_film/aguirre3.jpg)

Klaus Kinski!  Now were fuckin' talking dude!  I agree: absolutely brilliant. *****
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on November 29, 2006, 01:03:11 pm
I watched Herzog's Grizzly Man recently. Still not quite sure what I think of it, but it's certainly powerful stuff.

Quote
A devastating and heartrending take on grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard, who were killed in October of 2003 while living among grizzlies in Alaska.

Horrific and tragic death. Mind-boggling characters. Beautiful landscape. That's all I'm going to say. Watch it and make up your own mind...

You can download a trailer here:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0427312/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: soapy on November 29, 2006, 01:04:27 pm
i'm interested in seeing this new del toro offering - pan's labyrinth, but i suppose a little bit previous of me
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 29, 2006, 01:15:05 pm
And another thing!

Saw Stanley Kubricks' Barry Lyndon not long back.  So engrossing.  Give it a whirl. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Lyndon)

Apologies if this has been plugged before, but Lilja 4-Ever is a very fine film indeed. (http://www.sick-boy.com/lilja.htm) 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: squeek on November 29, 2006, 01:19:35 pm
I want to see Pan's labyrinth, might be going this weekend.  Also want to see the Prestige before it stops showing at the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on November 29, 2006, 01:28:31 pm
barry lyndon. hell yes.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on November 29, 2006, 01:59:14 pm
Re pans lab.

Go. It's awesome.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on November 29, 2006, 06:06:14 pm
I want to see Pan's labyrinth, might be going this weekend.  Also want to see the Prestige before it stops showing at the cinema.

Went to see The Prestige this weekend. It made a bit of a change.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 30, 2006, 07:56:28 am
Also worth mentioning, "The Business" is on film4 this week - a far better and funnier film than it has any right to be given its pedigree.  If you liked Sexy Beast it's well worth a punt.

I finally got round to watching this off the digi box. For the most part pretty good, but kind of fell apart at the end, lost all tension. Although he is a one trick pony, I quite like Danny Dyer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 30, 2006, 08:18:58 am
This was no TV last night and was pretty good....

(http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0000D9Y4Y.02._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1132229300_.jpg)

The backdrops are amazing, shame so much land is going to be flooded.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on November 30, 2006, 09:40:56 am
Re pans lab.

Go. It's awesome.
Me and the wife also agree.
pretty dark in places but brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: foxgt on November 30, 2006, 09:51:38 am
just saw new james bond and its brill
awsome chase scene at the begining and the man is back to being a nutter which is good no gadgits just good acting
go see it really good  :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on November 30, 2006, 09:56:03 am
The Squid and the Whale - An excellent film about the breakup of a relationship. For me, a great film. No special effects, no ridiculous storyline, just well shot, well acted, well written, and true to life. Wonderful. More info here; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/)

Romance and Cigarettes - A modern day musical. A great cast, and another film with no special effects or crazy storyline. Just true to life, emotional truths. Watch it. More info here; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368222/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368222/)


Sorry if these have been posted before, i haven't read the whole thread this morning.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on December 04, 2006, 02:43:46 pm
yesterday night, "the commitments".

so nice.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on December 10, 2006, 01:18:58 am
I've just watched Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.

Fucking awesome.

Although I now feel smacked out completely, and it's almost as if I've been taking drugs myself. Which I haven't.



Not hard drugs anyway
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on December 10, 2006, 04:44:24 pm
Fear and Loathing's an awesome film.

Bond was great too, but it did feel a little bit like an extended advertisement at times for respectively Sony Ericsson, Ford, Omega ('...a rolex?' 'No an omega'). Did anyone else spot Richard Branson being frisked at the airport security? I spose filmmakers need to drum up finance somehow, but I did find it vaguely distracting being pulled out of the diegesis by all blatant product placement.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 11, 2006, 10:59:23 am
The Squid and the Whale - An excellent film about the breakup of a relationship. For me, a great film. No special effects, no ridiculous storyline, just well shot, well acted, well written, and true to life. Wonderful. More info here; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367089/)
a good recomendation there uncle, watched it last night. If you like royal tenenbaums, then you'll like this.
Very enjoyable.
Cheers Uncle
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on December 11, 2006, 12:52:27 pm
heres my little story about fear and loathing...
when it came out here, i was serving military duty as an objector, working in a museum, and i was very depressed.
one evening after service i went to the cine alone to see that movie, then got home and smoke all alone, which made me even more depressed, then i went to a party where i drank like ten perfect martinis, and my last memory is about one guy that asked me to light his fag, and i answered "ill throw you out of the window" then i woke up in my parents house bathroom, liying on the floor still completely dressed, covered in vomit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on December 11, 2006, 01:13:25 pm
Watched Pan's Labyrinth recently. I liked it - dark fantasy, atmospherically done. Much better than Lord of the Rings (the more I watch that, the more I'm disappointed). Does anyone remember the Lord of the Rings animated film? Now that was good. Shame they never had the budget to make the next film.

I remember being a bit bored by Fear and Loating. People do drugs, world goes a bit funny, people talk uninterestingly, repeat ad infinitum.

Anyone seen Morven Callar? I found it in our living room last night and watched it. Some girl wakes up one day to find her boyfriend dead. He's left her a note saying it just felt like the right thing to do, but his finished novel is on the computer, could she please send it to a publisher... Not a big budget movie, but one that feels like an adaptation of a short story. A subtle character study maybe. Some nice moments and some clever shots.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 11, 2006, 01:16:10 pm
How can you praise MC and and claim to be bored by F & L in one thread? You must inhabit a strange world indeed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on December 11, 2006, 01:32:07 pm
I just thought everyone in F&L was trying too hard. The whole film seemed to be, hey look we're on drugs, we're all a bit messed up. Craaaazy. MC seemed to have more depth. Maybe I liked the characters better too. F&L characters I found a bit annoying. Still, maybe I'll give F&L another watch some time...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on December 11, 2006, 01:34:31 pm
are you sure you weren't watching trainspotting? read the F&L book instead. great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on December 11, 2006, 01:44:58 pm
I must agree with Cofe, I used to think that the F&L film was crap, but then after reading the book and going back to the film, I appreciated it a lot more.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 11, 2006, 01:52:06 pm
I think that's the key to it. I first read the book and thought it would be a hell of a job trying to get it onto film, and that it would be really shit, but I didn enjoy it. I don't think it's as much a "hey we're on drugs" as actually trying to make a record of experiences while on said drugs.


Quote
are you sure you weren't watching trainspotting?
or Human Traffic maybe?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on December 14, 2006, 02:54:20 pm
Lord of the Rings animated film? Now that was good. Shame they never had the budget to make the next film.

I remember being a bit bored by Fear and Loating. People do drugs, world goes a bit funny, people talk uninterestingly, repeat ad infinitum.

was it not the hobbit animated film? i could be wrong, hazy memory.

as for F&L you really do have to read this, and some other stuff by hunter s thompson, the film can appear a bit like "look at the shear volume of drugs we can consume" the book really does let you into the world of  a man attempting to report on a culture gone crazy. this is one book i would say is an essential read. afterwards, the film is much better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 14, 2006, 04:19:54 pm
this is one book i would say is an essential read. afterwards, the film is much better.

true true
speaking of HST and J. Depp really looking forward to the Rum Diary (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376136/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 14, 2006, 07:04:20 pm
awesome! didn't know they where making a film of this - tis my favourite of his books.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on December 14, 2006, 08:20:35 pm
And what's wrong with people getting spanked on chemicals on celluloid anyway?! As long as the plot's decent (check), the dialogue's good (check), it's well shot (check) and the characters do something for you (check). F and L is a great film and an
Awesome book.

Tsk... Kids today! Dunno their born!? When I were a lad drinking and tokin' done the park etc etc....:D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 15, 2006, 07:41:12 am
The Rum Diary.  Bemused me why he couldn't finish (rewriting)/publish it years ago.  It's well formed and sits better than some written at the time.

Also, Depp and his people have purchased the rights to Shantaram (http://www.shantaram.com) with a film (http://german.imdb.com/title/tt0429087/) to follow in '08.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 15, 2006, 07:59:04 am
was it not the hobbit animated film? i could be wrong, hazy memory.

Definitely lord of the rings (well the first half anyway). There used to be this tiny little art house cinema in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, that showed loads of cult films. I saw this there, as well as Clockwork Orange, long before it was unbanned.

They apparently ran out of money on the film because the filmed some of the scenes and then painted each frame by hand to give it an animated film. For some reason they ran out of cash?  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on December 15, 2006, 12:09:43 pm
a few "heads-up" from last night's perusal of TV quick:

for fans of anime: My Neighbour Totoro is on Film4 at 5.35pm tonight (and again midweek).

for anyone who liked 'City of God': Carandiru is on BBC4 10.30pm on saturday.  Very good drama set in a Brazillian prison, fairly harrowing overall but with plenty of humour along the way (Brazillian max security prisons seeming to freely interact with the outside world, withtheir own completely open economy and an open door policy regarding the entry of family and hookers etc).

Buffalo Soldiers on C4 10.30pm sunday - funny and fairly amoral tale set in a US base in Germany. well worth seeing.  Vaguely remember it having it's faults / lapses that prevented it from being an unsentimental classic (it's perhaps more Kelly's Heroes than Catch-22... but then again... I do really like Kelly's Heroes anyway) - but some good comically corrupt laughs - well worth seeing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on December 15, 2006, 03:57:39 pm
was it not the hobbit animated film? i could be wrong, hazy memory.

Definitely lord of the rings (well the first half anyway). There used to be this tiny little art house cinema in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, that showed loads of cult films. I saw this there, as well as Clockwork Orange, long before it was unbanned.

They apparently ran out of money on the film because the filmed some of the scenes and then painted each frame by hand to give it an animated film. For some reason they ran out of cash?  :shrug:

That's the one. It's called rotoscoping - also done with the recent A Scanner Darkly, and many Disney films.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotoscope

I thought the reason the second part was made was a box office flop. Apparently not:

Quote
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is the title of an animated film produced and directed by Ralph Bakshi, and released to theaters in 1978. It was an adaptation of the first half of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Although the film received a mixed reaction from critics, it was a box office success, and sparked new interest in Tolkien's writing, although a planned sequel that would have covered the remainder of the story remains unproduced to this day.

Damn! Why did they not finish this?!

Quote
In 2006, Bakshi stated that if he were given the opportunity to finish The Lord of the Rings, he would.

I wish they'd give him a chance. Apparently it didn't please Tolkien fans because so much was condensed, but from what I remember (long time since I've seen it) it was much more atmospheric and magical than Peter Jackon's attempts. Quite dark, too.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_%281978%29.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on December 15, 2006, 04:37:31 pm
Moose was very prompt with his heads up, but in case the name doesn't ring a bell, My Neighbour Totoro's the one with the Catbus!!:
 (http://www.rpgland.com/anime/totoro/totoro3.jpg)

Drop everything!  Go home now!  Gather the family around the fire with Cocoia, marshmallow's and shit.

Or alernative use sky plus if you're a jammy bastard. 

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 21, 2006, 02:30:43 pm
For those who missed them , looks like More4 are doing double bill of Dogtown and Z Boys and Riding Giants next week. Both worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on December 21, 2006, 10:53:42 pm
Just been to see Deja Vu with the g/f. Denzel Washington stars, directed by Tony Scott and produced by jerry Bruckheimer of CSI fame. Hadn't heard anything about this film before watching it (although I saw a trailer for it when watching casino royale - Looked a bit dull). I was very pleasantly surprised by it.

Starts out like a film-length episode of CSI and then goes somewhere very unexpected. I'll not say another thing about it, but go see it. It's very good, in my opinion. Certainly kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing til the end credits rolled. Perfect for those dull, damp days post xmas and pre new year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 05, 2007, 10:22:12 am
hidden - brilliant and mysterious french screw avec your head stuff with daniel auteuil and juliette binoche. very highly recommended...

the proposition - nicely filmed but rather hollow olde worlde australia thing with ray winstone trying to catch some nasty irish people. quite brutal.

finally watched infernal affairs 3 - even more bizarrely complicated that 2. maybe i should try to figure it out a second time.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Krank on January 05, 2007, 11:16:27 am
Riding giants is awesome, its got laird hammilton on the millenium wave at chopu if im not mistaken. its gotta be the heaviest wave ever
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 05, 2007, 11:56:07 am
I think it's Teahupoo, unless Chopu is the Bastard Child of Teahupoo and Chopes.

But yes it is class.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Richie Crouch on January 05, 2007, 12:46:14 pm
Went to see 'Pan's Labrinyth' down the FACT in town the other week and it is a cracking film - I thought it would be a kids film but definitely not ^^
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Krank on January 05, 2007, 01:59:16 pm
yeah sorry its teahupoo it translates to "breakin skulls" or somethin like that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 07, 2007, 10:27:57 am
After the 'My Neighbour Totoro' recomendations on here I set the digibox to record it and got around to watching it the other night.  What a fantastic film! absolutely brilliant and it left a warm feeling inside....

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on January 07, 2007, 11:01:51 am
I watched Rocky Balboa lastnight, after being spurred on by two things. 1. It was Rocky. 2. A film review said that the film was very bad on paper, but suprisingly good in the flesh. Having now seen it, I am not so convinced. It was good to see Rocky in action, but it was pretty appalling really. So many redundant character, introduced then just left out the story. No character or theme was developed throughout the film. The final fight came and went just like that. Now that I write it, I am actually really dissapointed in the film. It's worth watching for the sake of completing the Rocky series, but it's nowhere near the glory days of the first couple. Stallone is an old man, a ripped old man, and on the back of this, i'm slightly worried what the upcoming Rambo IV will be like.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dobbin on January 12, 2007, 06:15:17 pm
Went to see 'Pan's Labrinyth' down the FACT in town the other week and it is a cracking film - I thought it would be a kids film but definitely not ^^

what a fab film. I loved this, but it is quite harrowing. I am reading it as 'little girl invents fantasy world because horror of spanish civil war too grim to bear, even though fantasy world is full of horrible things its better than the horrible things real people do to each other'. Go see, its good. Since then seen Happy feet - light hearted, amusing, Holiday - pretty shite to be honest.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 12, 2007, 06:24:46 pm
I watched Rocky Balboa lastnight.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkGjWv7qDjQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkGjWv7qDjQ)

That sum it up? A rather old looking bloke training, check out the silhoutte when he runs. After someone posted all of the training scenes earlier I found this one and it looks like utter shite, they should have stopped after clubber lang.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Daniel on January 12, 2007, 07:09:40 pm
Saw Apocalypto last night.. Was very impressed. Good story, well done, and very unusual. Best film Ive seen in ages.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on January 13, 2007, 03:01:27 am
Went to see 'Pan's Labrinyth' down the FACT in town the other week and it is a cracking film - I thought it would be a kids film but definitely not ^^
Brilliant film, makes you think!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 14, 2007, 04:38:15 pm
Watched Grizzly Man last night on DVD (haven't looked back through the thread to see whether this has been discussed before) which was much better than I had expected. Warner Herzog is a brilliant director and has made a really fascinating documentary that's neither sensationalist, overly sympathetic or judgemental... well worth a watch.

(Plus there's a brilliant extra on the DVD on the making of the soundtrack with Richard 'Fairport..' Thompson, Jim O'Rourke and Henry Kaiser.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 14, 2007, 04:54:32 pm
To answer the question of the thread title, no.  But I did watch Martin Scorceses' Gangs of New York last night, which was excreable without exception.  Not even Day-Lewis' performance stopped me from falling asleep.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on January 14, 2007, 05:12:52 pm
Falling Down - I saw Grizzly Man a few months back. Didn't you think Herzog was a bit eerie? I spent quite some time trying to master an impression of him from the scene where he is listening to the tape. The whole thing weirded me out actually.

Pan's Lab fans, aye it was an incredible production. Wasn't too keen on the bottle smashing in the face scene. I think there's some new technology to produce such graphic depictions as Irreversible has a scene exactly the same but with a fire extinguisher. Really does make you wretch.

Watched My Architect the other day, a film about architect Louis Kahn. Very much recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on January 14, 2007, 05:22:02 pm
Wasn't too keen on the bottle smashing in the face scene.
Ditto, but I had heard about this scene beforehand so I was able to look away in time...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 14, 2007, 08:26:23 pm
for all (?) you biking fans - overcoming. really great film following the csc team in 2004. much better than road to paris (which was a bit dull, apart from the paris-roubaix bit). great footage of various nasty crashes, bjarne riis saying "fuck" a lot and lots more besides... highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 15, 2007, 08:05:09 am
After the 'My Neighbour Totoro' recomendations on here I set the digibox to record it and got around to watching it the other night.  What a fantastic film! absolutely brilliant and it left a warm feeling inside....

Have you seen Spirited Away yet? Similar but better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on January 15, 2007, 02:09:47 pm
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_%281978%29.jpg)

(http://www.aschiodofisso.com/forum/files/canon2_146_139.jpg)
lord of the rings
 :off: sorry
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on January 15, 2007, 02:57:44 pm
maybe off topic again but, ive recently seen two absolutely brilliant surf movies.
surf movie reels 1-14
and litmus.

fuckin great. cant wait to go on a surf trip with my renewed van, the portable dvd player i was given for xmas, and the movies to get even more psyched before the session.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 20, 2007, 04:51:48 pm
Film trailer cross post.

Am looking forward to this a lot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-l93gltkCc&eurl= (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-l93gltkCc&eurl=)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 22, 2007, 08:16:21 am
Falling Down - I saw Grizzly Man a few months back. Didn't you think Herzog was a bit eerie? I spent quite some time trying to master an impression of him from the scene where he is listening to the tape. The whole thing weirded me out actually.

Yeah - I thought the whole thing was eerie... lots of very odd people and lots of stuff unsaid.  Quite uncomfortable viewing really.

Nibs - Have you seen Glass Love?  Andrew Kidmans follow up to Litmus... it's really good.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on January 22, 2007, 08:33:43 pm
I watched Old Joy last week and have since been mulling it over. Thinking about what I have to say about it. I'm still not entirely sure, but it's a film I thoroughly enjoyed. I suppose it's along the lines of other films I've recommended. It's an independant film, no crazy storylines, no special effects. Just well shot, simple, spartan, film. It's a film that doesn't tell you so much as what it let's you tell yourself. It's just a film that I really liked. I am recommending it on the merit that I think it's truly wonderful. I know plenty of people who would disagree and most likely fall asleep. I just view them as uneducated moron's though.  ;)

Find it if you can, it might be showing at a cinema near you. I downloaded a copy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 22, 2007, 08:55:34 pm
did you get the kvcd version? I am after the .avi file now I have got my media player
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on January 22, 2007, 09:05:46 pm
Here is a trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/oldjoy/trailer/), because after I thought about it, I didn't actually say much about the film.

I got a really good DVD copy from a private torrent site.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on January 22, 2007, 10:28:31 pm
Here is a trailer (http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/oldjoy/trailer/), because after I thought about it, I didn't actually say much about the film.

I got a really good DVD copy from a private torrent site.

This looks great, cheers for the heads up.  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 26, 2007, 08:32:09 am
Went to see Babel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/) last night at he cornerhouse.
I thought it was excellent and would highly recomend it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 24, 2007, 04:42:49 pm
I saw Blood Diamond. That was very good indeed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on February 24, 2007, 06:17:25 pm
Went to see Babel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/) last night at he cornerhouse.
I thought it was excellent and would highly recomend it

Really? I thought it was crap, the storylines only just fitting together...

Hot Fuzz is fucking brilliant. Go and see it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on February 25, 2007, 09:54:12 pm
Blast from the past, I am currently watching Point Break, classic!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on February 25, 2007, 11:42:06 pm
a scanner darkly (http://imdb.com/title/tt0405296/) - one louder, as it were.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on February 26, 2007, 02:32:58 pm
Blast from the past, I am currently watching Point Break, classic!

Was this after seeing Hot Fuzz? I saw Hot Fuzz at the weekend and it was a great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on February 26, 2007, 02:35:51 pm
Im adding my support to the Hot Fuzz bandwagon - great film.   :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on March 02, 2007, 02:29:33 pm
american history x.

i really liked it even though it left me a bit sad.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 04, 2007, 09:44:01 pm
Am History X!  Yikes!  What a shocking piece of cinema this is.  That shower scene...  Ye Gods!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Somebody's Fool on March 04, 2007, 10:47:20 pm
It's the kerbstone scene that my long term memory took from that film.  Grim.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on March 04, 2007, 11:03:08 pm
 :o
something to remember.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 04, 2007, 11:26:59 pm
I can't remember either, and from what you're all saying. I'm glad of that. 

To follow up on someone's Ong Bak recommendation a long long time ago, Warrior King/ Tom Yung Goom (sp!) with Tony Jaah is indeed also awesome I've decided.  Maybe even slightly better.  It combines revenge/ rescue motivated Muay Thai violence with Elephants - two of my favourite things in the world to see in a film, so it's a big thumbs up from me. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pemb on March 04, 2007, 11:54:13 pm
I watched Warrior King a few weeks ago and was well impressed with the stunts and fight scenes so big thumbs up from me as well. That guy certainly loves his elephants that’s for sure!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 16, 2007, 02:46:02 pm
I really love the long fight scene in the restaurant in Warrior King, it's like a 5,6, 7 minute take with no CGI.  Massive hit rate.  Think they got one of those steady cams they use to film the Golf. 

Thought I'd just give everyone else the head's up that while on a Mother's day Mission for Walnut Whips that required straying away from my normal haunts of Asda, Aldi and Lidl I came across the following DVDs going for like between £5 and £7 in Sainsbury's:

Ong Bak
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
Amelie
Old Boy

plus a couple of other non-Hollywood martial arts type sword films that I'll check out.  Shameless plug (I don't work for them), but they don't look like going up at my local ponce shops (sorry arts cinemas) or on film four and they've all been recommended on here (apart from Amelie but that's sweet trust me). This is way cheaper than I've seen them online (even before valentines day) or in borders /waterstones specialist foreign film shops/ other ponce factories. 

Has anyone recommended Kung Fu Hustle?  It's a CGI one but with humour and an ace sound track.  Essential viewing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 16, 2007, 03:05:08 pm
Spritied Away has been on Film4 a few times, along with Nausicaa, Kiki's Delivery Sevice and Porco Rosso (and possibly others).

I think Tommy TT and others recommended Kung Fu Hustle when it was on general release.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on March 16, 2007, 03:15:16 pm
I think Tommy TT and others recommended Kung Fu Hustle when it was on general release.

Word to the KFH tip and indeed to Shaolin Soccer - a really funny film I thought. 

On a similar Asian film vibe, Infernal Affairs and Infernal Affairs 2 are both utterly fantastic if you like triad gang thrillers with clever twists and intelligent writing.  I could draw a simile with the Godfather series, but that would be a bit lame so I won't!

There is a third part to this epic series, but I haven't seen it yet.  I hope it is as well written, shot, acted and styled as the first two parts.  Both heavily recommended by me (admittedly not exactly Barry Norman though)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 16, 2007, 04:57:43 pm
You sure?  I'm pissed that I missed it, and I was looking for it pretty closely, that last season.  Plus I thought Spirited Away's TV premier was on BBC2 just after Christmas, but it's not like the Radio Times has never been wrong before. 

Anyway, I don't have to wait for it on TV anymore, and now for a not unreasonable price, nor do you. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 16, 2007, 05:13:51 pm

On a similar Asian film vibe, Infernal Affairs and Infernal Affairs 2 are both utterly fantastic if you like triad gang thrillers with clever twists and intelligent writing. 

Have I already talked up one nite in Mongkok (http://imdb.com/title/tt0430772/) here yet...
if I haven't I should have done....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on March 16, 2007, 06:06:54 pm
Quote
Plus I thought Spirited Away's TV premier was on BBC2 just after Christmas

Well it was here, superb. Since watched Howl's moving castle on DVD, very good but the story is not quite up to the same standard.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 16, 2007, 08:26:47 pm
Apologies if it's been plugged prior to this, but City of God blew my stack t'other night.

Rio street urchins dealing violence and shit-hot coke 24-7.  I like screen violence but this gave me the willies:  they are all so goddamn young it's frightening.  What a life.

Portugese with subtitles.  It's great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on March 17, 2007, 10:57:27 am
Amazing eh? I think it got plugged back on about post 2 of the old thread. Always worth reminding folk about though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 18, 2007, 07:30:00 pm
I think Tommy TT and others recommended Kung Fu Hustle when it was on general release.

Word to the KFH tip and indeed to Shaolin Soccer - a really funny film I thought. 

On a similar Asian film vibe, Infernal Affairs and Infernal Affairs 2 are both utterly fantastic if you like triad gang thrillers with clever twists and intelligent writing.  I could draw a simile with the Godfather series, but that would be a bit lame so I won't!

There is a third part to this epic series, but I haven't seen it yet.  I hope it is as well written, shot, acted and styled as the first two parts.  Both heavily recommended by me (admittedly not exactly Barry Norman though)

The third one is worth watching but it's pretty difficult to follow...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 19, 2007, 08:02:00 am
You sure?  I'm pissed that I missed it, and I was looking for it pretty closely, that last season.  Plus I thought Spirited Away's TV premier was on BBC2 just after Christmas, but it's not like the Radio Times has never been wrong before. 

I think most films that make a "TV Premier" have been on Cable a few times before. Depends on yor PoV I suppose.

Seen a few Miyakzaki Films now, and while they are all enjoyable, I donm't think any quite match up to Spirited Away.

Infernal Affairs is on Film4 soon, this week I think. A digi box with a hard drive recorder is a worthwhile investment for catching things like this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 19, 2007, 03:38:16 pm
Oh right `On TV' implies `for free' for me, it's different to `on sky' and 'on NTL'.

While we're going back on old recommendations Zatoichi (Takeshi Iketano's version) is indeed ace. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on March 19, 2007, 03:40:30 pm
While we're going back on old recommendations Zatoichi (Takeshi Iketano's version) is indeed ace. 

Oh yes, yes, yes.  I love that film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 19, 2007, 08:26:44 pm
I'll stadn by the above recommendations but they aren't cheapest anymore.  Dammit I was wrong, they've all gone and dropped their prices now, why can't any of them drop their prices when none of the others do when it would be useful.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on March 30, 2007, 11:07:29 pm
Just watched 300 on a somewhat "unofficial" copy.

Graphically amazing,a very very good film.

You can see the similarities to Sin City.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on March 31, 2007, 03:54:25 pm
300 is amazing if somewhat homoerotic good one for dense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on April 01, 2007, 09:40:48 am

However. Just watched "Tsotsi" on DaViD. Set in a south african township - about a rudeboy thug (tsotsi) who nicks a car with a baby in the backseat. Goes on to show how he's affected by the experience. Beautifully shot well paced, good story, fantastic acting (by a cast of amateurs, I think). Well worth a watch unless you can't abide subtitles (in which case why are you even reading this thread?) Check it. Word...

I propped this when it was in cinemas. There may be a few new actors in it, but I have seen many of them in small roles in South African film and telly before.

It is good, insightful and well acted.

Just caught this the other day - excellent film, well worth watching.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 04, 2007, 09:53:29 pm
http://specials.uk.msn.com/diehard4/default.aspx (http://specials.uk.msn.com/diehard4/default.aspx)

Not sure about this, the old ones had a certain comedy element about them. This looks way to serious!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on April 05, 2007, 01:13:18 pm
watched the illusionist the other day, thought that was very good. I was then subjected to Dream girls - that wasn't so good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steven82 on April 05, 2007, 01:45:38 pm
i thought 300 was quite a good film a bit strange but good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on April 05, 2007, 01:57:27 pm
dunno if anyone's bigged up Children Of Men yet - well done near future post apocolyptic type thang. Well acted and interestingly shot - the loooong takes work really well. Worth seeing, and on a step above the average fare of this genre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on April 05, 2007, 02:45:31 pm
It's a bit random though...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 05, 2007, 08:24:51 pm
I'm looking forward to seeing 'Sunshine'...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on April 06, 2007, 12:13:43 am
Just watched 300!
Man those lads must have been pumped full of roids to get abs like that!?
Unless they have those fake muscle vests on!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on April 06, 2007, 03:01:42 pm
i recently watched "last man standing" with bruce willis and liked it alot.
and also "the funeral" from abel ferrara.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on April 10, 2007, 11:21:15 pm
Just watched 300! Man those lads must have been pumped full of roids to get abs like that!?

There were trained by a climber, the alpinist Mark Twight.

and I'm looking forward to Sunshine as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 11, 2007, 04:26:03 am
i read that those abs were slightly, let us say, augmented. with the help of a bit of digital trickery...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on April 15, 2007, 06:56:50 pm
Watched "The Departed" the other day. Excellent and amazingly tense. Can't remember suspense being so claustrophobic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on April 26, 2007, 05:57:42 pm
What does everyone think to Curse of The Golden Flower?  My friends managed to deconstruct the hell out of this movie and so not enjoy it afterwards, but cinematic excellence wasn't really the reason we went in the first place.  If you ignore the messed up family soap opera bit that's like Chinese Pride and Prejudice, and the shaky plot it has many of the essential elements that you would have loved to have seen in a film when you were nine, and then some:

Martial Arts, check.
Ninjas, check.  (they look enough like ninjas for me)
Bright Colours, check
Fit oriental actresses in corsets, check
Big battle scene, check
Ultimate seige engines, check
Implausibly large cast that's hard to put down to CGI, check.
Really good looking crags (Gordale but bigger) that you hope aren't CG'd.

It's a blast.  My advice:  take sunglasses.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on April 27, 2007, 07:52:24 am
i recently watched "last man standing" with bruce willis and liked it alot.
and also "the funeral" from abel ferrara.

Last Man Standing is a crap re-vamp of the classic Clint eatswood film, For a Fistfull of Dollars.  Go watch the original instead of the Vest Wearing Mumbler.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: matthew on April 27, 2007, 12:01:51 pm
Saw a french film called "Banlieue 13" (district 13 in english i think). It was sorta Essex boys meets Jump london meets army of gangland thugs. Was awesome though, free running and guns is a damn good combination.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on April 29, 2007, 11:42:23 pm
All you Space Cadets go see Sunshine. Blew my mind... Totally.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on April 30, 2007, 03:39:33 pm
There's actually only about 20 mins of free running max, which is good but most of which you've seen before in Jump London, Jump UK, and the stuff at the start of Casion Royale is way better.  Yamikazi had even better stunts., but they could've been on wires.

It's an OK film, but they tried too hard to give it a plot (though it was made at the time of the Paris riots to make it topical).  Surely they know that we the film going public aren't scared anymore by mere nuclear missiles, especially ones aimed at France.  I would have rather it had no plot at all and loads more free running, that's why most of us went to see it.  If I want a plot I'll read Le Carre.  Not even the most die hard Luc Besson fan would've gone to tick all his movies, as lord knows he's come up with some right turkies.  It just flops at the `would you watch it again' question?  No, next time you'll just skip straight to the parkour. 

For proper stunts, Born to Fight is worth renting if you've got one of those free renting DVD memberships.  It has a really awesome bit with a couple of trucks that they actually did, and were lucky nobody got hurt doing.  Until Hollywood takes note I really don't feel any need to watch another new american film again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on April 30, 2007, 04:10:27 pm
I watched Banleiue 13 at the cinema and then watched it again on video, twice.  It's a briliinat film to stick on in when you just want to watch interesting moving things, go 'ooooh' and laugh occasionally (much in the same vein as Taxi, which is better).  I thought the free running in B13 was better than the bond film, as it was more realistic and there wasn't any stunt men involved.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on April 30, 2007, 05:14:06 pm
So it seems like I do have watch it again then.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pantontino on May 08, 2007, 01:32:58 pm
Watched Old Joy, a film featuring Will Oldham in one of the lead roles, and recommended on here a while back by Uncle.

I loved the 'less is more' simplicity of it, and I found the sense of poignancy and loss underlying the dialogue very moving; I guess we've all had/have got friends like Kurt, or maybe some of us actually are Kurt!

Make sure you see it.

Here's some discussion of it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Joy-Daniel-London/dp/B000N2HDG4 (http://www.amazon.com/Old-Joy-Daniel-London/dp/B000N2HDG4)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on May 08, 2007, 06:32:22 pm
How about 'Old Boy' prob been mentioned several times already but if you havent seen it yet thats deffo worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark on May 10, 2007, 09:59:07 pm
Watched Old Joy, a film featuring Will Oldham in one of the lead roles, and recommended on here a while back by Uncle.

I loved the 'less is more' simplicity of it, and I found the sense of poignancy and loss underlying the dialogue very moving; I guess we've all had/have got friends like Kurt, or maybe some of us actually are Kurt!

Make sure you see it.

Here's some discussion of it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Joy-Daniel-London/dp/B000N2HDG4 (http://www.amazon.com/Old-Joy-Daniel-London/dp/B000N2HDG4)

Just watched this. I enjoyed it and I appreciate that the long pauses were stylistically important but I did wish there was a bit more dialogue to explore the characters rather than leaving so much implicit. It's only 70 mintes long. Another twenty talk-filled minutes wouldn't bloat it out too much, I reckon.

I also think they should make another version where a horde of zombies attack them while they're in the hot tubs and they have to fight their way to freedom through the woods. Maybe that's just me though.

Finally, did Al get much money for letting Slim act in it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Idol eyes on May 13, 2007, 06:49:41 pm
Pans Labyrinth... ****
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 22, 2007, 11:49:02 am
The Chumscrubber. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406650/)

An unusual and at times moving film with a strong cast that had many chances to be shit, but turned out great.  A hard one to describe.  Definitely worth 2 quid at blockbuster, give it a whirl.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on May 22, 2007, 08:46:42 pm
will give it a look.
Usually a link to IMDB is a good way to describe a film IMO
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406650/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406650/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 23, 2007, 07:12:58 am
 ???

Just booked tickets for Pirates of the Caribbean, At World's End.  Can't wait!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on May 23, 2007, 08:07:07 am
Don't think this one's been done yet:

Saw C.R.A.Z.Y. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401085/) at the weekend and have to say it's one of the best films I've seen for quite some time.

It's a French-Canadian film that documents the growing pains of a Quebec family with four sons, the main theme being one son's (and his family's) struggle with coming to terms with his less than clear-cut sexuality as he grows up.

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking but with consistently great acting, script, direction and soundtrack.

It doesn't sound terribly exciting but honestly this is a real gem of a film, watch it.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on May 23, 2007, 10:51:17 am
some brief recommendations / warnings-off:

Pan's Labyrinth. 
It really is as good as everyone says, and I normally run a mile from anything that smells of "magical realism" (I came close to setting my copy of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" on fire). The brutality of the Spanish civil war "reality" actually makes you long for the retreats into the (frankly grotesque) fantasy world rather than viewing it as an intrusion into the narrative (which I guess is the point).

Black Book. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389557/
Personally I thought this was complete rubbish.  It's essentially a glossy modern version of one of those old sunday matinee WWII espionage thrillers (the likes of  "Operation Crossbow").  Overlong, took itself far too seriously, had a hackneyed but hugely convoluted plot, and none of the usual redeeming features of the old versions of this kind of film (e.g. scenery chewing performances from slumming it thesps).

Hot Fuzz. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/
Good fun with lots of nice touches... but far too long.  Would probably have been better converted into a short "Police Squad" style series.

Last King of Scotland http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455590/
Brilliant - possibly the year's best film.  Veers between the funny and the stomach churning, utterly compelling, and has excellent performances all round (although Forest Whitaker as Idi is the obvious draw).  It is frankly bizarre that it only got one Oscar (Best Actor for Forest) rather than none or lots - as it is one of those films that you would not be surprised if it were too "minor" to be acknowledged at all, that its existence was noted, yet only rewarded in a slightly tokenistic way seems almost insulting.

Flags of Our Fathers http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418689/
Dull... worthy but dull. 

Thank You for Smoking http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427944/
Broad satire on the smoking and "spin" / PR industries.  Similar plot to the old Jim Carey film Liar Liar but less corny and apologetic.  Not really savage enough to be in any way a classic (more Zoolander than "The Insider") but good fun and a decent, undemanding rental for a saturday night after a day at the crag.

oh and a heads-up: on saturday at 11.20 BBC2:
The Station Agent.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340377/
Really good, much lauded, indie comedy from a few years back.  About a fella with dwarfism who moves to the back of beyond to indulge in being a lonely misanthrope but finds himself drawn into the (fucked-up) lives of two people he meets.  Funny, thought provoking, and far less twee than you would imagine from any pocket description .
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on May 23, 2007, 04:33:50 pm
Have finally found Mike Leigh's Naked on DVD rip. Its on demonoid if you wanna find it.
Have been looking for it for ages. Quality film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107653/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107653/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on May 23, 2007, 04:42:08 pm
Have finally found Mike Leigh's Naked on DVD rip

fucking genius film that.... have you heard the Orbital track that's set to the Chernobyl / wormwood rant - I think it's called Salt (or s.a.l.t)? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on May 23, 2007, 05:09:35 pm
I know the track you mean, been looking for it but I think it might be by the Orb and not orbital
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on May 23, 2007, 05:13:54 pm
It is the orb, found it.
Correct title tho, S.A.L.T

"Oh, do you ever get the feeling that you're being followed?"
"Are you not familiar with the book of Revelations of St. John, the final book of the Bible prophesied the apocalypse?"
"He forced everyone to receive a mark on his right hand and on his forehead, so that no one shall be able to buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is the name of the beast and the number of his name and the number of the beast is 666." 
"What can such a specific prophesy mean?"
"What is the mark?"
"The mark is the barcode, the ubiquitous barcode, that you'll find on every <Vogno???> and every packet of Johnnies and every <Poxy Cartlied???>.  Every barcode is divided into two parts by three markers, those three markers always represented by the number 6 6 6 6."
"Now what does it say? No one shall be able to buy or sell without that mark. And now what they're planning to do in order to eradicate all credit card fraud, in order to precipitate a totally cashless society, what they're planning to do they've already tested on the American troops, they're going to subcutaneous laser tattoo a mark onto your right hand or onto your forehead. They're going to replace plastic with flesh. Fact!"
"In the same book of Revelations when the Seven Seals were broken open on the Day of Judgment, when the seven angels blow the trumpets and third angel blows up wormwood, wormwood will fall from the sky. Wormwood will poison the third part, and all the waters in the third part and all the land and many many many people will die. Now do you know what the Russian translation of wormwood is? Chernobyl. Fact!"
"On August the 18th, 1999 the planets of our solar system are going to line up into the shape of a cross."
"They're going to line up in the fixed signs of Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio. Which just happen to correspond to the four beasts of the Apocalypse as mentioned in the book of Daniel. Another fact!"
"Do you think that the amoeba ever dreamed it would evolve into the frog? And when that first frog shimmied out of the water and employed its vocal cords in order to attract a mate onto the turn of gravity, did that frog ever imagine that the insignificant call would evolve into all the languages of the world into all the literature of the world? And just as that froggie could never have conceived of Shakespeare so we can not possibly imagine our destiny.  Look, if you take the whole of time and represent it by one year, were only in the first few moments of the first of January. There's a long way to go.  Only now were not going to spout extra limbs and wings and fins because evolution itself is evolving. When it comes, the apocalypse itself will be part of the processof that leap of evolution. By the very definition of apocalypse, mankind must cease to exist, at least in a material form. We'll evolve into something that transcends matter, into a species of pure thought. Are you with me?"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 23, 2007, 06:28:37 pm
Genius, quite possibly my all time favourite film.
Clm has the script in book form I do believe - he should be able to fill those parentheses for you. Funnily enough my very first trip to Sheffield involved both an Orbital gig and the film Naked.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bonjoy on May 24, 2007, 09:00:37 am
Which Orbital gig, I might have been there?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 24, 2007, 09:42:24 am
Octagon, autumn '94? Think they played there again a couple of years later too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bonjoy on May 24, 2007, 09:45:38 am
Think I missed those
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 24, 2007, 10:38:41 am
Come on then, which one did you see?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bonjoy on May 24, 2007, 11:05:22 am
 I went to two in Sheff, the one I can recall was at the Leadmill. Got chucked out for taking speed (bouncer leaned over the toilet door, caught me red handed), but managed to sneak back in past a pissed up doorman. It was a Megadog thing, their first gig in Sheff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 24, 2007, 11:10:06 am
I'm not sure I'd like to see the Bonjoy visage powered by speed. The churning goatie, the vibrating eyes, no wonder he followed you into the bogs.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bonjoy on May 24, 2007, 11:12:25 am
Don't think I had a beard then, but did have long hair and a homemade hat with a magic mushroom embroidered on it. Did always think it would be good to get some UV contact lenses to augment the jelly-eyes at such events.
Google tells me it was June 9th '93.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 28, 2007, 06:18:03 pm
Pirates...  wasn't half bad, though two or three things curtailed full enjoyment of the flick. 1 - the length, at over 3 hrs you've really got to want to see all of it to get to the end (I, er...  had a crafty 40 winks around the 3/4 mark which set me up well for the last 1/4).  2 - There's almost too much to take in visually; CGI fatigue? (much like LOTR's in this respect).  And 3 - those craaazee Germans - the cinema was over run just before the start by a group of Krauts in full pirate regalia giving it large with Aarrgghhs and other less hilarious piratisms as they tried to sell beer to people who had plenty of time to go to the bar before the picture was due to start (I hope UK audiences may be spared this spectacle).  With the 20 min break the cinema enforced on the audience in the middle of the film (fuck knows why?) I must have been in that bastard cinema 4 1/2 hrs!  I hope Depp kills this one dead - the world doesn't need a fourth Pirates film (unless Keira Knightley gets her kit off, like... :-*)

Oh, I know it's old, but if you haven't seen it yet, L.A. Crash is a boss film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 29, 2007, 08:16:09 am
did have long hair and a homemade hat with a magic mushroom embroidered on it.

I still wonder why that bouncer followed you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on June 13, 2007, 10:35:44 pm
I watched Hot Fuzz finally last night, excellent film!

And I've sat and watched Mr Washington in De ja vou tonight. Not bad, killed a few hours and was surpisingly good viewing.

I am now however watching Exit Wounds....... Segal!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on June 13, 2007, 10:43:33 pm
Funny you should mention that Golt, my housemates are currently watching Hot Fuzz. Has anyone seen a film called Primer? Made on a budget of £7,000, it's a science based film and I'd like to track it down.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on June 13, 2007, 11:43:57 pm
Funny you should mention that Golt, my housemates are currently watching Hot Fuzz. Has anyone seen a film called Primer? Made on a budget of £7,000, it's a science based film and I'd like to track it down.
Yes, I've got it. thought it was excellent
I'm sure I've recomended on his thread previously although am far too lazy to look back and check
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on June 14, 2007, 10:26:07 am
went to see zodiac last night. very good, with some really chilling moments. go see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on June 14, 2007, 05:00:08 pm
saw Brick a couple of days ago a brilliant slow burner.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on June 15, 2007, 11:41:52 am
Watched shooter last night. No, its not some fetish pr0n film. Was pretty good. Ex marine ace sniper, retires after his partner gets killed. Retreats to live in the middle of nowhere until he gets a knock on the door asking if he can help to protect the president from an assasination attempt. Quite long, 2h 20mins but well watchable government conspiracy blah blah blah.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on June 15, 2007, 04:30:59 pm
The Chumscrubber. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406650/)

An unusual and at times moving film with a strong cast that had many chances to be shit, but turned out great.  A hard one to describe.  Definitely worth 2 quid at blockbuster, give it a whirl.
watched this last night. Thought it was pretty good, definately worth watching
Thanks for the recomendation
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on June 15, 2007, 09:13:32 pm
Not sure if you lot have seen this but I can not wait for this film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1095451&ch=1266505&cl=2884374&src=ukyvideo (http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1095451&ch=1266505&cl=2884374&src=ukyvideo)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on June 15, 2007, 10:08:59 pm
Not sure if you lot have seen this but I can not wait for this film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1095451&ch=1266505&cl=2884374&src=ukyvideo (http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1095451&ch=1266505&cl=2884374&src=ukyvideo)
looks great

I can't wait for this, not intellectual in the slightest but frankly who cares

WOW (http://www.metacafe.com/watch/528336/die_hard_4_trailer/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on June 15, 2007, 10:13:11 pm
Is he going to wear the same vest?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on June 15, 2007, 10:55:49 pm
I should think so...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 23, 2007, 10:13:40 am
went to see fantastic four the rise of gaskins


(http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i176/toysrevil2/blog/silversurfer.jpg)


 wasn't really very impressed at all to be honest too much talking and not enough silver surfer kicking ass.

 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on July 11, 2007, 10:27:08 am
Bit old, but I don't remember anyone mentioning this before - anyone wanting some hilarious post-pub viewing needs to check out R Kelly's magnum opus hip hopera in 12 parts "trapped in the closet". Absolutely brilliant, though not at all in the way he intended I'm sure. Quite how one man can be so out of touch with reality, any notion of cost vs worth, and quite how meagre his talents really are is beyond me. Very funny, and the next ten chapters are due to be released in a couple of weeks. God save us
(http://www.dailycal.org/images/art/12.01.closet.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on July 11, 2007, 10:35:34 am
I was unlucky enough to be sent to brighton on a business trip yesterday but as it transpired this coincided with the Bonnie Prince Billy gig also in Brighton. It was a really great gig. He played very strange versions of all the classics, and then the encore was the more traditional sound and ofcourse included the crowd favourite "I see a darkness". Once again, if you haven't heard Will Oldham then either buy it, download it, or go to one of his upcoming shows throughout europe (what's a carbon footprint?).

Also of note is R Kelly's Hip Hopera. I don't know if this has been mentioned before on this thread but I downloaded and listened to all 12 parts lastnight. How much coke and under age sex went into the making of that I have no idea but it was truly inspired in the most horrific yet funny way. It's available on oink or via itunes for those who care. The video to accompany it is also on youtube. Parts 1-5 can be found here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCXlCkY4Y5g). Part 6 can be found here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAIlhrE2CFg). Part 7 is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKrPBk9Xk0U). along with part 8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrju0B86i7c), part 9 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SlQtE_j5GA), part 10 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oDqNgjDsuE), part 11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moCkcGBwo-I), and part 12 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11J1bJtabg). Perhaps this should also be posted in the video's thread... be warned. Watching all these will take approximately 40min of your life. It is easily worth it in my opinion.

You missed it in the music thread, but you are correct, this is a modern masterpiece.

Only one typo JB, I think you meant to write "God bless us" at the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on July 11, 2007, 10:38:16 am
R Kelly film awesome. High art at its best. On a similar rapper note, have you seen Coolio in his groundbreaking production Red Water? I somehow ended up watching this recently and quickly ranked it as the best worst film I've ever seen. It's got it all honestly check it out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Heaton on July 11, 2007, 11:12:11 am
I went to see "Water" by Deepa Mehta last night which is about the treatment of widows in India in the 1930's (and according to the film still true to a certain extent today). It is throughly excellent and I would recommend anyone to go and see it. Apparently it is the third in a trilogy of films by the same director based upon life in India after "Fire" and "Earth" and it has inspired me to find the others on DVD.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 11, 2007, 11:42:26 am
a heads-up: the Death of Mr Lazarescu is on Film4 on thursday night (12.35 i think).  Very black comedy about a dying man trying to get treatment in hospital.  Not seen it myself but I remember all the critics saying it was the best film at Cannes last year - the traditional "film everyone agrees is the best but doesn't win the major awards".

Review here:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,1819645,00.html
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on July 11, 2007, 02:23:05 pm
Saw some old films the other day:

12 angry men-  genius! Original, angry, quality!
Shawshank Redemption- Another brilliant film!
The Talented Mr. Ripley- a shit film.

Look at me, aren't I a good reviewer...  :spank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 11, 2007, 02:31:56 pm
I thought The Talented Mr Ripley a decent film, Malkovich does a fine sinister cold bastard - not quite Olivier in Marathon Man but decent enough.  I like sinister cold bastards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on July 11, 2007, 02:35:07 pm
I got confused though, and had no idea what was going on half the time. Are you talking about the original or the remake?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 12, 2007, 09:34:55 am
just found this on demonoid

DONT BE A MENACE TO SOUTH CENTRAL WHILE DRINKING YOUR JUICE IN THE HOOD

genius film, not seen for ages
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: account_inactive on July 12, 2007, 12:25:29 pm
(http://img.dooyoo.co.uk/GB_EN/175/movies/dvd_title_d/don_t_be_a_menace_to_south_central_while_drinking_your_juice_in_the_hood.jpg)

Tres bon
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 12, 2007, 01:49:12 pm
.... is that the film where the main character's older than his dad and has a Snoop-dog style unhinged friend? 

Good stuff in a similar vein: "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"?  More of a 70s Blaxploitation parody - lots of fedora wearing gangsta's dying from overdosing on gold jewellry etc. 

"Fear Of a Black Hat" and CB4 are both pretty funny too  - rap-umentary spoofs of early 90s rap scene (NWA, Public Enemy, Ice T etc) not exactly Spinal Tap but you can't knock a film that has a character called Stab Master General.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on July 23, 2007, 04:00:48 pm
Saw this on Saturday at the Sheffield Showroom

Ne le dis à personne (Tell no one) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0362225/)

Quality French thriller - a plot that keeps you guessing and all round great acting with some genuinely shocking and emotional moments.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on July 23, 2007, 08:08:23 pm
I'm terribly ashamed to say it, but I watched a possibly, maybe slightly illegal DVD of the the new Transformers movie.

HOLY FECKING CHRIST!!!!!!!!

It is unreal, I mean proper unreal. Good quality comedy moments all the way through, combined with top draw Transformer action. Even Optimus Primes' voice is authentic!!!

I had goose bumps all the way through, as soon as I get paid I'm going to the cinema to see it.

 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 23, 2007, 08:47:21 pm
I wanted to see Transformers this weekend, it looks pretty cool in the trailers. But the bird didn't want to so we watched Harry Potter instead. Was okay. Think Transformers will be better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on July 24, 2007, 11:59:40 pm
Me too. Have been told by the g/f that I've got to see Transformers on me Jack Jones. Her loss, I reckon :shrug:.

Cannae wait!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 25, 2007, 09:42:49 am
Me too. Have been told by the g/f that I've got to see Transformers on me Jack Jones. Her loss, I reckon :shrug:.

I have been told similar. Looks like an opportunity missed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 25, 2007, 11:48:52 am
So....UKB Transformers viewing meet?? Say a bit of evening bouldering (in/out depending on weather), then a later evening showing??

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 25, 2007, 12:12:19 pm
Would love to, but a bit distant for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 25, 2007, 02:27:06 pm
Last weekend, between rain-hit farewell sieges of my old projects (good-bye Durham) I saw Die Hard 4.  It's a touching examination of father-daughter relationships played against a rigorous examination of mankind's role and increasing redundancy within a dehumanised and mechanistic world.  It also answers the age-old conundrum: "what wins in a fight: jet-figher or a really big truck?". 

Seriously though it's good stuff, exactly what you expect, and hence exactly I wanted after days of drizzley frustration: comicbook ultra-violence punctuated by comedy and quips.  Only real fault is with the baddy: his plan, although large in scale, lacks a certain style; and he doesn't really have the charisma required to be either scary or an anti-hero (i.e. isn't overacted by a proper thesp).  So, as action films go it's not quite on a par with the original but what is?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 25, 2007, 03:15:44 pm
Been watching lots of films recently:
Ronin - Awesome, best car chase scenes ever (in my humble opinion)
Top Gun - Pure Cheese
Skeleton Key - Really good film and I dont usually like the scary stuff
Talladega Nights - A bit crap but then again had me in stitches in some places
The rock - as good as action films get

oh and 300, good psych material, although you might find yourself wanting to shout "Sparta" an awful lot!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cider nut on July 27, 2007, 10:48:27 pm
I saw Die Hard 4 ... So, as action films go it's not quite on a par with the original but what is?

That was my first choice (before Harry Potter), but unfortunately we didn't make it to the cinema in time (a deliberate ploy by Fiend me thinks to add weight to the Transformers argument, turns out he was quite happy to see HP instead  ;) )

I'd never expect DH4 to be as good as the original, but I doubt they intended it to be - it's just good fun to have another one after all this time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 27, 2007, 11:03:14 pm

Ronin - Awesome, best car chase scenes ever (in my humble opinion)

surely not as good as Bullitt? must watch that movie again

saw Mad Max 2 again last night, forgot how violet it was, pretty sure I first saw it when I was like 10 or something, guess my parents must have been out.......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 04, 2007, 01:28:48 pm
why in a post apocalyptic world where everyone lusts for oil, have people decided that wearing your boot as a hat or earing is a good idea. fucking good film though, second vote for ronin too, when they did the car chase scenes the actors were actually driving for the most of it. Some of the stuff was too hard so stunt drivers drove lying down in the back seat with the actors up front with no control over the car, which explains why they look so shit scared in some shots.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on August 04, 2007, 04:19:19 pm
why in a post oil-peak world

Personally I think the chase in Transporter is better than Ronin.  Ronin had absolutely nothing to do with Ronin (masterless samurai.  See Samurai Champloo for the best Ronin ever, Jin, and more cool shit) unless someone can explain that to me. 

Anyway, when choosing last night's DVD extravaganza I finally twigged why I'd always half wanted to see Alexander:  It's my fucking middle name! (Though not what the 'A' stands for).  Anyway, apart from the gay undertones (it's set around Greece so what do you expect), historical stuff which may or may not be accurate (I don't particularly care), and `attempts to get inside Alexander the person' etc., in the first big battle I couldn't help myself.  I started chanting Elephants Elephants!  None came, but the camels were very welcome.  You wouldn't fuck with a camel.  Later in the film though, I did get to see Elephants in battle, and believe you me you wouldn't fuck with an elephant either. 

In summary it's worth watching when it's on TV if you're not doing owt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 04, 2007, 05:43:18 pm
The transporter wasn't done in the same manner as in Ronin, i.e. all of the driving was completely real in the latter film. The director was famous for that throughout his career. I'm pretty sure that the infernce was throughout the film that the lead character was behaving as a disgraced samurai would, pretty much as a gun for hire.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on August 04, 2007, 07:09:18 pm
I don't know how you can mention 'Transporter' in the same breath as Ronin. No comparision on car chases or quality.

Saw Transformers last night, loved every second. Amazing movie. Best action movie I've seen for years. Try and catch it on a BIG big screen, dodgy DVD copies will not do it justice. Mrs Obi enjoyed it to but tbh it's probably more of a boys movie.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 04, 2007, 07:16:09 pm
yeah can't convince my missus to go...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: richdraws on August 04, 2007, 10:35:39 pm
Bandwagon = jumped on.

TRANSFORMERS is magnificent. The humour, action and sfx all hit the right level. It managed to be entertaining as fuck despite everybodys (certainly mine) apprehension about how bad it was gonna be. It didnt take itself seriously and avoided making tonnes of in jokes just to prove the concept and story was ironic or intelligent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 04, 2007, 11:07:44 pm
Dogtown and Z-boys on now (C4), pretty good/interesting for the skaters/surfers.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on August 05, 2007, 05:05:45 am

It just sticks in my mind more, and according to the DVD on the second one all the stunts were real.  It's not like they do car chases all in one shot.  I realize I'm bigging up Luc Besson film who I've previously totally dissed.  but it's never once crossed my mind to by Ronin as a must see (I've seen it twice) unless it's dirt cheap - is it good on hardcore grounds for purist petrols heads or summink?

Anyway, firstly more importantly so many people have recommended transformers that surely no self respecting UKBer who's been following this thread will pass up the opportunity to see it in the cinema.  And secondly a quick thankyou keith for telling me Ghibli is £6 in HMV.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 05, 2007, 11:38:10 am
It just sticks in my mind more, and according to the DVD on the second one all the stunts were real.  It's not like they do car chases all in one shot.  I realize I'm bigging up Luc Besson film who I've previously totally dissed.

are you sure? as I distinctly remember that car being shot up a ramp where it goes upside down, neatly placed crane removes the 'bomb' then it lands again unscatherd....come on.

Quote
is it good on hardcore grounds for purist petrols heads or summink?

YES.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on August 10, 2007, 09:02:47 pm
are you sure? as I distinctly remember that car being shot up a ramp where it goes upside down, neatly placed crane removes the 'bomb' then it lands again unscatherd....come on.

Like I said that's transporter 2 (the best bit of which by far is the evil fit blond lass with the two Uzis), but on the DVDextras they say they did it, which is amazing because I agree it looked too good to be true.  I don't think they used a real bomb, just one of those hollywood jobs or CGI, but a real car did the barrel roll jump.  how do you use wire work to do a n azimuthally rotating object in the air - I'd like to know how they did Flying Snow vs Moon in Hero but there were leaves everywhere in that and damniit it just looked cool.

you're right though the explosion  may not have been relaistic.  I'd like to see more explosions done with the thing that's supposed to be exploding, rather than the standard big boys firework set.  I think they did this in Torah Torah Torah! (I heard it on one of those 100 best shows).  Use real grenades! blow up real cars! 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on August 19, 2007, 10:35:04 pm
'the bridge' - a documentary about the people jumping off the golden gate bridge - amazing and wierdly life affirming (although that might be my take on something really depressing?)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on August 19, 2007, 11:10:06 pm
I'm pleased the masses enjoyed Transformers. I was worried it wouldn't have the same sparkle as the cartoon, but it made me revert to a kid, a kid who's just watched the sex ed video for the first time. It was truly awesome, and I had a semi. I dont mind admitting it either.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on August 20, 2007, 10:12:15 am
you cumbrian types are never shy.

anyone seen bourne ultimatum yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on August 20, 2007, 05:47:15 pm
the bourne ultimatum....

it's bloody good, and certainly knocks bond into a cocked hat.

it's got everything - moroccan rooftop jumping, waterloo station, a man from the guardian, lots of guns, a wide variety of car and motorbike chases, joan allen (again), sinister psychotic assassins, even some audis. the shaky camera work might annoy some people, but i rather like it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on August 20, 2007, 07:09:21 pm
A Cock and Bull Story.  Definitely ticked the box: worth watching when on Telly (like last night), and then some.  I now harbour no ambitions whatsoever to read the book behind the film at all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 26, 2007, 05:11:05 pm
I wanted to see Transformers this weekend, it looks pretty cool in the trailers. But the bird didn't want to so we watched Harry Potter instead. Was okay. Think Transformers will be better.

Went on my own last night. Verdict: Very mildly entertaining nonsense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on August 26, 2007, 10:54:47 pm
I really enjoyed bourne ultimatum.
Do you think there will be a 4th one? and what do you recon it will be called?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 27, 2007, 08:27:42 am
If the books are anythnig to go by, there is still the Legacy, Betrayal and Strategy to go (not sure what order). Apparently more films are in the pipeline.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on August 27, 2007, 09:28:27 am
This Is England - Story about a yong bullied kid, befriends a group of skinheads and gets drawn in towards the Natinonal Front. Set in Grimsby in the 80's - enough to say got a great sound track!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on August 27, 2007, 08:20:21 pm
Quote
what do you recon it will be called?
the bourne slippy
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 28, 2007, 02:19:33 pm
Is the trilogy called Bourne Three then? Or am i lion about the whole thing?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bowie on August 28, 2007, 03:50:40 pm
I really enjoyed bourne ultimatum.

i concur - saw it last night, very entertaining. apparently during the fight scene with 'the asset' (nice phrase) i was squeezing the wife's hand with every blow. reminded me of the horrendously claustrophobic fight scene in saving private ryan. i was totally engrossed!

bring on the 4th. this is bond for the 21st century.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on August 31, 2007, 06:04:29 pm
Entertaining 'highbrow' review of R Kelly's trapped in the Closet here (http://music.guardian.co.uk/urban/story/0,,2155578,00.html)
Not seen it yet? You really should...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on September 01, 2007, 03:40:31 pm
Bourne ultimatum was very good.

Can't wait for the fourth one when he stops worrying about his past and concentrates on spiritual matters, eventually opening an evangelical christian sect somewhere in somerset. Bourne Again (ahem.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on September 01, 2007, 04:10:21 pm
Anyone seen Death at a Funeral? It looks hilarious.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 01, 2007, 05:16:13 pm
this has potential for good the bad and the ugly fans

http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/seraphimfalls/index.html (http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/seraphimfalls/index.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on September 01, 2007, 08:31:11 pm
Glad to hear Bourne Ultimatum getting neat reviews; the 2nd pissed me off to the hilt - it was so poor compared to the 1st.  And no Frau Potenta!?  Were they mad?

(http://www.lola-rennt.de/images/lola_poster.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on September 01, 2007, 10:57:11 pm
holy shit i have just finished watching "13 (Tzameti)"

(http://www.cinephelia.com/artwork/tzameti_moss.jpg)

by Gela Babluani. it has left my mind shattered, it is the most brutal mind fuck i have seen, makes requiem for a dream look like bambi. one scene of it had me in tatters, edge of seat, nerves in bits.
amazing, i would recomend it highly, brilliantly shot.

(oh yeah, its in french)

anyone else seen this?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 03, 2007, 08:28:17 am
Saw the trailer for it ages ago, need to borrow it off a mate who has it. Looks brutal.

On a considerably lighter note, Surf's Up is great fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on September 03, 2007, 11:43:01 am
I kept trying to persuade my (now ex, coincidental?) girlfriend to go and see Surf's Up, because it looks great! Penguins surfing, Pixar must be on drugs...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on September 20, 2007, 12:50:40 pm
yesterday night i watched "world trade center" by oliver stone. very very beautiful and unexpected.

and few weeks ago i watched "dead man" by jim jarmush. brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on September 24, 2007, 10:42:47 pm
Don't know if they've been said already but two I've seen recently, which are both awesome are "Factory Girl", and "This is England"

The latter was totally unexpected.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on September 25, 2007, 09:51:03 am
"this is england"

we now own the entire shane medows back catalogue, ive not seen one by him that i didnt like! "dead mens shoes" is great, as is "a room for romeo brass". good to see that someone is producing films of this quality in the UK. they were all a 5'er on play.com...plus you can play spot bits of sheffield and the peak in his films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 25, 2007, 09:53:02 am
 :agree: Dead Men's Shoes is fucking brilliant. Need to see his other films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 25, 2007, 02:31:27 pm
This is England is an astonishingly good film went to see shoot em up the other night I would put it in the missable category
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 26, 2007, 08:37:18 am
Agree that "This Is England" is a must-see.  Particularly edifying for anyone with an 80s childhood and dim memories of ska, sweet cigarettes, skinheads, and "Goose Green" being a byword for trauma.  "Dead Man's Shoes" and "24/7" are also very good.  Be prepared to be disappointed by "Once Upon A Time In The Midlands" though.  It's a slightly crap black-comedy with characters just a bit too pathetic to care about; one of whose films where the whimsy and seriousness never quite gel.

Just seen "Zodiac" which was also very good: gripping throughout its length, despite being based on a famously unsolved case.  Fantastically evocative late60s/70s setting and a "serious" feel you don't often find in films these days (reminiscent of "All the President's Men" or "The Parallax View" etc).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on September 26, 2007, 08:45:04 am
Just a heads up for fans of comic book based film out there:
http://www.ironmanmovie.com/

something to look out for next year!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on September 26, 2007, 09:25:16 am
Quote
anyone else seen this?
agree chappers, well worth a watch, very fraught - also looked like it was set in the woods somewhere near font?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on September 27, 2007, 12:11:08 pm

Just seen "Zodiac" which was also very good: gripping throughout its length

yes yes, how good was the "movie poster scene" in the basement?! i could have swallowed my hand i wanted to bite it so hard in the cinema.

see this people, its great, amazing casting, with some nice lighter moments of comedy. (want to read the book now too!).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on October 01, 2007, 06:42:46 pm
I've been checking out thid old list of `top 10' kung-fu films I found:

http://web.archive.org/web/20030701204801/http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/feature.jsp?id=113425

Still a few more to go, but the results so far are that:

Brotherhood of the Wolf (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237534/) is well good. 

It's got enough French costume drama normal film stuff (like a plot etc.) to keep any other halfs you might have happy as well without getting annoying, which is good as the fights are ace.  The man Dascascos seems to have an underground following so if you know better, stop me now before I check his older films out further. 

Fist of Fury and even Way of the Dragon are better than Enter The Dragon - it's good but apart from the ace set pieces to me this always feels a bit like a cheap ass second rate bond film.  Anyway they're Bruce Lee, nuff said.  The Jet Li one was so so and while Iron Monkey was alright, Once Upon a Time in China was better in comparison IMHO.  Out of the Jet Li ones (apart from Hero obviously) I can't believe I never heard of Fearless when it came out - it's not just cool just because you can see it as a prequel to Fist of Fury (though they probably made hundreds of these).

If I must flesh out any more recommendations with links then I don't know why I haven't mentioned Drunken Master (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080179/) before as it stands up so well to all these recommendations of other people's. 
I also really liked Wing Chun (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111800/), (I can't be the only one who after seeing Crouching Tiger... wondered why I'd never seen Shu Lien in anything else before (having forgot about Tomorrow Never Dies)). 

With some `normal' films:
It could be a little hard to find, but Underground (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114787/) is really really too - don't think it's been on the thread yet.  Finally I might just have been pissed, and it might just because I'm sick of US teen movies, and it could fall into the so deliberately crap it's hilarious category but I laughed more through Getting Any (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110524/) than through any other film I've seen in years. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on October 01, 2007, 09:06:37 pm
Feel I must second Nibs reccomendation :great: "dead man" by jim jarmush, fantastic film, a little trippy and arty but very funny with that fellah Johnny Depp. Cool music score, seem to remember it's by Neil Young but my memory may be lying to me as is oft the case.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Scouse D on October 08, 2007, 12:11:28 pm
holy shit i have just finished watching "13 (Tzameti)"

(http://www.cinephelia.com/artwork/tzameti_moss.jpg)

by Gela Babluani. it has left my mind shattered, it is the most brutal mind fuck i have seen, makes requiem for a dream look like bambi. one scene of it had me in tatters, edge of seat, nerves in bits.
amazing, i would recomend it highly, brilliantly shot.

(oh yeah, its in french)

anyone else seen this?

More importantly Chappers it's filmed in Font!! Can't believe you missed that bit!

I've just watched 'The Lives of Others'...Fantastic, I implore you all to watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on October 08, 2007, 12:21:19 pm

Fist of Fury and even Way of the Dragon are better than Enter The Dragon - it's good but apart from the ace set pieces to me this always feels a bit like a cheap ass second rate bond film.  Anyway they're Bruce Lee, nuff said.  The Jet Li one was so so

I think that's a pretty poor list TBH, for better Jet Li action check out Fist of Legend (remake of fist of fury) and Twin Warriors if you haven't already seen them.

I guess it's an old list, but I think Kung Fu Hustle deserves a place on any top ten martial arts list now, and how there's not a Segal film there i'll never understand...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pantontino on October 08, 2007, 01:40:56 pm
Watched The Wind that Shakes the Barley over the weekend. It's a Ken Loach film about the struggle for Irish independence - set in 1920 just after the first world war.

I thought it was brilliantly realised film, and my eyes were full of tears for most of it. One of the most interesting aspects was the uneasy allegiances that nationalism elicits, and how these allegiances soon fall apart in the most destructive manner possible once power is actually gained.

It was the winner of the PALME D'OR at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival apparently.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on October 08, 2007, 02:47:23 pm

More importantly Chappers it's filmed in Font!! Can't believe you missed that bit!

I've just watched 'The Lives of Others'...Fantastic, I implore you all to watch it.

i figured it was font, but could not be arsed checking there are plenty of woods in france that look like that im sure!

I saw lives of others last night. very good indeed, thanks for the tip scouse.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 11, 2007, 09:40:02 am
Watched Sunshine and 1408 on the plane. They are both shit. I thought Sunshine was especially disappointing; could have been a cross between Armageddon and Event Horizon, but ended up with the worst bits of both,.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 11, 2007, 11:08:55 am
Babel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/) Almost Paul Auster-esque.  Everything seems incongruous for ages then it all clicks together.  I like this type of film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on October 11, 2007, 11:56:57 am

Yeah, I enjoyed Babel.

Atonement is good too, but it's no bundle of laughs that's for sure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 11, 2007, 12:00:38 pm
With eye candy that hot, there's no time for laughter...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on October 11, 2007, 12:02:38 pm
i watched babel the same day as last king of scotland, i remember i liked it, but not as much as the other.
i will watch it again to make sure!

it is by the same director as 21 grams and amores perros, two films i would recomed highly!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 11, 2007, 12:06:53 pm
amores perros

Daft Frau indoors only went and bought this on DVD with German-only subtitles!  Been gagging to watch this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on October 11, 2007, 06:48:40 pm
Just watched trailer for '13', looks great. Reminded me of a Spanish movie starring Max Von Sydow, 'Intacto'. Money making through being lucky and russian roulette bsaed themes. Pretty good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on October 11, 2007, 07:01:16 pm
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/1544509466_ae25de6e41_o.jpg)
not sure if 'old boy' has cropped up on this thread yet, but it is pretty dark and twisted - a scene where the dude eats a live and squirming octopus in a restuarant had me jump behind the couch
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on October 11, 2007, 07:11:08 pm
I think Babel's shit- the stories are only just linked together, tenuous in extremis.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gibb on October 11, 2007, 07:26:34 pm
Old Boy, now theres a film and a half. Classic of its genre.

Maybe a bit Old Skool but watched The Big Lebowski last night. Wished I had watched it years ago, got to be in my top 20 films of all time now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 11, 2007, 07:43:51 pm
I think Babel's shit- the stories are only just linked together, tenuous in extremis.
isn't that the whole point?

i watched intimacy the other day, as the final part of yossarian's kureishi season.

on reflection it's better than the mother. the irritating daughter in the mother (who i'm sure is supposed to be extra irritating) just irritates a little too much. but intimacy really was good. this may be because of a variety of locations in which i have spent too much time. aka, my favourite bar for many years, and the barons court theatre, where i nearly cracked my head open on a number of occasions. if you aren't interested in my post-student day reminiscences, there's an erect penis and lots of shagging in it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 11, 2007, 07:46:10 pm
Old Boy, now theres a film and a half. Classic of its genre.

Maybe a bit Old Skool but watched The Big Lebowski last night. Wished I had watched it years ago, got to be in my top 20 films of all time now.
You only just watched big lebowski!!!!

go and give me 50 soldier
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 16, 2007, 08:30:45 am
Ratatoulille. Obviously better if you have kids to take.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on October 16, 2007, 12:02:22 pm
yesterday night i watched "slevin" and it's excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 16, 2007, 12:31:42 pm
Old Boy, now theres a film and a half. Classic of its genre.


"Even though I'm no better than a beast, don't I have the right to live?".  Badass.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 24, 2007, 12:27:19 pm
I watched 28 Weeks Later on DVD last night and it was better than than I had expected - quite chilling in a 'hmm this could almost actually happen' way.  It tailed off a bit in the final third when it degenerated into a bog standard chase sequence but the rest of the film makes up for it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 24, 2007, 04:06:15 pm
The new David Lynch film is wank:  get it out on vid if you must but don't go to the cinema to see it.  I've blocked it's name out.

The new Terry Gilliam film is tres bizarre, I'd fidget too much to make it through a bigscreen viewing.  Decent enough but hardly mining new territory in film.  I've lost the title to alcohol.

LK of Scots = shit hot Amin performance, chilling stuff.  We need more film like this.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on October 25, 2007, 01:14:17 pm
The new David Lynch film is wank: 

You mean Inland Empire? Is it still in the cinema? I saw it in February I think. It is challenging, I won't launch into it I can't type very quickley.

Gilliam - Tideland? Is that a recommendation? I haven't heard opinions on this, I thought it was a kids film? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on October 25, 2007, 01:19:40 pm
Tideland - I watched this recently. There were some nice moments. Much of the film made me a little uneasy. I almost stopped watching, but persevered. In the end, I think it was worth it. Felt like a short story of a film - the sort of thing writers do just to see what it will it turn out like. Sorry this isnt a more coherent critique, but I think I'd struggle to pin this film down without giving a hugely subjective interpretation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Sam on October 25, 2007, 01:28:30 pm
i'm surprised no-one has mentioned Control - the Ian Curtis biopic: possibly the finest film you'll see this year - Samantha Morton's portrail of Deborah Curtis is stunning. you all need to see this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 25, 2007, 02:39:41 pm
Gilliam - Tideland? Is that a recommendation? I haven't heard opinions on this, I thought it was a kids film? 

I've got/watched Tideland and thought it was very good.  Not really a kids film at all, but its about the innocence of childhood, I guess in this sense its similar to Pan's Labyrinth.  As r-man says there are some rather disconcerting aspects to the film, but its worth watching and having been reminded of it I shall probably watch it again soon.

It does however have Jeff Bridges in a Dude-esque role again (albeit rather short-lived  ;) )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on October 25, 2007, 02:45:11 pm
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Control

Its alright. It looks stunning, (as you'd expect), all performances are very good, great script, but it didn't engage me at all on an emotional level. Like looking at one of Antons coffee table books.

I would be very interested to know what the reaction was of someone who had no knowledge of the story, how it ends. Not many people fit into this category. In that respect its like reading Anna Karenin.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 28, 2007, 10:21:48 am
Another vote for control awesome film brilliant performances particularly by the obvious
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 29, 2007, 08:15:14 am
The House is Burning (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469104/).  Darn good, really made me fidget - some of the scenes make quite uncomfortable viewing.  One shattering day in the life...

Little Children. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404203/)  Do yourself a favour and ignore this film.  Imagine this is popular with a certain type of woman.  DVD only, you don't need to go to the flix for this one.

Zodiac (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/).  Serial killer thriller based on a true story.  A decent and sometimes tense film that ends so very disappointingly.  But certainly still worth watching if you're bored and the missus has gone to Bingo.


Can't wait to see Control.  Waited a long long time to see this (not open in The Reich yet).  I read Touching From a Distance when it was first published.  It's a fine read by-the-way.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 29, 2007, 10:22:16 pm
Lonely Hearts (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441774/) 'Kin ace film set in the late 40's, thriller/moidormystery starring Salma Hayek as the Ultimate Fruitloop Bitch Murderering Psycho Don't-Turn-Your-Back-To-Her-Lest-You-Want-To-Die-With-Your-Prick-In-Your-Mouth Cutesy-pie Lovemunchkin Manipulative Rabbit-boiler Schemer From Hell, and some other, more balanced individuals, almost LA Confidential (but not that good - what kinda show djew think we're runnin' here?) but nevertheless darn good if you are turned on by the sight of a well-cut suit in a '49 Plymouth . . . And John (lick my jawline) Travolta as Corp-on-The-Verge-Of-Sum-Kynda-Poisonil-Fuckin'-Dwahma-Muthafucka-etc..  etc..

Dead good!  :thumbsup:
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2007, 08:31:47 am
13 (Tzameti) was on BBC4 on the weekend. Recorded it but not watched it, don't know if they will reshow it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2007, 01:02:07 pm
watched a bit of this but wasn't really in the mood as its quite harrowing and I was feeling delicate
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2007, 01:31:48 pm
Diddums
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on October 30, 2007, 01:43:50 pm
i'm not a great fan of the genre, but sometimes i like to get scared.
i managed to find and watch "the texas chain saw massacre", original version, 1974 i think.
it's amazing.
it's not even scary, but has a tension that never release, and it's plain and crude as sometimes only reality can be. it was inspired by one serial killer of the '50s, that inspired also "the silence of the lambs" and other stuff.
a must see in my opinion.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 30, 2007, 01:52:44 pm
thanks for the sympathy there Chris
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2007, 03:34:04 pm
You know me, I'm a touchy, feely, fingery kind of guy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 31, 2007, 09:50:18 pm
Ask The Dust (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384814/)  (Film of the '39 novel by John Fante (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fante).)

(http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPO/505093~Ask-The-Dust-Posters.jpg)

Good.  But not as good as I wanted it to be.  At first I thought Farrells' casting was a mistake, but his vanity was well up to (main protagonist) Arturo Bandinis'.  Salma Hayek plays a blinder (as per) as fruit-loop Camilla Lopez.

Costumed poorly (it was all too clean); takes liberties with the script a bit, dumbs a few things down that didn't need etc.. but still a decent crack at it.

Film or book?  Book.

LA Times review. (http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-dust10mar10,0,1388928.story)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 31, 2007, 10:07:56 pm
9th Company

A Russian film about Afghanistan. Really really good. Well, I thought so. I guess it's trying to be a Russian Platoon or Hamburger Hill or summat. But it's newer, and as such the fighting scenes and effects are a bit more up-to-date. Although there are a few cgi sections that are a little transparent, albeit involving enormous explosions.

However, the cast is top notch, the script tight as Jerry's lycra, and the overall impression one of great accomplishment.

And there are some mean Hinds too...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 01, 2007, 01:03:58 am
Certain it's been mentioned before but I saw The Presteige on DVD tonight. Very good costume caper about two rival magicians. I like films that keep you guessing. It's impossible not to sit there theorising about what's going on. Christian Bale is good. Michael Caine's is "bladdy" excellent and David Bowie's in it too. What more do you need?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on November 01, 2007, 11:51:08 am
 Presteige - i went to see it in the cinema. i have this on dvd now, it is really good. people should see it.

count down the days until the new batman....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on November 01, 2007, 11:58:28 am
batman there is a new batman why was i not informed of this, though i think we should all agree that he's not really a superhero he's just filthy fucking rich
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 02, 2007, 08:44:15 am
batman there is a new batman why was i not informed of this, though i think we should all agree that he's not really a superhero he's just filthy fucking rich

First I'd heard of it too. Fucking sound. Christian Bale is class as Batman..........

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on November 03, 2007, 12:04:02 am
"Threads" on google video (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-2023790698427111488)

imdb (http://imdb.com/title/tt0090163/)

If you live in Sheffield it's especially worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 03, 2007, 08:54:42 am
Fantastic recommendation, Bubs!   I love Cold War Paranoia films, and used to watch this frequently when I was younger - full-on post-viewing nightmares!  :o


To get the full flavour of the times, may I recommend watching SCUM immediately afterwards.  If you can find a slab of Skol to quaff with it - all the better.


Has anyone seen Bubba - vs - Ho-tep (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281686/)? 

(http://www.bsrmedia.com/images/635.jpg)

(The King - vs - The King of the Dead.) This DVD has been staring at me for well, about a year, waiting to be hired.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 04, 2007, 09:47:07 am
Watched 'the woodsman' starring Kevin Bacon last night. Basically the story of a paedophile recently released back into the community on parole. Shows his struggles to readjust in a very impartial light. The film caused controversy at the time for portraying a paedophile in a sympathetic manner. It's better than it sounds. Character based film, rather than events based - so it can seem a little ponderous at times - but well acted and well realised. Worth a watch, I reckon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hongkongstuey on November 04, 2007, 11:17:30 pm
batman there is a new batman why was i not informed of this, though i think we should all agree that he's not really a superhero he's just filthy fucking rich

First I'd heard of it too. Fucking sound. Christian Bale is class as Batman..........

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/

they're filming part of it out in honkers this week - will keep my eyes open for any superstars strolling down the street
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 05, 2007, 12:56:46 pm
holy shit i have just finished watching "13 (Tzameti)"

(http://www.cinephelia.com/artwork/tzameti_moss.jpg)

by Gela Babluani. it has left my mind shattered, it is the most brutal mind fuck i have seen, makes requiem for a dream look like bambi. one scene of it had me in tatters, edge of seat, nerves in bits.
amazing, i would recomend it highly, brilliantly shot.

(oh yeah, its in french)

anyone else seen this?

Watched this at the weekend (on the back of recommendations here  :) ).  I "enjoyed" it, its very well shot and very tense, but felt the ending let it down a bit.  Not wanting to spoil it for anyone, but I kind of guessed something along the lines of the ending would happen, so the last 10-15 minutes was really just waiting for it.  Overall a pretty good film though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 05, 2007, 01:19:08 pm

Has anyone seen Bubba - vs - Ho-tep (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281686/)? 

(http://www.bsrmedia.com/images/635.jpg)

(The King - vs - The King of the Dead.) This DVD has been staring at me for well, about a year, waiting to be hired.





Bubba Ho-Tep is class. Totally ridiculous and very funny in parts. Also quite touching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 05, 2007, 01:38:43 pm
Saw Bubba Ho-Tep last night. 


I think in the main it fell on it's face:  bad soundtrack; Bubba Ho-Tep despite having the most badass name in the history of ghoul-naming was somewhat unwhelming in aquaintance; it was strangely moving though (but I thought it a mistake to bring this into what should've been a top film about a wraith that sucks the lifeforce of his victim through their assholes).  Shame, it nearly had it all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 05, 2007, 04:26:50 pm
It was a while ago that I saw it but IIRC I thought the whole wraith bit was just a sidetrack to the main premise of the movie. That of Elvis and (a black) JFK being stuck in an old folks home with nobody believing that it's them. If you're looking for a shit kicking ghoul flick then yeah, it's gonna fall on it's arse but I liked it......... in a strange way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 05, 2007, 10:28:48 pm
I just watched Sugarhouse on the plane on the way to the US today - it started well and then went downhill and all rather obvious.  Don't pay to go and see it at the cinema....  I got the feeling the director had gone for too many improvised scenes and dialogue in an attempt to get some 'realism' but it didn't really cut it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 08, 2007, 11:05:37 pm
Just checked Little Miss Sunshine on dvd. Damn good, feelgood, bittersweet character based/ family-sized road, trip movie. Just feel better for watching it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on November 11, 2007, 12:46:04 pm
I liked little miss sunshine but for some reason it didn't quite seem to hit the spot
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: clm on November 11, 2007, 01:59:37 pm
Control - what do people think?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 11, 2007, 03:40:41 pm
Control -
pants.

Not really, just amused me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on November 11, 2007, 06:16:16 pm
Pretty poor effort on not seeing this yet I'm sure, but can anyone recommend me spending 2 hours or thereabouts watching Blow (Cruz and Depp)? Need to spend film time wisely..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 12, 2007, 07:34:34 am
I've never seen Cruz blow Depp, but the film is reasonable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 12, 2007, 08:33:29 am
I thought it was OK, but ran out of steam towards the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on November 12, 2007, 08:40:39 pm
Quote
Control - what do people think?
thought the gigs sounded brill - the actors learnt the tunes in a few weeks apparently - thought the film itself doesn't really take us anywhere new or interesting, although it looked the part
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 12, 2007, 08:49:53 pm
Anyone else seen DIG!
Watched it a couple of times now.
Right funny/interesting. Well worth seeing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hydraulic Man on November 15, 2007, 04:19:09 am
Come and See-Grim but very good movie..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 16, 2007, 09:34:32 am
Very excited @ thought of Cronenbergs' latest, Eastern Promises. (And I don't have a clue about London).

TRAILER (http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?filmID=610)




Cronenberg.  Probably the best director in the world.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 16, 2007, 11:49:04 am
Very excited @ thought of Cronenbergs' latest, Eastern Promises. (And I don't have a clue about London).

TRAILER (http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?filmID=610)




Cronenberg.  Probably the best director in the world.



Totally agree with you there, Houdini.

Freaking awesome. Love the way he invokes real dark atmospheres, through use of sound lighting (and not forgetting fullon nasty events) in quite normal day-to-day situations. I finally got round to watching A History of Violence the other day. Twas superb. I live in London, but would be watching Eastern Promises regardless.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 16, 2007, 01:43:03 pm
And its got Aragorn in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on November 16, 2007, 01:59:40 pm
Not new by any stretch of the imagination (came out in 2000), but I watched "O Brother Where Art Thou" again the other day.  Utter class from start to finish and in my opinion near perfect in filming, sound and story.  Possibly my favourite film of all time that still keeps my interest on repeat viewings.

Also watched some Korean set movie called "Sympathy for Mr Vengance" and about a deaf/dumb fella who donates an kidney to save his sister, gets ripped off by kidney stealing bandits, then kidnaps a kid to raise the money for the transplant and then it all goes horribly wrong.  I kid ye not.  Well shot, interesting use of sound, mad plot but a bit violent.  Not bad.  No baby goats in it though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on November 16, 2007, 03:04:07 pm
I tend to watch about one film a year on average. This years choice came 2 days ago - The Cave. Along with Coolio and his Red Water film, this is probably the worst film ever made. So in answer to the thread title, it's not a quality film but one to avoid like the bubonic plague.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 16, 2007, 04:30:26 pm
Not new by any stretch of the imagination (came out in 2000), but I watched "O Brother Where Art Thou" again the other day.  Utter class from start to finish and in my opinion near perfect in filming, sound and story.  Possibly my favourite film of all time that still keeps my interest on repeat viewings.

It's class. You do know the plot is based on Homer's Odyssey? Only thing that bugs me is that I really don't like George Clooney, but think he s great in it. Everyone else is well cast too. Some great music on the soundtrack (but some shit as well).

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 16, 2007, 06:25:09 pm
On a Coen bros. tip I watched Fargo again the other night. Well worth a watch, i reckon. Beautifully shot as you'd expect, and moves along nicely. Steve Buscemi playing another creepy little guy down to perfection.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on November 16, 2007, 09:26:28 pm

Fargo is a great film imho.

Didn't know that about O Brother... Chris, i must watch it sometime... I really like the Alison Krauss "Down to the river" thingy from the soundtrack.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on November 17, 2007, 07:42:20 am
It's class. You do know the plot is based on Homer's Odyssey? Only thing that bugs me is that I really don't like George Clooney, but think he s great in it. Everyone else is well cast too.

Yeah, I know that but I've never got round to reading the Odyssey (yet).  I too am not a massive fan of Clooney (because I am not a middle aged housewife), but I think he's pretty damn good in this, he seems to fit the part.

Bubba/Lorentz, Fargo is total class too and Bubba you've got to check out O Brother as it ticks many of the same dry humour and stylish plot boxes that Fargo ticks too.

If you're interested in some random persons thoughts on the film masquerading as fact...  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Brother,_Where_Art_Thou%3F (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Brother,_Where_Art_Thou%3F)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 17, 2007, 09:24:26 am
My major malfunction is serious non-eidetic memory...   I could forget a film within hours of watching it; it'll be gone forever.  If I remember a film one week after viewing - it must be good. 

Films I've remembered this week:

Bug (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470705/) - Slow to develop but compulsive viewing when it finally boils.  A film about psychological illness (post-traumatic stress) and extreme paranoia.

Running with Scissors (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439289/) - Amusing portrayal of disfunctional family life/therapist culture, starring Brian Cox (love him in almost everything), Joseph Fiennes et al.  Pretty good, and I'd offer more stars out of 10 than IMDB do.   Not bad.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 17, 2007, 12:20:21 pm
On the subject of the Coen bro's. Their new effort 'No country for old men' is getting rave reviews everywhere.  Its based on the Cormac McArthy novel of the same name which is an absolutely brilliant book.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on November 18, 2007, 11:04:49 pm
I watched Love Honour and obey tonight with a host of names like Ray Winstone, Jonny Lee Miller, Denise van Outen, Sadie Frost etc starring.

Its from 1999 so isn't exactly brand new but it was excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 19, 2007, 11:35:12 am
I thought Love, Honour and Obey was a brilliant example of Lock, Stock bandwagon jumping Britcrap myself...

This should be on a Good TV thread, but as I don't own one I don't plan to start you all talking about things that I'm not going to see.  But....

The Buddha of Suburbia - I spent a week glued to the DVD of this. The book is great, and the TV series from back in 93 really brings it to life. Naveen Andrews is fantastic, as is the bloke playing the repellent Changez. And Pyke and Eleanor. It has aged incredibly well too. Hire it from Amazon and enjoy.

Deadwood - Since reluctantly agreeing to borrow the set of series 1 and therefore lifting my embargo on American TV series, I have been seriously impressed with this. It's so fucking good. Ian McShane should've got into westerns years ago. It's brilliantly scripted, beautifully filmed and so gripping I nearly made some excuse about crashing my car this morning so I could finish an episode.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on November 19, 2007, 12:16:23 pm
I watched Love Honour and obey tonight with a host of names like Ray Winstone, Jonny Lee Miller, Denise van Outen, Sadie Frost etc starring.

Its from 1999 so isn't exactly brand new but it was excellent.

in that vein - saw layercake again the other day - a good waste of a couple of hours
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 19, 2007, 06:07:06 pm
Yoss - Now your embargo is lifted you need to go and watch The Wire.. It's absolutely fantastic, compelling viewing... go buy and treat yourself over Christmas.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 19, 2007, 06:44:34 pm
On a Coen bros. tip I watched Fargo again the other night. Well worth a watch, i reckon. Beautifully shot as you'd expect, and moves along nicely. Steve Buscemi playing another creepy little guy down to perfection.

Fargo is not just great but brilliant (would definitely be in my top 5) - Frances McDormand especially. It normally gets tagged as 'black comedy' which does it a profound injustice IMO.  I though it a very subtle, humane film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 20, 2007, 08:30:29 am
Yaar, yaar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 20, 2007, 12:04:30 pm
 ;D

Anyone see A Scanner Darkly yet? I watched it the other  day. If you're into your Phillip K Dick then the film/cartoon (its film that's been rotascoped to take on a weird lurid cartoon qualitiy) is pretty faithful to the book. Keanu Reeves bumbles on through a weird, seedy drug underworld with a bunch of fellow freaks all getting high on a new killer narcotic - subtance D(eath). Some very funny moments, some dark occurences and some trippy happenings all going on in a disjointed (in a good way) freakout flick. Enjoy. :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on November 20, 2007, 12:36:27 pm


Anyone see A Scanner Darkly yet?


yep.... Richard Linklater quality as ever
and Rory Cochrane - as good as he was in dazed and confused  :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 21, 2007, 09:56:48 am
I finally got round to watching ASD about a month ago. I forst thought the rotoscoping was amazing, but the novellty soon wore off. As for the story, i thought it OK, but didn't think it was somethnig that translated particularly well to film.

Halfway through watching Downfall at the moment. Interesting and some great acting. Bloody long though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on November 21, 2007, 10:07:23 am
I can't wait to see Untergang.  Holding out for a copy with English subtitles (this would be too much fast German to get everything).

Final analysis, Chris?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 21, 2007, 11:55:24 am
Geil! (still got an hour to go).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on November 21, 2007, 02:01:57 pm
off to see american ganster tonight, i will report back....

I finally got round to watching ASD about a month ago. I forst thought the rotoscoping was amazing, but the novellty soon wore off. As for the story, i thought it OK, but didn't think it was somethnig that translated particularly well to film.

i agree with that chris, no doubt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 21, 2007, 03:00:41 pm
I finally got round to watching ASD about a month ago. I forst thought the rotoscoping was amazing, but the novellty soon wore off. As for the story, i thought it OK, but didn't think it was somethnig that translated particularly well to film.




I stopped noticing the rotascoping about 1/2 way through too. Didn't feel it detracted from the film though. Just felt pretty neutral about it. Apparently it was something to do with those moving anonymity suits in the film. Would have probably blown the films budget many times over thrying to CGI those badboys in a non-rotascoped context. This could be bullshit though - read it in a paper.

Phillip K Dick's novels have really odd quality to them, which i reckon the film captured quite faithfully. There are times when the film goes into "book mode" quoting it ad verbatim - memorably in the suicide attempt which turns into an intense trip involving the suicidee's list of sins. I thought that worked pretty well myself. I much prefer that style to the hollywood shlock that Minority Report became - but then i like his writing and I'm a sucker for quirkiness in films.

"Halfway through watching Downfall at the moment. Interesting and some great acting. Bloody long though."

Another excellent film. Fuck me, it gets a bit dark though. He shoots himself in the end btw!  :oops:  :wall:  ;D

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on November 21, 2007, 03:02:03 pm
I want to finally second the old Shaolin Soccer recommendation, but unusually the English version's better.  Fear not though, the soundtrack to this is done by Hong Kong folk (who obviously also speak English themselves), so none of those ridiculous Gung Ho yank bastard overdub efforts.  The humour's more hilarious then to my mind, though this is a personal thing and I only have a short attention span.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 21, 2007, 07:02:03 pm
Very excited @ thought of Cronenbergs' latest, Eastern Promises. (And I don't have a clue about London).

TRAILER (http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?filmID=610)




Cronenberg.  Probably the best director in the world.


saw it this afternoon. really good. and one of the most brutal bloody fight scenes i've ever seen...

chtob vse byli zdorovy
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 27, 2007, 02:55:35 pm
Yoss - Now your embargo is lifted you need to go and watch The Wire.. It's absolutely fantastic, compelling viewing... go buy and treat yourself over Christmas.

Bought and by gosh it's good. I got back late last night and the Yoss'ometer announced a very definite bottle of wine and episode 2 rather than the more sensible water and bed. Episode 3 this lunchtime. 

I particularly enjoyed D'Angelo's chess explanation...

The king ain't got no hustle, and the queen is the go get shit done piece...the queen ain't no bitch. She got all the moves. Pawns get capped quick. Unless they some smart ass pawns...


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on November 27, 2007, 03:52:28 pm

Has anyone seen Blade Runner - The Final Cut yet?

Now i know a lot of folks find Blade Runner tedious poop but i love it and the chance to see the full version as intended in HD makes me very happy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 28, 2007, 09:02:56 pm
I had a bit of a UKB recommended film fest over the weekend whilst looking after poorly Mrs FD who had undergone dental surgery on Friday.  Being the kind nurse that I am I treated her to the following:

Oldboy: This surprised me.. I was expecting a straightforward Tartan gangster flick, not some a beautifully shot existentialist art movie.  Brilliant.

Oldjoy: Bored me.  Normally I would like this kind of thing so maybe I was in the wrong mood but by halfway I wanted to shoot both of them and bury them in the woods. 

300: Mrs FD said 'This is just the f*cking fight scene from Return of the King.. its even got elephants in it'.  I thought it was very gay, very exciting and I wanted to be a Spartan until I saw Xerxes harem of doped up sexy houris and my allegiances were challenged.  Top fun.

Zodiac: Drama... casting Robert Downey Jr as coke addled, pothead journalist Paul Avery was a stroke of genius.  One of the best thrillers I've watched in years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 28, 2007, 09:04:47 pm
Bought and by gosh it's good.

Top man... it's brilliant.  What you might not know is that McNulty and Stringerbell are both Brit actors.

Let me know what you think when you get to the end of the 1st series.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on November 28, 2007, 09:10:59 pm
Zodiac: Drama... casting Robert Downey Jr as coke addled, pothead journalist Paul Avery was a stroke of genius.  One of the best thrillers I've watched in years.

you're right.

i watched Babel the other night. thought it was rubbish.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stoat on December 02, 2007, 11:06:09 pm
Watched A Shot in the Dark the other day. An absolute classic, but although I no longer condone drug use I would recommend watching this or any of the other Pink Panther series on that fuck strong weed that came out of Jesmond a few years back. :oops: Or that bale that was smuggled out under police surveylance from that cave in Wales. :oops:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 03, 2007, 12:02:53 am
Bought and by gosh it's good.

Top man... it's brilliant.  What you might not know is that McNulty and Stringerbell are both Brit actors.

Let me know what you think when you get to the end of the 1st series.

I was pretty sure that McNulty was a resident of these shores, but Stringer Bell...?  Hmmmm. He's good.

I say it again, that chess scene is awesome. And the development of Pryzbylewski is my current fave bit.  I will furnish you with my overall rating when I get to the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 03, 2007, 06:24:51 am
anyone seen the darjeeling limited yet? will be going myself next week
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on December 03, 2007, 01:04:09 pm
Quote
really good. and one of the most brutal bloody fight scenes i've ever seen...
agree with the first sentiment, although was underhorrified by the bathroom fight - thought the 'bourne ultimatum' arab vs bourne (in the moroccan style shower scene) fight was more brutal, and for true gruesome fight horror 'irreversible' takes some beating.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 03, 2007, 01:06:43 pm
went to see darjeeling the other day, its very offbeat but is a very entertaining film and well worth it for anyone who like lost in translation
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 03, 2007, 01:16:00 pm
went to see darjeeling the other day, its very offbeat but is a very entertaining film and well worth it for anyone who like lost in translation

Hmm, doesn't sound like my cup of tea  ::)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 03, 2007, 01:37:50 pm
and for true gruesome fight horror 'irreversible' takes some beating.....

Irreversible is grim. Thought it was overly unpleasant just for the sake of it. When you take away the shock value there's not a lot left.

I like the fight scene in Grosse Point Blank when John Cusack nails the hard as fuck assasin bloke with the pen he's just been given.

went to see darjeeling the other day, its very offbeat but is a very entertaining film and well worth it for anyone who like lost in translation

I hated Lost In Translation. I ususally like that type of film but i thought it was poor.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on December 03, 2007, 01:58:19 pm
saw beowolf at the weekend - didnt know the story and the CGI was really good (didnt get in the way of a rather good tale)... but am i getting old or does anything get a 12a rating unless it portrays gang violance or sex??? there's no way my 9 year old would have sat through that... way too scary / graphicly violent..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: runt on December 03, 2007, 06:50:26 pm
Quick tip on a couple to avoid, unless you feel like being throughly depressed

the girl next door.....harrowing. child abuse + psycho aunty, should of found out more before I started watching it.

Perfect witness.....totally grim. serial killer, more child abuse, not a peaceful nights viewing.

More amusingly, deathproof and grindhouse... tarantino and rodriguez, usual thing, guns, girls, muscle cars etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 03, 2007, 07:18:16 pm
Quote
really good. and one of the most brutal bloody fight scenes i've ever seen...
agree with the first sentiment, although was underhorrified by the bathroom fight - thought the 'bourne ultimatum' arab vs bourne (in the moroccan style shower scene) fight was more brutal, and for true gruesome fight horror 'irreversible' takes some beating.....

yep, maybe. i thought the bourne one was good too, but the camera was leaping about so much that you could hardly see what was going on.

the thing about the fight in eastern promises was the build-up. whatshisface fucks off, leaving an armed tamar hassan and his nasty friend to take care of a semi naked russian (trying not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet). there's no way he's going to make it. but he does. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 03, 2007, 08:51:03 pm
Watched The Princess Bride again for about the hundredth time. Cracking family film with humour on all levels(featuring Big Al Qaeda and other Peak rock), but won't appeal to everyone. The makers/writers of Shrek obviously got a lot of inspiration from this film. If you like the script, I can reccommend reading William Goldman's book The Princess Bride.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 03, 2007, 10:04:01 pm
but won't appeal to everyone.
Why not? its a fantastic film and I've yet to meet anyone who's not enjoyed it.
I don't pay you to be the weakest giant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 03, 2007, 10:25:05 pm
but won't appeal to everyone.
Why not? its a fantastic film and I've yet to meet anyone who's not enjoyed it.
I don't pay you to be the weakest giant
I based that comment on the fact that I once met one person who didn't like it on the grounds that it was a fairytale (he is a  :wank: er and not very bright, but I am sure there are more like him out there. Not on this forum obviously).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 03, 2007, 11:25:56 pm
Well if he (or she) is a  :wank: then I don't want to know them or meet them or even know about their existance, so I still stand by my statement.
Actually thinking about it, I know Dense, but he likes princess birde so I'll let him off.
Are you a R.O.U.S?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 04, 2007, 09:38:35 am
Are you a R.O.U.S?
I don't think they exist.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on December 04, 2007, 04:36:14 pm
Are you a R.O.U.S?
I don't think they exist.
I'm not so sure, there are some at my place of work the size of dogs, big dogs... and they hunt in packs.  :o
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 07, 2007, 08:55:03 pm
gentlemen the time has arrived

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1KiXWWTxg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1KiXWWTxg)

bring it on
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 07, 2007, 10:18:35 pm
gentlemen the time has arrived

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1KiXWWTxg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1KiXWWTxg)

bring it on

i don't know whether to laugh or cry...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on December 08, 2007, 08:54:17 am
those pent up feelings of hatred, fear and self loathing coupled with urgent desires to slay the common man seem fully addressed by this piece of film.

I for one am Gagging for it....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: runt on December 11, 2007, 02:34:56 pm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395584/

'The devils rejects'
Rob zombie does cinema, not for the squeamish, but good tunes and lots of vengeance, I liked it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 11, 2007, 02:44:37 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Country_for_Old_Men_(film)

Saw this last week with the missus. We wanted to see American Gangster but were to late so thought a Cohen Bros' movie would be a good alternative. Hadn't heard anything about it. Thought it was fantastic. Javier Bardem is quite chilling.

Came out of the cinema to see big billboards with critical acclaim etc written all over them and there's adverts on the telly for it every 5 mins.

Not sure when it's out in the UK but is a definite must see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 11, 2007, 03:45:11 pm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395584/

'The devils rejects'
Rob zombie does cinema, not for the squeamish, but good tunes and lots of vengeance, I liked it

Yes this is top. It's the sequel to House Of 1000 Corpses which is shit. Fortunately you don't need to watch the first one to enjoy the far superior second.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 11, 2007, 03:55:45 pm

Not sure when it's out in the UK but is a definite must see.

The wikipedia article you linked indicates that the UK release is the 18th January 2008.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 11, 2007, 04:12:42 pm

Cunning Slack-line! (I hadn't actually read the article, just can't get onto imdb at work so it was the next best thing).

18th Jan, that's a while off. Looks like I jumped the gun a bit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 15, 2007, 10:13:14 pm
"Harold Buttleman, Daredevil Stuntman" - not mainstream hollywood, but free to watch (takes up 95 mins of your time). On a par with Alain Robert, but funny and interesting and without having his head stuck up his own arse.
Harold Buttleman, small town tuxedo salesman, thinks he's the next Evel Knievel. He's not.
One Summer meats Friends meets Jackass with a script as electric as The Real Thing.
I enjoyed watching it while doing other stuff on the 'puter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba1OLZajyJs
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on December 15, 2007, 11:07:29 pm
Fully Flared, a new skate film featuring some of the best. This might have been missed on some of your radars, but it's being hailed as the best skate video since sliced bread. It's got plenty of good action with tricks that I can't even pretend to know the name of. Obviously as a skate director you're best friend "fisheye" is always with you... so for those who aren't best friends with "fisheye" - you've been warned. Here's the trailer, courtesy of youtube. Also, you can download it for free, thus killing creation, by searching ever popular torrent sites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0beVFXI8Rg
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 16, 2007, 09:12:40 am

Has anyone seen Blade Runner - The Final Cut yet?

Now i know a lot of folks find Blade Runner tedious poop but i love it and the chance to see the full version as intended in HD makes me very happy.

Je suis un Blad-runneur fanatique!   There is a new version?!  Great news!  Being frequently wrong I don't mind if I am   again - but I think this film is about destroying God.  C'mon?  What's yo opinion, Bubs?

Jasper - I too am surprised that you did not dig Lost in Translation.  You opened a new angle vis-a-vis Bubba -vs- Ho-Tep but didn't find this film touching?  I thought it heartbreaking.  I also think that Bill Murray has finally found his niche, he does the sad and whistful/regretful thing very well indeed, I t'ink.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on December 17, 2007, 01:06:32 am
I don't think anyone's mentioned it yet, but I've just finished watching "The Number 23" with Jim Carrey, playing a serious role for once. Pretty good. I thought so anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 17, 2007, 08:54:55 am

Jasper - I too am surprised that you did not dig Lost in Translation.  You opened a new angle vis-a-vis Bubba -vs- Ho-Tep but didn't find this film touching?  I thought it heartbreaking.  I also think that Bill Murray has finally found his niche, he does the sad and whistful/regretful thing very well indeed, I t'ink.

I like Murray and thought he was quite good but the film didn't touch me at all. Perhaps I was in the wrong frame of mind but I just found it dull and obvious.

Blade Runner is fucking brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 17, 2007, 09:06:10 am
The lass asked for spooky/mystery and I returned forthwith with Transformers.

There was a time in my life that Transformers ruled.  I had the coolest Decepticon of all: Thrust.  I had access to Optimus Prime; Megatron; Dirge; Jazz - and many more.  I wanted to love this film. 

Yet they made is so hard: the film is at least 35 - 45mins too long and many of the scenes are woefull, regrettable balls of poop that would no more satisfy the square-eyed, PS3-wad callused-fingered bairns of today than a nostalgic fool hungry for times past.

Fuck it off and don't spoil the good times between yo ears, Holmes.



PS - I saw the Number 23 weeks ago and thought it fuck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on December 17, 2007, 09:40:54 am
Fully Flared, a new skate film featuring some of the best.

This is amazing, go buy a copy if you like skateboarding, it's better than Yeah Right, which I wasn't sure was possible.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 17, 2007, 10:23:51 pm
Not that I'm really into skate video's, but this sliced bread ones sound good. Edgy title. Where can I get it?
I don't recon a fishing video is really my scene but i'll try anything once
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2007, 12:54:10 pm
Pan's Labyrinth was on Film4 last night. Watched some of it, will try watch rest tonight. Bound to be repeated.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 18, 2007, 01:11:45 pm
It is tres bon. Definately worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 18, 2007, 02:10:37 pm
Films ive watched in last week

Hitman - Average, watchable, crap dialog 3/5
The Contractor - Action/Thriller through and through. Turn brain off, not bad 3/5
Alpha Dog - Not bad acting from Timberlake, Good film, but its no Tarrantino! 4/5
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 18, 2007, 07:11:03 pm
Just watched Grzegorz Jonkajtys' short film Arka (The Ark). Liked it, as will all fans of short stories, scifi (ish) stuff, short films, animation, graphic stories and all that sort of thing (geeky comics and all that). Other people might like it too.
Oh look, a trailer on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzfAVxIa7Vk

Its only 7 mins (guess) long. Its a cg animation and "won Siggraph Best of Show this year. The beautiful, yet deeply sad film is the tale of an unknown virus has destroyed almost the entire human population. The title refers to the attempted escape by the only remaining survivors in a flotilla of huge ships, in search of uninhabited and uncontaminated land."
"While technically beautiful, the film's story really tugs at the emotional heart strings." seems about right.
The official Arc site is ridden with virus itself (thearcfilm.com) so don't go there unless your computer is adequately protected and you know what you are doing.
There is a full download here (http://rapidshare.com/files/77471940/The_Ark_-_2007.avi) that seems ok.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 18, 2007, 09:54:11 pm

Alpha Dog - Not bad acting from Timberlake, Good film, but its no Tarrantino! 4/5

just saw it - ultimately just a very sad story - glad I've seen it but not exactly enjoyable

as true crime goes think Wonderland was a better film....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 20, 2007, 01:42:36 pm
Some great bits in this.......

(http://i5.tinypic.com/82aee1k.jpg)

..........but it aint no Old Boy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 20, 2007, 04:46:57 pm
 :off: Just as a warning really. If anyone is thinking of watching The Celestine Prophecy, don't bother. Its even worse than I thought it could be. Wooden (soggy, cheap chipboard) acting and poor     well     everything. I am tempted to bring out a compolation of the 20+ hours of shit that I edit out of my non-quality efforts just to show how much this film could be improved.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 20, 2007, 08:20:34 pm
Mad keen for Eastern Promises, I just know that if I had seen it it would be in my Film choices in the Best of 2007.


Anyone seen The Golden Compass?  From the book by Phillip Pullman.

Trailer on this page (http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/).  A possibility for this weekend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 21, 2007, 07:56:51 am

Anyone seen The Golden Compass?  From the book by Phillip Pullman.

Trailer on this page (http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/).  A possibility for this weekend.

I have heard it's awful. Apparently all that's good about the book has been lost in the Disnefication process.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 21, 2007, 08:18:15 am
Seen some very mixed reviews, but still keen to see it. G/f is halfway through book and wants to finish it before we go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 21, 2007, 04:35:10 pm
Anyone seen The Golden Compass?  From the book by Phillip Pullman.

Yes. I quite liked it. Very Chit Chiti Bang Bang. The small child that took me to see it loved it. Worth going to the cinema for the fights involving the Ice Bears - lots of load roaring and bowl shaking bass effects which scared a few kids. The main child character was done well. Nicole Kidman's character was ace - scary, evilish, mixed up and very pretty. In fact, all the bad guys were done well. Sam Eliot played exactly the same role that he does in every other film he's in (so quite good).
We knew nothing of the book before going, so had nothing to compare it with.
The final fights and happy bit as the plots were tied up were fine, but then it continued on to a pretty lame finish. On a par with the sub-ending of Lord of The Rings pt 1 setting you up for the next 4 films in the series.
It will make a great Christmas film in the future.
Same as I say! Same as I say! Very Chit Chiti Bang Bang.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 21, 2007, 06:16:57 pm
This opens soon

Sweeney Todd (http://www.sweeneytoddmovie.com/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 22, 2007, 09:10:21 am
bowl shaking

Tell me about it man, these fucking beggars weedle their way into all places
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 23, 2007, 12:17:08 pm
Full Metal Village (http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=uZjNhF-HPsE)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 23, 2007, 03:35:04 pm
Another good bit of 'puter generated fun- "A Gentalman's Duel" from Blur studio. Well worth a few mins (7.45) of anyone's time.

Links for high quality downloads from here (http://www.gfxworld.org/footage/c1.html)

trailer on 'tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaT1zdZkvN4 

and low quality version too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCP2qbHDGIs
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on December 23, 2007, 04:41:20 pm

Anyone seen The Golden Compass?  From the book by Phillip Pullman.


I saw it the first weekend and I have to be honest I was a bit disappointed! I've not read the books or seen the plays but I was expecting something a bit deeper. I heard they toned some of the subject matter down to capture a wider audience.

Something else, there wasn't a peep from the kids in the audience; no ooohs! and no arrhs, nothing!

Look good though and massive fighting polar bears are always going to be a crowd pleaser.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on December 24, 2007, 06:08:35 pm
It says something about the modern age that we can now only experience an old traditional sport like bear baiting through the magic of CGI.

It says something about me that I was willing to walk for two hours at night to see Jackie Chan fight the tallest active basket ball player (for the record -  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2416539/  (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2416539/) - the film's one for his fans only) and some other cool shit, but I could't be arsed to roll down a hill on my bike and watch Golden Compass.  I've just got this gut instinct that tells me I'll be dissappointed if I go to the cinema to see it - it'll be on at christmas in 2 or 3 years and I'll enjoy it then.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 26, 2007, 12:11:36 pm
Seen a couple of new things over Xmas.

I Am Legend - Amazing CGI, very similar to 28 days later and 28 weeks later. Watchable but not as good as the hype. 7/10
American Gangster - Long, well put together, wont say anymore as will give the plot away. 9/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 26, 2007, 09:52:58 pm
just been to see I am legend, agreed it lacks a bit of pace but they manage to hold the suspense pretty well better than you average film but i like the original better and I still need to get round to reading the book.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hongkongstuey on December 27, 2007, 05:11:30 am
American Gangster - Long, well put together, wont say anymore as will give the plot away. 9/10

it may have been the fact we'd been out drinking on Sat night when we slapped this one on, but half the room we're falling asleep - quite slow and nothing that hasn't been done in a million and one films before,  3-4/10 would be my rating. Should have watched Eastern Promise instead...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 27, 2007, 05:34:29 am
American Gangster - Long, well put together, wont say anymore as will give the plot away. 9/10

it may have been the fact we'd been out drinking on Sat night when we slapped this one on, but half the room we're falling asleep - quite slow and nothing that hasn't been done in a million and one films before,  3-4/10 would be my rating. Should have watched Eastern Promise instead...

3-4?! Thats harsh Stu..... I thought it was good, really good.

Eastern promise good? Thats next on the list!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 27, 2007, 10:06:34 am
saw a guide to recognising your saints yesterday..
very well acted but any real interest in the characters lies in the fact that you know it is autobiographical from the director
all in all watch something else  :thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 27, 2007, 10:35:19 am
Eastern Promise, good, bit slow, but there was a good story. 7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 30, 2007, 01:02:34 pm
Yes, Eastern Promises is good & 7/10 is fair (nothing ever gets 10/10)


Also, This is England, great film.  Better than Romper Stomper & American History X.  Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 31, 2007, 11:35:00 am
Watched a couple of DVDs last night.
The Contract was disappointing. Morgan Freeman was the only good thing about it. The other highly trained professional killers were incompetent. The dramatic bits just didn't work. Emerdale is more exciting, absorbing and convincing. John Cusack was lame and the less well known actors were worse. 4/10
Breaking and Entering was much better. Nothing too exciting, but better than Emerdale. Just an interesting, realistic story about some people in Kings Cross. It did feel like watching an ok tv drama or a very good episode of The Bill (not sure why I think that?). Jude Law's voice annoys me, but it didn't spoil the film. 5.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 31, 2007, 01:47:52 pm
Just finished watching Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) directed by Luc Besson.  Beautifully shot in Paris in black and white with an excellent subtly humorous story line about someone who's down on their luck and gets a little help sorting things out.  :great:

Must have been shot very early in the morning for the streets to be so clear!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on December 31, 2007, 05:22:05 pm
Just finished watching Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) directed by Luc Besson.  Beautifully shot in Paris in black and white with an excellent subtly humorous story line about someone who's down on their luck and gets a little help sorting things out.  :great:

I've been waiting for this to appear on the local rental store shelves, but no such luck yet.

Went to see a couple of movies at the flicks this week... stay well clear of Balls of Fury, I went to see it because I'm a fan of Chris Walken but it's a complete stinker... I Am Legend is an adaptation of the same story that spawned The Omega Man and is okay if you like your post-apocalyptic tales.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 31, 2007, 06:26:39 pm
Just finished watching Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) directed by Luc Besson.  Beautifully shot in Paris in black and white with an excellent subtly humorous story line about someone who's down on their luck and gets a little help sorting things out.  :great:

I've been waiting for this to appear on the local rental store shelves, but no such luck yet.


T'was only a fiver from HMV (just checked online and its the same price with free delivery).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 02, 2008, 07:10:14 pm
Watched Stardust last night. What a great film. Excellent fairytale/fantasy type stuff. Good set of decent talent playing well scripted parts. Robert De Niro as a crossdressing sky-pirate captain, Michelle Pfeiffer as an evil witch, Ricky Gervais as a salesman, Sienna Miller as a self obsessed pretty bimbo - all good stuff. Even Peter O'Toole and David Williams in there as well. A good 8/10 from me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 03, 2008, 08:20:53 am
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419294/)  (2005 Dir.  Tommy Lee Jones)

(http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/medias/nmedia/18/51/88/12/18605817.jpg)





Been waiting many months (not for a good) but a great film to come by.  Perhaps this was it.  7.5 or 8/10


I like TLJ; but then I'm a big Burt Reynolds fan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on January 06, 2008, 07:04:30 pm
Just got back from watching Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park (http://imdb.com/title/tt0842929/).

If you enjoyed his Elephant (http://imdb.com/title/tt0363589/) from 2003, then I suspect you'll like this too.

It's the story of a young skater struggling to come to terms with his part in the accidental death of a railroad security guard. Extremely atmospheric with stunning dreamlike skate sequences. Unusual for the use of several amateur actors recruited via myspace. On at the Sheffield Showroom at the moment.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 06, 2008, 07:16:35 pm
Loved Elephant, had meant to post about it before.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on January 06, 2008, 08:39:06 pm
tell no one.
fantastic. watch it.

(why is it that every time i post here it is for a french film!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on January 06, 2008, 09:02:16 pm
Tsk Chappers, back on page 11 ;) :lol:

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg113770

But yes, it's a great film - that bit where she looks up at the cctv camera still makes me shudder thinking of it :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al on January 07, 2008, 03:54:40 pm
Quote
Just got back from watching Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park.
If you enjoyed his Elephant from 2003, then I suspect you'll like this too
caught this last night, lovely lo-fi skating footage (found the rest a bit too much like an 90's calvin klein pants advert) - agree with andy, bubba re. 'elephant' though, real classic - also worth checking out 'gerry' (G V Sant also) for the first scene, driving in the desert to the sound of arvo part
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: runt on January 09, 2008, 09:51:45 pm
Zeitgeist 2006

May well have been mentioned before? But a really interesting feature length documentary, albeit typically yank and a bit sensational. From god to economics to god to war and back again but that's not really selling it, worth a look though
I'll never look at an banker in quite the same way again....or something

divx link here
http://quicksilverscreen.com/watch?video=20687
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 10, 2008, 11:02:19 am
Into The Wild, story inspired by the life experiences of a young bloke who gave away his college earnings and went on the road in america. Brilliantly directed and played by all involved really awesome film, if a bit apple pie
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 12, 2008, 10:15:36 pm
Moo is truly wrong about Anton Corbijns' Control - I cried frequently, the missus held my hand, we improvised, adapted & overcame . . .



Probably, easily, deservedly straight into my top ten, perhaps top 5.

Growing up in the 80's without Joy Division would've been murder fror me, Moo can't ever understand that.

This is a first rate film: Sams' voice is good, but not as good as Ians'.   Hooky and Rob Gretton are perfect flawless performances.  Wilson was portrayed delightfully (and respectfully).  The producer, Martin Hamnett, was portayed as he should've been, a junkie seer. 

Its's a beautiful work of art - it could never have happened in colour.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 13, 2008, 01:37:54 am
The actress who played Annik Honore in Control.

(http://img5.allocine.fr/acmedia/medias/nmedia/18/64/29/26/18766796.jpg)

Weapons Grade material, I think you'll agree. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 13, 2008, 01:41:12 am
Oddly looking a little like Nena of neun und neunzig luftballons-fame.


Time trap technik!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 13, 2008, 02:28:31 pm
OI houdini get your facts straight sunshine, I was full of nothing but praise for control in fact i believe i commented on how i thought the film was brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 13, 2008, 06:48:16 pm
Oh sorry, had a recollection you said it was nowt special.  Just thought you must've been potty.  Probably more due to alcohol being served in German theatres . . .    :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 13, 2008, 07:02:00 pm
Probably more due to alcohol being served in German theatres . . .    :-[

The sign of a civilised society.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 13, 2008, 09:08:59 pm
I was uneconomical w/facts.  Yes, booze is served here, also, some is smuggled in.



The frau said I stank like a bum (of port).  I say, serves 'em right. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 14, 2008, 01:08:25 pm
I stank like a bum (of port)
The sign of a civilised bum
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on January 15, 2008, 05:00:45 pm
I've just watched Juno and I am blown away. Absolutely wonderful writing, directing, and acting. The characters are genuinely interesting and "quirky" is the greatest understatement for this film. You should all see it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on January 15, 2008, 05:14:11 pm
Sounds good Uncle. It's on me list.

Here's another quirky gem. Heartlands - a Northern road movie. Full of big-small moments and proper Northerners, it's a journey of self discovey on a moped. Well cast, well directed and warmly written.

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TCBNQ5B4L._AA240_.jpg)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heartlands-Michael-Sheen/dp/B0002W15DM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1200416915&sr=8-1
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 16, 2008, 12:13:12 pm
Anyone seen this?.......

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479046/

(http://i9.tinypic.com/80kzg4p.jpg)

Looks interesting but the reviews are mixed to say the least.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 17, 2008, 09:01:36 am
I just bought this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0JdzlRY48w8 (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0JdzlRY48w8)

Its a bit mad but it also has samuel jackson doing the voicover, well worth the money for anyone who likes a bit manga.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 18, 2008, 10:44:59 pm
Didn't care for O' Brother where art thou (George is a nonce)

But I can't wait for this new Coen film:

http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 19, 2008, 09:57:15 am
Didn't care for O' Brother where art thou (George is a nonce)

But I can't wait for this new Coen film:

http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/

Yes, reports back ASAP please.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 19, 2008, 05:07:52 pm
I must have watched the trailer for no country about 10 times I'm well psyched for it!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 20, 2008, 04:55:05 pm
No Country For Old Men....
Well, predictably given the reviews so far, I thought it was very good.  Although it's hard to articulate quite why I liked it so much and define what kind of film it is.  There is a lot of bloody action, yet it is neither gratuitous nor mindless.  There is a lot of stillness and attention to mood, but it is not dull: just beautifully paced and nuanced.  The performances and script are both excellent with dialogue that manages to be quotable yet not seem like it has been shoe-horned in for good trailer material.  If I had to sum it up in a word it would be "restrained"; there is little of the self-aware "kookiness" characterises most of Coens' work (aside from Javier Bardem's hair!).  Possibly the greatest tribute I can pay to it is that I came out of the cinema with a lingering respect for the taciturn, independently-minded folk of Texas... which lasted until I turned on the news and was reminded about US politics.

and on DVD:
3:10 to Yuma
This started off quite well: a good old fashionned western with a debonair, psychopathic villain and a good man "who's gotta do what a man's gotta do".  Unfortunately, it undid all of that good work with a final section and denouement that just beggared belief with it's cack-handed idiocy and betrayal of it's previous character development.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 20, 2008, 07:09:07 pm
I watched 'Black Snake Moan' last week.
I rate it, a great performance from Samuel L Jackson... and a smoking hot chick!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on January 20, 2008, 10:16:06 pm
Into The Wild, story inspired by the life experiences of a young bloke who gave away his college earnings and went on the road in america. Brilliantly directed and played by all involved really awesome film, if a bit apple pie

Watched this last night. Brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on January 21, 2008, 09:52:03 am
Aye, saw that a couple of weeks back too. Superb. What was really surprising was how closely they followed the book.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on January 21, 2008, 05:19:57 pm
No Country for Old Men - Missing a lot! But still very good. Tad slow, but it works. Empire give it 5/5, hmmmm, 3.5/5.
Thoughts?

Near Hueco aswell!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 22, 2008, 02:45:14 pm
There was a limited choice of flicks available on the plane over the Atlantic last night so I opted for 'The Jane Austen Book Club', a bit of a soppy Rom Com that warmed the cockles of my heart.  I mention it only because I realised the actress and character (I know it's not real) that I was rapidly falling in love with was the stunningly beautiful and very talented Maria Bello

She won a golden globe playing Edie Stall opposite Aragorn in Cronenbergs A History of Violence and IIRC Bubba called me d*rty b*stard on here after I praised her performance in it.  Worth thinking about out as a 'compromise' DVD rental.. she's a fox.

Over the weekend I watched Exiled by Johny To.  Set in Macau during the handover from the Portugese to the Chinese Authorities it follows the fortunes of a group of friends who ended up working for three separate gang bosses who are now vying for supremacy in the former colony.  Quite odd really being a warm hearted tale punctuated by some fantastic gangster shootout set pieces including one that re-starts as they all wind up at the same hospital having shot each other to pieces in a restaurant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Carnage on January 22, 2008, 09:49:53 pm
Don't know if its been mentioned yet but I saw 'Juno' the other night. Very well acted/scripted and Funny - Recommended if you like odd comedies in the Garden State/Little Miss Sunshine vein.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 23, 2008, 01:19:30 pm
I was rapidly falling in love with was the stunningly beautiful and very talented Maria Bello


She is stunning.

(http://i29.tinypic.com/15wysk1.jpg)

And a very talented actress of course. :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 27, 2008, 06:32:31 pm
Just seen the worst Ben Kingsley film ever, The Last Legion (http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0462396/Ss/0462396/LL_05946.jpg?path=gallery&path_key=0462396)  3.5/10 tops & I'm being extremely generous here.  Utterly crass. 

IMBD (see link) gave it 5.4/10 but that's ridiculously high.

Not even the dusky perspiring bosom of  Aishwarya Rai could save it.   :thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 27, 2008, 08:38:15 pm
After the horrors of that awful last film I went out and hired the best horror flick I've seen in years.  It's brilliant.  But enough spray.  8/10

1408 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450385/)

(http://the-reviewer.net/wp-content/uploads/1408.jpg)


Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgLm4_fq6GY

The oddest thing - the film's actually better than the trailer by miles, weird . . .

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on January 27, 2008, 09:56:59 pm
and on DVD:
3:10 to Yuma
This started off quite well: a good old fashionned western with a debonair, psychopathic villain and a good man "who's gotta do what a man's gotta do".  Unfortunately, it undid all of that good work with a final section and denouement that just beggared belief with it's cack-handed idiocy and betrayal of it's previous character development.



Here, here. Just finished watching this. Started really well, but a very improbable ending lets it down on a big scale!

Looking forward to No Country For Old Men tho.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark on January 27, 2008, 10:04:09 pm
Has Primer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_%28film%29) been mentioned? Saw this last week and have watched it twice more since then in an attempt to puzzle out what was going on and whether it made sense. Highly recommended to the geek contingent on here.

Then watched Pi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A0_%28film%29), which was recommended as similar. Did not think it particularly good and certainly not in the same class as Primer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 29, 2008, 12:32:33 am
I thought Pi was good. not seen it for ages.
Maybe worth watching Requiem For A Dream as well?
Primer is excellent.
Watched superbad earlier, made me laugh most of the way through it. good to watch if your in a bad mood
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on January 29, 2008, 03:54:52 pm
Its great that people have seen Primer - a word of mouth dvd hit. I love the fact that it doesn't really make sense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 30, 2008, 03:33:01 pm
Maybe worth watching Requiem For A Dream as well?

Meaning you have not seen this masterpiece?  All must watch this film.  Hubert Selby Jr wrote the novel: I think he's one of if not the most important US novelist of the last century.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 30, 2008, 04:40:24 pm
I enjoyed the butterfly effect on Film4 the other night.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 30, 2008, 08:39:56 pm
Watched The Good Shepherd on DVD late last night after a long day and journey back from London.  Directed by Bob De Niro it charts the rise of the CIA from its incarnation as the OSS in World War II through to the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs through the eyes of a patriotic agent Edward Wilson (played with quiet understatement by Matt Damon).  I really enjoyed it but I was glad I was watching it alone and tired as it lacks a pace and drive that you might expect from a modern thriller.  That said, it's well worth watching and has some really strong performances from Damon, John Turturro, John Sessions (!!) as a KGB defector, Angelina Jolie (who's a damn good actress), Michael Gambon and others.  In fact as I'm typing this I'm thinking that maybe the cast are all just too strong for the film?? Anyway, worth renting, particularly if you don't know much about the chequered history of the Agency. 


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on January 30, 2008, 11:45:25 pm
I've been rather inundated with films recently, and all of them have been rather good. I've just watched Bella  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482463/) which reminded why I always wished that life could be more like movies. A lot of the films I've seen in the past few weeks have been amazing epics which pay homage to the medium of film, and although Bella is nicely shot, it has it's roots firmly planted in reality (more so than I realised). A human tale, one that makes you feel pretty good, and makes you wish that you could walk out of work one morning and end the day lying on the beach with a warm breeze stroking your beard. Bella is actually based on a true story, as I just found out afterwards, which goes to show that life really can be like movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 30, 2008, 11:53:09 pm
The Last Winter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454864/)

(http://images.apple.com/moviesxml/s/independent/posters/thelastwinter_l200708241650.jpg)

Trailer -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_BXNvbr8E

Up until the last one second of this film I was enthralled by it - I thought that it ended too quickly, far too quickly and had more to offer - but perhaps not, decide for yourselves. 

I won't say any more, except to say that it has a real favourite of mine in the lead, Ron Perlman -

(http://www.glasseyepix.com/img/jpg/lwrpshaft.jpg)

- who you may recall as Salvatore the hunchback in The name of the Rose.  A great actor, I think.

Give it a whirl.  It's spooky.  I rate it 7/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 31, 2008, 12:32:08 am
Saw The Kite Runner yesterday. Bloody brilliant. Sadly cant say Ive read the book but I thought the film was spectacular. Get to it.  :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 31, 2008, 12:34:50 am
The missus says it's her favourite book obn Earth - and she's a novel a week lass.  Trailer looks brilliant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ivdc76nAY
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 31, 2008, 08:23:29 am

I won't say any more, except to say that it has a real favourite of mine in the lead, Ron Perlman -

- who you may recall as Salvatore the hunchback in The name of the Rose.  A great actor, I think.


And Hellboy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on February 09, 2008, 09:22:11 am
speaking of hellboy  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411477/trailers-screenplay-E36928-314

can't decide if I like the first one that much or not, perlman is awesome though
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on February 10, 2008, 09:37:49 am
I haven't seen this, but I saw the title and the screenshot, and all I could think of was Sheffield's most gangsta climber... Dave.

 Gangsta.Rap.The.Glockumentary.2007.DVDRip.XviD-SiNK (no doubt it you put that into google you can find a download link!)

(http://i30.tinypic.com/2s6oxm0.jpg)


Gangsta Rap is a mockumentary based on a group of over the hill gangster rappers (circa NWA), trying to make a comeback. Its a hilarious look at the soft underbelly of hard core hip hop.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 10, 2008, 09:42:06 pm
nice one unc. I'm on to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 15, 2008, 01:17:00 am
I've been waiting for this for years and years.  Oh I do hope they respect the history . . .

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/indianajones.html;_ylt=AsY7qv8MSH6wl3g1GC6bw55fVXcA
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 15, 2008, 06:37:03 am
why crystal skull? surely greyskull would be better
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2008, 10:27:05 am
I enjoyed the butterfly effect on Film4 the other night.

Which ending did it have? (Without spoiling it for others obviously!) Original or Director's cut? I can't decide which is better.

Class film either way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2008, 10:44:35 am
Is that the one with Ashton Cujodrow in it? I have never bothered, as I usually find him annoying.

Watched "Into the Wild" on the plane. Ok film, amazing story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2008, 10:59:24 am
Is that the one with Ashton Cujodrow in it? I have never bothered, as I usually find him annoying.



I agree Chris he (Ashley Kitchen as the Mrs calls him) is usually shite but this is a really good film. I saw it a few years ago and was pleasantly surprised.

Going to the pictures tomorrow. We don't often get the chance with the sprog and am undecided as to what to see.....

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/no_country_for_old_men/

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloverfield/

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/juno/

.......or go with a bit of light relief in the form of a teen slasher flic.......

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/all_the_boys_love_mandy_lane/

 :-\

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2008, 11:16:00 am
Have only heard good things about "No Country....." My choice for Orange Wednesday next week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 15, 2008, 11:35:29 am
(http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/d4/unsecured/media/823396007/823396007_1173343233_bc18cd3b2ce4d7a51337f116d482a85372cba9ca.jpg)

A film about revenge:  a great subject.

Let down a little by some somewhat wooden performances (not in all scenes, mind) and swung between feeling gripped and a little embarrassed throughout, though it ended very well.  The soundtrack too - not the best.

Great scene at the end - Bacon's previously bland familyman character is sitting on a bench (shot up) - his gangland opponent staggers to same bench, sits, spurting blood etc.. turns, smiles and says:  Look what I made you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYlz0rD8vvw

I give it 5.5 or 6/10 - but a worthy 5.5 or 6 (it's marked down due to some just unrealistic dialogue for a couple of scenes & soundtrack) Worth watching, but don't expect as performance from Bacon as in The Woodsman. 

Imdb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804461/) gives it 6.8/10.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 15, 2008, 11:47:52 am
Watched Walk The Line last night, enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 15, 2008, 11:53:19 am
 :lol:

I got 1/3 in, stormed to the DVD player, took the DVD out & lobbed in across the room.  Gave it away to a mate the next day . . .

 :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 15, 2008, 12:18:54 pm
Mrs FD had the bright idea of getting Knocked Up on DVD last night.  If you want to accelerate your way to an early grave by completely wasting two hours of your life then I suggest watching this pile of sh*t.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 15, 2008, 04:20:10 pm
Mrs FD had the bright idea of getting Knocked Up on DVD last night.  If you want to accelerate your way to an early grave by completely wasting two hours of your life then I suggest watching this pile of sh*t.

Dobbin recommended that to me hence i wasted time and money watching it at the cinema, some cheap laughs but no way near enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 15, 2008, 06:00:31 pm
Oi Bluebrad!

Recall that time in chat you said you were keen to look into manga?


Check this as an intro (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomed_Megalopolis) (skipping much trite/crass gash of the genre)   

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/702727037221_300x200.jpeg)     
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 19, 2008, 07:38:14 pm
Watch elephant, no country for old men and death proof this week.
All were good and worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on February 19, 2008, 10:50:42 pm
I've been recommended "The Hurricane" i.e. Rubin Carter, the Bob Dylan song etc etc

Anyone any thoughts? Does anyone know if it's true to life too? You know, does the court appeal go the way it actually went, or have Hollywood spun it into another fairytale ending? I don't know the true story, so a lack of spoilers would be appreciated thanks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 20, 2008, 10:29:00 am
I've not seen it but apparently the film is true to life. The story always fascinated me as a kid after hearing the Dylan record. Will have a look for it myself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 20, 2008, 01:02:02 pm
Seen it, enjoyed it - all good entertainment.  Some unwholesome characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on February 23, 2008, 09:26:26 am
I went to see Cloverfield last night not really expecting anything and I can see why people would say its shit. You don't ever really find out anything about the monster as in where it came from and the such like but thats not really what the film is about. You still get all of the oohs and aahs you expect with a big monster film theres a few moments of real tension  and the big crowd scenes are done quite well but as much as stuff happens it never really reaches a conclusion and there's not quite enough of military kicking a big monsters ass.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 23, 2008, 04:52:08 pm
watched 300 the other night. some good cinematography, let down by appalling dialogue. overall poor
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 24, 2008, 08:51:26 pm
Watched Reign of Fire w/ Christian Bale & Hellboy tonite.  Neither lit my fire.  4.5/10 for both.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on February 24, 2008, 09:14:38 pm
Anyone seen Be Kind Rewind? I liked it, real community spirit to the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 25, 2008, 06:46:13 am
watched golden compass t'other night. It should be renamed the golden turdpass. utter shit. glad we didn't pay money to watch it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on February 25, 2008, 09:15:37 pm
Just been to see be kind rewind and I thought it was surprisingly good. it does start out as one thing and then end on a completely different note however. There are a few moments of pure genious though (the camouflage scene is priceless)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 26, 2008, 08:33:25 am
Prbably going to get slated, but wasn't that impressed with "No Country.....". Some great dialogue, characters etc, but a couple of gaps in the story (obvious to anyone who has seen it) spoiled it for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 26, 2008, 09:22:00 am
 :-\ Gaps ?? Without giving too many spoilers.. what did you think was missing?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 26, 2008, 09:28:53 am
have emailed you.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 05, 2008, 10:53:20 am
Watch Eagle vs Shark and Michael Clayton last weekend.

E vs S - Described as Napoleon Dynamite meets Muriels Wedding. I don't normally watch rom-coms but I saw this advertised and for some reason I was tempted. I enjoyed it. I liked the fact it was low-budget, no big names etc. I thought it was funny and worth a watch. Set in Wellington, New Zealand. 7/10

Michael Clayton - This shows the dark side to industrial lawsuits in the US and makes it worth watching too. Tilda may have got the oscar but I thought Tom Wilkinson is great as the hot shot lawyer with a chemical inbalance and love of getting naked. I'll definately watch it again as the I think it's the sort of film which can grip you more than once and certainly theres enough info thrown about that you'll have missed something the first time. 8/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on March 05, 2008, 03:06:48 pm
Ok I went to see Rambo last night and I was worried ... deeply worried. I had heard nothing but bad things about this film  and I so wanted it to be good that i thought about just imagining what it would be like and then pretending that's just how it was. I have to say I thought it was fucking amazing it exceeded my expectations massively and evidently has just been reviewed by too many people who don't know what to expect from an 80's action film. All i wanted was about 1 and half hours of carnage with some filly in story line and that's exactly what is, but with more carnage than that. Stalone doesn't look as old as he does in rocky and he still has some notable ass kicking scenes. All in all well worth the entrance fee
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 05, 2008, 03:13:47 pm
Watched Sweeney Todd the other night. Really enjoyed it. Found myself drawn in and very absorbed. Loved the general atmosphere of the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 07, 2008, 10:04:47 pm

The Assassination of Jesse James By the coward Robert Ford. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443680/)

(http://www.moviegod.de/images/movies/00013/1233/1233_xxl.jpg)

imbd gave it 7.9/10  I was prepared to go as high as 8.3 / 8.5.  This is huge on my scale.

Personally I'm w/ Ford:  he was right to blow him away, James asked for it, deserved it, got it.  Shame that Ford . . .   (editted for your viewing pleasure)

Flash trailer (http://outnow.ch/media/trailers/2007/AssassinationOfJesseJames/trailer1_en.flv)

Best film this year, great acting, FANTASTIC soundtrack (rare!). IMO westerns are an amazing genre: ur - technology, no semtex, no Ferraris/Gucci et al.  Just people in life/death situations.  Also, rarely, a film w/ narration that was appropriate.  Watch it soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 10, 2008, 02:04:25 pm
I watched the 1993 film The Piano last night. I'd forgotten how good it is. I enjoyed it when it first came out, but this time I got more out of it. Watching it with the benefit of 14 years more experience of people and relationships gave me a very different understanding of the characters in the film - got quite a buzz from noticable gain in my empathy skills. I'm trying to think of other films that might produce similar feelings of personal development...

Mary Poppins works in this way. When I first saw it, it was an interesting story, but viewing it as a parent threw up a whole load of extra stuff that I never noticed before.

Star Wars is just the same for me as when it first came out  :shrug: I'll try it again in another 10 years...

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 10, 2008, 02:17:37 pm
Oh, I forgot this western from a week ago.  Just brilliant.  I've had a good run w/ wersterns of late.  I dig them more now than when I was younger.  I guess there is less to be fatigued w/ (?).  I'm sick of Hollywood type thrillers (seen loads of late, won't speak of them here.)  Where was I?  Ah yes:

Seraphim Falls (http://imdb.com/title/tt0479537/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmllK8LVqDQ

Again, I'd give it a bit more than imdb @ 6.9/10.  Not much but a little more.  Some great performances including one of Brosnan's best.  Liam Neeson, as ever, is great.  Loved the ending.  The trailer makes it out as cheese but it's not; defo worth hiring.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on March 10, 2008, 03:18:24 pm
Went to see Juno last night. I might have fallen a little bit in love with the leading lady, her smart-mouthed dialogue and take on life. Or maybe that was just the screen-writer  ::)

It ticks the boxes for rom-com or chick flick if you're in need of something in those genres, whilst keeping social commentary, depth and a sideways look at teenage pregnancy. And a cute actress to boot. Rated  8)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 11, 2008, 01:04:29 pm
Hire/p2p it if you must but don't pay cinema prices for Lions for Lambs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0891527/) (07 Dir. R. Redford)

Imdb give it 6.2.  It doesn't make 6 on my scale.

(http://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Lions_for_Lambs/lions_for_lambs_movie_poster_onesheet.jpg)

And it's:  If you stand for nothing you'll fall for anything.  They couldn't even get that right.  Oh this is some vague yankie justification for involvement in Afghanistan.  It's not the Kite Runner...

Now I really enjoyed Collateral, and I can't wait for Cruise to pick the ball up he dropped . . .   He's got some stellar performances in him I'm certain, this isn't one of them.  Fuck, Cocktail was twice as good as this!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on March 11, 2008, 01:14:38 pm
Quote
Eagle vs Shark - Described as Napoleon Dynamite meets Muriels Wedding. I don't normally watch rom-coms but I saw this advertised and for some reason I was tempted. I enjoyed it. I liked the fact it was low-budget, no big names etc. I thought it was funny and worth a watch. Set in Wellington, New Zealand. 7/10

Saw this last night. I didn't see much of the Muriel's wedding other than its in the antipodes...

Very much Napoleon Dynamite though - if you liked it you like this. Main pull is the male lead is Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords. I think the NZ accents are being overplayed  -  I thought they were funny anyway!

With references to Bees and apple cartoons Bonjoy will like this I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 11, 2008, 01:39:31 pm
Now I really enjoyed Collateral, and I can't wait for Cruise to pick the ball up he dropped . . .   He's got some stellar performances in him I'm certain, this isn't one of them.  Fuck, Cocktail was twice as good as this!

Problem with Cruise is that I feel he is Cruise first and the character second in most of his performances. Every film seems to be the Tom Cruise show (in no way am I clouding my thoughts of him as a person with his performances  :whistle: ). Thus I'm watching Tom Cruise rather than Ethan Hawk or John Anderton or Gooseman.

Anyroad. Watched Stardust the other day. Wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. The story is unique (and funny), the acting and locations are good. The effects are quite well done and overall I enjoyed it. 7/10 (for Houd - Imdb 8/10)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 11, 2008, 01:44:43 pm
The best thing Cruise has done is Magnolia. Ironically this is the role that appears to be closest to his actual personality the more of it he reveals.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on March 11, 2008, 08:51:04 pm
Sorry if anyone has recommended this one before but "the Counterfeiters" Austrian film based on the true story of an attempt late in the war to destabilise the economies of Britain and America by having Jews in highly skilled in printing, photography plate making under an initially amoral career counterfeiter forge pounds and dollars. Just a brilliant study of someone becoming human.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 12, 2008, 02:51:00 am
Thus I'm watching Tom Cruise rather than Ethan Hawk or John Anderton or Gooseman.

do you mean maverick?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 12, 2008, 07:46:46 am
The best thing Cruise has done is Magnolia. Ironically this is the role that appears to be closest to his actual personality the more of it he reveals.

Not seen this film but I imagine his character to be a right wazzerk.

[/quote]
do you mean maverick?
[/quote]

Thats the chap.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 12, 2008, 12:26:31 pm
The best thing Cruise has done is Magnolia. Ironically this is the role that appears to be closest to his actual personality the more of it he reveals.

Not seen this film but I imagine his character to be a right wazzerk.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0175880/

Watch it. It's a great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 14, 2008, 09:40:19 am
Magnolia, magnolia, magnolia . . .   *scratches swede*  Need to see that again; just don't recall . . . 

But since it's Cruise Day   *checks calendar*  Ahum, Cruise Day how about Interview w/ A Vampire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110148/) from '94 (w/ Pitt & I think great) and there's Minority Report (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/) from '02 (Perhaps I'm biased as I love Sci-Fi?)   I think Born on the 4th of July (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096969/) from his earlier days '89 which is most watchable.

I'm getting excited about Valkyre (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985699/) Soon to be released, concerning the ever fascinating Nazi's and a plot to snuff Hitler.  (Also starring Strephen Fry, who I know is a fluent and intellectual German speaker)

(http://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/00355/cruise_b_jpg_DW_Ber_355202g.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on March 14, 2008, 09:52:39 am
I saw Topgun again a couple of weeks ago on a new home cinema setup and sat wide-eyed-and-jaw-open watching the aerial sequences though, hmmmmmm, afterburner through a meaty subwoofer 8)

And speaking of Magnolia, There Will Be Blood mightily impressed me last night at the big screen. Great writing with a story that didn't follow the usual hollywood arc (just like real life), Daniel Day Lewis in fine fettle and beautifully framed shots. 

9/10 (8.6/10 at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/))



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 14, 2008, 02:12:36 pm
It's not ruddy Cruise day round here.  ;)

Eastern Promises 7/10. If you like gorey hardnosed gangland movies set in London. This is the ticket.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on March 15, 2008, 06:22:58 pm
steve is right on the money with there will be blood its an awesome film particularly impressive is the young chap who was in little miss sunshine his church scenes stand out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Trev Suddaby on March 15, 2008, 07:47:28 pm
Any wanting a good hour and a half of comedy and violence should rent out "Shoot Em Up".  Clive Owen is excellent and totally hams it up.

Anyone else enjoy this film??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on March 15, 2008, 09:57:45 pm
I'm with you there trev leave your disbelief at the door though or you'll be disapointed
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on March 17, 2008, 01:37:38 pm
Any wanting a good hour and a half of comedy and violence should rent out "Shoot Em Up".  Clive Owen is excellent and totally hams it up.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on March 17, 2008, 01:55:44 pm
Martial arts lovers would probably like Ong Bak (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368909/).  Picked up for 3 on a whim in HMV it features some stunning fight sequences and a great chase through the streets of Bangkok.  All filmed without the aid of CGI/stunt-doubles/wires, the fights are quite brutal, I'd never seen elbows and knees used to such great effect (despite watching some Muay Thai whislt on holiday there).

Gets the  :thumbsup: from me, and I'll be seeking out some of Tony Jaa's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Jaa) other films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 20, 2008, 01:36:16 pm
Watch Tales from Earthsea last weekend. Comes from the same stable as Spirited Away. Unfortunately isn't anywhere near as good. I think it was hounded by production problems which I think affected the quality of the script. If you like japanese animation it is worth watching and you may enjoy it but it doesn't have the same brilliance of Spirited Away. 6/10.

Also watched the new BladeRunner DVD (Directors cut I think). Not seen it for ages and forgot how much I liked it. Good film although some of the music has dated IMO. It's also interesting to see the view of the future 1980s style. We're only 11 years away from hover cars and seeing advertisements from Atari. 8/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 20, 2008, 03:42:03 pm
watched mallrats on tele' again few days back
not as clever as clerks
not as flashy as dogma
but a fucking good laugh never the less
 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 21, 2008, 01:17:17 pm
It's also interesting to see the view of the future 1980s style. We're only 11 years away from hover cars and seeing advertisements from Atari.

....and buildings like this..... ;)

(http://i26.tinypic.com/2duksvn.jpg)

I love Blade Runner. In some ways it's dated but in most it's still such an awesome film. Amazing that it's 26 years old, I've lost count of how many times I've seen it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 21, 2008, 02:20:02 pm
What do you think it's about?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 21, 2008, 02:47:57 pm
One of the great things about it is that it's open to interpretation in so many different ways. People have all sorts of different theories of what it's "about". I just think it's a damn good sci-fi story, really well done. The central question is "what makes us human?" but it doesn't really answer it. You don't get any answers at all actually but it's not one of those movies that frustrate because of this imo.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 21, 2008, 03:04:26 pm
I really liked the original cut when it first came out, and bought the director's cut on DVD. haven't bothered with the final cut, is it worth it? I love the film, just find his littel pet robots totally shit, more annoying than JarJar Binks.

What's it about? Apart from being a great sci fi film, I think it is about what we are, how we see ourselves and what makes us humans different from AI.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 21, 2008, 03:12:26 pm
I quite like the robots. Always found them rather sinister.

JarJar Binks is a fucking abomination. I switched that supposed "Star Wars" shite off and refused to watch any of the other prequels because of it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: grumpycrumpy on March 22, 2008, 09:49:19 am
Never really got into Star Wars ... I was lucky enough to discover The Clash just before all that kicked off .....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on March 22, 2008, 01:50:29 pm
Went to see Juno last night. I might have fallen a little bit in love with the leading lady, her smart-mouthed dialogue and take on life. Or maybe that was just the screen-writer  ::)

It ticks the boxes for rom-com or chick flick if you're in need of something in those genres, whilst keeping social commentary, depth and a sideways look at teenage pregnancy. And a cute actress to boot. Rated  8)

I was dragged to see it expecting it to be shit, a film about a pregnant teenager? Oh come on,  :yawn: boring or what? However, after the first few minutes the quirky characters and interesting storyline grabbed me and it turned out to be a great film, thoroughly enjoyable and definitely recommended!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 25, 2008, 09:22:47 pm
30 days of night
just finished watching it - genuinely scary
everything it should be from an excellent comic
perhaps we should also have an - "anyone read any good comics recently" thread - or am I the only one....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paz on March 26, 2008, 02:46:07 pm
Gets the  :thumbsup: from me, and I'll be seeking out some of Tony Jaa's other films.

See Warrior King, definitely definitely see Warrior King.  It's got another little chase in but if you want even more of that you'll have to check out David Belle and Sebastian Fouqualt (sp?). I like Spirited Warrior, but I like old films and Panna Ritikrai - I Iike it but I wouldn't make anyone else watch it.  I strongly suspect the new Battle Warrior rehash is of similar limited appeal. 

If you liked the other guy in the chase from Ong Bak (Petchthai Wongkomlo (sp?)) the Bodyguard's worth a pop if you don't mind much more of a comedy angle and loads of funny Thai in jokes that probably won't work on you for ages.  TJ's only got a cameo in that but it's awesome.  Then Born to Fight is just stunt work, including some great stuff from gold medal gymnasts and the most dangerous stunt ever, and Bang Rajan's a war epic but both are surprisingly good.

Jaspersharpe - the later two Starwars prequels are much better.  You've got a cool fight with Yoda in for one, and the battle droids get better and better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on March 28, 2008, 02:50:26 pm

(http://www.moviegod.de/images/movies/00013/1233/1233_xxl.jpg)


Your right, the soundtrack to this is great, bought it the other day, still haven't seen the film tho. If you like Westerns it's worth checking this if you ain't already:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/)

On a different note, if you enjoy ludicrous Spanish films that still manage to draw you in:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/)

Great performances, Max von Sydow is brill, well worth watching.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 30, 2008, 08:56:43 pm
Always on the lookout for smallfry-director dark terryfying shit, me.

Anyone seen or own ZOETROPE?  P2P?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLe3P0xYd50

I'm particularly interested in the soundtrack which is by an American operating under the name of Lustmord cf www.lustmord.com   His work is just fucking terrifying. file under dark ambient industrial futurism or make something up for yourself.  I've been aware of his work for 20 years but never delved furthur.  Time to play catch up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 30, 2008, 09:22:28 pm
Both available HERE (http://btjunkie.org/search?q=ZOETROPE)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 31, 2008, 12:37:07 am
The Bank Job - quite enjoyed this the other night, ok so some of the acting is a bit wooden but its decent enough and has a few good laughs thrown in.

Motivation material:
Pumping Iron - awesome
Raw Iron the making of Pumping Iron - see above

if you're ever lacking motivation to train during an injury phase I suggest you watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 31, 2008, 08:13:03 am
On a different note, if you enjoy ludicrous Spanish films that still manage to draw you in:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/)

Great performances, Max von Sydow is brill, well worth watching.

Intacto is brilliant. The idea of luck being a commodity is great. Love the blindfolded forest run scene.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 31, 2008, 01:50:15 pm
I really liked the original cut when it first came out, and bought the director's cut on DVD. haven't bothered with the final cut, is it worth it?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/alternateversions (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/alternateversions)

This should give you an idea of the differences between the original, the directors cut and the final cut.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on March 31, 2008, 09:23:24 pm

I really liked the original cut when it first came out, and bought the director's cut on DVD. haven't bothered with the final cut, is it worth it?

Everytime a new cut of Bladerunner comes out I wet my pants in nerdish excitement. The final cut boxset is worth getting. All versions of the film, including the near mythical workprint cut. But most of them are pretty similar, you really have to search for some of the differences. The documentry's included are excellent, they even manage to persuade grumpy old man Harrison Ford to give a few words. The only thing missing is the Mark Kermode Channel, 4 documentry, not included for legal? reasons.

How cool is Gaff by the way?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Carnage on April 10, 2008, 03:31:42 am
I don't care if it might turn out to be a bit lame - I can't wait for this:

http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html?deeplink=videos/2/v30
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 11, 2008, 09:54:23 am
100 Million BC (2008) - utter shite. So bad it's almost funny.

The Butterfly Effect (2004) - didn't seem up to much at first, but I got right into it as the characters and plot developed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 11, 2008, 11:14:55 am
Butterfly Effect is good........

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg135136.html#msg135136

Lagers shouldn't you be busy editing some film instead of wasting your time watching them or posting on here or working or having a life etc?  :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 11, 2008, 11:37:52 am
Lagers shouldn't you be busy editing some film instead of wasting your time watching them or posting on here or working or having a life etc?  :whistle:

To be honest, I've been feeling really pissed off and miserable since getting back (wish I was still in Font) and sifting through the footage of us having fun last week has just been making things worse and leaving me feeling most uncreative. To try and kick myself back into the swing of things I tried drinking myself unconcious with The Viper, Bob, Bleachy, Andy O (last few days before he goes to prison - again) et al, but still managed to make it home without the assistance of any of the emergency services - I think I was looking for a fight, but got too tangled to talk my way into one (even The Bleach and Ogleby seemed unwilling). Spending time with that lot did make me feel better about myself though  :lol: Mrs Starfish can fill you in on the details of the mess I got myself into  :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on April 11, 2008, 11:42:09 am
300 gets Chez hOU's vote for worst film seen since Xmas. 


Dire.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 11, 2008, 11:45:41 am
300 gets Chez hOU's vote for worst film seen since Xmas. 


Dire.



What?

I think it is ace.

Obviously, 100 Million BC will be everyone's worst film of 2008 - well, those daft enough to watch it anyway  :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 11, 2008, 12:06:31 pm

To be honest, I've been feeling really pissed off and miserable since getting back (wish I was still in Font) and sifting through the footage of us having fun last week has just been making things worse and leaving me feeling most uncreative. To try and kick myself back into the swing of things I tried drinking myself unconcious with The Viper, Bob, Bleachy, Andy O (last few days before he goes to prison - again) et al, but still managed to make it home without the assistance of any of the emergency services - I think I was looking for a fight, but got too tangled to talk my way into one (even The Bleach and Ogleby seemed unwilling). Spending time with that lot did make me feel better about myself though  :lol: Mrs Starfish can fill you in on the details of the mess I got myself into  :whistle:

 :lol: :spank:

Fucking shit excuse. Get creating a masterpiece to sate my vanity.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 11, 2008, 02:43:35 pm

To be honest, I've been feeling really pissed off and miserable since getting back (wish I was still in Font) and sifting through the footage of us having fun last week has just been making things worse and leaving me feeling most uncreative. To try and kick myself back into the swing of things I tried drinking myself unconcious with The Viper, Bob, Bleachy, Andy O (last few days before he goes to prison - again) et al, but still managed to make it home without the assistance of any of the emergency services - I think I was looking for a fight, but got too tangled to talk my way into one (even The Bleach and Ogleby seemed unwilling). Spending time with that lot did make me feel better about myself though  :lol: Mrs Starfish can fill you in on the details of the mess I got myself into  :whistle:

 :lol: :spank:

Fucking shit excuse. Get creating a masterpiece to sate my vanity.

I will get turd-polishing right away boss.  ;)

Leni Riefenstahl will be so gutted that I get to do your promotional work now.... that gives me an excellent idea - how many climbing films have been made in the style of a Leni Riefenstahl propoganda film?
Ha ahahahahaa hahahhahahha ha; I am laughing like a super-villian.

Triumph Of The Blonde - they came from Heeley, Nether Edge und Brighton also. Wir sind Ein Folk, Ein Land, Ein FontLand. Heil Das Blonde. Ubulng Macht Meister, Klettern Macht Frei, Baumwolle Macht Unterhosen. Heil!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: grumpycrumpy on April 11, 2008, 05:25:13 pm
Christ Lagers , times are hard when you can't get into a fight with Andy O ....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 14, 2008, 04:57:54 pm
(http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/characters/character0120.gif)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on April 14, 2008, 11:22:04 pm
Watched The Darjeeling Limited t'other night. If you like other wes anderson films like royal tenabaums, life aquatic with steve zissou, bottle rocket then you will enjoy this as well. Excellent IMO
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on April 15, 2008, 08:26:56 am
If we're heading in a Bollywood direction I saw Om Shanti Om the other night. Bollywood's biggest blockbuster today, starring none other than Shah Rukh Khan. Genius, in fact so good I'd watch it again. Well I might skip between some of the bits where Shanti is dancing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 15, 2008, 08:58:46 am
Watched The Darjeeling Limited t'other night. If you like other wes anderson films like royal tenabaums, life aquatic with steve zissou, bottle rocket then you will enjoy this as well. Excellent IMO

my ex house mate from uni was in that... (and St Trinian's which was terrible but still, good to see her getting work ;D)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on April 15, 2008, 07:38:44 pm
Watched a few recently. Not checked this thread for a while so hope they are new recommendations. . Sean

Vantage Point. Tells the story of the assasination of an president from a few different perspectives. Well put together with some good twists. Bit annoying at times when the camera rewinds. Very watchable!

3.5 out of 5

Into The Wild. Sean Penn creation. Pretty good, based on a true story. Makes you think about life. Wont say any more as it will give it away.

3.5 out of 5

Bank Job. Not your typical bank heist, but well put together in a kind of lock stock way, but without the humour.

4 out of 5
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 18, 2008, 08:05:14 am
Really looking forward to watching Into the Wild. The main characters decision to go into the wild does appeal to me.

Watched quite a few films recently. Some may have already been mentioned.

Shooter - Mark Wahlberg plays a retired crackshot hired by the government to help foil an impending assassination attempt. My expectation was pretty low for this film so I was pleasantly surprised to find it was pretty good. Some cheesy bits but hey I like cheese. 7/10.

We own the night - Wahlberg (again) and Joaquin Phoenix play brothers to a Chief of police (Robert Duval). Wahlberg is following his fathers footsteps like a good boy and Phoenix is a club boss living on the wrong side of the law. The police are cracking down on drugs and suspicions fall around the club and major events cause Phoenix to re-think. I knew nothing about this film and after watching thought it was ok but no better than that really. 6/10

No country for old men - I guess this might have already been mentioned. Crazy guy chases an unlucky but tough nut who happens to come across a shit load of money. Loved this film, excellent performances although there is one point which really disappointed me. Didn't realise Kelly McDonald (trainspotting) played the trailor trash wife. Impressive accent. 8.5/10.

Tenacious D - The Pick of Destiny - If you like Jack Black give it a go but to be honest I thought it was rubbish. 4/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on April 18, 2008, 08:42:24 am
American Gangster (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/) (Dir. Ridley Scott 07)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOSOYSLDuQE

A great film.  Denzil Washington plays a blinder as the good/bad guy as does Crowe as the bad/good guy.

Very good, watch it.  It's based on a true story - the trailer does not do this film justice.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on April 18, 2008, 10:01:58 am
Into the wild - saw this a couple of months ago at the showroom. Very good, for once those who read the book won't be disappointed. Lots of effort getting stuff right and nice to see the real people involved.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 21, 2008, 09:57:52 am
Watched Horton Hears a hOU on Saturday. Nice bit of Seuss oddness and cool animation. I found myself a bit uninterested to start with, but the film got better as it went on. Interesting characters developed well. Lagers Jr loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on April 21, 2008, 10:16:51 am
Mike Leigh's new film 'Happy-go-lucky' was excellent IMO, a big step away from Vera Drake darkness but still with what I'm told by 'his no.1 fan' the duality of life (good times - bad times) theme.

Thought the lead would piss me off after a while but was happily suprised.

Also this looks tres bien ...

http://www.cornerhouse.org/film/info.aspx?ID=2672&page=0
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 21, 2008, 10:32:43 am
Watched "Cellular" on TV the other night. So shit that it's fascinating.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 21, 2008, 12:55:20 pm
Watched Martin Scorsese's 'The Aviator' last night on Beeb 2 (nice to have no adverts on a TV film) and thought it was great.  A remarkably sympathetic biopic of the young Howard Hughes who I had always had pegged as a monster.  Leonardo DeCaprio was brilliant as Hughes; Cate Blanchett turned in a fantastic performance as Katherine Hepburne and a great turn by an ageing Alan Alda was the icing a on great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 21, 2008, 03:57:33 pm
 :agree:

One of the best things Leonardo DeSproutface has done I reckon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on April 24, 2008, 09:41:25 am
I watched 21 the other night spacey holds the film together as you would expect but overall it didn't particularly blow me away 6 out of 10. i just wish they'd made it an 18 where are all the 18 rated films at the moment imagine if they made iron man and 18 or the next hulk i know they never will for commercial reasons but imagine.......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 24, 2008, 09:59:51 am
It's a shame I agree Moo. Especially when they make horror films 15, what the fuck?!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on April 24, 2008, 10:56:52 am
Quote
Watched Martin Scorsese's 'The Aviator' last night on Beeb 2 (nice to have no adverts on a TV film) and thought it was great.

Really? The trailer made it look awful, I stayed well clear!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 24, 2008, 11:03:50 am
It might just be me, but I watched the first 45 mins - 1 hour and switched off. Got bored and didn't really enjoy it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 24, 2008, 03:57:28 pm
A few recent films: there's nothing like attending near-empty screenings, on your own, in the middle of the day to bring out your film-critic pretencions:

The Orphanage
http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0464141/
A woman returns to her childhood home to set up an orphanage for handicapped children.... but her past intrudes on their future happiness(!)  Creepy little Spanish effort that mainly relies upon a persistant air of lingering unease and the disquiet that odd "unknowable" children can engender (although I admit that aspect of it could just apply to me... I also get "the fear" from sphinx-eyed cats!).  It's not all nuance and mood mind: there are a few moments of proper "body shock" horror; including one that Mark Kermode claimed caused a complete stranger to grab his leg at a screening.   A decent effort and well worth a watch if you fancy some horror that isn't just a disheartening exercise in offal distribution.  The ending personally left me a little unsatisifed but that's always the way with horror isn't it; fantastical plots are just plain incompatible with convincing closure (read any Stephen King novel for an object lesson: generally hundreds of pages of decent characterisation and evocation of small-town USA... followed by an incredibly clunking finale when the monsters finally come out to play!).

[Rec]
http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt1038988/ 
More Spanish horror but of an altogether simpler type.  A pair of fly-on-the-wall filmmakers tail a firecrew to an incident at an apartment block with the action's point-of-view portrayed through the lens of their videocamera.  What's this?... can you see?... someone appears unwell.... and a little "bitey".  Chaos ensues, "the man" quarantines the building and incidents ratchet up with predictable, but still laudable, intensity.  The subject matter and "shaky-cam" approach are admittedly becoming derivative: Cloverfield, Blair Witch, Diary of the Dead etc.  It's almost a sub-genre of horror in itself, but, it is an undeniably efficient combination for providing shocks and the format does have the advantage of lots of screentime for the rather nice leading lady!  [Recs]'s not a classic but it is brutally effective and does exactly what you want and expect - more akin to playing Resident Evil than watching, say 28 Days Later (no GSYBE! on the soundtrack sadly!).       

In Bruges
http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/
A black comedy about two hitmen hiding in Bruges: bad-temperedly enduring the tourist-trail whilst awaiting instructions from the boss.  A bizarre hybrid of Sexy Beast style scabrous low-life gangsterisms and Father Ted-esque whimsy ("you can't give a dwarf ketamine...begorrah!").  I really liked this film, the two leads play-off each other entertainingly with the hangdog Brendan Gleason dragging the sulky unwilling Colin Farrell to examine medieval architecture when he just wants to pull and get pissed (though not on "gay" Belgian beer!).  Despite their professions, past deeds, and predilliction for violence the characters are sufficiently likeable that I almost wanted it to play Odd Couple style for the entire duration.  However, I guess a film must have a plot so events escalate in tragi-comic fashion with the whimsy partly sacrificed for action.  Still, it's a very entertaining ride and probably the best film I have seen at the cinema for a good few months; deliberating on its faults has made me realise just how much of it was right.  The acting is generally top-notch, as whilst Fienne's gangster cameo isn't entirely convincing Brendan Gleason is predictably superb and Colin Farrell's portrayal sufficient that it actually makes amends for "Alexander".  Which is high praise indeed, as rereading a review of mine for that travesty on this thread made me realise . His character is sulky, impulsive and basically bad, yet also funny, sensitive, and oddly rather sympathetic.  Strange that really... who would have thought that Farrell would make a better Dublin gobshite than a 330BC Macedonian tactical genius?!  If only that had occurred to Oliver Stone... the pain that might have been saved... I reckon in the future Alexander will be the subject of filmmakers' ire in the same manner Vietnam was for Oliver Stone ("Alexander is hell: the first casualty of Farrell is credibility").
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on April 24, 2008, 06:06:06 pm
Son of Rambow. just a really good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on April 25, 2008, 01:02:17 pm
Saw 88 minutes last night. Not as bad as the reviews say, but not the best. What you playing at Al! 2/5
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 07, 2008, 11:24:17 am
went to see iron man the other night and for a 12a I was suitably impressed. I wouldn't say it was the best comic book film so far but it aint half bad, my main gripe was that it spends half the time on the story and the other half setting itself up for a sequel which would be no bad thing but it feels a bit like this is an extended trailer for the series to come. I'm fan of Downey junior (as an actor) after seeing kiss kiss bang bang and a scanner darkly, interesting to see how he brings how he brings his style of acting to a role like this and I reckon he pulls it off really well
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 07, 2008, 12:01:50 pm
Most blatant product placements I have ever seen in a film too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: MattW on May 07, 2008, 12:09:36 pm
I thought iRobot had the most comical product placement ever, but Iron Mans not far behind.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on May 07, 2008, 12:13:25 pm
I didn't think there was anything to trump Casino Royale:

"Rolex?"
"No, Omega"

Thought the film was good overall - the first two thirds are great, especially the first third, but it gets lost towards the end, and was pretty weak on the baddie front.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 07, 2008, 12:38:49 pm
yeah having the big lebowski coming after you in a tin suit just doesn't seem that threatening
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on May 07, 2008, 02:53:00 pm
Perhaps edit your post to remove or notify of the spoiler?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 07, 2008, 02:57:47 pm
For those who like a bit of British gangster nastiness then Rise Of The Footsoldier is well worth a watch. Very funny in places, very nasty in others and generally kept my interest throughout.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on May 07, 2008, 03:03:20 pm
I've been watching many, many films in the last few months but this one is worth a mention; The Edge of Heaven. It's a Turkish/German film which has all the elements of a great film. It's well shot, well cast, well directed, touches on emotions that all humans can empathise with, and doesn't push too hard for meaning or conclusion. It deals with the fragility of life and the raw feelings that everybody has at certain times of their lives. Sadness is prevalent, but hope is the ocean around it. I thought it was really good, and it seems the folks at imdb  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0880502/)agree, where it gets an 8.1.

So, check it out! If you're a pirate then seek the release by AEN.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 07, 2008, 03:17:44 pm
3:10 from Yuma.

A western w/ loads of brilliant actors . . .     Alas it's wank and plays second fiddle to so many westerns of the last 6 months.  The bad bits spoil the good bits so comprehensively, so derivatively, that I refuse to list them.  A slur on the genre (but what do you expect w/ R. Crowe?  Shakespeare?!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on May 08, 2008, 11:05:13 am
For those who like a bit of British gangster nastiness then Rise Of The Footsoldier is well worth a watch. Very funny in places, very nasty in others and generally kept my interest throughout.

Watched last night, good call! Language gets on your tits a bit after a while....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 08, 2008, 11:26:57 am
For those who like a bit of British gangster nastiness then Rise Of The Footsoldier is well worth a watch. Very funny in places, very nasty in others and generally kept my interest throughout.

Watched last night, good call! Language gets on your tits a bit after a while....

Don't know wot you mean you 'orrible cant.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jed on May 08, 2008, 05:18:38 pm
JUMANJI!!!

Robin Williams not being a twat is reason enough to watch it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 14, 2008, 05:25:02 pm
Watched the film last night that this thread was created for. Trailer Park Boys - The big durty.
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7080041sHRxpS5x?searchId=523376118231028345&rank=1 (http://www.veoh.com/videos/v7080041sHRxpS5x?searchId=523376118231028345&rank=1)

Best film seen this year. Believe it's a series also.

"I think I can hear a Police Helicocksucker"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 15, 2008, 04:32:47 pm
we all know you like trailer park boys stallioni wonder what you were doin while watching it  :wank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 15, 2008, 09:36:30 pm
I simply chanced upon it whilst googling. as you can imagine.

Have you watched it yet? Its fookin brill. Do NOT miss it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on May 18, 2008, 09:22:46 pm
We own the night. Just seen this, and very watchable. 4/5. Set in New York, a story of loyalties in a drug world.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on June 13, 2008, 04:28:20 pm
I haven't had a chance to get down to the cinema recently cause of the good weather, but this review from the Guardian made me giggle.

(http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2008/05/13/hulk372.jpg)

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2285042,00.html (http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2285042,00.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on June 14, 2008, 07:12:36 pm
Roth groin area ambiguous. Groin area look lumpy. Bumpy. Perhaps odd penis. Perhaps odd trousers. Critic ... not sure. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on June 15, 2008, 08:53:09 am
OMFG

saw Cloverfield last night.

didnt know anything about it, just the 5 star Empire rating....

Totally superb piece of origional cinema. How the producer of Lost was given such a blank canvas and such resource is a massive leap of faith by the finance behind the film....



He delivers. Big time.

See this film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on June 15, 2008, 08:58:06 am
Quote
Basic problem ... critic not believe Hulk angry. Hulk just roar. It not look convincing. Not truly seem angry. Critic think about this. Critic decide why. It because Hulk not swear. Hulk just say: "Hulk. Smash" etc. If Hulk shout C-word ... different matter. Then Hulk look angry. Sound angry. Not here. Hulk genteel.

Had a day at the cinema yesterday to keep up with the new releases... saw The Hulk and The Happening.

The Hulk isn't terrible, but there wasn't anywhere near enough tank-throwing for me. The green guy does have mad buildering skills though.

I was really looking forward to The Happening but it didn't pay off for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rob on June 15, 2008, 09:05:16 am
OMFG

saw Cloverfield last night.


I thought it was technically very clever but started rooting for the monster in about minute 2 or 3.

Must have had an impact... I found myself walking out of HMV yesterday with the 2 disc 'extended features' box set. :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on June 15, 2008, 10:50:53 am
Watched Into The Wild last night. Definitely not a light film and probably one of the most moving films I've seen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on June 15, 2008, 11:42:42 am
Agreed on "Into the Wild". Powerful stuff

Watched Kidulthood on the telly last night. Very good. Typically gritty for a British Film. Seemed like a more modern version of "This is England". The trials and tribulations of... well kidulthood.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 17, 2008, 02:23:28 pm
watched the hulk the other night and though i was fairly impressed i think it was let down by the lack or arse kicking. the action never really reaches the intensity that it should do when two massive bastards are beating the shit out of one another. roth is good though i like him fine actor norton is excellent but i didn't need to tell you that

also went to see indiana jones more because i felt i had to after seeing the other three. its shit i hate all of the indiana jones films too much fucking trumpet music
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 17, 2008, 02:29:22 pm

Watched Kidulthood on the telly last night. Very good. Typically gritty for a British Film. Seemed like a more modern version of "This is England". The trials and tribulations of... well kidulthood.

Sounds good and the sequel's out soon..........

(http://i26.tinypic.com/24g5afn.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on June 17, 2008, 02:31:55 pm
Watched Into The Wild last night. Definitely not a light film and probably one of the most moving films I've seen.

true.

on another note. do not watch "paranoid park". what a pile of shit. rubbish. i feel so ripped off. its about a skate boarding kid who kills someone, and there isnt even any good skateboarding in it, or acting come to think of it, or direction or anything else that a good film has. fucking crap it was!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 17, 2008, 02:35:47 pm
dont hold back chappers let it all out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on June 17, 2008, 02:42:51 pm
dont hold back chappers let it all out

to tell you the truth mate, im not sure i have done justice to my rage about this film. seriously the acting was laughable, the dialog terrible, and the story farcical, and...if a guy gets chopped in half by a train (this sounds good but isnt), there would be fucking tonnes more mess, so that is bull shit too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: richdraws on June 17, 2008, 03:20:26 pm
Watched Irina Palm at the weekend, its moving and dark but bloody funny in parts. Its about a middleaged woman who takes to wanking men off to pay for her grandsons hospital bills.  8)

I watched 'Smart People' the previous weekend, which was reasonably good. My usual hatred for Sarah Jessica Parker was limited to mild distaste during this film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 17, 2008, 03:34:40 pm
Must've been good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 21, 2008, 02:17:07 pm
I saw the happening last night and i was suitably impressed i like M. Night Shyamalan's style  and i think the concept for the film was very very good. I even found marky mark bearable in this film which is unusaly as i hate most of his films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saltbeef on June 21, 2008, 05:50:44 pm
dont hold back chappers let it all out

to tell you the truth mate, im not sure i have done justice to my rage about this film. seriously the acting was laughable, the dialog terrible, and the story farcical, and...if a guy gets chopped in half by a train (this sounds good but isnt), there would be fucking tonnes more mess, so that is bull shit too.

sounds like hollyoaks. fuck i hate that program.
i'm sure its been mentioned before but i can't be arsed to trawl this thread, saw let there be blood, real good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on June 22, 2008, 09:20:35 am
Watched Tideland (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410764/) last night. Fuck it's weird. Terry Gilliam doing what he loves to do. Fuck about!

Fortunately not very confusing (I can stand films like Mulholland Drive (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166924/), which I simply do not understand - saying that I didn't really understand Donnie Darko, and yet loved it!), and it does have a conclusion, rather than it just being left unsaid.

7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on June 22, 2008, 02:45:48 pm
gone baby gone is good, i enjoyed. some shocking use of the "c" word for a 15  :shrug:
and...the girl couldnt look anymore like madaline if they tried.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on June 22, 2008, 09:30:07 pm
Saw Seraphim Falls the other day - not bad at all. Brooding western revenge/chase. Gets suddenly rather surreal at the end - can see it may annoy some but I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on June 22, 2008, 09:53:46 pm
Watched Tideland (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410764/) last night. Fuck it's weird. Terry Gilliam doing what he loves to do. Fuck about!


I went to watch a screening of this, with Gilliam introducing it. He did a Q+A at the end, and all was going well until one guy asked how it felt to have made a collapsed souffle of a film. Cue a long sigh, followed by a sharp reply that summed up basically meant fuck you, he then bid farewell, and walked off stage. Guy was right tho, its a right mess of a film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on June 22, 2008, 10:00:55 pm
Questioner sounds like a cock. I liked this, though was so long ago I can't remember much detail.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 22, 2008, 10:09:41 pm
I watched it a while back and enjoyed it...



I've got/watched Tideland and thought it was very good.  Not really a kids film at all, but its about the innocence of childhood, I guess in this sense its similar to Pan's Labyrinth.  As r-man says there are some rather disconcerting aspects to the film, but its worth watching and having been reminded of it I shall probably watch it again soon.

It does however have Jeff Bridges in a Dude-esque role again (albeit rather short-lived  ;) )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on June 23, 2008, 03:57:50 pm
Went to see The Escapist (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961728/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961728/)) this weekend. Great acting and minimal dialogue make the menacing atmosphere of jail and the tension of a prison break come alive. Well recommended, Brian Cox is superb and deserves more big leads.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 27, 2008, 01:35:23 pm
took the chance on the entrance fee for WANTED last on thursday not really expecting too much. Angelina jolie is in full on fox mode but the film itself is a pile of wank. its probably really good if your still buying zoo because you think its a pr0n mag......................probably
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 27, 2008, 01:43:34 pm
its probably really good if your still buying zoo because you think its a pr0n mag....................

.......and you listen to Coldplay etc etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on June 27, 2008, 02:05:31 pm
In Bruges http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/

Went to see In Bruges last night and was mightily impressed with the acting of both leads, but especially the never-ending stream of black humour. More midget jokes than you could toss a dwarf at...

 :dance1:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 27, 2008, 02:18:59 pm
Agreed this is a much better film thena the publicity and hype has given it credit for :great: go and see in bruges
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 27, 2008, 02:47:59 pm
Angelina jolie is in full on fox mode but the film itself is a pile of wank. its probably really good if your still buying zoo because you think its a pr0n mag......................probably

She looks ill on the billboards around town, how the hell can anyone have arms that thin?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 27, 2008, 03:20:35 pm
i'd be too busy to notice if i'm honest with you paul 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 27, 2008, 04:23:56 pm
(http://iamthelostgirl.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/angie-2.jpg)

Something just looks wrong...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 27, 2008, 05:20:14 pm
yeah that guy is in the background is distracting from the major appeal in the rest of the photo
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on June 27, 2008, 05:27:47 pm
If he's aiming at me he's gonna miss, and i reckon I could be all over Miss Jolie before she squeezed of a round from that  clip-free pistol even if she could pull the trigger with GCW's arm. Yeah.
(http://iamthelostgirl.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/angie-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 28, 2008, 09:13:49 am
Saw Seraphim Falls the other day - not bad at all. Brooding western revenge/chase. Gets suddenly rather surreal at the end - can see it may annoy some but I really enjoyed it.

Mentioned this a few pages back.  Best film of 08 for me.  Along w/ The Assassination of Jesse James (another western) which the OST is well worth going out of your way to find.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on June 28, 2008, 08:47:28 pm
never found Angelina Jolie attractive tbh. Doesn't mean to say I wouldn't bang the shit out of her tho.
Has uncle been tattooing her arm?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on June 28, 2008, 09:20:50 pm

I know what you mean Jim - A.J. treads that line that many models do - she has prominent features that sometimes look beautiful but sometimes look ugly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 29, 2008, 07:11:39 pm
Well having enjoyed:
The sixth sense
Unbreakable
Signs
The Village
and managed to vaguely stay awake throughout lady in the water... my lady and I decided to go and see "the Happening" last night. Which was a mistake.
Mark Wahlberg is painfully bad in it. The plot is thin and the gore isn't carried out well, at all. What a waste of an evening. It was toss, the last minute was reminiscent of his previous twists but you can see it coming a mile off and well it just isn't good. Anybody else seen it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on June 29, 2008, 07:29:54 pm
I don't know if someone (Houdini) posted something about Du Levande already, but I watched it last night. I guess it won't be everyone's cup of tea, and I won't pretend to be high brow and understand every subtle nuance in every seen, but I did enjoy it. I enjoyed it in the sense it made me sad, but perhaps it was the philosophy of the ideology of the film, and that I've also just finished reading Eco's The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana. They're somewhat related, but that's another point entirely.

If you are into films that leave a lot in the eye of the beholder, but present you with ideas some what subtly, then I think you'll enjoy Du Levande. It's certainly a very sparse film, so if you don't like it you'll only waste 20mins before you probably turn it off.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 30, 2008, 04:13:45 pm
Has uncle been tattooing her arm?

There are only 10 different types of people......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 01, 2008, 11:22:54 am
Saw Seraphim Falls the other day - not bad at all. Brooding western revenge/chase. Gets suddenly rather surreal at the end - can see it may annoy some but I really enjoyed it.

Mentioned this a few pages back.  Best film of 08 for me.  Along w/ The Assassination of Jesse James (another western) which the OST is well worth going out of your way to find.

I watched the Assassination of JJ last Friday on DVD.  Well worth seeing...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 01, 2008, 01:39:06 pm
Well having enjoyed:
The sixth sense
Unbreakable
Signs
The Village
and managed to vaguely stay awake throughout lady in the water... my lady and I decided to go and see "the Happening" last night. Which was a mistake.
Mark Wahlberg is painfully bad in it. The plot is thin and the gore isn't carried out well, at all. What a waste of an evening. It was toss, the last minute was reminiscent of his previous twists but you can see it coming a mile off and well it just isn't good. Anybody else seen it?

I forgot to mention that in one scene i'm pretty sure a boom microphone appears in the shot.  :thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on July 02, 2008, 12:44:21 pm
Saw Seraphim Falls the other day - not bad at all. Brooding western revenge/chase. Gets suddenly rather surreal at the end - can see it may annoy some but I really enjoyed it.

Mentioned this a few pages back.  Best film of 08 for me.  Along w/ The Assassination of Jesse James (another western) which the OST is well worth going out of your way to find.

I watched the Assassination of JJ last Friday on DVD.  Well worth seeing...

 :agree: i reckon these are both excellent, though i thought serpahim falls was a bit better than jesse james but maybe thats just because of the slightly more original storyline.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 02, 2008, 01:36:52 pm
Saw Seraphim Falls the other day - not bad at all. Brooding western revenge/chase. Gets suddenly rather surreal at the end - can see it may annoy some but I really enjoyed it.

Mentioned this a few pages back.  Best film of 08 for me.  Along w/ The Assassination of Jesse James (another western) which the OST is well worth going out of your way to find.

I watched the Assassination of JJ last Friday on DVD.  Well worth seeing...

 :agree: i reckon these are both excellent, though i thought serpahim falls was a bit better than jesse james but maybe thats just because of the slightly more original storyline.

Very good film indeed. Kinda turned into a docu-story at the end which I liked alot.

Watched Cloverfield which has already been mentioned. Really enjoyed this film even though moments reminded me of Blairwitch.

Rented In the Hands of Gods the other night. Knew what it was about and I was completely blown away. Excellent documentary and unusually I was even inspired to watch all the extras too (which is unlike me).

Watched Lost in Space on the Tv the other day and forgot how much I liked it. Yeah its not great but I always watched the series as a kid (along with Land of the Giants) so the film has always appealed. Set up for a sequel which never materialised.

I'm in a strangley positive mood today.....  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 03, 2008, 07:46:09 pm
Watched a few films recently

On the way to Font I stopped at a Formule 1 and ended up watching a couple of films with the manager, who is studying film at uni.

First one was On The Doll, which I had never heard of. IMBD has the simple description "A story of the victims of child abuse, and the pain it visits upon their later lives", which it is. It explores the stories of several young adults who are or have been the victims of sexual exploitation - not normally the type of thing that one would watch as a form of entertainment. The film cuts between the various stories and ends up linking them together a bit like Pulp Fiction. I liked the way the characters developed and interacted. I don't remember any explicit nudity and overall found the film very absorbing. Its never going to win any Oscars, but I liked the way it made me think about the issues and people involved. Many people will not like this film at all.

The second film was Chantal. This was so bad it was good. A genre I have never come across - either a heavily plot laden soft pr0n film (with the appropriate level of acting), or a really shit attempt at telling the story of a wannabe actress suffering sexual exploitation in hollywood. Very odd.

I also watched Zombie Strippers - it is exactly what you would expect. A must for all fans of horror B movies made for the video/dvd market. Some class lines in the script  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 03, 2008, 09:52:31 pm
I watched Stargate Continuum earlier on tonight.  :-\ I am a fan of Stargate and all things SciFi, but this was a bit disappointing. Your average episode of the modern Dr Who is way better than this poor effort. I do hope nobody wastes their money on going to see this at the cinema. Not bad, though, as an extra long SG episode  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on July 03, 2008, 11:44:45 pm
Last night I finally got round to watching Survive Style 5 and it's really great. It's a bit bizarre but if you take what you can and go with it I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I found it amusing, sad, dramatic, ridiculous, philosophical, blah, blah, blah. Basically, it's worth getting and watching. I don't want to give too much away, but it is a visual feast, and the girl in the house has some rad outfits.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on July 04, 2008, 02:17:04 pm
Looks good, the synopsis is hilarious.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on July 16, 2008, 10:26:21 am
went to see hancock last night, it had its moments but overall i'd wait for it to come on telly not long before the new batmna now though  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 16, 2008, 12:23:51 pm
saw wanted last night...not bad as action goes low brow semi-Fight club with guns and cars
actually that kinda talks it up a bit -5.5 / 10

going to see kung fu panda tomorrow - have higher hopes for that

saw War a few days back on DVD - would recommend that over wanted actually - less flash more smash 8/10

trailers for Batman and Death race both looked excellent in very different ways
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on July 16, 2008, 02:52:49 pm
I had above average expectations for Wanted after enjoying Nightwatch by the same director.  I was sorely disappointed.  Dr T thought your description was accurate, which implies a half decent score but I'd say closer to 2/10.  It ticked a lot of right boxes but seemed equally lacking across the board plus .... Jolie was painfully thin, the script was crap, Freeman couldn't of been expected to do anything with those lines, the philosophy was warped, McEvoy is a great actor but the last sceen almost made me piss myself and not in the good way  :shrug:.

Kung fu panda was all good fun - Disney or whoever did it and Buddist philosophy are made for each other.

Reluctant at first I really came round to Definitely Maybe when it was put on chez moi.  It comes across as a fairly real and genuine film, mainly solid acting.

Likely to have already had mention but the Life of Others was excellent, one of the most compelling films I've seen.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on July 18, 2008, 04:35:17 pm
went to see hancock last night, it had its moments but overall i'd wait for it to come on telly not long before the new batmna now though  :thumbsup:

There'e a teaser trailer for Watchmen before this, I don't know which I'm more excited about. Can't wait.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on July 19, 2008, 09:03:17 am
a teaser trailer for Watchmen

http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/17/must-watch-zack-snyders-watchmen-trailer-absolutely-stunning/ (http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/17/must-watch-zack-snyders-watchmen-trailer-absolutely-stunning/)   

Looks good! Unfortunately I'm off to the US a couple of days before Batman comes out. But we're flying United so should have some US releases on the little screen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 21, 2008, 09:59:41 am
Watched Perfume on Saturday night. Read the book a while ago and was interested to see how anyone could make a film version work. It was very well done and is worth watching but I'd recommend reading the book instead as that's a work of genius.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 21, 2008, 11:50:05 am
a teaser trailer for Watchmen

http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/17/must-watch-zack-snyders-watchmen-trailer-absolutely-stunning/ (http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/17/must-watch-zack-snyders-watchmen-trailer-absolutely-stunning/)  


Oh that looks great. I hope the film is as good as the trailer.. it looks pretty much spot on in terms of look and feel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on July 21, 2008, 12:12:57 pm
Indeed, I hope that the comic book style that Snyder used in 300 will serve Watchmen well too.

We're flying to the good ol' US of A tomorrow so I'm looking forward to seeing something new from the American release schedule. Hopefully Batman because otherwise I'm in danger of missing out on the cinematic release (not back til the end of August).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 21, 2008, 12:17:16 pm
Watched Underdog with less-large-Lagers. Not bad really. Jason Lee (Earl from My Name Is Earl) is the voice of the dog (in the style of Earl too) which makes the whole thing more appealing to me than if they'd used some squeeky clean dysney type voice (obviously I would have prefered Brian Blessed). Someone told me that J Lee used to be a pro skater - checked WikiP and it seems to be true  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 21, 2008, 12:35:05 pm
I was totally blown away by the Watchmen trailer I saw this morning on Empire. Popped along here to post it up and you've already been there. Well I for one am truely looking forward to this film.

Saw The Forbidden Kingdom last week and really enjoyed it. It mixes great fight scenes and scenery of modern martial arts films with the cheese, plot and hilarious dialogue from early stuff. Think Monkey meets Crouching Tiger. The Li, Chan opening fight is just brilliant.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on July 23, 2008, 12:05:16 pm
took a chance and went to see the mist on tuesday. I gotta say for a 15 its pretty scary there's some freaky shit goin on in that there mist, non of the acting was particularly oscar standard and i thought the ending was a bit hollywood but overall well worth goin to see 7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 23, 2008, 12:35:09 pm
I've booked tickets to see Batman at the iMax in Manchester on Monday... should be good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on July 24, 2008, 10:36:22 pm
Am on for some Dark Knight action tomorrow night - looking forward to it as the reviews have been pretty good. Will update once I've seen it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 25, 2008, 10:29:44 am
Am on for some Dark Knight action tomorrow night - looking forward to it as the reviews have been pretty good. Will update once I've seen it!

Understatement of the year tt! We're going next Friday. Not imax unfortunately (as apparently the experience is something else) but I'm still very much looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on July 25, 2008, 10:46:30 am
You're right there...even 'hardest man to please in film review' Peter Bradshaw of the Graun liked it!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/jul/25/actionandadventure1 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/jul/25/actionandadventure1)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 25, 2008, 06:48:12 pm
DARK KNIGHT - 10/10
awesome - a few false endings but certainly as dark as it deserves to be
Better than the last one by a long stretch (and that was excellent)
Oldman is especially good
go see it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on July 25, 2008, 07:08:10 pm
Did it have the trailers for Watchmen, and the new Terminator film?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 26, 2008, 10:10:54 am
Did it have the trailers for Watchmen, and the new Terminator film?
No but hell-boy looks amazing....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 28, 2008, 08:25:34 am
I must admit to getting excited by the Hellboy II trailer. Judging by the lass's reaction I will be going on my tod. Really enjoyed the Dark Knight. Not quite 10/10 for me, but not far off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 28, 2008, 09:50:38 am
Dark Knight - 9/10.  :agree:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on July 28, 2008, 10:21:02 pm
Watched Control the other night and it sent shivers down my spine an amazing film with an amazing performance from Sam Riley as Ian Curtis then I had a brainwave and found this http://ftp.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U (http://ftp.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U) why aren't the youtube links not working anymore?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 29, 2008, 04:40:41 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U (http://ftp.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U) why aren't the youtube links not working anymore?

Probably something to do with the 'ftp' bit of the URL your using, change it to 'www'....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVHAjTBb1U)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 29, 2008, 10:46:51 am
We turned up at the iMax last night to watch the Dark Knight and there had been a powercut!  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 29, 2008, 12:46:26 pm
Surely more........ :furious:  :rtfm:  :spank: ? How very annoying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on July 31, 2008, 09:27:49 am
I'm probably going to make one of my bi-annual cinema visits to see batman soon, (the other one will be the bond film) but shortie is also banging on about wanting to see the x-files film. Anyone seen this? I must admit that when the tv series was originally out in the mid-90s i loved it and had a raging hardon for gillian anderson (what can I say, i was 15) but after the first film in '98 i lost interst as the series lost quality and went on far too long (in many ways like Last of the summer wine). i wouldn't want to go to see this film and be dissappointed - but more to the point does GA look hot in it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 31, 2008, 09:45:34 am
Seen the trailor twice and all I could think was "This reminds me of Scooby Doo". Some monster/supernatural force at work only for it to turn out to be the old man Barnaby in really bad fancy dress. Giving it "I would have got away with it if it wasn't for you pesky FBI investigators".

Negatives - Reports say it's been slated state side. Trailor looks shit.

Positives - Billy Connolly is in it. Gillian appears to have aged well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on July 31, 2008, 09:52:20 am
Positives - Billy Connolly is in it.


Positive? what is he playing, Angus McSellout, an alien disguised as an irritating lottery marketing tool?

Gillian appears to have aged well.

i'm hearing you on VHF.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 31, 2008, 09:54:59 am
Positive? what is he playing, Angus McSellout, an alien disguised as an irritating lottery marketing tool?

No, the Big Yin is playing a seer and a stigmatic, if the trailer is to believed. Purple beard does not feature. I would spend the whole film waiting for him to go into a comedy rant. And be disappointed when he doesn't.

GA looks a bit filthy milfy now.

DD is still a pr0n star.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 31, 2008, 10:01:52 am
X-Files film has been slated generally and I would tend to believe that - I'm with you Dave, was a superb series when it started out but after a while ran out of steam and turned into a parody of itself.


I went to see Wall-E recently and it was really good. Typical modern animation classic but with more atmosphere and purpose to it, and amazing animation quality. The earth / robot stuff was so well done that it was hard to believe that it was CGI (the human / ship stuff was more standard). The strongest themed parts were particularly good, some of the more generic bits were weaker. But just good overall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on August 02, 2008, 04:59:52 pm
Watched Hancock. As superhero films go its ace. Powers of Superman, moodiness of Batman, drinking habit of Oliver Reed. More could have been made of the scope for humour based around being drunk in charge of super powers, but it would probably have come over as either making fun of alcohol dependency or glamorising it. Some classic superhero elements were there - loosing powers, criminal mastermind recruiting cronies in prison and breaking out to kill superhero, anguish over not being like everyone else, but there are some fucking ace bits that are new - shoving one bad guy's head up another bad guy's arse sticks in my mind. Great line along the theme of "its not a crime to be an asshole, but it is very counterproductive". They even used an Ice T track for a prison scene - genius (or cliche, I'm not sure).
Looking forward to watching Batman to compare it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Herbert on August 03, 2008, 07:19:33 pm
The X-Files film is dire, the plot is akin to some of the weaker episodes that cropped up from time to time in the series. I'd been looking forward to it as I'd been assured that werewolves would be involved. Sadly, no werewolves.  On the plus side, Gillian is indisputably hotter than a jet of bramley apple squeezed from a microwaved apple turnover.

The Dark Knight - I enjoyed this but felt it went on for a good half hour more than I really wanted it to. Why? without spoiling it for anyone I thought the introduction of a particular character could have been saved for the next film. Bail's throaty Batman growl is ridiculous. Mark Kermode's review is good

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/videos/kermode_reviews.shtml (http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/videos/kermode_reviews.shtml)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 03, 2008, 11:47:41 pm
Despite Cineworld's best efforts (with a useless telephone and internet booking system) I managed to see the Dark Night on Saturday, although a little later than we originally planned.

Quite simply fantastic, ok so the Batman growl was a little over done but the rest seemed flawless, Heath Ledger put it a particularly good performance IMO.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on August 04, 2008, 08:28:14 am
Watched The Dark Knight on Saturday, maybe 9/10, pretty damn good.

As noted, a couple of false endings but I'm OK with that. I didn't really like the way Gotham was just New York now, but hey ho. And my cinema experience was sullied by fuckwits not have the bladder control to make it through a film that long. Feck, I've got a bladder infection and I made it. Also too many small children there - just because it's a 12 doesn't mean it's a family film!

Saw the even longer version of Gladiator yesterday. Not bad.

Anyone seen Man on Wire yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 06, 2008, 02:47:52 am
Watched The Dark Knight on Saturday, maybe 9/10, pretty damn good.

As noted, a couple of false endings but I'm OK with that. I didn't really like the way Gotham was just New York now, but hey ho. And my cinema experience was sullied by fuckwits not have the bladder control to make it through a film that long. Feck, I've got a bladder infection and I made it. Also too many small children there - just because it's a 12 doesn't mean it's a family film!

Saw the even longer version of Gladiator yesterday. Not bad.

Anyone seen Man on Wire yet?

12a does seem to be getting stretched a lot.

(Btw im obviously a fuckwit as I needed to pee half way through, I was the first to go and everybody else who was busting obviously didn't dare be that idiot as afterwards people started to drop like flies)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on August 06, 2008, 05:47:48 am
saw the dark knight on friday at the manchester imax. Awesome. seriously contemplating seeing it again.

Cheers
Tim
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on August 06, 2008, 10:52:58 am
whilst convalesing this wk with toothache from hell, and why does an emergency dentist appointment take 3 days? i watched march of the penguins. really good. morgan freeman narrating

will check times for dark knight this afternoon. make a day of it, fuck it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 06, 2008, 12:07:57 pm
why does an emergency dentist appointment take 3 days?

Didn't you know most dentists only work one day a week (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,9593.0/all.html)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 06, 2008, 01:28:30 pm
I was thinking about batman the other and after my ideas about the hulk having an 18 version came up with this idea.

If when a film company was filming something like that they could shoot extra material at a relatively low cost and then release two different version of the film at the same time i.e a kids version and an adults, thus opening themselves to a much bigger market and with a greater prospect of people going to see the film multiple times. can anyone who knows anything about the film business at all tell me why this wouldn't work  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 06, 2008, 01:55:17 pm
Don't they do it with some DVDs?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 06, 2008, 01:58:05 pm
i believe they do yes, perhaps all the more reason to give it a go at the cinema maybe they have at some point but i failed to notice
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on August 06, 2008, 02:04:41 pm
I was thinking about batman the other and after my ideas about the hulk having an 18 version came up with this idea.

If when a film company was filming something like that they could shoot extra material at a relatively low cost and then release two different version of the film at the same time i.e a kids version and an adults, thus opening themselves to a much bigger market and with a greater prospect of people going to see the film multiple times. can anyone who knows anything about the film business at all tell me why this wouldn't work  :shrug:

Would this mean twice the marketing costs, distribution costs etc etc? I suspect, like with most business, the people holding the purse strings are thinking only about minimum cost and maximum ROI.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 06, 2008, 02:24:20 pm
ROI.

Republic of Ireland?

 I think films are all distibuted in digital format, wouldn't be hard to puthave two versions in one?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on August 06, 2008, 02:26:40 pm
ROI.

Republic of Ireland?

 I think films are all distibuted in digital format, wouldn't be hard to puthave two versions in one?

Return on Investment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 06, 2008, 02:27:15 pm
What's it got to do with Ireland?  ;) Actually they often give films different certificates in Eire due to the views on sex etc there.

Beaten to it with the shit joke.

I think some palms were greased in order for The Dark Knight to get a 12A cert. Great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on August 06, 2008, 03:08:26 pm
What's it got to do with Ireland?  ;) Actually they often give films different certificates in Eire due to the views on sex etc there.

Beaten to it with the shit joke.

I think some palms were greased in order for The Dark Knight to get a 12A cert. Great film.

I would've probably played along if I had the time to think of something witty.

I remember it was common (for a while, not sure about now)for films to be released as 12a only to be upgraded for DVD release citing the extra content worthy of the uprgade.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 07, 2008, 10:16:43 am
We turned up at the iMax last night to watch the Dark Knight and there had been a powercut!  >:(

Now the cinema doesn't have a record of my ticket purchase and I'm sat holding 50 quids worth of tickets and they tell me I have to traipse wall the way back into Manchester with a copy of my bank statement to get my money back..  :wall:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 07, 2008, 10:26:44 am
Pain in t'bum.

I watched I am legend on DVD last night, wasn't expecting much, but even so I was disappointed. Close to 28 days later, but without good bits.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on August 07, 2008, 02:43:41 pm
saw Mummy 3 yesterday - mindless sillyness
if you liked the first two this is very good
if you hated the first two......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 08, 2008, 09:08:15 am
whilst convalesing this wk with toothache from hell, and why does an emergency dentist appointment take 3 days? i watched march of the penguins. really good. morgan freeman narrating

Dense you really are getting soft in your old age. Never had you down as a penguin man. Hope the toothache has cleared up.


I saw Dark Knight last night, I agree with everyone's comments about it including Jasper's about "palms being greased to get a 12a certificate" - no shit!! Brilliant film, nothing more to add.


Hellboy II trailer looks good. Didn't see the first and don't know anything about it except the "bestiary" looked cool.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on August 08, 2008, 01:43:04 pm
I thought Dark Knight was pretty average on the whole although I was very impressed by Heath Leger's Joker.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 08, 2008, 01:48:53 pm
A dissenting voice?! Stone him, stone him!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 08, 2008, 03:01:32 pm
Interestingly, although I thought Heath Ledger was very good, I didn't think his performance particularly stood out or overshadowed anything else about the film. I have to say that this is one of the few films I've seen which have been hyped beyond belief and yet didn't completely disappoint me. To me that means it's pretty good! My one complaint was that Maggie Gyllenhaal wasn't fit enough to be the love interest..........

SPOILER

...but that's ok as they killed her off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on August 08, 2008, 03:07:29 pm
My one complaint was that Maggie Gyllenhaal wasn't fit enough to be the love interest..........

[

Too right! Katie Holmes to Maggie Gyllenhaal, what a come down!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 08, 2008, 03:34:50 pm
no way man gylenhall all the way for me
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on August 08, 2008, 03:36:47 pm
I was suprised to see MG in this one, not that I'm shallow enough for that to sway my judgement of the film. Re bog breaks - Paul I'm sure that seemed harsh, but I was sat at the end of a row and all and sundry tramped past me throughout the second half.

Anyway, has anyone seen Man on Wire yet? No?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 08, 2008, 03:48:30 pm
Shallow perhaps but when two of the main characters are supposedly vying for the affections of one woman you'd at least expect her to be attractive and not some jowly, sunken eyed bird.

(http://i34.tinypic.com/fbfjag.jpg)


Personal preference I know.  ;)


Anyway, has anyone seen Man on Wire yet? No?

No, soz.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on August 08, 2008, 03:57:23 pm
No wonder I normally turn images off at work. But your comment does seem a little harsh. Maybe Tom wouldn't let her out for this one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on August 08, 2008, 08:24:43 pm
not going soft fiend. rough with smooth, penguins with scat...

thought batman was very good. agreed with the love interest comments tho, she's a pig. also agree on the 12a comments, no way on earth.

mummy 3 next dr t. good nonsense films.

thought the trailer for the ben stiller jack black film was good, can't remember whether i already mentioned this or just dreamt it.

bought no country for old men t'other day. what a good film! the ending was not what i was expecting
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 08, 2008, 10:51:21 pm
not going soft fiend. rough with smooth, penguins with scat...

Oh God dense, no, you're right, you're a disgrace.

No Country For Old Men was good, agree with the ending.


Maybe the bird in The Dark Knight....had a good personality....you know....


Anyone up for seeing Hellboy 2 when it's out??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on August 08, 2008, 11:15:25 pm


Anyone seen Man on Wire yet?

Not yet, but it's on at the Showroom all next week if you're a Sheffieldite. Am going to see it on Monday.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 11, 2008, 09:15:39 am


Anyone seen Man on Wire yet?

Went to see this last night and thought it was very good.

The stories told very well, especially considering there is no actual footage of the event.  Jumps around using interviews over re-enactments and archive footage and footage of the interviews themselves.  It did seem to gloss over a few details, but all-in-all its very well done and very interesting, and quite an amazing thing to do (and have got away with).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on August 11, 2008, 09:20:45 am
No Country For Old Men was good, agree with the ending.

Excellent film. Although I spent the whole film wondering where I recognised the actress who played the wife. Couldn't believe it was Kelly McDonald of Trainspotting fame. The accent completely threw me. I need to watch this film again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on August 11, 2008, 09:23:08 am
Carrying on the party pooper theme.

I enjoyed the first two films for what they were but Mummy 3 was amazingly bad, not seen a film that crap for a while.  Bad; script, acting, chemistry, story etc.  I can understand why Rachael Weizz stayed well clear, which incindentally was my main gripe. Why are they allowed to change character actors half way through?? It's just plain wrong.

May be in a very small minority but I prefer MG to Katie Holmes on looks, performance the lot.

No Country ... Javier Bardem's character was truely fearsome.

Looking forward to Man on a Wire.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on August 11, 2008, 09:41:41 am
Mummy 3 was amazingly bad, not seen a film that crap for a while.  Bad; script, acting, chemistry, story etc.  

I would second this, saw this yesterday and although it had its moments, some of the acting was very wooden indeed. I guess it was not meant to be too serious. I liked the special effects and all the pitched battles of mummies and skeletons at the end. The emperor morphing into various monsters was quite cool. However, not having seen the 1st and 2nd films, I don't have much to compare it with. The question is, will I bother getting them on DVD?  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on August 11, 2008, 09:51:07 am
The question is, will I bother getting them on DVD?  :-\

I would recommend them both for evenings when you're looking for light hearted fun.  Brendon Fraser's character has much more get up and go and good chemistry with Rachael Weizz (which apparently is important to me). Better in every way I'd say.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on August 11, 2008, 10:01:56 am
I would recommend them both for evenings when you're looking for light hearted fun.  Brendon Fraser's character has much more get up and go and good chemistry with Rachael Weizz (which apparently is important to me). Better in every way I'd say.

 :lol: Funny that, how the appearance of RW could enliven even the most turgid production! Cool I may check them out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 11, 2008, 11:20:19 am
Went to see this last night and thought it was very good.

The stories told very well, especially considering there is no actual footage of the event.  Jumps around using interviews over re-enactments and archive footage and footage of the interviews themselves.  It did seem to gloss over a few details, but all-in-all its very well done and very interesting, and quite an amazing thing to do (and have got away with).

Forgot to mention two things...


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on August 14, 2008, 12:03:10 am
Right, watched 2 films this week. The Objective(Afghanistain(sic) Roswell), last night and Trans-Siberian(drug running trainfest) tonight. the latter is a 'proper' film. Beginning, middle and end. Ben Kingsley(Russian detective on the payroll so to speak) and Wooden Harrelson in his usual 'pay'role. Trans-Siberian:- Good film for the Mrs. Love interest and a decent plot 7/10. The Objective:- Full Metal Jacket meets X-Files meets Blair Witch, on a budget. Acting is surprisingly decent but film only has a beginning and a middle. Leaves many questions unanswered but lack of general direction meant I was looking forward to making it stop so I could go to bed. I take it as a personal triumph that I stuck it out to the end. Or more accurately, the end of the middle.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on August 20, 2008, 08:17:54 am
Hellboy 2 out today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx4rl2h_j4U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx4rl2h_j4U)

seen it on small screen, but can't wait to see it on the big screen. The toothfairies made me wince, Johan Kraus is straight out of 'Allo 'Allo, the elf prince shows off some fast sword skills - plot is a bit basic, but creatures and effects more than make up for this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 20, 2008, 08:33:50 am
Well I finally went to see Batman at the iMax in Mancland last night.  Quite the spectacle and very entertaining but a bit too long and I didn't need the moral ambiguity theme spelling out for me every ten minutes thank you very much. Gary Oldman is brilliant as Gordon.

On one level I thought the film was a exploration of Al Qaeda vs. Bush America.. Osama (lord of misrule) vs Bush America (millionaire playboy, might is right, fueling the fire).

Lots of guantanamo and torture references.
Shots of ruined buildings and firefighters almost identical to the aftermath of 9/11.
Cellphone explosive strapped suicide bombers.
Extraordinary rendition of the Hong Kong banker pulled out by Batman using CIA techniques.

Just a thought.

(I think Maggie G is quite sexy BTW)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 20, 2008, 09:15:37 am
My intake of films has increased of late after having signed up to lovefilm.

Recently I've seen...

The Prestige (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/) which I thought was pretty good, entertaining, and a bit "dark" in places.  I worked out the twist in the plot fairly early (much to the annoyance of the missus who'd seen it before and kept on taunting me as to whether I'd sussed it out). 

An Inconvenient Truth (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/) which despite being full of self-promotion and tenuous (personal) analogies was I thought very good.  Just the sort of thing many Americans need to see to drive home the message of the scale and problems involved in global warming.  Just a shame they won't all see it.

Black Sheep (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0779982/) been waiting to see this for ages, and finally got round to it.  Absolutely brilliant, in the same vein as Jackson's Bad Taste and Brain Dead and just good old fun slapstick gore.  The irony of turning a vegetarian hippy into a flesh eating zombie sheep was just superb.

Next film due to arrive today is Into the Wild (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/) which has had some good reviews on here and I'm looking forward to watching this evening.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on August 20, 2008, 09:21:18 am
Watched survival style 5+ last night. A bizarre plot that I didn't understand at all but highly entertaining none the less
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on August 21, 2008, 05:43:14 pm
not read through the thread for a bit....

but my summery of the summer school hols films is below:

Indie - utter CGI over the top with a weak script & all but none of the quick quip humour... too long & sub plots dont make sense

Mummy 3 - just doesnt work without Ms Weiss. although female lead is one of the strengths to the otherwise repetitive poor story and very weak male lead [surprised me i have to say]

Kung Fu panda : is class, really.... it does the pixaresque good vs evil with the underdog shining through type of stuff as usual... but it does it well, a highly entertaining piece of cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: unclesomebody on August 28, 2008, 11:00:16 pm
I've just finished being amazed/confused/intrigued/saddened/impressed by Mister Lonely. I came across this film very randomly and didn't know what to expect, so I guess I had zero expectations. It far, far, far surpassed that zero level. It's exceptionally well shot, has a very strange storyline, but ultimately I would definitely recommend it. It follows in the vein on my previous recommendations so perhaps not to everyone's taste all of the time. It also has a wonderful soundtrack, which is emotive enough to fit perfectly with the film. Anyway, blah blah blah. Just enjoy it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 29, 2008, 10:24:45 am
The Prestige (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/) which I thought was pretty good, entertaining, and a bit "dark" in places.  I worked out the twist in the plot fairly early (much to the annoyance of the missus who'd seen it before and kept on taunting me as to whether I'd sussed it out).

I need to see this. Really enjoyed the book as I do almost all of Christopher Priest's stuff.

Hellboy 2: entertaining nonsense. All quite shallow but good fun and some cool monsters and creatures. I quite like Hellboy himself. (Never saw the first one nor read the comics)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andyh on August 29, 2008, 10:44:13 am
might i recommend "otto: or up with dead people" which i saw last week.

as gay zombie pr0no's go its utterly classic, funny, clever, political an lots more. there was applause in the cinema when it finished, which i've not seen since rocky 4.

think this was a one-off reshowing, but probably available on dvd
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on August 29, 2008, 12:56:47 pm
Has anyone seen Somers Town yet?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on August 29, 2008, 01:44:55 pm
I think Hellboy II has gone too far to the side of 'ooooh check me out I can make creatures with funny faces' to the point where the plot is thin, even by comic book film standards, with a ridiculous amount of holes in it.  I thought it was way worse than the first installment, but still just about worth the cost of the ticket.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 29, 2008, 04:35:04 pm
i thought it was shit but i can see why people would like it there was too much noise for me couldn't hear what anyone was saying no doubt it was visually impressive in parts
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on September 13, 2008, 03:12:56 pm
Saw the Wackness yesterday with Ben Kingsley - great movie, would recommend seeing it. Lots of nostalgic tunes from '94, Biggie and Tribe called Quest. Some side parts on show and public phone boxes in place of mobile phones.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the secon
Post by: Yossarian on September 13, 2008, 05:07:56 pm
I just watched Eden lake. Great review in the guardian. Pretty nasty stuff. Worth watching but you'll probably want to run over a few little shits on the way home so it might be worth picking up a stolen one just in case. If you do run them over then make sure they're dead though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on September 15, 2008, 11:48:33 pm
Watched the Guy Ritchie flick on Saturday night and have just finished watching the De Niro/Pacino newie. They are both ok(just ok?) yes, the Guy Ritchie film is similar to his first couple LSATSB and Snatch, though of a slightly lesser quality. Still watchable, mainly due to the jock.
Righteous Kill was also OK, and they were typically great on screen  but the story itsef is shallow and really just a vehicle. The highlight was De Niro's up close questioning of his girlfriend's monogamy. Cue half grin/smile and nodding head "can I trust you?". Weak ending.

This is an accurate review.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26661877/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26661877/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on September 22, 2008, 10:06:00 am
Die Welle (The Wave) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1063669/). Really really powerful and well worth the watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the secon
Post by: slackline on September 25, 2008, 12:10:09 pm
I just watched Eden lake. Great review in the guardian. Pretty nasty stuff. Worth watching but you'll probably want to run over a few little shits on the way home so it might be worth picking up a stolen one just in case. If you do run them over then make sure they're dead though.

Had read a couple of good reviews of this too so went to see it last night.

Not a particularly easy film to watch, but very good.  My wife who teaches at Sheff College said the mannerisms and looks of the youths were spot on with what she deals with day-to-day (thankfully the prolonged violence wasn't).

Was on foot though so couldn't run any little shits over on the way home.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 28, 2008, 03:49:54 pm
I've seen two films in the last two days firstly appaloosa. anyone who likes any western will like this film its set at the right pace has a good storyline with good performances and a few good one liners 8/10 in my opinion. Second up i went to see death race, thats right i paid money to see deathrace. This film is entirely predictable and in no way at all is it clever, 80% of the film is driving and shooting 2% revolves around the storyline and the rest is sort of lost in translation with the glorification of prison life. I reckon this film would be good if had managed to get into the cinema with your fake I.D to watch it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the secon
Post by: SteveM on September 28, 2008, 04:12:27 pm
Not a particularly easy film to watch, but very good. 

I found this quite difficult to watch too, though I didn't find it as gratuitous as some of the torture-pr0n like Hostel II and the Saw series. And Saw V is out later this year too, urrrgggh.

Was highly recommended to see The boy in the striped pyjamas too - described as harrowing and without a hollywood ending - I think it's just finished a week at the Showroom cinema tho.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on October 01, 2008, 11:38:39 am
a summary of some recent watchings

Indiana Jones... Crystal Skull:
Worst. Ending. Ever. (wresting prize from A.I.)

Rescue Dawn:
Dramatization of the documentary "Little Dieter Wants to Fly", about the only chap to escape from a Vietnamese POW camp.  Perhaps unfairly dismissed by critics whose main motive seemed to be to show that they had seen Werner Herzog's earlier, admittedly far superior, films.  Okay, so compared to Aguirre Wrath of God it's a bit "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" crossed with Tenko, but, it's good solid entertainment and well worth a look (sappy ending though).

Eden Lake:
Deliverance directed by the The Daily Mail.  Reminiscent in tone and content to Wolf Creek, although the escapability of the English countryside, compared to the Australian outback required a bit more suspension of disbelief regarding mobile phones and daft behaviour.  But... it drags you in with its air of the perfectly possible.  Like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Blair Witch there's a creeping sense of "there but for the grace of God"  and a gratitude for ones location and circumstances.  It is an extremely nasty and effective piece of work.  Certainly added a new terror to my next trip to the job-centre (and a fervant desire to avoid "fun pubs")! 

Dark Knight:
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this.  I found Batman Begins to be a mirthless, tedious and confusing assault on the senses.  I generally find "adult" comic book adaptations to be laughablly simplistic exercises in turning the lights off and stripping away any humour.  But.... this won me over.  For possibly the first time I truly understood why Batman goes to such ridiculously inefficient lengths: kung-fu and gadgets, rather than just buying a gun and lurking around the subway like any other would-be vigilante.  It's because he wants to hurt people.  Bruce Wayne likes to feel people's faces against his fists.  The fact that society tacitly approves of his targets is just a happy bonus... he'd do it anyway and probably has nightmares about running out of criminals.  Regarding the film itself, it motors along nicely and although long, doesn't drag and is refreshingly unpredictable at times.  Heath Legers's Joker is a magnetic presence with some gruesomely comic touches and there are some striking visual moments.  A scene outside a hospital comes to mind - a disaster in bright sunshine - startlingly vibrant compared to the usual dirty deeds in darkness.

Gone Baby Gone:
The first half of this is fantastic: an investigation of a child's kidnapping with a real sense of working-class place and people (set in Boston).  It's low key, but not dull or drab, with some tense scenes and a sly sense of humour.   In one of my favourites, the mother trying to dodge confirming whether she knows a suspect, is told: "No. It don't "sound familiar", Helene. He's a violent sociopathic Haitain criminal named Cheese. Either you know him or you don't."!  Unfortunately, the film later wanders into a police subplot that, whilst interesting, seemed a bit of an unwarranted complication.  More of an excuse to allow Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris to justify their billing rather than being strictly necessary.  Still, whilst not the film it could have been, it remains very good indeed and well worth a look.  A crying shame that it's cinema release was stymied by sensitivity over the Madeline McCann case (presumably because noone had ever been kidnapped before that).  Also hard to believe that it was directed by Ben Afleck - a man hiding his talents under a Peal Harbor sized bushel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on October 01, 2008, 12:02:50 pm
Watched The Walker recently.

Written and directed by the guy who wrote Taxi Driver, American Gigilo and many more ... forget his name.

It's a character film following Woody Hareleson's (great performance) gay socialite through Washington's high society. The plot is engaging enough but doesn't overpower the character study which is the meat of the film.  The film comes across very subversive like the other two.

The director talks of the films running in sequence; Taxi Driver sees the character in his 20s, Gigilo in his 30s, ??, and Walker in his 50s.  If you like the preceding two I'd highly recommend the Walker.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on October 01, 2008, 10:41:39 pm
Tropic Thunder = very funny. An irreverant piss take at times with good performances from Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Junior, Jack Black, an almost unrecognisable Tom Cruise plus Steve Coogan (before he gets blown to smithereens). Plenty of in jokes about the movie industry and the gag count is high. Go see!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 12, 2008, 07:46:38 pm
Keen to see "Burn After Reading" - reviews sound good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on October 13, 2008, 07:48:55 pm
My daughter is a projectionist and a Coen fan, and watched Burn in preview. It's good, but not their best. That still makes it pretty feckin good. I actually won tickets to a preview but couldn't go. Instead was treated to a free (thankfully) 'mystery film' which turned out to be The House Bunny! Our 14 year old male guest really liked it. Hmm. My step dad was with us and despite laughing (it does have some good jokes spead very thin) wanted to 'put a brick through the screen'. Old people today eh.

Maybe my luck will change and I'll actually get to see a good film soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on October 23, 2008, 09:38:03 am
Saw Pineapple Express last night after Burn After Reading sold out. What a total gong show! This is one of the worst films I have seen in a long time. Don't touch with a very long barge pole. Potentially funny in places but constant tales of dope heads and aimless antics for a full 2 hours destroy any merit it may have had.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on October 23, 2008, 10:36:20 am
Burn After Reading:  Funny moments abound but I found it an oddly unsatisfying experience.  Strange incidents of violence and tragedy interupt the silliness and seem to disrupt the accumulation of suspended disbelief necessary to fully enjoy it.  Unlike in the Coen's other, superior screwball comedies, such as "Raising Arizona" and "Oh Brother Where Art Thou", I found the character's too unsympathetic for my interest to survive such jarring moments and the convolutions of the plot.

Admittedly, if I were to see this with no fore-knowledge, I might be raving about the sly visual gags and inspired stupidity.   But, being aware of the back catalogue, my gratitude for 96 minutes of painless entertainment was rapidly subsumed by disappointment.  Seeing any Coen brothers' film is far from a waste of time, but most of what's worthwhile about this could probably have been compiled into a 30 minute clipshow. 


Gomorrah:  A film so different from "Burn After Reading" that it seems scarcely credible that they belong to the same medium and compete for the same awards.  It is a long and distressing snapshot of how lives in a Naples housing project are dominated, and often terminated by the Cammorra (the Neopolitan equivalent of the Cosa Nostra).  The film examines the impact of organised crime at every level: juvenile look-outs; ambitious young men trying to make a name; burnouts just trying to get by until retirement.  The suited and sauve face of the Cammorra brokering EU-wide waste disposal deals that result in toxic waste being transported by children and dumped on farmland. 

There's no real narrative; the stories don't intersect in any cleverly pat manner.  Instead there's a building sense of pity, distress and anger.  As an insight into modern organised crime, in all it's tawdry, unglamorous horror, Gommorrah is well worth watching.  But, it's not an easy ride and I would hesitate to describe it as "entertainment".  Its essence is this: remember the ending of "City of God" - the only sympathetic character is dead, and you see children committing a murder and starting anew the cycle of violence?  Well, imagine that sense of utter hopelessness extended for over two hours......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 23, 2008, 06:02:59 pm
  Well, imagine that sense of utter hopelessness extended for over two hours......

Can't wait.  There's nowhere near enough nihilism in modern cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on October 23, 2008, 09:31:40 pm
I watched Hellboy2 Sunday and was impressed.
Loads of ace characters, some great special effects and not too over the top.

A good sunday brain-out film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 23, 2008, 11:09:28 pm
Gomorrah:  A film so different from "Burn After Reading" that it seems scarcely credible that they belong to the same medium and compete for the same awards.  It is a long and distressing snapshot of how lives in a Naples housing project are dominated, and often terminated by the Cammorra (the Neopolitan equivalent of the Cosa Nostra).  The film examines the impact of organised crime at every level: juvenile look-outs; ambitious young men trying to make a name; burnouts just trying to get by until retirement.  The suited and sauve face of the Cammorra brokering EU-wide waste disposal deals that result in toxic waste being transported by children and dumped on farmland. 

There's no real narrative; the stories don't intersect in any cleverly pat manner.  Instead there's a building sense of pity, distress and anger.  As an insight into modern organised crime, in all it's tawdry, unglamorous horror, Gommorrah is well worth watching.  But, it's not an easy ride and I would hesitate to describe it as "entertainment".  Its essence is this: remember the ending of "City of God" - the only sympathetic character is dead, and you see children committing a murder and starting anew the cycle of violence?  Well, imagine that sense of utter hopelessness extended for over two hours......

I agree. I saw it last week and found it uncomfortable, and a bit too realistic - think the amount of handheld camera in it made it feel less narrative, more documentary. I'd certainly recommend seeing it, it's a considered, very well made film...though not first date material if you get me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 28, 2008, 11:01:10 pm
My mate Dragon Pete kindly showed me a fantastic Russian fantasy film called Night Watch. It is excellent. It is the product of giving a bunch of Russian film makers a great plot and three million quid. I am surprised that i hadn't heard of it before. Best fantasy film I've ever seen. My head is still reeling from it  :bow:

Can't wait to see Day Watch (although it's supposed to be less good).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 29, 2008, 10:31:00 am
Saw Pineapple Express last night after Burn After Reading sold out. What a total gong show! This is one of the worst films I have seen in a long time. Don't touch with a very long barge pole. Potentially funny in places but constant tales of dope heads and aimless antics for a full 2 hours destroy any merit it may have had.
Watched this last night from my sick sofa/bed and found it quite funny, but then again I like those stupid stoner type films helped by the fact I used to be a stoner I think
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on October 29, 2008, 11:12:54 am
Can't wait to see Day Watch (although it's supposed to be less good).

Tis true I'm afraid. The lass int video shop reckoned there's a third film to come although I always thought there was only two.

Best fantasy film I've ever seen. My head is still reeling from it  :bow:

Have you seen Pan's Labrynth?

Has Wanted been mentioned? Saw it last week and it made me laugh out loud. Not sure whether it is trying to be funny but it certainly got me. I think that someone had been overdosing on their imagination pills and bullet time special effects. Avoid if you like your action slightly believable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 29, 2008, 02:44:12 pm
Can't wait to see Day Watch (although it's supposed to be less good).

Tis true I'm afraid. The lass int video shop reckoned there's a third film to come although I always thought there was only two.

Best fantasy film I've ever seen. My head is still reeling from it  :bow:

Have you seen Pan's Labrynth?

Has Wanted been mentioned? Saw it last week and it made me laugh out loud. Not sure whether it is trying to be funny but it certainly got me. I think that someone had been overdosing on their imagination pills and bullet time special effects. Avoid if you like your action slightly believable.

There is a third Watch due next year called Twilight Watch - It is being filmed in the US and will alegedly be in english  :-\

I liked Pan's Labia, but not as much as Night Watch.

I watched Wanted earlier in the week - I thought the story was great and enjoyed the beyond-belief action. I thought wotserface with the lips was shit in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on October 29, 2008, 02:51:34 pm
Twilight Watch - It is being filmed in the US and will alegedly be in english  :-\

 :thumbsdown:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 29, 2008, 03:06:35 pm
I liked Pan's Labia, but not as much as Night Watch.
Who's pan then?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 29, 2008, 03:12:23 pm
Anyone seen Waltz with Bashir anywhere yet?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185616/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185616/)

Looks interesting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on October 29, 2008, 03:12:38 pm
Have to agree with moose concerning Burn After Reading. The unexpected violence seemed totally out of context with the narrative. 6.5 on 10 I reckon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rice Boy on October 29, 2008, 04:06:54 pm
I thought the violence/tragedy in Burn After Reading was refreshing, the reason for which I don't think I can explain without giving too much of the plot away. 

The first bit came as a full on shock to me after which I thought the tragedy was played out very well alongside the humour. I would agree that it's not totally satisfying but I enjoyed that (?).  Perhaps too much sugar too late??

7.5/10

Moose: I enjoy your reviews  :-*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 30, 2008, 11:43:46 pm
I saw max payne the other i day i thought it was pretty poor and i'm a big fan of the game i just cant seem to kick my prejudice against mark whalberg
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 12, 2008, 12:48:42 pm
Watched In Bruges at the weekend. Best film I've seen in ages. I had a vague recollection that someone had written a review of it on here before and it turned out to be our resident critic moose.......

In Bruges
http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/ (http://www.uk.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/)
A black comedy about two hitmen hiding in Bruges: bad-temperedly enduring the tourist-trail whilst awaiting instructions from the boss.  A bizarre hybrid of Sexy Beast style scabrous low-life gangsterisms and Father Ted-esque whimsy ("you can't give a dwarf ketamine...begorrah!").  I really liked this film, the two leads play-off each other entertainingly with the hangdog Brendan Gleason dragging the sulky unwilling Colin Farrell to examine medieval architecture when he just wants to pull and get pissed (though not on "gay" Belgian beer!).  Despite their professions, past deeds, and predilliction for violence the characters are sufficiently likeable that I almost wanted it to play Odd Couple style for the entire duration.  However, I guess a film must have a plot so events escalate in tragi-comic fashion with the whimsy partly sacrificed for action.  Still, it's a very entertaining ride and probably the best film I have seen at the cinema for a good few months; deliberating on its faults has made me realise just how much of it was right.  The acting is generally top-notch, as whilst Fienne's gangster cameo isn't entirely convincing Brendan Gleason is predictably superb and Colin Farrell's portrayal sufficient that it actually makes amends for "Alexander".  Which is high praise indeed, as rereading a review of mine for that travesty on this thread made me realise . His character is sulky, impulsive and basically bad, yet also funny, sensitive, and oddly rather sympathetic.  Strange that really... who would have thought that Farrell would make a better Dublin gobshite than a 330BC Macedonian tactical genius?!  If only that had occurred to Oliver Stone... the pain that might have been saved... I reckon in the future Alexander will be the subject of filmmakers' ire in the same manner Vietnam was for Oliver Stone ("Alexander is hell: the first casualty of Farrell is credibility").

I have nothing to add except that even if it wasn't a top film it would be worth watching for one scene alone involving cocainie, prostitutes and a racist dwarf. See it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 12, 2008, 01:44:34 pm
Now that's a coincidence - I watched In Bruges on saturday afternoon too. Thought it was excellent for all the points given  above, apart from  thought the ending was slightly contrived.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on November 17, 2008, 05:29:59 pm

Terminator 4 Teaser
 
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65k1t_terminator-4-teaser-trailer_shortfilms (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65k1t_terminator-4-teaser-trailer_shortfilms)

Looks dark (like they should be) lets hope they make a good job of this one!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on November 19, 2008, 02:18:24 pm
Now that's a coincidence - I watched In Bruges on saturday afternoon too. Thought it was excellent for all the points given  above, apart from  thought the ending was slightly contrived.

saw in bruges a couple of months ago and also was pleasantly surprised. The scene when the tower attendant was poking fiennes nearly killed me laughing. and the obviously poinient scene with brendan gleeson in the tower made the film for me.


Saw Napolean Dynamite yesterday and enjoyed it but strangely cannot quite put my finger on why. Think it was probably the failed characters.

Cheers
Tim

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 19, 2008, 02:28:13 pm
Caught a trailer last night on Film 4 that they are showing a series of five Argentinian films that looked interesting.  Starts next Tuesday (http://www.channel4.com/listings/F4/film4.jsp?offset=6&position=6) with El Aura.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on November 19, 2008, 02:32:50 pm
Caught a trailer last night on Film 4 that they are showing a series of five Argentinian films that looked interesting.  Starts next Tuesday (http://www.channel4.com/listings/F4/film4.jsp?offset=6&position=6) with El Aura.

awesome that sounds jus up my street as im learning spanish (poorly) at the moment.

Tim
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 19, 2008, 02:48:23 pm
I'm halfway through watching Rennaissance that was on Film 4 last week. The animation style is excellent (all B&W), not totally convinced about storyline yet. Worth catching if/when it is repeated.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 19, 2008, 02:51:34 pm
Watched 'Nugget' or 'The Nugget' last week which is an Australian comedy starring Eric Bana about three mates who find a giant gold nugget which then subsequently goes missing and they all fall out with one another and then make up. I like Australian films 'cos they are a little bit different in a way that I can't describe and this was no exception. If it was made in the US it would have been rubbish but I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 19, 2008, 03:21:54 pm
I like Australian films 'cos they are a little bit different in a way that I can't describe and this was no exception. If it was made in the US it would have been rubbish but I really enjoyed it.

Another great Australian film is Kenny (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/), absolutely hilarious, but also very humane and touching

Quote from: Kenny
There's a smell in here that will outlast religion


Quote from: Kenny
Funny part is parents look at me and say 'that's not much of a job, is it?'. And I say 'well you had kids'. 'You spent the first two years handling their shit, and you weren't getting paid for that'. They shit green, the only things that should be green are pears, apples and Martians.

Oh and I also enjoyed Rabbit Proof Fence (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/) when I watched it.  Shows a dark side of Australian history I was completely unaware of and that the country as a whole is sadly yet to overcome I discovered whilst living out there (racism towards aborginials is still rife among some natives immigrants  :( )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on November 19, 2008, 03:49:01 pm
I've watched a massive pile of films in the last month, stuck at home recovering from an operation. The pick of the bunch was Eagle vs Shark. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494222 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494222) Very funny NZ film from last year that passed me by at the time, but well worth looking out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 19, 2008, 04:34:21 pm
On the Aussie films front, my first recommendation on this thread is still a good one http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/)
How something like Crash would be if it was made In Australia, with no budget, and no big names.

On the Rabbit Proof Fence front, they tried to do exactly the same thing with American Indian children, with equally unsuccessful results.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on November 19, 2008, 05:12:31 pm
Now then. Watched Quantum of Solice last night and thought it was half the film it could have been. Whoever edited this needs bitchslapping. Every action scene was intentionally made more frenetic by cutting shots every half second - I needed a bucket. Acting - generally good but the Agent 'Strawberry' Fields was clearly of the Roger Moore school of Mahogany Acting. The pace of the film was a little too fast??? and all of the transitions between locations were blurry and ill-explained. Virtually all the faults were in post-production though and this could have been a very good Bond Film, but its not. Ah Well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on November 19, 2008, 05:16:37 pm
Don't bother with Max Payne or Quantum Of Solice. Both sub par.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chummer on November 19, 2008, 05:20:51 pm
Tropic Thunder, fookin brilliant, funny as fuck, great characters, blah de blah. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on November 19, 2008, 05:30:08 pm
Yeah! Tom cruises dancing at the end and the permanently 'in character' Robert Downey Jnr. :great:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2484535865_7cd3dc8ea7.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 19, 2008, 06:53:42 pm
Les Triplettes de Belleville is a fine french animation film. Fantastic, weird, Tim Burtony atmosphere to the whole thing with an equally strange plot. Basically, there's this kid who gets obsessed with cycling and is supported and encouraged by his Granny (who brought him up). The young man gets kidnapped and Granny saves the day. Strange shit, but very enjoyable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on November 19, 2008, 06:57:07 pm
AKA Belleville Rendezvous
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 19, 2008, 07:42:14 pm
Now then. Watched Quantum of Solice last night and thought it was half the film it could have been. Whoever edited this needs bitchslapping. Every action scene was intentionally made more frenetic by cutting shots every half second - I needed a bucket. ... The pace of the film was a little too fast???

I wholeheartedly agree.  Now, maybe I'm a traditionalist, but when I watch a Bond film I want some actual espionage: dastardly plots thwarted by cunning spy-craft.   For light relief perhaps a few sardonic encounters, preferably in casinos, between tuxedo-clad men and glamourous ladies with Benny Hill-esque names.  If I wanted scene after scene of running about and bleeding I'd rent Ong-bak or Mad Detective.  With Quantum of Solace it got to the stage where I dreaded the opening of every door just in case it triggered another breathless bout of furniture-smashing where I wouldn't have a hope in hell of telling who's doing what to whom until someone was dead.  I was reminded of a po-faced version of a Pink Panther film and left disappointed that Cato hadn't leapt out and been dealt a swift cock-punch by Dame Judi.

Not that it was all bad though.... I thought Daniel Craig was very good; probably the only Bond who has convinced me that he is a living, breathing man reacting and making his bloody best of extraordinary circumstances; rather than merely a device for the plot to unwind around.

Anyway back to my rant: I blame Tom Hanks.  My own suspicion is that, whilst making Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg realised the plot was cheesier than Cheedar Gorge.  So, in order to distract from the ridiculousness of Tom's quest to save the eponymous Private, he decided to set new standards in visceral carnage with the opening D-Day scene and the climax.  And verily... war was shown to be hell: a confusing melange of grainily-shot flying limbs and bullets.  Unfortunately, ever since then, directors of action scenes have felt it similarly necessary to confuse the hell out of their audiences with choppy editing, bewildering angles, and deafening bone-crunching.  Often this seems to be a pretension of seriousness, an attempt by a self-avowedly "important" film maker to bend a distastefully action-packed project to their art-house standards.  In any "prestige" film it now seems a given that any violence, from all-out war to a dust up outside a kebab-house, must be shown to be as horribly disorientating and unpleasant as possible in order to anticipate accusations of base titillation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on November 19, 2008, 07:46:38 pm
Mmmm. But wasn't Olga fit eh?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: (woz) on November 19, 2008, 08:30:07 pm
She is no Kate Perry ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on November 19, 2008, 08:39:07 pm
 :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 20, 2008, 11:15:42 am
News of a Tron sequel (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/18/tron_sequel_in_production/)  :thumbsup:



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 05, 2008, 08:22:43 pm
This is incredible

(http://a3.vox.com/6a00c2251e3b718e1d00e398ade8bb0005-500pi)

IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/)


Worst film of some years was The Something* Chronicles (*sorry, forgot it's name it was so dull) w/ Ron Perlman amongst other.  It lasted 25 minutes in the player before I took it back in disgust.  It's fucking shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 12, 2008, 09:56:58 pm
Almost the best film of the year, AKA Surveillance (though I've not seen so many flicks this year):

(http://st0rz.net/storzblog/pics/surveillance_film_.jpg)

Betty Blue-esque ;)

I M D B (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409345/)

H8+/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 15, 2008, 05:39:03 pm
...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 23, 2008, 02:59:37 am
Watched a few oldies recently with my old mate Dragon Pete. Best of which are

Dark Star (1974) - I can't believe it took me this long to get round to watching it (in a state where I can remember anything) . Lo-tech, high-value sci fi. Ace

Delicatessen - classic French black comedy - again, I can't believe it took me so long to watch it when neither pissed nor otherwise fucked up. I loved the scenes with the Troglodytes - the obvious inspiration for the scenes with Le Frog and his men in Flushed Away.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 08, 2009, 12:21:28 pm
Anyone looking forward to Notorious (http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009632-notorious/)? Could have been a bit shit and laughable but by the sound of it and the look of the trailer (http://www.newsweek.com/id/177719) I reckon it might be rather good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 08, 2009, 12:40:06 pm
Saw The Third Man the other night but am going to have to watch it again because the bloody family kept talking over the dialogue
 :spank: :rtfm:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 08, 2009, 12:41:44 pm
Delicatessen - classic French black comedy
:thumbsup:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 08, 2009, 01:05:44 pm
Eastern Promises - David Cronenberg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/oct/28/thriller.drama (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2007/oct/28/thriller.drama)

Tim, I want my Encyclopedia of Russian Criminal Tattoos back!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 08, 2009, 01:39:14 pm
My tattoo artist on has a few more deigns to copy for my full vor v zakone set, then you can have it back!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 08, 2009, 03:06:55 pm
you going for the full "shirt" then?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 08, 2009, 04:24:33 pm
Just saw this, really good. 

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6d/Rescue_Dawn_poster.jpg)

Dir.  Werner Herzog.  Some classy Herzog moments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_Dawn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_Dawn)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 08, 2009, 04:35:26 pm
Rescue Dawn - hmmmmmm.Think I'd have enjoyed it more if it wasn't Herzog - perhaps started with my mental bar set too high. Still good, but goes downhill from the point they leave the nutter, and the end rather grated. 6 or 7/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 11, 2009, 09:15:34 pm
I really enjoyed Rescue Dawn, watched it last night on Houdini's tip-off.
Lots of whispering in it! Felt well sorry for the little guard when the shit hits the fan!

Pretty amazing how much weight Christian Bale lost for his role (55 pounds) and even the director lost 30 pounds as a show of solidarity!
 
Nice one Houdini
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 15, 2009, 10:05:04 pm
Check out Bale in The Machinist for more insight into his dieting philosophy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 15, 2009, 11:39:48 pm
Check out Bale in The Machinist for more insight into his dieting philosophy.

http://www.myfittribe.com/files/images/Christian%20Bale%20in%20The%20Machinist.jpg (http://www.myfittribe.com/files/images/Christian%20Bale%20in%20The%20Machinist.jpg)

nasty
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2009, 08:15:17 am
Check out Bale in The Machinist for more insight into his dieting philosophy.

What I was thinking. He must like doing that kind of stuff
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on January 16, 2009, 08:32:46 am
Saw a film called the Squid and the Whale the other night. Worth a watch if you're in the right mood.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 16, 2009, 09:01:03 am
Check out Bale in The Machinist for more insight into his dieting philosophy.

What I was thinking. He must like doing that kind of stuff

IIRC the director had to stop him going further. Bale figured he could lose MORE weight!!!  :o
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2009, 09:10:25 am
Didn't de Niro lose a shed load, and then put on a shedload for Raging Bull?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 16, 2009, 12:47:33 pm
Herzog had to shoot Rescue Dawn almost entirely in reverse order so all the actors could start skinny and underweight otherwise it would have been impossible to starve and shoot a film. Clever...

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2009, 01:17:26 pm
It is clever.

Nolan filmed Memento in reverse order to confuse the fuck out of you :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 16, 2009, 01:31:00 pm
It is clever.

Nolan filmed Memento in reverse order to confuse the fuck out of you :)

Don't think it was actually filmed in reverse (see notes here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film))) but the film itself plays out backwards in time, repeating sections and going back further each time.

Very good film and its reminded me I've the three disc set with some hidden features to unlock (one of which is watching the film in reverse order, now thats going to be confusing!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on January 16, 2009, 01:44:32 pm
Seen a load of average stuff lately. all watchable.

Rock  N Rolla - London gangster film by Guy Ritchie. Poor mans lock stock and even poorer mans snatch.
Body Of Lies - Terrorist middle east bombing and torture.
Passengers - Plane accident cover up. Or is it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2009, 02:36:27 pm
It is clever.

Nolan filmed Memento in reverse order to confuse the fuck out of you :)

Don't think it was actually filmed in reverse (see notes here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film))) but the film itself plays out backwards in time, repeating sections and going back further each time.


No it isnt. Was just a lame attempt at a joke.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 16, 2009, 02:38:56 pm

No it isnt. Was just a lame attempt at a joke.

 :oops: My sense of humor stayed in bed this morning.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 16, 2009, 08:47:52 pm
Saw a film called the Squid and the Whale the other night. Worth a watch if you're in the right mood.


was recomended many pages back by uncle, an excellent film it is
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 16, 2009, 08:59:42 pm
it was that good, after sitting there for half hr in the same gite and not laughing once i went to bed.

superbad, on the other hand is genius
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 16, 2009, 09:58:51 pm
I think your on about either eagle vs shark or jay and silent bob strike back not squid and the whale.
From a man that won't watch city of god "cos its got subtitles"
Superbad is indeed the best film I've seen for ages.
Kung fu panda is pretty good as well
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 20, 2009, 03:38:21 pm
you're quite right kes it was eagle versus shit.
i only said the subtitles bit to outrage cowboyhat. i started watching it and got bored pretty quickly then turned it off. more to do with hyperbole really than anything else. if people didn't go on about it being the next fontainebleau i might of sat through it.

watched 'the wrestler' last night. pretty dark indeed. i liked it but if someone else said it was the worst film they'd ever seen i wouldn't be surprised
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 22, 2009, 09:27:08 am
Watched Slumdog Millionaire last night. Cheesy, but a good film. Enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on January 22, 2009, 10:03:19 am
Second Slumdog Millionaire, good film to have started the year off with.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on January 22, 2009, 10:10:21 am
Saw Che the other night and despite it being in subtitles a lot of the way through, it was an excellent portrayal of the Cuban Revolution in the late 50's. Not many laughs to be honest but if you're up for a bit of intense history dosage then I would recommend. The film is closely based on Che's own book of his experiences at the time. Long at over 2 hours - there is apparently a Part 2 in the pipeline for those interested.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 22, 2009, 10:22:39 am
Yup Pt 2 was advertised last night. Must see Pt 1 quickly then, I think Benicio del Toro is ace.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 22, 2009, 10:12:02 pm
Here we go, a bumper crop of sesquipedalian cinematic musings.  Christ, you can tell that I am jobless .  When I eventually become gainfully employed I am going to institute a four point system of "fucking great" / "great" / "shit" / "fucking shit".  Until then you'll have to suffer my delusions as hidden victims of the recession!

Slumdog Millionaire
God I hate magical realism.  One Hundred Years of Solitude remains the only book I've ever wanted to set on fire.  I either find life brutish and depressing, or I'm drunk; there are no magic carpets in Selby.

Hence, it was with low expectations that I went to see Slumdog Millionaire: "The Feel Good Film of the Year", "If You Liked Mamma Mia You'll Love This", "Based On a Hit Quiz Show"!  I am very glad to say that it exceeded my expectations.  That said, if it hadn't, I may have been forced to tear my own eyes out. 

Slumdog Milionaire IS a "feel good film" in that you are cheered by its outcome.  Mind you, the same could be said of Die Hard.  The quiz show is a framing device that provides the film with a happy destination.  However, the journey it links does have some hard times. Along the way there is ethnic violence, squalor, criminality, murder, torture and betrayal.  The film it most resembles in these themes is probably City of God.  Admittedly Danny Boyle's effort does not pretend to have that Brazillian epic's depth and tragic resonance.  Instead it uses comedy and fanciful coincidence to provide a frothiness to offset its overtly bitter notes... like a good capuccino (sorry).   

So, it's not Gomorrah or The Battle of Algiers; there is a wide streak of fantasy and filth has rarely looked so vibrant. I admit that these factors could be ruinous for the determinedly grumpy or those put off by its promotional campaign - one that seems frankly misleading to me (and one that the Director is uncomfortable with according to Mark Kermode).  But, if you can suspend your disbelief whilst remaining open to what substance it has, this is a very good film. 

The Wrestler
The Wrestler is about the tragedy of growing old for those who define themselves by a lifestyle that becomes increasingly cruel with age: in this case a has-been wrestler and his stripper girlfriend.  It is a theme familiar to anyone who has seen the likes of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Shootist, The Incredibles, or Sunset Boulevard.  Anyone who has ever felt a twinge of sadness at seeing a childhood icon in in diminished circumstances.  Or just anyone those whose elbows now hurt when they fold up their bouldering mat!   
This film is essentially a verite version of Rocky. Will the raddled hero find love, make-up with his daughter, make a wrestling comeback and master the intricacies of a day-job at the deli counter?  This being a modern take on the genre possibly not.  But along the way there are tights, body-slams, and power-ballads. 

However, despite its formulaic aspects, it's a fairly convincing journey.  Something it owes to a well evoked mood, some nicely drawn minor characters and largely very good acting. The backstage cameraderie of the wrestlers is particularly affecting.  Big men bound by a need to entertain an audiences who demand ever escalating levels of pain. The end result may be fixed but the wounds are real. In summary, well worth seeing.

Incidentally, on a related note.  Why, when films are aiming for verisimilitude, do they always use shaky camera work and washed out colours?  My own perception of the world is generally clear, colourful and relatively steady.  Perhaps, by strange coincidence, all cameramen suffer from a disorder that renders the world through the sensorium of an ether addict on a pogo-stick.

Donkey Punch
Largely horrible people suffer horribly. On a boat.  File under films like Hostel.  But brinier.  Not great, but if you have the stomach for this kind of thing and just want a friday night diversion you could do worse than buy a shed load of beer and rent this.

4 Months,3 Weeks and Two Days
The funniest film about Rumanian abortions I've seen all year! 

Man on Wire
Documentary about Philippe Petit's quest to tight-rope walk between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre .  The engrossing tale of an obsession that was planned like a bank heist but performed by people like characters from a Truffaut film (skinny, beautiful, twitchy and sexual).  Well worth seeing even if documentaries aren't normally your thing [insert "taut" plotting pun here].     

Redacted
Stylised but heartfelt account of an attrocity committed by US forces in Iraq.  It's a complex montage of films from multiple sources: the squaddie's camera, the documentary crew, the Arab media, the youtube clip etc.  As you might expect from Brian de Palma it's all a bit relentless and possibly hamfisted; but, it is angry stuff and possibly worth a look if you want some provoking action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: richdraws on January 22, 2009, 10:30:24 pm
I really want to see the wrestler, it looks great. I worry about slum dog millionaire, I am convinced its going to be as poor as the book the kite runner, didn't bother with the film.

Fuck you Moose I love magical realism and I think pugilistic language is appropriate to discussions of narrative style - LET'S DO THIS!!!!

Seriously though... Pan's Labyrinth - Guillermo Del Torro, Salman Rushdie and Borges will knock the block off any kitchen sink mother fucker!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on January 23, 2009, 12:06:40 pm
The wrestler was indeed good - recommended. Though for the squeamish there was one sequence of hardcore wrestling in the middle of the film that should have stayed on the cutting room floor - it wasn't needed as the sight and sound of the Ram's wounds being treated afterwards more than drilled home the sacrifices he was making.

If I was giving them out, Mickey Rourke would get an oscar this year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 23, 2009, 02:10:29 pm
Not seen it yet, but for fans of the wrestler JCVD (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jan/23/jean-claude-van-damme-action) sounds awesome!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 23, 2009, 02:23:06 pm
That sounds amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 23, 2009, 02:25:53 pm
I'm glad some people actually enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire - it was far too saccharin for my tastes, even with the dirt of the slums thrown in, and I found the narrative device tedious after about two questions.  Some of the cinematography was really good though, especially the early stuff in the slums.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 23, 2009, 02:29:00 pm
Has anybody any experience of using Lovefilm.com? I'm thinking of getting the unlimited 2 dvds at a time monthly thing. Worth the moolah?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 23, 2009, 02:32:40 pm
Slumdog Millionaire
I admit that these factors could be ruinous for the determinedly grumpy

Stubbs - you walked straight into that one

i did enjoy it, despite not thinking it quite did justice to the book it was based on (not read it but i did hear a radio adaptation in May or June last year that helped the daily commute to Lincoln more bearable).

some faults (aren't there always?) but it's entertainment after all, and you can dissect and find fault/reason to hate in almost anything if you're that way inclined.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 23, 2009, 02:37:46 pm
Has anybody any experience of using Lovefilm.com? I'm thinking of getting the unlimited 2 dvds at a time monthly thing. Worth the moolah?

Used to get the same thing from Blockbuster. It was good. Then a small child came along and we realised we hardly ever had time to watch films so cancelled it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 23, 2009, 03:30:12 pm
Slumdog Millionaire
I admit that these factors could be ruinous for the determinedly grumpy

Stubbs - you walked straight into that one


Hey man I walked into that cinema with open heart and open mind - it just wasn't as good as Titanic that's all!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 23, 2009, 04:52:50 pm
Has anybody any experience of using Lovefilm.com? I'm thinking of getting the unlimited 2 dvds at a time monthly thing. Worth the moolah?

Used to get the same thing from Blockbuster. It was good. Then a small child came along and we realised we hardly ever had time to watch films so cancelled it.

have used it for a couple of years, do get films but very often we get TV series like house and CSI etc
means you don't have to stay in to watch TV etc, especially good with both a nipper and climbing to fit in..
very good service only craps out abit round xmas but that aside highly recomend Lovefilm...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on January 24, 2009, 09:38:14 am
This film was mentioned on this thread back in 2007 but having watched it this week I can strongly recommend it - Amores Perros. 3 independant stories linked by one car crash. It is a long film, but well worth the it.

I've got The lives of Others and Night Watch to watch this week courtesy of Lovefilm.com, and seeing as I am now signed up I'll be reading this thread for some top film beta!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 24, 2009, 10:25:30 am
Night Watch
if you liked that check out 30 days of night.. awesome comic series, excellent film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 25, 2009, 09:33:13 pm
Has anybody any experience of using Lovefilm.com? I'm thinking of getting the unlimited 2 dvds at a time monthly thing. Worth the moolah?

Well, you can get a month trial for no moolah, and judge for yourself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 28, 2009, 09:41:23 am
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/)

Anyone seen 13 Tzameti?  Check out the trailer, it looks like a tense film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2009, 09:57:30 am
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/)

Anyone seen 13 Tzameti?  Check out the trailer, it looks like a tense film.

Yep, have seen it (I think based on a recomendation way back in this thread).

It is indeed very tense and well worth watching.  Very strange twist of events that lead through to the main plot.

I believe part of it was filmed in everyone's favourite forrest (although it doesn't feature any bouldering).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 28, 2009, 10:04:54 am
What?  Sherwood Forest? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2009, 10:07:18 am
What?  Sherwood Forest? 

Exactly, ain't no rocks worth climbing in Sherwood! I'll no doubt be eating my words shortly
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 28, 2009, 11:25:45 pm
Has anybody any experience of using Lovefilm.com? I'm thinking of getting the unlimited 2 dvds at a time monthly thing. Worth the moolah?

What Jasper said - once you start paying monthly, you really need to have the time on your hands to plough through some films to make it worthwhile, though if you're laid up at the moment I'm guessing you have?

Incidentally, I had a subscription a couple of years back when I lived in Derby and then cancelled it when I realised I wasn't making the best use of it. Lovefilm offered me a reduced subscription to stay on, twice I think, so it might be worth paying for a little while, then cancelling it and seeing if you could get it cheaper.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 28, 2009, 11:30:56 pm
Oh, and I've just got in from seeing Milk - biopic of Harvey Milk, gay / human rights activist.

Well worth a watch - the narrative is maintained brilliantly throughout, and the key players turn in excellent performances, Sean Penn especially. Not normally my sort of thing but I really enjoyed it.

If you're Sheffield based, they're showing Martyrs next weekend - a new french horror that's apparently had people up in arms / walking out of cinemas because it's so full-on. They're also showing Don't Look Now as part of their anti-Valentine's programme.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 29, 2009, 08:28:44 am
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475169/)

Anyone seen 13 Tzameti?  Check out the trailer, it looks like a tense film.

Yep, have seen it (I think based on a recomendation way back in this thread).

It is indeed very tense and well worth watching.  Very strange twist of events that lead through to the main plot.

Seen it too. Quite harrowing to watch, but a great premise and has an excellent style to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 30, 2009, 09:12:41 am
I thought Milk was great too, fantastic performance from Penn. I always like Van Sant's low key directing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 04, 2009, 02:27:41 pm
This looks good.

http://www.bronsonthemovie.com/ (http://www.bronsonthemovie.com/)

http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/bronson (http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/bronson)

http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/reviews.php?id=7665 (http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/reviews.php?id=7665)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 12, 2009, 10:27:17 am
Whilst lying in bed with flu in Argentiere last week I waded my way through my mates collection of vampire films.

The ones that stick in my mind are...

Rise (2007)
I liked this as it was a bit different. Lucy Liu plays a victim turned vampire out for revenge (along with a fat alcoholic cop whose daughter was raped and killed by the vamps) against the freaks who fucked her up. I liked the fact that the vampires (they never actually get called vampires in the film) don't have fangs and have to use a knife to cut their victims before sucking down - this made the whole act a little more thought provoking than the usual kiss-on-the-neck thing. The scenes where Liu had to reluctantly succumb to her need for blood were done well and added interest to the plot. Oh and Liu gets her kit off too  :thumbsup:

Dracula 2001 (2000)
So bad its good. What amused me most was seeing Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music playing Van Helsing. It took me about half an hour before i realised that the younger hero was the same bloke who plays Eli Stone which just added to my general amusement. The action is split between London and New Oleans, which worked for me.

Frostbitten (2006)
Watched the Swedish (original?) version of this so I'm sure that I missed some of the plot, but not much. Some good kills mixed in with some original ideas. Main new concept was the pills manufactured by the ex-SS research doctor who is himself a vampire. A load of youths get hold of the pills and mayhem follows. I did plenty of giggling at the talking dog scenes and feel sure that these would have been even better if I could understand what was said. The end was a bit shit, but then I didn't understand what was said in those important last minutes. I'd like to watch it in English now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 13, 2009, 02:43:05 am
If you haven't already then go and see Milk.

Now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on February 13, 2009, 09:38:29 am
Gomorrah, Italian flm based on a book of the same name. Its about low and mid level members of the Camorra and the short, nasty, grim lives they live.
The guy who wrote it, an investigative journalist, is now in protective custody.
Awsome
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 15, 2009, 07:55:24 pm
Didn't really enjoy Gomorrah, I thought the plot was a bit too fragmented  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 15, 2009, 08:29:56 pm

Dracula 2001 (2000)
So bad its good. What amused me most was seeing Captain Von Trapp from The Sound of Music playing Van Helsing. It took me about half an hour before i realised that the younger hero was the same bloke who plays Eli Stone which just added to my general amusement. The action is split between London and New Oleans, which worked for me.


yes, quite terrible but very enjoyable... isn't 7 of 9 in it too.... answered my own question.. yes she is... and foreman from house...

on vampire films have I mentioned how much I love 30 days of night..... awesome film.... everyone should see it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on February 15, 2009, 08:55:56 pm
Didn't really enjoy Gomorrah, I thought the plot was a bit too fragmented  :shrug:
Can see what you're saying, stylistically its explicitly  neo-realist (down to using real locations and non-professional actors), and it deliberately does not relate the events in the film to a plot; but rather to a world in which all of the protagonists are involved. Its a mood piece not a gangster movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 16, 2009, 08:35:46 pm
A few recent DVDs:

Tropic Thunder

The opening 15 minutes is promising: an unsophisticated but amusing riff on the stupidity and self-absorption of Hollywood. Unfortunately, once the cast go "in country" things go downhill fast. Mockery gives way to a tedious mix of cartoon violence and weak, endlessly repeated jokes (including one that was presumably sponsored by TiVo).

In essence the makers have failed to understand that there is more to a successful spoof than repeating the flaws of its target.  Parodying a stupid action film by apeing its conventions just results in another stupid action film. A huge disappointment.   


JCVD

"Jean-Claude Van Damme is Jean-Claude Van Damme": broke and broken by age, irrelevance and a custody battle. Besieged in a bank is he a victim of circumstance, or a desperate plotter making a final play? 

Yes, you read that right: the muscles from Brussels has gone all self-referential.  However, this isn't a joyous guns blazin' spoof: the tone is moody, the filming is muted, and the sensibilities are wounded.  The action is sparing and its execution almost reluctant.  The humour is more bitter than knowing and aside from a few digs at the likes of Steven Seagal (cutting off his ponytail to steal one of JC's roles) and John Woo (he'd apparently still be shooting pigeons without JC), largely comprises blackly comic meditations on a life lately defined by its physical decline. It's all more "Dog Day Afternoon" than "The Last Action Hero"; an impression reinforced by the bizarre stepped-from-the-70s stylings of the robbers (unless that's just suburban Belgian fashion?).

These are themes are shared with "The Wrestler", and although JCVD is not as good as that film, it is far stranger.  Its approach is epitomized by a soliloquy scene where, elevated outside of time and filmic space, JC reflects on his predicament.  His deeply etched face crumpling as he recounts a journey from karate fixated youth, to fame, through  sex and drugs, into regret and emptiness.  It's extremely affecting with a genuine sense of catharsis.  However, in the context of an off-beat heist film the impact is more surreal than devastating.  Still, despite a lack of balance JCVD is a worthy curio. 

Death Race

Undemanding entertainment that does the job but feels like a missed  opportunity.  The original, whilst not exactly BrassEye, mocked the public's thirst for violence and their complicity in the machineries of manufactured fame.  With the advent of reality TV it now seems rather prescient and ripe for a properly satirical update. Unfortunately, aside from a few passing references to viewing figures, this version sticks to the action. 

Still, it plays its limited hand with enthusiasm.  Cars are crashed.  Bodies are crushed. An oiled Statham does chin-ups.  You know what to expect. Serve with curry and copious alcohol.




Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 17, 2009, 08:31:30 am
Great stuff as ever Moose. I've heard only good things about JCVD. It looks fascinating.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on February 17, 2009, 01:45:12 pm
Yeah JCVD, I was very impressed. Like Moose I felt it had an affinity with Dog Day. I was really impressed with Van Damme's acting (this is not a sentence that I ever thought I would find myself writting) and found the soliloquy to camera quite moving.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 17, 2009, 03:31:39 pm
A couple of weeks ago I watched a couple more films with Dragon Pete
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End - pure madness, worth waiting for the torrent.
Also watched The Bedsitting Room in the same session.
I shan't describe these films, but all fans of the odd should seek them out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 17, 2009, 03:46:23 pm
Watched How to lose friends and alienate people and ghost town on the plane. Both were pretty much shit with similar story lines. Good British TV comedy actors do not Hollywood stars make.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on February 17, 2009, 04:19:53 pm
A couple of weeks ago I watched a couple more films with Dragon Pete
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End - pure madness, worth waiting for the torrent.
Also watched The Bedsitting Room in the same session.
I shan't describe these films, but all fans of the odd should seek them out.
Surprised you'd not seen the "Bedsitting Room" before it is an all time classic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 17, 2009, 06:06:15 pm
A few recent DVDs:

Great reviews Moose, you should be writing these for a living...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 17, 2009, 07:29:41 pm
A couple of weeks ago I watched a couple more films with Dragon Pete
Sir Henry at Rawlinson End - pure madness, worth waiting for the torrent.
Also watched The Bedsitting Room in the same session.
I shan't describe these films, but all fans of the odd should seek them out.
Surprised you'd not seen the "Bedsitting Room" before it is an all time classic.

Everytime I had the opportunity to see it, I ended up getting unconscious  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: highonair on February 17, 2009, 07:57:50 pm
I watched wanted the other night with angelina jollies out was good and so was she  :shag: :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 17, 2009, 08:11:40 pm
watching cool hand luke right now... so cool...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on February 17, 2009, 09:02:34 pm
It is clever.

Nolan filmed Memento in reverse order to confuse the fuck out of you :)

Don't think it was actually filmed in reverse (see notes here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film))) but the film itself plays out backwards in time, repeating sections and going back further each time.

Very good film and its reminded me I've the three disc set with some hidden features to unlock (one of which is watching the film in reverse order, now thats going to be confusing!)
I've got that set if you find out how to unlock it post 'cos I could do with the headfuck (without the head fuck).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 17, 2009, 10:31:05 pm
It is clever.

Nolan filmed Memento in reverse order to confuse the fuck out of you :)

Don't think it was actually filmed in reverse (see notes here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film))) but the film itself plays out backwards in time, repeating sections and going back further each time.

Very good film and its reminded me I've the three disc set with some hidden features to unlock (one of which is watching the film in reverse order, now thats going to be confusing!)
I've got that set if you find out how to unlock it post 'cos I could do with the headfuck (without the head fuck).

Haven't tried it yet, but theres a suggestion here (http://www.eeggs.com/items/32296.html).  Might be easy to access them on the PC too, I know I've found hidden things easily when watching DVDs in mine (under Linux).  Also I just bothered to follow the Wikipedia link above to here (http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/3815/memento-limited-edition/) that suggestions theres more than just this hidden in the sub-menus, but lacks full details on how to access them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 17, 2009, 11:14:46 pm
Just finished watching Salo, 120 Days of Sodom (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073650/) by Pasolini, the Italian director who was murdered shortly after completing the film.  It was banned just about everywhere but Sweden and Mars.  It's still a banned film in a few countries.

Lots of torture, coprophagy, and sodomy lubricated w/ a healthy pearl of fascism.

You can find it here (http://www.foriegnmoviesddl.com/2008/12/sal-o-le-120-giornate-di-sodoma-salo-or.html).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 18, 2009, 11:23:52 am
Great reviews Moose, you should be writing these for a living...

Cheers, but I'm under no illusion of being anything other than a bored dole-scrounger who hasn't got around to cancelling their home DVD rental account!  Still, it keeps me busy when the crags are mingin' and my elbow's hurting.

A few more current DVDs:

Apaloosa

Stolid, old fashioned western starring Ed Harris, Viggo Mortenson and Rene Zellwegger.  Despite having all the ingredients of a good story (whiskey swiggin' gun-slingers, Injuns etc) it's all rather unexciting. The major incidents have little build-up and occur with even less ceremony.  Not bad, but a sad waste of some fine facial hair.


The Wackness

Amiable comedy set in 90s New York. Luke, a dope-dealin' young wigga, seeks sollace from a deteriorating home-life with the aid of his ravenously self-medicating shrink, and number one customer, Dr Squires (played with gusto by Ben Kingsley). Further complications ensue when he falls in love with the increasingly unstable Dr Squires' fun but unfeeling step-daughter. 

A chilled paeon to the Daisy Age that's less self-consciously arch than most modern "coming of age" and "finding ones self" films.  For better and worse the young characters are not the usual fonts of razor-sharp dialogue and world-weary wisdom (no one appears to have spent the entirety of their short life channelling Dorothy Parker).  Instead it's left to Ben Kingsley's raddled Doctor to steal scenes and provide impetus.  Despite an energetic and somewhat irksome "hippety-hop" styled start it develops into a gently engaging and heartfelt affair.  A likeable exploration of what it's like to grow up, fall in love, grow old, and fall out of love.  Whilst "The Wackness" is too passive to be in any way great, it's worth putting on your rental shortlist as it manages to feel pretty fresh despite hefty borrowings from its well-travelled genres (teen romance, stoner, odd-couple).  A nostalgic soundtrack and a Method Man cameo add to the appeal for those of a certain age.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on February 22, 2009, 02:17:45 pm
30 Century Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEYWGQMqC74)

This documentary of Scott Walker is essential viewing for anyone w/ an interest in either his 60's doom ballads or his more recent abstractions. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on February 22, 2009, 06:52:55 pm
Excellent choice Houdini, watched this on the Beeb a while ago, although Wikipaedo tells me it was an edited version. The guys one in a million, I'm sure it showed him sampling the sound of him hitting a piece of meat. Good shout earlier for Lives Of Others, fucking awesome film. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on February 26, 2009, 08:08:11 pm
Zidane - a 21st century portrait is on iplayer at the mo - if you have even the vaguest interest in football you need to watch this.

Spoilers..

Favourite bits: His detachment from all the goals, esp the one he makes. The contrast between how lost he looks in the first half and his command in the second. The amazing last few minutes - from the joke with Carlos to Becks trying to avoid the inevitable. The whole mood of the peice is the winner for me though, really caught him at the right time -just on the cusp of the waning of his genius.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 26, 2009, 10:21:51 pm
Just remembered another film I watched whilst ill in Argentiere
Crank
Mental. Fast. Piss funny. Violent.  Proper non-stop action, but for a change there is a really good reason for the action to not stop. Really good plot and interesting characters.
I must watch this again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on February 26, 2009, 10:33:07 pm
I saw Anvil last week, a rock documentary about the Canadian heavy metal band of the same name that was big in the early 80's for a short while but never really made it. They had an album 'Metal on Metal' which apparently was highly influential on early 'thrash' (not that I know owt about that). Metallica, Megadeath and Slayer followed in their wake and made the bigtime but Anvil were sadly forgotten....til now. They go on an ill fated tour of Europe and make some new fans in Japan and play to 5000 ppl there...and thats about it. They release a new album with their original producer but can't get a record deal as they are all in their 50's so they decide to sell it direct to the fans via their website. Interesting fly on the wall stuff, the lead singer seems quite an emotional guy which makes for some pretty cringeworthy scenes but its all good value. I'd probably recommend it if you're struggling to find new films to see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 26, 2009, 10:39:50 pm
Heard an interesting interview with the guy who made Anvil (Radio 4 of course (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/filmprogramme/filmprogramme.shtml)). Sounded very interesting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: St Hubbins on March 01, 2009, 09:46:04 am
Did anyone catch CYBORG on itv4 the other night? Man, i hope there is a Van Damme season starting.

I think cyborg was nominated for 4 oscars but only got best supporting actor for the bad guy's ability to roar non stop at the end
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 01, 2009, 10:07:42 am
Definately up there with Bloodsport and AWOL...
Quote
I ain't your pal, dickface.

You break my record, now I break you, like I break your friend

(http://www.hkcinemagic.com/en/images/movie/large/Bloodsport-DonaldGibb_JCVD2_2527cd21177014f6d2a7a41b20c460c5.jpg)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on March 01, 2009, 10:31:48 am
Saw Che Part 2 last night. Brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on March 01, 2009, 10:56:14 am
Watched Gran Torino last night. Was disapointed with most of it, slow build up, but for some reason the last half makes it worthwhile. Great acting from Clint. 3.5

Also, Pride And Glory. Typical dirty cop story, not exceptional, but mediocre. Gets better again as film goes on. Another 3.5.

Most of the new films coming out now are a bit dissapointing.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: St Hubbins on March 01, 2009, 01:35:17 pm
Watched Gran Torino last night. Was disapointed with most of it, slow build up, but for some reason the last half makes it worthwhile. Great acting from Clint. 3.5

Also, Pride And Glory. Typical dirty cop story, not exceptional, but mediocre. Gets better again as film goes on. Another 3.5.

Most of the new films coming out now are a bit dissapointing.  :shrug:

Indeed, the only decent movies to be watched nowadays appear on this list:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000241/ (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000241/)

Robertostallioni will second this
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 01, 2009, 07:10:57 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUwiKkgre6M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUwiKkgre6M)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFGOH8050OE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFGOH8050OE)
Far be it from me to wish the demise of a hollywood great, but if he OD's soon we'll get Universal soldier et al on ITV....(Personally I hope Clint goes next though.(I love Pale Rider)).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: St Hubbins on March 02, 2009, 09:18:40 pm
That cyborg montage is groin-grabbingly awesome.

I want them to show desert heat. I seem to remember he dies at the beginning and gets brought back to life by a red indian giving him a foot massage using tequila as lube.... fecking WEIRD!  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 02, 2009, 11:08:47 pm
Vicky Cristina Barcelona involves a lesbian kiss between Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson. What more do you need to know?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on March 07, 2009, 03:16:13 am
Alpha Dog - Not bad acting from Timberlake, Good film, but its no Tarrantino! 4/5
I just saw this tonight - good film imho. Trousersnake is pretty good too. Seems to follow the true story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Markowitz) pretty closely.

Although you can see the grimness approaching on the horizon from the start, up until that point the film is a lot of fun with fast paced black-humour, fight-scenes and hawt ladies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 07, 2009, 11:24:21 am
I saw Anvil last week,

I saw 'em two weeks ago walking through Euston station carrying their guitars  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on March 10, 2009, 09:25:35 pm
Treated myself to a bong, and the Watchmen (http://Watchmen) last night, and once I got over the initial, skunk induced, foyer paranoia, I settled down to watch something that left me feeling, err, confused..

After waiting years for this film, I knew it wouldn't live up to expectations, I was just suprised at the parts that let me down.

The story sticks pretty close to the original, including some very dark parts I never thought would be in the film, Snyder is obviously a real fan of the original, and must've fought hard for some sections to be in. The ending is diifferent, but only in execution, but that only left me wondering why they didn't just keep the original.

The film outlines the moral choices superhero's would have to make, but doesn't ram them down your throat like the Dark Knight, which is to be applauded, but probably explains why a lot of people walked out last night. Unfortunately the cast, and the script aren't always up to this, and it does descend into moments of high campness. The exception to this is the excellent Jackie Earle Haley who is Rorschach.

The film is mightily violent though, and this feels like the result of focus testing too many sniveling American teenagers, it often descends into Saw like gore pr0n, and doesn't really benefit from it.

So one for the fanboys, and the DVD release looks excellent. But I can't help but feel some people will view it as a steaming pile of shit, and they may not be far wrong.

Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on March 10, 2009, 11:30:41 pm
i,m almost too scared to see the watchmen in case it lets me down. however, we did see the class last night. its about a teacher in a rough paris school. it was great. it won the palme dor at canne and rightly so.

zod, did no one notice you smoking a bong in the cinema?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 11, 2009, 08:19:19 am
I'm worried about being let down by Watchmen too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 11, 2009, 08:50:35 am
Interesting review Zod. I never read the comic but like the idea of the film (dark action hero style). Too much gore is a bit off-putting tho, I'm a big (small) softy. Unless it's OTT Brain-Dead-style nonsense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: St Hubbins on March 11, 2009, 08:58:09 am
Treated myself to a bong, and the Watchmen (http://Watchmen) last night



Any tits in it? What about humping?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 11, 2009, 09:08:33 am
There's a guy dressed as a moth, he looks like a tit. And there's an owl. No tits or other garden birds though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on March 11, 2009, 10:23:11 am
There's a pr0n-a-rific slow mo sex scene, in fact there's so much slow-mo, without it the film could have been an hour shorter. It's worth checking out, like I said before tho, it's a shame theirs so many bits you wouldn't expect in their, tho the fact that Snyder seems to have copied the comic, rather than 'interpreting' it will probably rankle some. You will be disappointed if your a fan, but it's probably the best film version of a Alan Moore comic, tho that's not really saying much.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 12, 2009, 10:02:04 am
Treated myself to a bong, and the Watchmen (http://Watchmen) last night



Any tits in it? What about humping?

(http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0015196/)

This girl has a very pleasing set of teets. However they've the omnipresent gently swaying schlong of Dr Manhattan to contend with.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 12, 2009, 10:10:43 am
I think you missed the end of the address off there Will, but I can guess at the pic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 12, 2009, 11:35:33 pm
but I can guess at the pic.
Just in case anyone needed clarity...
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tR-D1vs5CvY/SaO-GWi9CpI/AAAAAAAAGwA/Lynmw_t3eaM/s1600/malinakerman.jpg)

Just watched Watchmen, highly rated it, probably a little long, but the opening credits alone were more entertaining than the whole of 'Dark Knight'. Knew nothing about the books but liked the story, more complex than your usual comic. One of the most surprising things was the sound track. Awesome.

[edit: Oh yeah, and you briefly get to see those beauties unleashed.  ;D ]

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 12, 2009, 11:40:55 pm
Girls smugglin'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on March 13, 2009, 09:53:08 pm
Right, a warning. Don't ever, no matter how bored you are watch the casino job. Probably the worst film i've ever seen!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 21, 2009, 07:02:07 pm
grizzly man is on tuedsay at 10 on more 4. The bloke timothy treadwell is not quite right, interesting film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on March 21, 2009, 07:51:33 pm
holy shit i have just finished watching "13 (Tzameti)"

(http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/tzameti.jpg)

by Gela Babluani. it has left my mind shattered, it is the most brutal mind fuck i have seen, makes requiem for a dream look like bambi. one scene of it had me in tatters, edge of seat, nerves in bits.
amazing, i would recomend it highly, brilliantly shot.

(oh yeah, its in french)

anyone else seen this?

Watched this last weekend and highly recommend it. Only chose it as a whim, purely based on ratings on lovefilm.com, and a good call it turned out to be.

Gone old school this week, got the original Seven Samurai to watch. Decided that there aren't enough new good films to watch, so gonna be going through some all time classics that always appear in the top 100 lists.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on March 22, 2009, 10:34:14 am
saw gran torino last wednesday. well worth checking out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on March 22, 2009, 10:40:37 am

(http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/tzameti.jpg)


If you enjoyed this then I'd recommend this

Intacto http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 22, 2009, 05:54:37 pm
The Escapist. I saw it so you don't have to. Just goes to show having a 'gritty' cast and tempting rear cover is not related to quality. A prison breakout drama directed through, I can only imagine, the eyes of Andrew Lloyd Webber - theatrical bollocks- modern scum it is not. If you see it in the video library, punch yourself squarely in the balls for some direct Pavlovian conditioning. Its for the best. The mrs quite liked it though. Says it all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on March 22, 2009, 06:59:10 pm
The Escapist. I saw it so you don't have to.

Too late! I endured this last weekend, and share your sentiments, so much so that I would have prefered to watch Comic Relief that I was trying to avoid!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on March 22, 2009, 09:52:21 pm
If old skool Gong Fu is what your after then you should deffo watch The Drunken Master and The Shogun Assasin (If you havent already) Two of my fav films.
Azumi is more modern but also well worth watching if you can find it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 24, 2009, 12:37:17 pm
Watchmen

Definitely worth seeing, yet not brilliant. Certainly more adventurous and quirky than the average graphic novel - movie, and you've got to respect it for that. There are some stunning moments: the vignette of the Comedian on the grassy knoll is great, as is the massive glass clock mechanism- ship thing on Mars. It is too long though, and i thought the soundtrack was often over prominent to no obvious effect.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on March 24, 2009, 10:20:29 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxFg3E-WqVM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxFg3E-WqVM)
This looks good!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 24, 2009, 11:33:35 pm
Just watched Watchmen, highly rated it, probably a little long, but the opening credits alone were more entertaining than the whole of 'Dark Knight'. Knew nothing about the books but liked the story, more complex than your usual comic. One of the most surprising things was the sound track. Awesome.
^^^ pretty much this, except no complaints about the length (I was increasingly intrigued by it), and not as huge a fan of the soundtrack though it was good. Oh and I rate TDK higher, but anyway...

Really liked it, powerful, flamboyant, involving, and a few classic characters - I found Dr Manhatten (schlong and all) fascinating and Rorschach viciously excellent. It was a bit camp in places and a bit gory in others but overall great stuff. I hadn't read the book so I had the plot to maintain interest too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on March 27, 2009, 10:34:48 pm
i recently saw Bobby.
i really enjoyed it, it seems to play out seemingly unconnected events during the day leading up to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy. the thing that surprised me the most is the cast - huge name keep popping up in the film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308055/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0308055/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 28, 2009, 08:27:21 pm
Gomorrah, Italian flm based on a book of the same name. Its about low and mid level members of the Camorra and the short, nasty, grim lives they live.
The guy who wrote it, an investigative journalist, is now in protective custody.
Awsome

An excellent recommendation and an excellent film which continues the (mostly, it seems) Italian tradition of using non-professional actors;  Pasolini, for example, was a keen advocate.

Loved the film:  dark (literally & in cadence), harsh, shabby and completely convincing.    Those brutalist housing schemes are awesome.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SteveM on April 03, 2009, 12:27:23 pm
saw gran torino ... well worth checking out
Definitely. Clint eatswood makes acting look effortless, his grumpy old man impression is superb. And good for quotable quotes on religion (especially catholic priests).

 :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 04, 2009, 10:03:03 am
Looking forward to Where The Wild Things Are (http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 04, 2009, 10:18:17 am
Looking forward to Where The Wild Things Are (http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/)
trailer looks awesome, seems to be very in keeping with the spirit of the book, and spike jonze directing  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on April 05, 2009, 10:07:10 am


If you enjoyed this then I'd recommend this

Intacto http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/)



Took on your recommendation and watched this last night; very, very good call Beard :thumbsup: 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 05, 2009, 06:06:39 pm
First none climbing afternoon away from Jr T (non climbing due to stress fractured knuckle  :( )
had to go out because we'd promised friends they could baby sit
so for lack of anything else better at the cinema watch the boat that rock
actually turned out to be a right good giggle (with a top soundtrack too)
 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 20, 2009, 06:00:40 pm
"In the loop"
Saw this on Saturday and thought I'd cut my movie review teeth here (dutifully doffing my hat to the review master Moose...)

If you like programs in the ilk of 'in thick of it', you will be as happy as a politician in scandal pig in shit. If however, like me you dont really watch much in the way of that sort of program - its kind of like a film version of 'drop the dead donkey' meets new labour yes minister - its still worth going, it had me in stitches a good few times.

The synopsis is that a rather limp minor minister of something or other makes a quip that the (probably upcoming Iraq) war might not happen and somehow he becomes a sort of international pawn between hawks and doves in the US State department. Into this mix is thrown a sub plot revolving around a nerdy UK junior advisor and an old flame who happens to be his US counterpart. Then add a sprinkling of intentional and unintentional leaks to the press about what might or might not be going on. Trying to reign in all this mahem is the chief press officer - an Alisair Campbell figure I suspect you are supposed to believe - who is the main character. He is a scrote like hard nosed Scot, trying to keep a really tight control on things. He swears profusely, threatens everyone, is a real weasle yet also runs around almost John Cleese like trying to keep a lid on things. Even better is his sidekick - an even nastier Weegie, and theres a great scene where he kicks the shit out of a fax machine in front of cowering employees to screw a leak confession from them. Like some of the best scenes from the office. Ultimately the Cambell clone ends up meeting his match in the role of a US General played by Tony from the Soprano's (sorry everyone I have some sort of actors names memory block - so they've all been left out!). And it all comes to a calamitous and swearing/insult based end. Theres also a great cameo role by Alan Partridge with superb comic timing.

So I laughed quite alot. But - it left me feeling like there were alot of in jokes I didnt really get. Kind of like watching an episode of the office mid series - its funny but not as funny as if you have watched all of them. They try and develop the characters to allow these 'in jokes' to work better but as its a film there is little time for this to happen. Also, its strangely slap stick in humour - and whilst hearing that someone is a 'fucking cocksucking pimple faced little shit' is quite funny at first - after an hour you're so used to the swearing, and the first use of 'cunt' only raises a titter...

Hey, maybe it was all a bit too high brow for me - after all I like a movie that has a good car chase, something getting blown up and a bit of shagging as well... Mind you, I wasnt bored, didnt look at the clock, laughed alot (sometimes a great deal) and still remember quite alot about the film... maybe it was quite good after all!

T
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on April 20, 2009, 11:03:39 pm
In The Loop II

I thought it was very funny.  Most brit-TV-coms. that make it to the cinema feel like they have one episode worth of jokes stretched over 90 minutes, this has more and better than many 12 part series squeezed into one film.  The posters give the impression it's a light-hearted comedy but there is more to it than that.  The targets may be soft but they get the kicking they deserve.  The script is brilliant, people will be quoting it's one-liners for years to come, if only as a source of insults (the closing titles credit a "swearing consultant").  There were many excellent performances particularly from James Gandolfini (as the Colin Powell-esque anti-war general who gets out-maneuvered by the Donald Rumsfeld figure) and Peter Capaldi (as 'Alistair Campbell').  It occasionally felt like a TV movie: no sex, car chases or explosions and there are a couple of plot holes.  I'm a bit of a politics wonk, so it's more likely to appeal to me than some.  Even so, it gets a strong recommendation: I can't remember laughing as much in a film in years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on April 20, 2009, 11:17:14 pm
In the loop is a phenomenon.  Just watch it.  Tucker is fantastic.


Tucker's Law:   If some cunt can fuck it up then that cunt will find the worse possible moment to fuck it up - because that cunt's a cunt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on April 21, 2009, 12:01:48 am
Die Hard 4

Bruce Willis crashes a car into a helicopter. It explodes in a ball of flames.

Bruce Willis crashes a car into a lady baddy. She explodes in a ball of flames.

Bruce Willis drives a lorry into a F-34 jet. It explodes in a ball of flames.

Bruce Willis shoots a bady through himself.

The End

So long as you watch it with a group of friends and make comic points about how ridiculous it is this can be a couple of hours well spent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 25, 2009, 12:38:53 pm
Bored, cant climb, and the football wont kick off for hours, so heres a film and DVD round-up!  Any complaints: blame Andy Swann.  I bumped into him at Brimham and one-hour in his company left me with too skinless and battered to contemplate pulling-on for days now theres man who loves his eliminates. 

BRONSON
Contrary to expectations, this is not another tiresome contribution to the real-life-crime genre.  There are no cheeky, sportswear clad hooligans, justifying their naughtiness as a response to Maggie Thatcher and a need for man-love.  Instead it is far stranger and harder to categorise. 

Michael Peterson is the eponymous hostage-taker: an entirely self-made man.  A man whose obsession with fame created an entirely new persona: a combination of the criminal and the circus performer.  An artistic project sculpted from flesh and desire. 

The film itself is not a conventional biopic, rather a series of stylised sketches characterised by the juxtaposition of mannered performances and sudden, often violent, depravity.  Although there are many lighter moments and some good dialogue; a hi-energy disco in a psychiatric ward is a particular highlight. 

Criticisms that the film is too sympathetic to a dangerous man seem wide of the mark.  The viewer is left glad that Bronson is locked away.  There is no sentimentality towards a man willing to cause so much pain for reasons so personal yet so abstract.  Anyway, regardless of any larger moral dimension, its a deeply peculiar film whose purported similarities to A Clockwork Orange for once seem deserved rather than lazy.  Well worth watching for its oddness if nothing else. 


LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
The much lauded Swedish child-vampire film.  It does a lot right: the gore and shocks are largely well-calibrated, the performances are naturalistic and theres a nice sense of place.  Vampirism, rather than being a freak, super-natural phenomenon is portrayed as merely a natural consequence of living in such bleakness: a peril on a par with alcoholism or falling through ice.  Something to be regarded with long-suffering phlegmatism.  Or at least I assume thats why bloody murders cause so little police activity or panic!

However, despite its many good points, I admit to leaving the cinema disappointed.  Mainly because the ending felt like it has been imported from a far cruder, crowd-pleaser.  And, although it is a well-executed vampire film, it is just a vampire film.  There is little that hasnt been seen before in the likes of Near Dark or 30 Days of Night; films which although perhaps inferior, remove most claims to originality.  A similar phenomenon occurred for the likes of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: kung-fu films that were hugely over-praised by mainstream critics unaware of their debt to the genre films such as The Prodigal Son and The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk had done it all before and with a sense of humour.

So whilst Let The Right One In is a very good, admirably serious vampire film, I suspect that, unusually, the more affection the viewer has for the genre, the less impressed they will be.

IN THE LOOP
Predictably this feature-length version of Armando Iannuccis critique of spin-culture, In the Thick of It, is a must for lovers of inventive verbal abuse, but not really a film.  Rather it is a stretched TV episode, with length and plot development seemingly predicated by the writers desire not to let any good insults to go to waste.

I admit that this less than rapturous response is probably more my fault than the films.  A symptom of a shameful lack of engagement with the wider world; I have no great expectations of politicians so am perhaps left less enraged than I should be by revelations of mistakes and venality. 

So whilst I found such a hugely distended sack of bile impressive, I was left just plain tired by the end.  Worn-out by vitriol directed towards matters I simply dont care enough about.  That said, I still recommend it: it is at time very funny, acutely contemporary and feels important.   Its a forlorn hope, but maybe this film, and ones like it will do for Government what Smashie and Nicey did for Radio 1.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: St Hubbins on April 25, 2009, 07:50:34 pm
Michael Peterson is the eponymous hostage-taker: an entirely self-made man.  A man whose obsession with fame created an entirely new persona: a combination of the criminal and the circus performer. 

I would simply have called him a Knobhead thats been in prison for a long time?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 25, 2009, 08:03:28 pm
and you'd have been right (and now I've got an image stuck in my head of a giant angry penis with a luxuriant 'tache... thanks!).  It is a really odd film though... more like some weird piece of performance art than a biopic.  The fact that there's a real nutter is almost irrelevant as it's just a series of surreal little vignettes with bugger all basis in reality (Monty Python do ultraviolence stylee).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on April 28, 2009, 06:37:09 pm
I had the pleasure of watching Terence Davies' Of Time and The City today at a screening with the directors. The film is less a historical overview of Liverpool and is instead  a sort of memoir  of Davies' life and the  troubles he faced in dealing with his homosexuality. The film is saturated with some fascinating archive footage and has a particularly brilliant score. The directors talked afterwards about how the film came about and it was interesting to see how the Liverpool Culture Company gave the film backing despite it not being an overt celebration of the city. Certainly worth seeing from my perspective. Whether the film may have a lesser degree of poignancy for those not from the area I can't say but the archive footage is very rich.

http://www.oftimeandthecity.com (http://www.oftimeandthecity.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6BAoo8hmlU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6BAoo8hmlU)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 06, 2009, 07:28:40 pm
Managed to get my hands on an early Moose review.  Enjoy.  ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h6sBu9tLzw
 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h6sBu9tLzw)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: benj_d on May 06, 2009, 09:18:43 pm
Managed to get my hands on an early Moose review.  Enjoy.  ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h6sBu9tLzw
 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h6sBu9tLzw)

What on earth  :jaw: He's hilarious!  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 06, 2009, 10:56:11 pm
Managed to get my hands on an early Moose review.  Enjoy.  ;)

:lol:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 07, 2009, 09:17:42 am
That kid is freaky.  :lol:

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN ...I admit to leaving the cinema disappointed.  Mainly because the ending felt like it has been imported from a far cruder, crowd-pleaser. 
I like the ending, partly cause I felt like it had to end that way, from what had happened earlier in the film, I thought it highlighted how her life worked, a never-ending circle, just with different people over time. 

I really liked the whole film actually, I thought it had a lovely feel to it and was nicely paced, and the two kids were great.  Plus, you can't beat watching a foreign film with subtitles on a Monday night for making you feel all trendy and intelligent.  ;)

Quote
hugely over-praised by mainstream critics unaware of their debt to the genre
Though maybe I should bow down to your superior knowledge, I don't watch a lot of vampire / horror films due to the fact I am a total wimp and tend to cower and cry with fear a lot.  I enjoyed LTROI because it was more atmospheric than just gore and jumpy bits for the sake of it. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on May 18, 2009, 08:23:10 am
Star Trek
Being a big Star Trek fan I had high hopes for this and I wasn't disappointed. Although I'm not a huge fan of J.J. Abrams I have to say this a great summer blockbuster sci-fi film.

The movie essentially tells the story of how the original crew all end up on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Throw in some Romulan baddies. All the famous catch phrases. A big chunk of humour and cheese. Good action and great special effects and every box has been ticked.

Everyone I saw the film with thoroughly enjoyed it (unusual) and even the slightly cliched ending didn't detract from the overall experience.

A solid rating of pain aux chocolate out of 10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on May 18, 2009, 08:48:36 am
watched Taken starring Liam Neeson on DVD saturday night.

at first you do think that the lead character's a bit obsessed with seeing his child, but forgetting that and realising that it a very good action film when it gets going.

for the 1st time in ages i thought shortly into it past all the sickly bits, this is a very good film and i'm enjoying it!


another one i watched over the weekend (the missus was away in london) was Get Smart....good funny film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 18, 2009, 10:29:47 pm
Star Trek
Being a big Star Trek fan I had high hopes for this and I wasn't disappointed. Although I'm not a huge fan of J.J. Abrams I have to say this a great summer blockbuster sci-fi film.

The movie essentially tells the story of how the original crew all end up on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Throw in some Romulan baddies. All the famous catch phrases. A big chunk of humour and cheese. Good action and great special effects and every box has been ticked.

Everyone I saw the film with thoroughly enjoyed it (unusual) and even the slightly cliched ending didn't detract from the overall experience.

A solid rating of pain aux chocolate out of 10.

 :agree:

A good film. Solid rather than excellent. The fairer half didnt want to go, but loved it and didnt stop talking about if after. I had heard it was good and was not disappointed, nor underwhelmed - just thought it was good instead of great. Neat plot - intelligent enough to keep me engaged but not too out of this world (well it is sci-fi!)...

Definitely worth leaving the pink anazasis in the cupboard for on a rainy evening...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on May 19, 2009, 10:03:11 am
I agree with the above. Star Trek was Good, but not awesome.

One thing that did irk me a bit was the action sequences. They put them together like they did in Quantim of Solace where the camera flits around so quickly you can't follow what's happening.

Other than that, it was most enjoyable. Although I did groan inwardly when i found out it was yet another Star Trek/time travel plot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 19, 2009, 10:26:22 am
The fairer half didn't want to go, but loved it and didn't stop talking about if after.
I wonder if it's a chick thing?  We saw it last night at the IMAX and I loved it, best film I've seen in ages.  I think my wild effusing about just how much I enjoyed it got a bit dull after the first 20 minutes or so.  :-[

I was expecting it to be alright since it got good reviews everywhere but it totally exceeded my expectations, it was just the perfect level of cheesy blockbuster with a decent story and true enough to the original series without being too trekkie, plenty of nods to it without being confusing if you weren't a massive fan already.  I thought the characters, on the whole,  were all very well done too. 

One thing that did irk me a bit was the action sequences. They put them together like they did in Quantim of Solace where the camera flits around so quickly you can't follow what's happening.
You want to try watching it in IMAX, I thought I was going to have a stroke at one point.  :lol:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 19, 2009, 10:59:15 am
I thought I was going to have a stroke at one point. 

From the person sitting next to you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on May 19, 2009, 11:03:33 am
I thought I was going to have a stroke at one point. 

Of the person sitting next to you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 19, 2009, 11:26:31 am
I thought I was going to have a stroke at one point. 
From the person sitting next to you?

I thought I was going to have a stroke at one point. 
Off the person sitting next to you?

So good you told it twice, boys?  :lol:  Surely that's the whole point of the cinema though, cheeky grope in the dark?  No?  Just me?  :-[

Clearly, I should have said fit, I thought I was going to have a fit.  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on May 19, 2009, 11:39:09 am
You made me go back and check my grammarness.  >:(

I always get of and off mixed up :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 19, 2009, 12:06:36 pm
Too slow Plattsy, too slow.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 19, 2009, 12:24:37 pm
You made me go back and check my grammarness.  >:(
Sorry  :-[ It was cheeky to change it wasn't it?  I thought you might not notice and my weird OCD-like tendencies wouldn't let me leave it in my post.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on May 19, 2009, 12:34:49 pm
Sorry. I will bring fresh homemade cake for all the Sheffield lot the next time I visit. My weird OCD-like tendencies won't let me leave it at home.

You are forgiven Maggers.  :hug:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 19, 2009, 12:41:54 pm
 :thumbsup:

 :off: but you might want to check these guys (http://fancie.co.uk/Our_shop.html) out, they do GOOD cake.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on May 19, 2009, 04:25:42 pm
Star Trek - Agree with the rest of you: it's a pretty decent effort and far better than anyone other than rabid fanboys had any right to expect.  For my money it had a nice compromise between being a proper Star Trek film (photon-torpedoes, lasers, time-travel!) and affectionate mockery of the genre (Kirk's way with green laydeez, the sad fate of "Ensign Expendable" etc).   Okay, it had plot lines you could pilot a space station through, and I suspect Simon Pegg's Scottie plus assistant could be viewed as a being a bit "Jar Jar Binks", but I can't say I cared - it all just rattled along nicely.  I doubt it'll change anyone's mind about Star Trek: loather's of sci-fi will not have a road to Damascus moment, but it was a pleasant few hours.

State of Play is worth a watch too.  It doesn't have the depth of the BBC version - and at a fraction of the length how could it?  But, it's a pretty solid thriller: lengthy and complex but clear and fast moving enough to avoid boredom or confusion.  Russell Crowe is even good enough to remind you of the fact he used to be an actor rather than a snarling caricature (although I did wonder how such a purported slob managed to maintain such glossy and luxuriant hair).  That said, it is a bit cliched and old fashioned, but I'm pretty partial to the paranoid conspiracy genre (Parallax View, Five Days of the Condor, Manchurian Candidate etc) and find it hard to be too nasty about any film that's half-way intelligent.   

DVD-wise some recent highlights have been:

La Zona Mexican thriller in which a burglary in a gated-community goes badly wrong.  The surviving thief is trapped within, whilst the residents cover-up the deaths and organise a militia to hunt him down.  Efforts by the police to find the truth are met by a wall of silence and privilege.  It'san exciting enough chase film in it's own right, however, it also tries to address some larger matters: the value the rich put on the lives of the poor, how wealth can put people above the law etc (fairly current stuff - recent revelations about hit-squads in Brazilian cites etc.).  It also looks an absolute certainty to be remade - maybe a gated community in LA broken into by young, black teenagers from South Central etc?

I've Loved You So Young French film, Kristen Scott Thomas is a recently released prisoner slowly rebuilding her relationship with her sister.  Not much happens but it's acted out beautifully as KST becomes less guarded and more independent and the sisters explore their shared past.  There are revelations about the nature and circumstance of the crime, but to me it wasn't enormously important: the film's appeal does not lie in any shock-horror value but its characters.  Although it does keep you guessing as to just how heartening or tragic the outcome will be - will the past ever be forgiven by the family or the public?

The Children  British horror, a Christmas gathering of two families in a country house turns nasty when their children fall ill... before violently turning on their parents.  It is far better than it sounds: the acting and atmosphere are good and, before it kicks-off, there are some cute observations on modern family life.  For example, the behavior of the teenage daughter - estranged from both the adults and much younger kids, and the pushy, middle-class parent insisting on teaching their tiny tot Chinese!   But it's real strength is the disquieting atmosphere that sets in once the "accidents" start to happen - an air of unease that hints at more horror than actually occurs.  The children are blank-faced, spiteful automatons - yet still recognisably children - so there can be no easily victory, as what parent could bring themselves to kill their child?  It's not a truly great horror film by any means (doesn't have the poetic resonance of say Let The Right One In) but it's virtues were a welcome surprise as I'd not really heard of it (did it go straight to DVD?).  Recommended for anyone who liked Eden Lake, but thought it could have done with more zombies!

By the way... anyone any news / opinions on Terminator Salvation - I suspect I'm one of the few who rather liked T3 - but I'm not sure what to make of the latest installment.  Getting in Christian Bale was a good sign but the adverts all look a bit "Transformers" and it's directed by someone who calls himself McG ferfucksake!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 19, 2009, 07:22:14 pm

By the way... anyone any news / opinions on Terminator Salvation - I suspect I'm one of the few who rather liked T3 - but I'm not sure what to make of the latest installment.  Getting in Christian Bale was a good sign but the adverts all look a bit "Transformers" and it's directed by someone who calls himself McG ferfucksake!

Looking forward to it Moose - the trailers looked ace - and I've always loved the epic feel of the terminator films. I hope they've bought that back. I didnt like T3 - and ten  + years after the novelty of SGI has sunk in, T2 is not as great as it felt at the time... I hope the characters are worked on...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on May 21, 2009, 12:54:28 pm
Bad news:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/21/terminator-salvation-christian-bale (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/21/terminator-salvation-christian-bale)

I rather liked T3, viewed in it's own right I thought it was a decent Die Hard-esque action film: lots of self-mocking humour and probably the nearest Arnie will ever come to nailing comedy (high praise indeed!).  Though, I'll admit that it didn't have the portension of the prequels and that "triumph of the will" bit near the end (just before John Connor escapes to the bunker) where Arnie overcomes his programming was just plain embarassing.  I guess I prefer a film that doesn't pretend to be anything much better than an undemanding night-in with beer, to an out-and-out would-be epic that fails miserably.

Mind you, I'm also backwards enough to still be impressed by the CGI in T2.  To me, the effects still compare favourably with most modern blockbusters - they just seem incredibly well integrated into the action.  There isn't the obvious "CGI set-piece" thing you got in the likes of the LOTR series, the new Star Wars films, King Kong etc where everything just seems to have a slight outline with obviously blue-screened actors.  I guess the director was just sensible enough not to exceed the limitations of the available technology.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 21, 2009, 01:53:08 pm
Mind you, I'm also backwards enough to still be impressed by the CGI in T2.  To me, the effects still compare favourably with most modern blockbusters - they just seem incredibly well integrated into the action.  There isn't the obvious "CGI set-piece" thing you got in the likes of the LOTR series, the new Star Wars films, King Kong etc where everything just seems to have a slight outline with obviously blue-screened actors.  I guess the director was just sensible enough not to exceed the limitations of the available technology.   

I am too. It was just part of the action, not overblown and "obvious".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 21, 2009, 03:29:25 pm
Mind you, I'm also backwards enough to still be impressed by the CGI in T2.  To me, the effects still compare favourably with most modern blockbusters - they just seem incredibly well integrated into the action.  There isn't the obvious "CGI set-piece" thing you got in the likes of the LOTR series, the new Star Wars films, King Kong etc where everything just seems to have a slight outline with obviously blue-screened actors.  I guess the director was just sensible enough not to exceed the limitations of the available technology.   

I am too. It was just part of the action, not overblown and "obvious".

Yup - I didnt think it was overblown and obvious, but on reflection a whole chunk of the WOW from seeing T2 was what the special effects allowed... the fact the Terminator could be a blob of metal or anything else just took my breath away. Now revising my initial post - this is of course part of the plot - not just the graphics.. I guess I have become a bit stilted about more modern films that have plotlines driven by the effects... I'm not sure that was the case in T2. So I take back some of my cynicism... it must have been partially created by marking too many shit dissertations that evening  :)

Hmm, just read the link from Moose... thats a shame. It sounds like a dogs dinner..... Oh well, one for a rainy day and a DVD perhaps...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 01, 2009, 09:29:53 am
Up (http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/) looks like it might be quite good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 01, 2009, 09:53:13 am
Watched Body of Lies on DVD Saturday evening.  Worthwhile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 01, 2009, 09:58:23 am
Reminds me I watched Changeling (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824747/) on Saturday evening, which despite having a rather emaciated Angelina Jolie in the lead role was very good.  Not the happy ending you hope for, but then its based on true events as opposed to fairytales.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on June 01, 2009, 10:26:41 am
You made me go back and check my grammarness.  >:(

I always get of and off mixed up :lol:
I think in this case it doesn't matter, the joke still stands. In fact you used "of" (implying Magpie was going to do the stroking and the person next to her would be strokee) as opposed the SA Chris who had Maggers as the strokee. Magpie "correcting" your posting to "off" instead of "of" simply removed the clever twist on SA Chris' initial joke that you had (apparently inadvertently) made.

It's all a bit academic really as Maggers is more of a crusher than a stroker...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on June 01, 2009, 10:46:45 am
You made me go back and check my grammarness.  >:(

I always get of and off mixed up :lol:
(implying Magpie was going to do the stroking and the person next to her would be strokee) as opposed the SA Chris who had Maggers as the strokee.

Exactly what I was going for.  :thumbsup:

However I did have to double check my use of "of".

Bad news:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/21/terminator-salvation-christian-bale (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/may/21/terminator-salvation-christian-bale)

Better news:

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=10354 (http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=10354)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 01, 2009, 11:30:51 am
I stroke as well as crush, I'll have you know; it just depends what list you're on at the time which you get!   >:(

Changeling sounds good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 01, 2009, 04:29:09 pm

Changeling sounds good.

It was surprisingly good, I even managed to stay awake for all of it (I normally fall asleep watching films and have watch them again!).

Going through the phone just now it seem I made a note to buy a film I saw on TV at some point...

Inside I'm Dancing (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417791/)

A touching movie about a guy with Cerebal Palsy who's encouraged to get out and live life when another disabled person moves into the care home.  More details are there on IMDB link, but I really enjoyed this (it too kept me awake!) and found it quite touching yet invigorating at the same time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 01, 2009, 10:14:01 pm
Valkyrie.


Not much to recommend it really; OK for filling a few gaps in one's WWII knowledge (though I thought Goebbels looked pukka), but nothing I'd buy or hire.  Torrent or TV only.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on June 01, 2009, 10:25:47 pm
Watched 'Kenny' tonight... Mocumentry about an Ozzie bloke who maintains porta-loo's... Really Funny

"There's another classic example of someone having a two inch arsehole and us having installed only one inch piping"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 01, 2009, 10:43:39 pm
Watched 'Kenny' tonight... Mocumentry about an Ozzie bloke who maintains porta-loo's... Really Funny

"There's another classic example of someone having a two inch arsehole and us having installed only one inch piping"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/)

Thats an ace film - Saw it on a Singapore air flight back from Oz a couple of years ago... I raved about it to a few people, but generally drew blank/odd looks in reply when describing the plot/theme!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 02, 2009, 08:27:14 am
Watched 'Kenny' tonight... Mocumentry about an Ozzie bloke who maintains porta-loo's... Really Funny

"There's another classic example of someone having a two inch arsehole and us having installed only one inch piping"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/)

Hilarious film, favourite quote is...

Quote from: Kenny
This is the busiest time of year, this is a crazy time, it just goes bonkers. It's as silly as a bum full of smarties.

...but there are so many good ones...

Quote from: Kenny
Funny part is parents look at me and say 'that's not much of a job, is it?'. And I say 'well you had kids'. 'You spent the first two years handling their shit, and you weren't getting paid for that'. They shit green, the only things that should be green are pears, apples and Martians.

Quote from: Kenny
There's a smell in here that will outlast religion.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 05, 2009, 03:38:35 pm
Home (http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/arthus-bertrand-claims-biggest-day-and-date-release-for-home/5002163.article) looks interesting. YouTube Project page (http://www.youtube.com/homeproject)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on June 05, 2009, 06:02:21 pm
Agree with the props for Kenny - I rented it based on the recommendations here and really liked it.  Far more than just a collection of funny/crude lines it was also oddly touching, yet without being mawkish. A proper low-key gem: no-budget and a unprepossessing subject, but a decent script, likeable characters and a lot of heart.  Basically the total opposite of:

Terminator Salvation - No doubt there are (or will be) entire websites devoted to the idiocy of this film.  You know the kind of thing: why does the pitiless machine intelligence of Skynet manufacture killing machines that so resemble motorbikes, they can be ridden by anyone with a Sony PDA?  Why does Skynet have all of it's security systems accessible via a handy English-language graphical user interface?  How, after a surprise nuclear Holocaust and 14 years of total warfare, have the resistance kept a fleet of A10 Tankbusters and helicopters in the air?  Why ferchristsake does an otherwise bare metal terminator wear a fetching bandanna?! 

This might appear like nitpicking, especially compared to the gaping plot holes and the inconguiities with the earlier films.  But, to be honest going beyond such trivialities would actually involve some degree of analysis and to be honest it's not worth it.  The biggest fault of Terminator Salvation is that it didn't make me care enough to get properly annoyed: it's just too dull, stupid and disposable for that.  I can barely remember the plot - my memory is just a melange of Christian Bale's growly Batman voice and lots of explosions.  Most of the scenes are like those memories that you are uncertain as to whether you dreamt them.  Was there really an oddly wise, mute child, or am I getting confused with Mad Max 2... or Aliens for that matter?  Although, comparing it with those two films is more than it deserves, Battlefield Earth is a more apt comparison.  Anyway, who cares... the important thing to me is that McG has shat upon some fond childhood memories.  I dread to think what'll he do for an encore, perhaps come round and tell me Bilbo Baggins was a paedophile?

I had a far better time watching Drag Me To Hell.  It's a proper horror-comedy: rather than a post-modern effort like a Scream or Buffy - where the horror is an accompaniment to an ironic, quip-laden script.  Instead, the comedy is actually intrinsic to the horrible scenes; many of which resemble a visceral version of an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon (or a gorier version of the frying-pan fights out of Reeves and Mortimer).  I did a hell of a lot of jumping in shock, laughing afterwards... and then looking around to see whether anyone noticed (and hoping that I didn't embarrass myself by yelping).  It doesn't pretend to be meaningful but, if you're a fan of the likes of The Evil Dead, it's very well done: funny, scary and at times refreshingly unpredictable.  It probably cost as much to make as the catering budget on Terminator Salvation, but was made by enthusiasts with an appreciation and love of their genre (and the endless comic possibilities of bodily fluids).  Definitely one to see on the big screen though; I suspect, like most visual horrors, it's impact was heavily dependent on the darkness and forced attention focus you get at the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 08, 2009, 10:43:30 pm
Amores Perros  :bow:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 09, 2009, 05:45:08 pm
Once more I've given up looking for the youtube / film thread, so I'm sticking this here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU)

You'll need 90mins to watch this gem.

Please can we have the most popular threads stickied please?  It happens in the bouldering forums, it's no big deal in culture, is it? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 09, 2009, 06:12:40 pm
By the way, I recommend you watch the above not embedded here but at the mothership where it's it's large screen HD.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 10, 2009, 12:15:58 am
By the way, I recommend you watch the above not embedded here but at the mothership where it's it's large screen HD.

Links...

Home (http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/arthus-bertrand-claims-biggest-day-and-date-release-for-home/5002163.article) looks interesting. YouTube Project page (http://www.youtube.com/homeproject)


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 10, 2009, 08:36:39 am
(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs030.snc1/4300_80091891215_533686215_2290996_6417316_n.jpg)

http://www.youtube.com/v/HCL3Aj3t3o4&hl=de&fs=1 (http://www.youtube.com/v/HCL3Aj3t3o4&hl=de&fs=1)&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=regp9U-Rg9g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=regp9U-Rg9g)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on June 10, 2009, 10:07:07 am
I had a far better time watching Drag Me To Hell.  It's a proper horror-comedy: rather than a post-modern effort like a Scream or Buffy - where the horror is an accompaniment to an ironic, quip-laden script.

I thought it was excellent. Every time it started to get a bit too scary and serious, there was a bit of army of darkness-esque slapstick thrown in which lightened the mood. It was a proper rollercoaster ride of fear and laughter. I mean, who secures an anvil to the ceiling of their shed by a complicated rope setup?! You knew exactly what was going do happen, but when it did you still guffawed like a moron.

That said, there were some properly scary bits in it. Shocks galore and the missus spent the first 20-30 minutes hiding behind her hands.

Also, I don't know if it was just the cinema we went to, but the film was seriously loud.

Go and see it...NOW.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on June 20, 2009, 03:07:15 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df68hmbe7W8&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df68hmbe7W8&NR=1)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on June 22, 2009, 09:29:29 pm
I read McVicars' autobiog some years ago; he's half-interesting.  On the subject of Prison film,


Bronson.

 :)

30 out of 34 years incarcerated in solitary.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: james on June 23, 2009, 03:44:10 pm
Reminds me of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtgfjkB6Pg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqtgfjkB6Pg)

Watched Kenny last week - what a film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on June 23, 2009, 05:40:35 pm
Die Welle ("the wave").

i watched this the other night. i thought it was brilliant, watch it!

it is based on a true story from california where a teacher tried to teach his class about fascism, but it all went horribly wrong. it has been set in germany for extra historical guilt nastiness. a very intriguing story and very well adapted to film.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 24, 2009, 09:08:41 am
Reminds me of this


Watched Kenny last week - what a film...

Thats fucking brilliant  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 24, 2009, 09:34:37 am
I read McVicars' autobiog some years ago; he's half-interesting.  On the subject of Prison film,

Bronson.

 :)

30 out of 34 years incarcerated in solitary.

Read his book? I've not seen the film but the books interesting... He now has a new keep yourself fit book which apparently is a best seller!
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MleXNksfL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU02_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solitary-Fitness-Charles-Bronson/dp/1844543099)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 29, 2009, 05:00:55 pm
I've been well well dissapointed by the cinema recently.

terminator 4 ----- why wasn't it an 18 then they could have made the terminators scary again, it was basically a bit poo.

the hangover ------ couldn't see what all the hype was a bout to be honest one of those films that tries really hard to be funny but ultimatley just isn't though i can see how the appeal could be lost on me.

transfromers ----- just well long and mostly quite boring abd wtf was that old british transformer all about

lets just hope mann can pull it out of the bag with public enemies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 29, 2009, 06:12:30 pm
Saw angels and Demons last night (I know I'm a bit late) and thought it was OK - a bit cringeworthy in places (well more than one..) but stacks better than Da Vinci Code..  Probably worth enduring even if you are a Tom Hanks disliked like myself...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on July 01, 2009, 12:36:23 am
Max Manus is another cracking film from the Netherlands. The true story about one of the most brilliant saboteurs during World War II and his battle to overcome his inner demons.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1029235/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1029235/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 01, 2009, 10:20:12 am
watched city on fire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093435/) last night
rather dated but still excellent
can see the bits that "inspired" reservoir dogs very easily
not as good as the killer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097202/) which has the same lead actors
Chow Yun Fat is a legend...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 01, 2009, 10:28:02 am
Chow Yun Fat is a legend...

 :agree: All the John Woo movies with him in before all the Hollywood nonce sense and Crouching Tiger Ninja Monk are excellent, almost bought a copy of Hard Boiled (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104684/) on DVD the other day as I only ever had it on VHS, ditto for A Better Tomorrow (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094357/) (which appears it may be being remade (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1138442/)).

Also, in a related vein, connected by the actor Tony Leung who's in Hard Boiled as a baddie, and is in these as a cop trying to do the right thing.

The Infernal Affairs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338564/) Infernal Affairs II (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369060/) and Infernal Affairs III (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374339/) trilogy are pretty good too.

Oh and for pure hilarity Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/) can't be beaten (his Shaolin Soccer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286112/) is pretty good too).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 01, 2009, 10:32:18 am
Chow Yun Fat is a legend...

 :agree: All the John Woo movies with him in before all the Hollywood nonce sense and Crouching Tiger Ninja Monk are excellent, almost bought a copy of Hard Boiled (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104684/) on DVD the other day as I only ever had it on VHS, ditto for A Better Tomorrow (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094357/) (which appears it may be being remade (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1138442/)).

Also, in a related vein, connected by the actor Tony Leung who's in Hard Boiled as a baddie, and is in these as a cop trying to do the right thing.

The Infernal Affairs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338564/) Infernal Affairs II (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0369060/) and Infernal Affairs III (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374339/) trilogy are pretty good too.

Oh and for pure hilarity Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/) can't be beaten (his Shaolin Soccer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286112/) is pretty good too).

hippy love in time  :agree: with all that....  :hug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 01, 2009, 07:21:37 pm
on the theme of excellent asian cinima I very much enjoyed the host - came to mind as I loaded up a mate's lovefilm account with all the types of movies his ex would disapprove of  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3FDIr5uMY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3FDIr5uMY)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on July 03, 2009, 12:16:03 am
Went to the Showroom the other weekend and watched 'The Hush' - a brilliant British made thriller, would highly recommend it.

Basically, a chap and his lass are driving up the M1 and end up behind a truck whose back pops open to reveal a distressed girl, chained in a cage. Shit gets crazy after that.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 03, 2009, 04:58:36 pm
Just watched the trailer. Looks pretty fucking scary.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on July 04, 2009, 01:36:35 am
On the verge! In 2004 a group of Brighton peace campaigners began to bang pots and pans outside their local arms manufacturers EDO MBM in disgust of their part in the Iraq war. This has grown into the Smash EDO campaign, which has cost the company millions, been the subject of large scale police operations and has tested the right to protest in the UK.

Using activist, police and CCTV footage plus interviews with those involved in the campaign, On The Verge tells the story of one of the most persistent and imaginative campaigns to emerge out of the UK's anti-war movement and direct action scene. Download it here http://www.smashedo.org.uk/ (http://www.smashedo.org.uk/)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 04, 2009, 08:30:25 am
Moo I thought The Hangover was pretty good as daft American comedies go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on July 04, 2009, 10:07:14 am
I watched 'Somers Town' last night after a tip-off from Mini.
Its a short black and white film made by British director Shane Meadows of 'This Is England' fame staring the same young lad.
Nice lil story, great cinematography and well worth a watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf1CI5jcJJg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf1CI5jcJJg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on July 04, 2009, 12:28:11 pm
Glad you enjoyed it :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on July 05, 2009, 08:10:59 pm
I watched 'Somers Town' last night after a tip-off from Mini.
Its a short black and white film made by British director Shane Meadows of 'This Is England' fame staring the same young lad.
Nice lil story, great cinematography and well worth a watch



Really nice film  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on July 07, 2009, 09:10:08 pm
Went to see public enemies just and now and I'm well impressed. Everyone acts well, it's really well shot as you would expect with a mann flick, (handheld camera stuff is toned down a bit). I like the story and I particullarly liked the music 8/10

falling down, I dont drink so i figure the hangover was mostly lost on me except the lucky charm chinese guy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on July 10, 2009, 01:31:53 pm
Watched Julia with Tilda Swinton last night- really good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 10, 2009, 01:34:45 pm
Watched Julia with Tilda Swinton last night- really good.

Did Tilda enjoy it too?

Me and Robert De Niro watched Starwars again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on July 10, 2009, 05:39:24 pm
Saw "Sunshine Cleaning" the other night - pretty decent feel good(ish) type film with some laugh out loud bits, well worth a watch in my book!
 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on July 10, 2009, 05:43:12 pm
Watched Julia with Tilda Swinton last night- really good.

Did Tilda enjoy it too?

Me and Robert De Niro watched Starwars again.
No fool Tilda Swinton is in the film, I watched it with Clint eatswood. Duh!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 10, 2009, 08:56:46 pm
No, he wasn't in it. That was Tim Curry.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 11, 2009, 05:23:44 pm
Angels & Demons - Fun.
Dante 01 - Shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 15, 2009, 01:41:58 pm
just watched Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) written and directed by the brilliant Luc Besson

just a very beautiful, touching, and in places savagely funny film about redemption

excellent
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 15, 2009, 01:55:23 pm
Ah, had that lingering on the drive for months now, must get round to watching in full.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 15, 2009, 02:00:07 pm
Saw "Sunshine Cleaning" the other night - pretty decent feel good(ish) type film with some laugh out loud bits, well worth a watch in my book!
 :great:


I enjoyed this too. V. low-key.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 15, 2009, 02:04:31 pm
just watched Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) written and directed by the brilliant Luc Besson

just a very beautiful, touching, and in places savagely funny film about redemption

excellent

Watched this a year or so ago and enjoyed it, excellent cinematography too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 17, 2009, 02:09:06 pm
Britain flocks to childish wizard rubbish. (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/britain-flocks-to-childish-wizard-rubbish-200907161910/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 17, 2009, 09:33:27 pm
have paused Returner (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339579/) 2/3rd's of the way through whilst the missus makes some tea
confident enough of it's quality to give it a plug
stylish, amusing, future shock sci fi meets triad land Japan
not the deepest film in the world but very enjoyable
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 18, 2009, 08:34:18 am
Coraline is well worth watching. Pretty sinister for a PG. It has caused a few sleep problems with my 9 year old and her friends, but they still want to see it again...and again...and again. The 3D modeling seems to leave kids with the impression that the characters are very real, so I told them that in real life the button eyed figures are only 5cm tall (total lie, but it worked and I wasn't sure if telling them it was all done with computers would help).
Better than Nightmare Before Christmas and Monster House and more child orientated than The Corpse Bride. Bit of a Roald Dahl feel to the whole thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYZoYBW8LY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYZoYBW8LY)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: milksnake on July 18, 2009, 02:55:58 pm
yeah, i saw that a little while ago, rally enjoyed it. saw old boy too which is awsome in very twisted way. definitly recommend it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on July 19, 2009, 09:39:54 am
Lagers - the book's awesome, but if the film freaked them, I'd avoid it, they didn't really cut much from Gaiman's story, but I was a bit disturbed by the book, and not at all by the film (really enjoyed it though).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 19, 2009, 09:46:41 am
Watched the Star Wars trilogy (4, 5, 6) yesterday.  2 & 3 the day previous, and 1 the day before that.  I think Lucas will go to Hell for retrospectively altering the originals, not to mention coughing robots (General Grievous) and other woeful attempts at humour.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 19, 2009, 11:31:56 am
watched Max Payne last night - was alright
passed the time in an entertaining way whilst managing very little in the way of artistic merit
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 19, 2009, 01:39:46 pm
Watched the Star Wars trilogy (4, 5, 6) yesterday.  2 & 3 the day previous, and 1 the day before that.  I think Lucas will go to Hell for retrospectively altering the originals, not to mention coughing robots (General Grievous) and other woeful attempts at humour.

Amen to that. I started watching the first prequel and turned it off in disgust. Never bothered with 2 or 3 after that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 21, 2009, 09:13:09 am
Watchmen. Probably been covered here before, but I saw this on the plane back from N.America last week, and expected an Xmen stylee film but what I saw was quite different and in places fairly cerebral. It took a bit of work to watch - but overall enjoyable. Anyway, there was an interesting interview with the Director in todays Grauniad (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jul/20/watchmen-zack-snyder-clip) that explained quite alot (to me who knew nothing about it before)....
T
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 21, 2009, 09:34:12 am
Watched the Star Wars trilogy (4, 5, 6) yesterday.  2 & 3 the day previous, and 1 the day before that.  I think Lucas will go to Hell for retrospectively altering the originals, not to mention coughing robots (General Grievous) and other woeful attempts at humour.

I've got the originals on DVD transfer from lase disc rip, well worth getting hold of if your an 'original' star wars fan
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on July 21, 2009, 10:10:51 am
saw harry potter on saturday - log. nothing happens. apparently it's not a lot like the book either. it feels like there should be one movie left but apparently they're splitting it into two, just to rinse us i suppose.

also saw moon (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jul/17/film-review-moon-sam-rockwell) last night. not bad a low-budget sci-fi flick. sam rockwell very good - he usually is.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 21, 2009, 10:13:36 am
your julie bustin your balls word? I told her I aint seen a gay wizard till we've seen bruno, although none of this matters with a 19 month old as we haven't been to the cinema for years!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on July 21, 2009, 10:21:48 am
yeah. she's a potter nutbox. saw moon with the boys. the bender in me hoped it would be a bare arse medley.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on July 21, 2009, 10:27:05 am
I may start up an exclusive members club for people who, like me, meet the following 3 criteria:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 21, 2009, 10:28:02 am
I long to be a member of your club Dave but alas it'll never be
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on July 21, 2009, 10:29:37 am
I'm only going to see it to see how Hermione is 'coming along'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on July 21, 2009, 10:32:50 am
to be fair, the golf ball/hosepipe scene is worth seeing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 21, 2009, 10:36:53 am
I may start up an exclusive members club for people who, like me, meet the following 3 criteria:
  • Have never read a Harry Potter book
  • Have never seen a Harry Potter film
  • Intend to go to the grave with the above two facts still true


Where do I sign up?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 21, 2009, 10:37:52 am
are you sure you didn't see Harry Rotter And The On-Fire Gobbling?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on July 21, 2009, 10:39:47 am
I may start up an exclusive members club for people who, like me, meet the following 3 criteria:
  • Have never read a Harry Potter book
  • Have never seen a Harry Potter film
  • Intend to go to the grave with the above two facts still true


Where do I sign up?

just give the medal company a bell. think they deal with those calls.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 21, 2009, 11:24:33 am
I may start up an exclusive members club for people who, like me, meet the following 3 criteria:
  • Have never read a Harry Potter book
  • Have never seen a Harry Potter film
  • Intend to go to the grave with the above two facts still true


Where do I sign up?

Me too. I am proud of the fact I am potterless  :)
(though I think I saw 1/2 of one of the films on a plane once)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on July 21, 2009, 12:14:17 pm
(though I think I saw 1/2 of one of the films on a plane once)

my shortie watched one on a plane - i opted for watching the same episode of Third Rock From The Sun 9 times on the trot instead. "transmission incoming from the big giant head" - classic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 21, 2009, 12:29:27 pm
Never seen / read any of them.......

Britain flocks to childish wizard rubbish. (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/britain-flocks-to-childish-wizard-rubbish-200907161910/)

Quote
"I bet if Joseph Heller wasn't dead he would freely admit that Barry Magic and the Trumpet of Chaos makes Catch-22 look like a right load of old shit."

There's something very wrong about all these adults who don't normally read anything other than The Sun going mad about a series of children's books. The ex husband of a bird I work with is a 6'4" 40 odd year old truck driver and he's a massive Potter fan. Worrying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on July 21, 2009, 12:34:14 pm
a 6'4" 40 odd year old truck driver and he's a massive Potter fan. Worrying.

careful. he'll ban you for that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 21, 2009, 12:35:12 pm
lol
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 22, 2009, 08:53:05 pm
Just rewatched District 13 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414852/)
best action film for ten years??
possibly - I love it
Besson is a genius
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on July 22, 2009, 11:37:10 pm
saw harry potter on saturday - log. nothing happens. apparently it's not a lot like the book either. it feels like there should be one movie left but apparently they're splitting it into two, just to rinse us i suppose.

also saw moon (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jul/17/film-review-moon-sam-rockwell) last night. not bad a low-budget sci-fi flick. sam rockwell very good - he usually is.

Psyched to see this, good call.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 23, 2009, 01:33:55 am
didn't have you down as a wizard fan Zod
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2009, 08:42:23 am
didn't have you down as a wizard's sleeve fan Zod
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on July 23, 2009, 10:10:33 pm
It might have been made 52 years ago, so excuse me if I'm a little late in pushing it, but tonight I watched a damn good film. Twelve Angry Men (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/) has got to be up there with the best court room / jury films I've seen. All based in the jury room of a guy on trial for first degree murder, the jury must decide whether to send him to the chair or not. So refreshingly simple compared to the majority of modern films that just try too too hard! If you aint seen it, do so.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 23, 2009, 10:25:35 pm
Districk 13 is nice, lots of Parkour.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on July 23, 2009, 11:36:31 pm
didn't have you down as a wizard fan Zod

Young teenage men with wand's in their hands always get's me psyched.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on July 23, 2009, 11:50:05 pm
A treat, then.
(http://thisrecording.com/storage/harry_potter_gay.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1239114462496)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 24, 2009, 12:51:09 pm
(http://thisrecording.com/storage/harry_potter_gay.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1239114462496)
;D wheres the broomstick?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 25, 2009, 04:39:45 pm
Everything about Watchmen is ridiculous.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 26, 2009, 07:46:40 pm
another excellent film from the past re watched today
Escape from New York (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082340/)
dated - yes
Kurt Russell playing himself - as ever
over the top direction - it's a John Carpenter...
verdict - damn fine entertainment
(http://www.impawards.com/1981/posters/escape_from_new_york_ver1.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 26, 2009, 08:00:19 pm
which reminds me saw Sabata (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064916/) one afternoon a few weeks ago
excellent film
(both star the genius of Lee van Cleef (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001812/))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on July 27, 2009, 10:19:06 am
I watched Gran Torino last night and can recommend it. One of the better films I've seen this year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 27, 2009, 05:50:52 pm
Good heavens Gran Tourino blew satans' cock from start to finish.  It's drivvel.  You must've seen some dire films this year BB.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on July 28, 2009, 12:28:15 pm
I'm only going to see it to see how Hermione is 'coming along'.
Pissed myself when I read this (actually I snorted coffee down my nose).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Anth on July 28, 2009, 05:25:26 pm
went to see harry bastard potter with our lass

it

was

shite!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on July 29, 2009, 11:35:02 am
Very keen to see both these films next year, the trailers look great; & both in 3D so no crappy cam torrents too (not that I've ever seen a cam rip, but the industry does seem to be paranoid about them).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1IpPpB3iWI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1IpPpB3iWI)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjMkNrX60mA)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 29, 2009, 11:44:41 am
Heard about Alice last night, and Tim Burton was saying he wants to imbue more of a storyline to it rather than it being a series of relatively random events.

Not sure if thats really going to work though, as personally I like disjointed quirkiness of the original books.

Only one way to find out though, and I've generally liked most of Burton's films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on July 29, 2009, 11:50:43 am
Watched Ice Age 3 in 3D a couple of day's ago. I went in expecting red and green glasses and came out amazed. The Pterodactyl sequence towards the end was jaw droppingly brilliant  :jaw:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on July 29, 2009, 12:04:05 pm
Good heavens Gran Tourino blew satans' cock from start to finish.  It's drivvel.  You must've seen some dire films this year BB.

Funnily enough, Yes! This year has been utter shit in the film department. Capped off by the utter arse-grave that was transformers. Loose stool water from start to finish.

I guess my standards have unknowingly dropped.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 29, 2009, 09:26:36 pm
V for Vendetta is on BBC three right now
fucking amazing film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Anth on July 29, 2009, 10:11:07 pm
yes yes yes, V is fucking reet good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 29, 2009, 11:45:00 pm
Watched 'The Hangover' tonight. Funny. Worth seeing. Clever, quite subtle in places, nicely done, less crass than I was expecting, quite a lot of laugh out loud moments and some genius lines.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on July 30, 2009, 05:17:14 pm
Watched 'The Hangover' tonight. Funny. Worth seeing. Clever, quite subtle in places, nicely done, less crass than I was expecting, quite a lot of laugh out loud moments and some genius lines.

Agreed, was going to post about this one today. 3.5 out of 5 i reckon. Wasn't what i was expecting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 30, 2009, 05:53:24 pm
Watched 'The Hangover' tonight. Funny. Worth seeing. Clever, quite subtle in places, nicely done, less crass than I was expecting, quite a lot of laugh out loud moments and some genius lines.

Agreed, was going to post about this one today. 3.5 out of 5 i reckon. Wasn't what i was expecting.
Forgot the mention the 'HG' Factor, not quite 'Boogie Nights' but still an added bonus.  :thumbsup:
(http://www.panelsonpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/intl_heather_character_art__jpg_418x500_autocrop_q85.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 05, 2009, 06:47:41 pm
Brno.

Hilarious, often really unsettling; better, more dangerous than Borat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on August 07, 2009, 09:21:23 am
Continuing my list of classics not yet seen I had the pleasure of viewing the cinematographic great that is Lawrence of Arabia (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056172/). Why did I wait so long to watch this? It is a long film, especially the directors version I watched, but even the long desert scenes with no dialogue are just stunning and captivating. It even has an old style 'Intermission' part way through the dvd complete with black screen and background music - should have organised an ice cream lady!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 11, 2009, 08:49:41 am
(http://crimesandjustice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/crackheadsgonewild.jpg)

Take half an hour or so to watch these parts of Crackheads Gone Wild. 
You've never seen anything like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9H2X-QAMaQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9H2X-QAMaQ)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dLzPQR1iTA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dLzPQR1iTA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZeONter4Gg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZeONter4Gg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp_FUYYP-sA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp_FUYYP-sA)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on August 11, 2009, 09:13:33 am
Here's #5.  Well  worth it, for Tony, at the end.  Touching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLBYXF2lsc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLBYXF2lsc)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on August 28, 2009, 08:40:46 am
Soul Power (http://www.soulpowerfilm.co.uk/)

This is sort-of a prequil to the magnificent When We Were Kings (about the 1974 Ali-Foreman " Rumble in the Jungle"); the two would make a great double-bill.

It's a documentary set around the concert that Stewart Levine, Hugh Masekela, and promoter Don King put on as part of the lead-up to the big fight.  They wanted African American (mostly) artists to perform in Africa and some of the film is about the varying responses of the Americans to Zaire: for some it is a homecoming, for others pan-Africanism is just another way to make a buck.   It doesn't pull any punches in showing the wheeling and dealing in getting the show set up.  There is also some excellent footage of Ali training for the fight, blazingly charismatic.   

The performances are from people like James Brown (on top form), BB King, Detroit Spinners, The Crusaders, Celia Cruz, Sister Sledge, Miriam Makeba, and Bill Withers (a great surprise if all you know is 'Lovely Day').  Lovely 70s colours in the film stock and the fashions on show.   On limited cinema release and looking and sounding great on a big screen.  I just wished it had been a bit longer.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on August 28, 2009, 04:16:20 pm
Inglorious bastards was good classic tarantino, very funny with one of the best bad guys you'll see this year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on August 28, 2009, 06:15:11 pm
Soul Power (http://www.soulpowerfilm.co.uk/)

This is sort-of a prequil to the magnificent When We Were Kings (about the 1974 Ali-Foreman " Rumble in the Jungle"); the two would make a great double-bill.

It's a documentary set around the concert that Stewart Levine, Hugh Masekela, and promoter Don King put on as part of the lead-up to the big fight.  They wanted African American (mostly) artists to perform in Africa and some of the film is about the varying responses of the Americans to Zaire: for some it is a homecoming, for others pan-Africanism is just another way to make a buck.   It doesn't pull any punches in showing the wheeling and dealing in getting the show set up.  There is also some excellent footage of Ali training for the fight, blazingly charismatic.  

The performances are from people like James Brown (on top form), BB King, Detroit Spinners, The Crusaders, Celia Cruz, Sister Sledge, Miriam Makeba, and Bill Withers (a great surprise if all you know is 'Lovely Day').  Lovely 70s colours in the film stock and the fashions on show.   On limited cinema release and looking and sounding great on a big screen.  I just wished it had been a bit longer.

Good call Duncan, When We Were Kings is excellent. Is their much concert footage, I heard it was a bit disappointing. And more importantly, does everyone still refer to James Brown as 'James Brown, soul brother no 1'?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on August 29, 2009, 12:18:28 am
"When We Were Kings" is brilliant, the bit that lingers most though is the footage of the "Thrilla In Manilla" in the DVD extras.  It's like a snuff-movie version of Rocky: brutal, vicious but utterly compelling fighting from two all time greats who plainly hated one another.  Ali won but said that it was "the closest thing to dying".  Its just a shame that it took such a beating for Ali to realize how churlishly he'd treated Frazier given the support Joe had given his family.  Strange to think, now that he's been canonized as a living martyr to boxing and given his refusal to fight in Vietnam ("no Vietcong ever called me a n....") that Ali made some horribly racist statements about both Foreman and Frazier and even merrily addressed the KKK about the desirability of racial separation!   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on August 31, 2009, 11:11:31 pm
Shifty is brilliant, Shifty, a young crack cocaine dealer in London, sees his life quickly spiral out of control when his best friend returns home. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs, and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must out-run and out-smart a rival drug dealer, intent on setting him up for a big fall. As his long time friend Chris, confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he's hurtling towards. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104126/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104126/) sorry if it's already been mentioned.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 01, 2009, 12:01:56 am
Watched The Hurt Locker yesterday - brilliant film, defo lived up to the 5-star rating that Peter Bradshaw gave it in Friday's Guardian.

It's a real nerve shredder - throughout the bomb disposal scenes the tension is cranked up ve-e-e-r-r-y slowly until you're on the edge of your seat. There characterisation is excellent for a film that is essentially lots of short stories about incidents in a war, and there's a great moral ambiguity to the lead character.

Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on September 01, 2009, 08:31:08 am
Is their much concert footage, I heard it was a bit disappointing. And more importantly, does everyone still refer to James Brown as 'James Brown, soul brother no 1'?

I'm sure James Brown would say "rule number one of showbiz: always leave your audience wanting more" (in a somewhat groovier fashion) and the film did leave me slightly wishing it had been two hours rather than 93 minutes long and had a bit more JB in it.  You know there must be hours more footage somewhere and we're not exactly swamped with good quality material from of any of these artists.  I wondered how much it was an artistic decision and how much to do negotiating the release of the material and the cost of song rights.  Either way it's "All killer and no filler" and all the better for that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on September 01, 2009, 12:05:21 pm
Watched The Hurt Locker yesterday - brilliant film, defo lived up to the 5-star rating that Peter Bradshaw gave it in Friday's Guardian.

Highly recommended.

Same here, best film ive seen since Star Trek.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on September 01, 2009, 01:32:57 pm
Saw Inglorious basterds last night...

...don't bother. It's not gtipping enough to be a good war film or funny enough to be a good spoof. There's so much talking that it might as well be a radio play. On top of that, the plot is so simplistic and obvious that a child could have written it.

Neither funny nor clever, but most definitely :wank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 01, 2009, 01:34:46 pm
Inglorious Bastards - It's okay. Some classy bits, some crass bits, quite patchily put together. The orphanned girl's sections stole the show, some of the violence pr0n was tedious, the more subtle humour was good. It was a bit dumb and felt like it could have been put together a lot tighter, particularly bringing the two strands together towards the climax.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on September 02, 2009, 03:14:15 pm
Shifty is brilliant, Shifty, a young crack cocaine dealer in London, sees his life quickly spiral out of control when his best friend returns home. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs, and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must out-run and out-smart a rival drug dealer, intent on setting him up for a big fall. As his long time friend Chris, confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he's hurtling towards. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104126/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104126/) sorry if it's already been mentioned.

saw this yesterday..

top film.. grim as.. shows the terrible waste that crack and heroin cause in a clear and unglamourised manner.

the 2 main actors in it are awesome.. esp the white bloke - who is the ugliest man i've seen on screen for a long time!

I got the DVD if anyone wants to borrow it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on September 03, 2009, 11:34:45 pm
just got back from watching inglorius basterds, unlike the others that have posted i thought it was a decent film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on September 03, 2009, 11:48:07 pm
Can't wait to see The Road (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/sep/03/the-road-adaptation-cormac-mccarthy) - Sounds like they haven't fucked with the book too much, I like viggo, and The Proposition is one of my favourite westerns ever. Not got much time spare at the mo so might be a while before I get to a cinema - so if anyone sees it soon, post up, ta.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on September 03, 2009, 11:52:05 pm
Just realised it ain't out here till jan. bugger.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on September 04, 2009, 09:42:26 pm
Just been watching the good the bad the weird (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0901487/) an excellent korean "western" won't be to everyone's taste but the some great funny moments and some even better gun play, brilliand cinimatography and... well it's just rather good  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 06, 2009, 09:48:01 am
Went and saw District 9 last night.

There is quite a lot of hype surrounding this film and as I also like sci-fi films I was looking forward to seeing this - and generally I wasn't disappointed. Its an interesting plot line - a massive (independence day stylee) ship of refugees turn up above Jo'burg and a humanitarian (OK - they're aliens!) sided government takes the aliens in and tries to integrate them. This does not really seem to work due to their seeming low intelligence and penchant for any fresh meat and in particular cat food - so they end up being ghetto-ised and guarded within shanty town/dump called District 9. The main character (Wilem) is the operations manager of a major multinational corp thats given the job of policing the area (a bit like OCP in RoboCop). And as conditions deteriorate in District 9, Wilem leads an operation to attempt to peacefully evict the aliens (dubbed Prawns) to a new camp outside of town. Thats the context, but without giving too much away, Wilem gets contaminated  by some alien goo (Alien) and slowly becomes more and more like the prawns (the Fly). Ultimately it becomes an action shoot out/chase between Wilem who moves over to the Prawn side of things and the Company security forces - headed up by a Bald hard nut SA mercenary type... This is superbly embelished with alien gadgetry and explosions (a nod to Aliens here)...

The Guardians Peter Bradshaw, was rather disappointed that the film didnt take the allegory (and irony) of  segragation between alien and human in Jo'burg and Apartheid further, and bemoaned how it turned into an action flick. I could see where he was coming from, but I enjoyed how the film went more down the line of a big corp trying to screw the small guy (Wilem) and exploit Alien technology route.

The film (Peter Jackson made) is fantastically shot. The special effects are second to none - and unlike many CGI effects they blend perfectly with the real background. There is a clever and convincing mix between CCTV video, TV documentary style coverage and the regular shots.. The Prawns are euchy at times but not OTT or over disgusting - and the wide shots often have a washed out texture similar to that used by Ridley Scott in Gladiator, which works really well in the hard, dusty and grim confines of District 9.

As I've alluded to above there are scenes, plotlines, ideas that borrow heavily from other sci-fi films - but thats not necessarily a bad thing - and they did not over exploit them. Thankfully theres no cheesy American god loves the flag Independence day ending though there are one or two hooks (at least!) left for sequels to run on from!

I liked it, one of the best films I've seen this year (not the best but up there) and Mrs TT seemed pleased (though not as pleased as after StarTrek 15 - or whatever it was..).

T
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on September 07, 2009, 09:56:05 am
I found District 9 really quite traumatic, it's a very good film but it left me feeling a bit sad and hopeless, definitely not what I was expecting.  Worth seeing though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 14, 2009, 11:59:12 am
The main guy is actually called Wikus, a fine Afrikaner name. I think the fact that the film is based in Jo'burg is purely because the guy who wrote and directed is South African and wrote about what he knows, and any allegory of segragation is purely coincidental to the main storyline, although the title is no doubt reference to Cape Town's District 6.

Anyhoo, I was glad that there was no effort to transfer the plot to a better known city in a High Fidelity style, and that it appears to have been flimed mostly on location (no doubt this is a cheaper option). Most of the actors are local and relatively unknown outside SA, although a couple of faces are from SA TV.

I enjoyed the film, thought the story, acting and pace were excellent, but desperately hope that they don't try and make a sequel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 16, 2009, 01:15:35 pm
any allegory of segragation is purely coincidental to the main storyline,
Yeah right. Please tell me you don't actually believe that. The whole first part of the film couldn't have been more of an apartheid (strictly, post-apartheid-but-don't-worry-the-economic-segretation-is-still-as-strong-as-ever) message if it had been subtitled as such in every shot.

Quote
and that it appears to have been flimed mostly on location (no doubt this is a cheaper option).
Obviously. Just kick the blacks out of a township for a while, and they didn't even need to build any sets for District 9 itself...

I liked the setting though, it added character and had some cultural tones there already that gave the film more conviction.

Anyway...

District 9

Brilliant, one of the best films I've seen in quite a while. Distinctive, gritty, moving in places, very well put together, good action, great deaths (the most people I've seen exploding in a 15 certificate - although I thought some of the "trauma" pushed the 15 certificate more), and actually kept me intruiged the whole way not knowing how it would work out.

Okay there was the odd cliche as it progressed, it could have benefitted from a bigger budget to make some areas more convincing, and there was some faith needed with the plot - but the latter I only realised thinking about it the next day, the general gripping style glosses over that.

Exactly what sci-fi/action film-making needs.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 16, 2009, 01:30:28 pm
Quote from: Neill Blomkamp
I grew up in South Africa during Apartheid and I very actively wanted to make a film that had science fiction placed in that African setting, specifically that South African setting. Theres no question that theres many, many, many elements of Apartheid and segregation and now xenophobia in South Africa that have made their way into the film but they provide the sort of foundation that the film rests on top of. Its like a framework thats there and it provides a very strange alternate reality because theres aliens involved, but it doesnt beat you over the head. So if you see the film, its like Im not trying to force those kind of soapbox beliefs of mine onto you. Im simply saying this is all stuff that affected me when I was a kid and I put science fiction into it. Now you can take from it what you want within a sort of satirical, dark humor kind of backdrop.

So you're both right.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 16, 2009, 01:53:57 pm
Shot bru.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 16, 2009, 01:57:41 pm
Oh, I also saw the International. It's pretty shit.

and Donkey Punch, which is fascinatingly shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on September 16, 2009, 03:52:38 pm
Possibly a little old, but recently seen a slew of good films, namely:
Lucky Number Slevin (9.5/10)
3:10 to Yuma (7/10 but good)
Childeren of Men (9/10)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ena on September 16, 2009, 04:08:25 pm
I thought District 9 was tremendous, 9.5/10. Funny too, as well as harrowing and quite exciting. The cinema should have banned the sale of popcorn though.

Also watched Inglorious (sp?) - very good, very Tarantino though. You know what to expect to some extent. Saw the odd and nasty Far North at home as well. I'd skip that one, it sounds like it'll be really interesting but all the characters are so horrible, you don't really care if they all die. Or not.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 16, 2009, 04:27:51 pm
Possibly a little old, but recently seen a slew of good films, namely:
Lucky Number Slevin (9.5/10)


Good film that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 16, 2009, 04:41:20 pm
I found it surpriisingly enjoyable too. And Josh Hairnet didn't annoy me like he usually does.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 16, 2009, 07:17:55 pm
Donkey Punch, which is fascinatingly shit.
Is that a level of shit worth watching or not? I have it on the hard-drive and not sure i can be bothered.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on September 16, 2009, 11:32:30 pm
I watched Bedtime Stories the other day. It is a bit of a Tom Hanks type film, but without Tom Hamks in it, so is therefore OK. Russell Brand actually helps the film work.
Overall, nowhere near as shit as I thought it would be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 17, 2009, 08:21:28 am
Donkey Punch, which is fascinatingly shit.
Is that a level of shit worth watching or not? I have it on the hard-drive and not sure i can be bothered.

Only as a benchmark to see how shit a film can actually be. You could play count the cliches or see who can guess how the rest of the film pans out first? Amazing that someone convinced someone else to finance a film like that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 17, 2009, 08:22:51 am
Watched Fish Tank last night.

Only go and watch it if you are very into bleak depressing urban dramas. Laughs were few and far between.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on September 17, 2009, 08:27:26 am
Sold! I think I'll take our lass.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 17, 2009, 08:52:13 am
Watched Fish Tank last night.

Only go and watch it if you are very into bleak depressing urban dramas. Laughs were few and far between.

What a coincidence so did I.

Thought it was quite good, leads you in and you keep on thinking bad things are going to happen but they don't always.  Quite dark as you say.  Ends rather abruptly, but that fits well with the story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 17, 2009, 09:02:10 am
What a coincidence so did I.
[/quote]

Orange Wedesday? :)

I must admit I reached a point where I wasn't bpthered if something bad happened, as long as something happened! But I admit that type of thing is not normally my cup of tea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 17, 2009, 09:14:21 am
Friend is on Orange, but not me, split the cost with student discount three ways.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on September 17, 2009, 09:19:39 am
Oh, I also saw the International. It's pretty shit.


I thought the International was a fine thriller, in the tradition of Three Days of the Condor and the Parallax View...

I saw Antichrist last night.  I was quite amazing and obviously fairly shocking.  Whether it's a masterpiece or not I'm not quite sure.  It's certainly something you won't forget in a hurry...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: erm, sam on September 26, 2009, 06:10:51 pm
Bit off the pace, but thought I'd add my "District 9 is really good" two penneth. One of the few films I have seen in a long time where the characters stay in my mind afterwards. If you know what I mean..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 28, 2009, 12:51:17 pm
Another vote for District 9 being really good. Manages to have some intelligence, and cool guns and bugs.

Dorian is intermittently entertaining, probably 5 or 6 /10 material. Colin Firth does quite a good sleaze bag to embittered old man character progression.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 28, 2009, 12:55:59 pm
Sofa surfing late at night and have recently caught a couple of films that kept me interested on Film4...

French action movie District 13 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414852/) has some excellently choreographed fight sequences in, even if the storyline is a bit hollywood.

More interestingly Persopolis (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808417/) was very interesting and well animated.

Probably still doing the rounds of repeats on Film4.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 18, 2009, 09:08:31 pm
Just got back from seeing Terry Gilliam's new film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054606/) which I found thoroughly enjoyable.  Quirky and a bit dark in places, its Gilliam doing what he does best.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Trailer HD (Heath's Last Film) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jU3AimFaz0#hd)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 18, 2009, 09:54:50 pm
Equal opportunities in martial arts films (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289414/)

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BNDUwMjIxMDQyMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODA5MTYzMg@@._V1._SX283_SY400_.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on October 19, 2009, 06:36:45 am
 ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 19, 2009, 04:45:18 pm
Good call Slackers that looks like good fun. Also awaiting 9 and 2012, for quite different reasons.

On the subject of Anyone seen any kinda watchable but average films recently, I've had a TV of my own for the first time ever, and have watched Saw and SawII in recent nights. I thought these were supposed to be all radical and shocking and stuff. Meh.

And on the subject of Anyone seen the worst fucking thing ever in the history of film making, I had to watch Date Movie the other night as part of caring for a sick patient, and jesus fucking shit on a stick it is unimaginably, incomprehensibly and indescribably atrocious. I honestly didn't know it was possible to make films this bad and I am not at all happy that this film proved the depths of crass, pointless, and unutterably unamusing rubbish that films can sink to. There aren't enough negative numbers in the world to give this film a score, and everyone involved in it should have been ground down and turned into dog food - budget discount dog food at that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 19, 2009, 06:15:46 pm
For anyone with children Up is every bit as good as the reviews say. Funny and moving.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on October 19, 2009, 06:27:19 pm
Totoro is really brilliant for kids as well - been out on DVD for a while now.

Fiend - I see your Date Movie and raise you with the truly awful Meet the Spartans - similar premise I think in that it is a spoof - saw it at a mates house after watching the brilliant Amelie - chalk and cheese does not even come close.

As for the Saw movies - seem to have missed those and I really don't think I am missing anything - if anything your critique just serves to prove the point that little bit more.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on October 19, 2009, 06:40:46 pm
Totoro is really brilliant *for kids* as well - been out on DVD for a while now.

Yeah right, you know you love it!
 :guilty:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on October 19, 2009, 08:15:39 pm
So is district the new they live - aliens and social commentary. For worst films ever I see your date film and go all in - with revolver!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 20, 2009, 08:28:53 am
See my reference to Donkey Punch earlier.

On the plus side, finally got round to watching Munich recently, and really enjoyed it. A bit long, but well paced and well acted and the attention to 70s detail is amazing. You just have to excuse Daniel Craig's pitiful attempt at a Sef Effrikan accent. But he doesn't say much anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on October 23, 2009, 06:14:29 pm
Religulous its a documentry on religion in the states. Hilarious.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on October 25, 2009, 04:34:23 pm
For anyone with children Up is every bit as good as the reviews say. Funny and moving.

saw this in 3D yesterday. really enjoyed it - as andy says it's funny and quite moving. and we don't even have kids (yet...)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on October 25, 2009, 07:09:05 pm
Right - this will not be to everyone's taste but we sat down and watched Southland Tales (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405336/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405336/)) the other night and really really loved it - weird, yes but you'd expect that from the guy that did Donnie Darko...
it's a strange near future epic - very much quoting Brazil (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/)) which of course if you haven't seen you should...
some very good performances from some actors who quite often get a bad press - The Rock, Seann William Scott etc...
I thought it echo'd Apocolyse now too - which I love - the wife must have been into me as our second date was to see the redux version!!!
anyways if you like non-linear, future shock then give it an evening...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 27, 2009, 08:43:05 am
After a return trip to Oz, my seen movies tally has been upped... some of these are old but hey...

Terminator 4 > I quite liked this - would not have been disappointed to have seen in the flicks

The Hangover > OK. I mean its probably worth a brainless view on dvd. seen plenty worse.

Ponjo > Japanese animation about a little fish that turns into a little girl. I was DRAGGED along to the deckchair cinema in Darwin to watch this - but thought it was fantastic. Magical, beautiful and captivating. If your kids are old enough to figure subtitles go watch it. (apparently the dubbed version is terrible)

Inglorious Basterds > Fucking sack of shit. Jew Killer character was good, and the boulder problem is far more interesting than Bradley.. Movie critic wankfest but shit.

The taking of Pelham 123 (2008) > Worse than the above. Not even bad enough to fall asleep to

The taking of Pelham 123 (*the original*) > fantastic. Brilliant Hesit/Hijack film. Why was this ever re-made

Transformers II (I think) > Jesus, I must have been on the final leg of a jet lagged economy class mentally derranged journey to watch ALL of this.

Transformers I > What was I on... were the sleeping pills making me trip. Better than above - but why do I remember that!

(Aliens is good during turbulence!)

T
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on October 27, 2009, 12:27:53 pm
(Aliens is good during turbulence!)

Aliens is a brilliant film at anytime
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 27, 2009, 08:53:19 pm
watched monsters vs aliens t'other night. Good family entertainment. Me and the missus enjoyed it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on November 03, 2009, 10:40:07 am
Coraline. Probably mentioned before. Reet good stop animation. Wish I'd seen it at the cinema in 3D. Definately worth a watch with or without kids.

District 13 - Ultimatum. Mentioned already. Worth a watch. Love the parkour action and stunts and amused me quite a lot.

Drag me to Hell. According to the sleeve the scariest film of the decade. Well I chinny beard that. Coraline was scarier. Therefore this is shit. Avoid.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 03, 2009, 10:44:42 am
Coraline. Probably mentioned before. Reet good stop animation. Wish I'd seen it at the cinema in 3D. Definately worth a watch with or without kids.

Got this in Blu-Ray HD 3-D lots of bells and whistles Saturday myself.  Really liked it, amazingly good stop-motion, there was even detail of the hair swishing when the characters stopped moving, was very impressed  :bow:

Only downside was that it never really settled down on the 3-D front for me (flicked from green/red continually, but this is more likely to have been the angle I was sat at, or it could be an excuse to get a new LED TV!).


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 03, 2009, 01:24:38 pm
Saw 9 at the cinema the other night. Great fun. Very inventive and different.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 03, 2009, 01:34:36 pm
Saw 9 at the cinema the other night. Great fun. Very inventive and different.

Do you have a time machine?  I thought Saw 6 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233227/) was the latest offering  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 03, 2009, 01:58:25 pm
Saw 9 at the cinema the other night. Great fun. Very inventive and different.

Do you have a time machine?  I thought Saw 6 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233227/) was the latest offering  :P

arf arf!

I've got an amusing anecdote on a saw related theme:

About 5/6 years ago I was telling a work colleague what I'd received for christmas and made the mistake of using the following phrase...

"My brother got me saw for Christmas."

Never lived it down.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 03, 2009, 03:50:10 pm
(Aliens is good during turbulence!)

Aliens is a brilliant film at anytime
Word to that. Although, watching in more recently, the marines' tactics are shockingly bad...

I wanted to see Coraline in the cinema  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 03, 2009, 04:47:08 pm
Although, watching in more recently, the marines' tactics are shockingly bad...

Your knowledge based on your experience from several tours of duty in outer space?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 04, 2009, 12:15:23 pm
Based on common sense!! Watch it again and you'll see what I mean.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 04, 2009, 12:17:51 pm
I'd love to want to.

So you reckon nuking the site from orbit wasn't a good idea?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 04, 2009, 12:25:28 pm
No, that was, but only after eradication of almost the entire squad! I forget which bits, but most of the initial recon is really shoddy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on November 04, 2009, 12:32:03 pm
Watched the prestige last week. Great film, well worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on November 04, 2009, 12:40:45 pm
Watched the prestige last week. Great film, well worth watching

 :agree:

Tis indeed a good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 04, 2009, 01:39:12 pm
I STILL need to see that even tho it's been out for years. The book is very good, as is most of Christopher Priest's stuff (The Glamour probably being my favourite of his non-sci-fi stuff).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on November 13, 2009, 12:40:48 am
Went to see Fantastic Mr Fox the other day with the misses and thought it was definitely worth a watch. The stop start animation gave it a nice feel, there's some nice little chase scenes and plenty of funny moments.

Wasn't sure about George Clooney voicing Mr Fox, but thought overall it was a pretty fun film, definitely worth a watch in the cinema if only for the animation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 13, 2009, 12:59:13 pm
Went to see The Men Who Stare At Goats. Was worth a watch but the storyline lacked impetus and wasn't very deep. Still some funny moments though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2009, 02:04:32 pm
The stop start animation gave it a nice feel

Is it proper stop start, or just CGI created to look like stop start?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on November 14, 2009, 11:58:40 pm
It's some seriously good shit if it's CGI, i'm a big fan fan of stop motion, love old stuff of Svankmajer's and Wallace and Gromit can't be bettered, the return to a shorter format for "a matter of loaf and death" was a good choice. Speaking of Wallace and Gromit, anyone have any knowledge of new material in the pipeline?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 15, 2009, 09:54:20 am
Went to see 2012 last night....
Scientifically its about as credible as a creationist text book - but I thought it was a hoot. Its long (2 and half hours) but it completely engaged me nearly all the way through (the last 15 mins was a bit much..). Good action sequences, especially the bits with volcanic bombs, and the tempo kept up pretty much the whole way through.
As long as you leave a chunk of your 'hang on - thats scientifically impossible' brain at the door its a great film - just go with the flow!
T.

ps. the worrying thing is that some people seem to think it may be real! to the extent that NASA has had to release a press release saying dont be so fucking stupid etc.. (http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 15, 2009, 11:12:13 am
Although, watching in more recently, the marines' tactics are shockingly bad...

Your knowledge based on your experience from several tours of duty in outer space?
;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 15, 2009, 11:32:53 am
Although, watching in more recently, the marines' tactics are shockingly bad...

Your knowledge based on your experience from several tours of duty in outer space?
;D

Erm, having recently watched the film en-flight (as earlier post) I remember thinking why dont they just nuke the planet? Well they were about to, and called in the lander ship (or whatever) to pick them and the tank up - except one of the nasties climbed on board the lander ship and ate them all - causing it to crash (nearly) into them on the ground.. hence they are stranded until the android dude can remotely pilot in another lander ship etc... blah blah, splat, shoot, eat, munch, scream end of film..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 15, 2009, 07:57:05 pm
You left out - Ripley kicks serious ass in that cool power lifting machinery, end of film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 15, 2009, 08:06:19 pm
You left out - Ripley kicks serious ass in that cool power lifting machinery, end of film.

 :guilty: THey also showed a 3-4min trailer for Avatar before the film (seemed to give away all of the plot but ho hum..) and that looked like it had the next step up in kick ass power lifting machinery..  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 15, 2009, 08:36:49 pm
Reading all the blurb about Avatar, looks like it might be good, apart from two words that put me off a bit - one word is james, the other is cameron.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 15, 2009, 08:44:24 pm
Reading all the blurb about Avatar, looks like it might be good, apart from two words that put me off a bit - one word is james, the other is cameron.

The trailer looked mint.. I think you're being a bit harsh - Cameron's done some good stuff Terminator, The Abyss, Aliens.... his CV looks sooo much better if you forget True Lies and Titanic. Of course Titanic would have been a great film if it wasn't 3 1/2 hours long, didnt have Leo DC in it, had multiple rampant sex scenes featuring Kate Winslett and her CGI sister/twin and didn't involve a ship or iceberg..  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 16, 2009, 08:43:14 am
A mate of mine described the trailer for Avatar as "Pocahontas in space" and despite having never seen pocahontas I suspect that's about right. The graphics looked a lot more like a computer game than a depiction of "real" sci-fi stuff and the whole thing looked pretty schmaltzy.

Probably still see it though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 16, 2009, 10:18:16 am
Probably go see it too, and reserve further judgement on film and cameron until after that point.

And The Abyss was ruined by that fucking stupid ending btw. Never forgave him for that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 16, 2009, 10:19:32 am
And The Abyss was ruined by that fucking stupid ending btw. Never forgave him for that.

Directors cut (proper ending) much better (though longer..)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: coolbeans on November 16, 2009, 06:38:14 pm
Finally saw Zombieland this week which truely rocked, but especially cos it opened with Metallicas For Whom The Bell Tolls.  That made me very happy. Woody Harrelson and Metallica in the same film, oh yes   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 17, 2009, 03:37:17 pm
A mate of mine described the trailer for Avatar as "Pocahontas in space" and despite having never seen pocahontas I suspect that's about right.

That's the thought I had. Visually fantastic, but I really do hope they take it easy on the whole thundercats-esque morale of the story shiz.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 17, 2009, 03:59:39 pm
A mate of mine described the trailer for Avatar as "Pocahontas in space" and despite having never seen pocahontas I suspect that's about right.

That's the thought I had. Visually fantastic, but I really do hope they take it easy on the whole thundercats-esque morale of the story shiz.

Maybe it's just me but visually fantastic?! :o It just looks like overdone CGI that makes it look like a computer game. I actually thought is was a trailer for a new computer game when I saw it. The missus and I both simultaniously said, "Well that looks shit".

Thankfully, the film I was there to see was Looking for Eric which was fantastic. The guy who played Eric was really good, as was Cantona. A real feel good film. Also watched Little Miss Sunshine on DVD which was very funny. Class acting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 17, 2009, 05:55:07 pm
Yeah that's what I mean Galiponus, I remember reading how they were trying revolutionary new CGI but, well, that CGI just looks like an amazing computer game rather than a realistic portrayal of sci-fi in a film....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 18, 2009, 02:05:29 pm
I agree. Looks like a bag of wank.

EDIT - Just read the synopsis and it also sounds like a bag of wank.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/synopsis (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/synopsis)

CLICHE ALERT!!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 18, 2009, 08:15:37 pm
Quite entertaining 10 min rant about '2012' from Kermode. Probably more entertaining than the film according to him. Mayo remains expressionless throughout.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/# (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/#)


(Can't seem to embed it)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 18, 2009, 08:54:56 pm
I agree. Looks like a bag of wank.

EDIT - Just read the synopsis and it also sounds like a bag of wank.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/synopsis (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/synopsis)

CLICHE ALERT!!!!

wanky, cliche ridden sci fi........... sounds just up my street  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 19, 2009, 12:37:26 pm
I'm with you lagers! Can't wait.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 19, 2009, 02:06:40 pm
I'm with you lagers! Can't wait.
:agree:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 19, 2009, 02:07:59 pm
I couldn't wait either, so went for a DVD and HD download  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 19, 2009, 04:37:58 pm
 :off:  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 25, 2009, 10:32:56 am
2012 -

Quite entertaining for a down-to-earth docu-drama  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 25, 2009, 10:45:15 am
2012 was awesome.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on November 25, 2009, 12:11:51 pm
Zombie Land.... Funniest film since the Hangover!
8.5 out of 10 chainsaws
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2009, 02:08:05 pm
2012 was awesome.   :thumbsup:

Glad someone else liked it! Cheesy but edge of the seat
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 25, 2009, 02:52:23 pm
She just liked it because that fucking little pampered rodent dog didn't get squished into a bloody pulp like it surely deserved...

Zombieland someone said?? Well it is zombie season again *goes to look it up*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2009, 03:11:40 pm
She just liked it because that fucking little pampered rodent dog didn't get squished into a bloody pulp like it surely deserved...

Zombieland someone said?? Well it is zombie season again *goes to look it up*

You just knew the dog wouldn't get it... and that the plastic surgeon & fat russian were for the chop  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 25, 2009, 03:40:42 pm
You just knew the dog wouldn't get it... and that the plastic surgeon & fat russian were for the chop  ;D

Shit TomTom. How about a spoiler alert?!  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 25, 2009, 03:54:42 pm
How about a spoiler alert?!  >:(

Yup. Way to go guys.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on November 25, 2009, 04:03:35 pm
Saw the new Coen brothers film "A Serious Man" at the weekend.  It was alright but neither my partner nor I thought it particularly notable.  Some really nice scenes, some neat irony but overall seemed to lack direction and narrative.  Maybe I missed the point but it didn't seem to be doing anything new or especially funny/deep/clever.  It probably didn't help that the hype had led us to expect something outstanding.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 25, 2009, 04:14:10 pm
You just knew the dog wouldn't get it... and that the plastic surgeon & fat russian were for the chop  ;D

Shit TomTom. How about a spoiler alert?!  >:(

From the reviews I've heard, if any of the plot surprises you, you're definately not the shapest tool in the box.

I was under the inpression it wasn't possible to give anything away it was so predictable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 25, 2009, 04:15:18 pm
Shit TomTom. How about a spoiler alert?!  >:(
Yeah cos you watch this sort of film for the convoluted plot, the intriguing story, the indepth characterisations, and the unexpected twists turns and surprise relevations.

Of which there isn't any, at all. It is entirely predictable cliche-by-numbers, with more cheese than the UKB Cheese On Toast thread. But hey, lots of things blow up, fall over, disintegrate, get crushed and swamped in it, which is enough. Actually, you want to complain about spoilers, the trailer spoils all the good bits of the film  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2009, 04:18:22 pm
You just knew the dog wouldn't get it... and that the plastic surgeon & fat russian were for the chop  ;D

Shit TomTom. How about a spoiler alert?!  >:(

From the reviews I've heard, if any of the plot surprises you, you're definately not the shapest tool in the box.

I was under the inpression it wasn't possible to give anything away it was so predictable.

Fiend's right - the sony advert before the film featured one of the action sequences - gits!

Sorry guys but trust me, I've not given ANYTHING remotely major away. This films like a glorified episode of casualty - they introduce all the characters at the beginning and you know one or two of them are going to bite it... There is a fairly large 'swerve' in the plot (you couldnt say it was a twist) towards the last 1/4.... my lips are sealed  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 25, 2009, 04:20:17 pm
There was a plot??  :-\


P.S. I will be looking forward to Avatar in a similar state of expectation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 25, 2009, 04:22:14 pm
There was a swerve?  I clearly missed that.  :lol:  I could have written it, really, there is nothing given away on this thread that you couldn't tell from about 5 minutes in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2009, 04:31:40 pm
There was a swerve?  I clearly missed that.  :lol:  I could have written it, really, there is nothing given away on this thread that you couldn't tell from about 5 minutes in.

I was referring to the bit where they constructed a giant nuclear bomb to explode in the earths core to increase gravity and stop all the problems by glueing the planet back together?  And the Bruce Willis cameo of course ;)    (shhh.. dont tell anyone)

(http://www.threedonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/bruce-willis-armageddon.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 25, 2009, 04:53:31 pm
Oh that swerve!  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on November 26, 2009, 11:23:05 am
Another vote here for Kenny (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/), some great lines in that film:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/quotes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822389/quotes) although they missed the "I drink beer like its about to come into fashion and I'm a trend setter"

Also watched the handover last night which although not great was pretty good and to be honest just the sort of thing I needed to watch last night
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 26, 2009, 11:25:32 am
That's one of the best quotes ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 27, 2009, 01:48:52 pm
http://www.bunnyandthebull.com/ (http://www.bunnyandthebull.com/)

Sounds intriguing, esp if you are a Boosh fan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 27, 2009, 07:59:36 pm
I couldn't sleep last night and at 3am I had had enough of The World Service and there was fuck all worth watching on telly.

Then I remembered my wife going on about how good Unleashed was - she'd recorded it, so I watched it.

Fucking ace  :thumbsup:

Jet Li, Bob Hoskins and Morgan Freeman

Good fight scenes and a very good story. I can't believe I hadn't watched it until now

Unleashed Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF0ShH6XtN8#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on November 30, 2009, 02:24:15 pm
tis a good film indeed, very brutal.
Bob hoskins is dynamite
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 03, 2009, 07:09:58 am
http://www.bunnyandthebull.com/ (http://www.bunnyandthebull.com/)

Sounds intriguing, esp if you are a Boosh fan.

Saw this last night and thought it was quite good (I'm not a massive Boosh fan).  Had me laughing through the first 2/3rds, but it kind of lost its way towards the end.  Worth watching though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 09, 2009, 04:37:42 pm
Re Avatar. (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/avatar-%27greatest-ever-film-with-blue-pretend-cat-people%27-200912092293/)

Quote
"Oh God. Blue cat people. What have I done?"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 09, 2009, 09:07:05 pm
Watched law abiding citizen the other day. Very good. In a predictable kind of way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 09, 2009, 10:02:59 pm
Re Avatar. (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/avatar-%27greatest-ever-film-with-blue-pretend-cat-people%27-200912092293/)

Quote
"Oh God. Blue cat people. What have I done?"
Quote from: that article
Office worker Tom Logan, who watched the trailer for Avatar during his lunch break, said: "Despite a lifetime of cultural conditioning to believe that massively expensive things are inherently good, I can honestly say the thought of spending three hours watching glorified Thundercats lobbing stones at robots makes me want to pull my foreskin up over my head and bark like a dog.

"That said, I'll probably still go and see it."
:lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on December 10, 2009, 12:37:42 pm
Tom Logan makes me want to see it more.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on December 14, 2009, 10:53:07 am
The Girl w/ The Dragon Tattoo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/)

Me likes.  Even in Hurdygurdy.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 18, 2009, 02:58:12 pm
James King just compared Avatar to Earthsong.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 18, 2009, 04:47:14 pm
James King just compared Avatar to Earthsong.

Dark Comode said it was baggy, predicable but surprisingly enjoyable - a spectacle...

He also liked Sherlock Holmes - which looked like a monstrous pile of turd from the trailers, so I might have a look at that over Xmas...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 18, 2009, 04:50:00 pm
Sherlock Holmes does look pretty flange. Some things should be ridiculous (2012, Avatar) and some shouldn't (Holmes).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2009, 12:25:17 am
Just watched the 2005 Dukes of Hazzard on ITV2. 3rd time I've seen it. Still good. Not in a cultural way, but still very good.

Actually, the deliberate contrasts to the original series make the whole thing pretty Cultural.

Jessica Simpson.... mmmmmm

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 19, 2009, 12:31:07 am
Just watched

Jessica Simpson.... mmmmmm

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2009, 12:36:41 am
And Willie Nelson  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 19, 2009, 12:41:07 am
What a formula! Jessica Simpson looking hot, fast cars, Willie Nelson telling Dad Jokes and Burt Reynolds in a big hat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 19, 2009, 01:07:16 am
nevermind that, just caught the last bit of aliens where ripley is fighting the alien with the robot loader. awesome scene
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 19, 2009, 01:30:42 am
I'd like to see Alien vs Avatar blue gay cat things vs Max Cady. Proper.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 19, 2009, 05:28:19 pm
I know it's been mentioned several times before but I saw In Bruges the other night. I expected it to be good, but not that good.  Almost the perfect black comedy.. brilliant!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on December 19, 2009, 06:22:51 pm
I know it's been mentioned several times before but I saw In Bruges the other night. I expected it to be good, but not that good.  Almost the perfect black comedy.. brilliant!
agree completely as I have probably said before. Talking about black comedy, glad to see Bad Santa got a showing last week, may have to dig out the DVD. surprised it got a terrible write up in the paper, its a modern day xmas classic!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 19, 2009, 08:56:15 pm
bad santa is indeed another very good film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on December 21, 2009, 03:12:11 pm
Saw Avatar last night, here goes...

BRILLIANT! Best film I've seen this year and I don't care what you all say!

Obvious? Yes very, but oh so involving and pretty.

It was the first film in ages that came out of feeling sad because I'll never get to see it for the first time again.

Bring the hate...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 21, 2009, 03:25:10 pm
I know it's been mentioned several times before but I saw In Bruges the other night. I expected it to be good, but not that good.  Almost the perfect black comedy.. brilliant!

I almost bought that yesterday but didn't* and I'm pretty sure I saw that In Bruges is on TV over xmas at some point so I shall be endeavoring to watch In Bruges next week (sorry futile searches revealed nothing as to when it was on, but will check the crappy tv mag my wife was reading last night when she told me this)

* got Park Chan-wook's I'm a Cyborg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_a_Cyborg,_But_That%27s_OK) instead after failing to stay awake enough to follow the subtitles when it was on TV earlier in the year, but what I managed to stay awake for was very good, worth checking out if you've not seen it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 21, 2009, 03:26:53 pm
I know it's been mentioned several times before but I saw In Bruges the other night. I expected it to be good, but not that good.  Almost the perfect black comedy.. brilliant!

 :agree:

Talking about black comedy, glad to see Bad Santa got a showing last week, may have to dig out the DVD. surprised it got a terrible write up in the paper, its a modern day xmas classic!

 :agree:

Watched Happy Go Lucky (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550371/) the other night. Very good. It's the usual Mike Leigh style but a bit more light hearted than the likes of Secrets & Lies.

Had some proper LOL moments and great acting particularly from Eddie Marsan as the mentalist driving instructor. Not a great deal happens but that's not really the point.

I liked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 22, 2009, 11:53:51 am
just rewatched Dead Presidents for the first time in over ten years
awesome movie - not always pleasent watching but awesome never the less
highly recommended for those who've never seen it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 22, 2009, 05:26:23 pm
been a good day for films - watched Beat Takeshi's Brother as well
highly recommended, well paced, cold blooded gangster tale with just enough humour/soul
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chappers on December 22, 2009, 08:17:07 pm
Saw Avatar last night, here goes...

BRILLIANT! Best film I've seen this year and I don't care what you all say!

Obvious? Yes very, but oh so involving and pretty.

It was the first film in ages that came out of feeling sad because I'll never get to see it for the first time again.

Bring the hate...

+1. loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on December 22, 2009, 09:42:28 pm
been a good day for films - watched Beat Takeshi's Brother as well
highly recommended, well paced, cold blooded gangster tale with just enough humour/soul

Sonatine and Hana Bi are two of my favourite films ever (and Violent Cop and Boiling Point are pretty good too). Surreal interludes, droll humour, explosive violence and Beat's twitchily, unpredictable performances.  Fantastic imagery too, especially his incredibly affecting use of static shots: he creates more impact with a still composition than most directors do with any amount of nausea inducing un-Steadicam bollocks.  Mind you, when that fails, he's not adverse to a chopstick through the eye or two.

By the way, anyone else seen the publicity for Guy Ritchie's new Sherlock Holmes film?  It fills me with the sinking sense that humankind probably deserves all the global warming eco-geddon it gets!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 23, 2009, 08:22:53 am

Does this mean your back reviewing films Moose? I hope so.

I was cringing at the TV ads fpr Sherlock Holmes but Kermode said it's the only Guy Ritchie film he's ever enjoyed so there's hope yet!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 23, 2009, 08:48:34 am

Does this mean your back reviewing films Moose? I hope so.

I was cringing at the TV ads fpr Sherlock Holmes but Kermode said it's the only Guy Ritchie film he's ever enjoyed so there's hope yet!

Indeed, Comodes review was almost gushing... Though I may have to wear glasses that black out when Jude Law appears on screen..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 23, 2009, 09:05:27 am
Good to have you back Moose...

I thought Sherlock Holmes looked good for a romp and didn't know it was 'turn gold into sh*t' Guy Ritchie in the the Directors chair.

Anyone in Manc up for Avatar 3D at the iMax in town over the next ten days?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Monolith on December 23, 2009, 07:03:49 pm
Finally just got to watch Berlin Calling. More than anything I'm amazed at how good an actor Paul Kalkbrenner was. Well worth a watch and for the record the OST he did for the film has some awesome tunes on it.

http://www.berlin-calling.de/en (http://www.berlin-calling.de/en)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bobling on December 31, 2009, 10:55:58 pm
Saw Avatar last night, here goes...

BRILLIANT! Best film I've seen this year and I don't care what you all say!

Obvious? Yes very, but oh so involving and pretty.

It was the first film in ages that came out of feeling sad because I'll never get to see it for the first time again.

Bring the hate...

Just saw this the 3D Version.  Oh. My. God.  Go and see the 3D version as soon as you can.
 :jaw:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on January 06, 2010, 09:41:13 pm
Wowsers. Just stumbled on this film, not sure if it's been recommended yet

http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/ (http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/)

Stallone, Stratham, Li, Lungren. Wow!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 06, 2010, 10:28:12 pm
Wowsers. Just stumbled on this film, not sure if it's been recommended yet

http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/ (http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/)

Stallone, Stratham, Li, Lungren. Wow!

Nice to see Arnie can still fit in some acting in between governating Cali.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 07, 2010, 08:24:42 am
Wowsers. Just stumbled on this film, not sure if it's been recommended yet

http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/ (http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/)

Stallone, Stratham, Li, Lungren. Wow!

Nice to see Arnie can still fit in some acting in between governating Cali.  :o

Arnie isn't in it is he?

Stallone seems to have broken his neck during filming.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 07, 2010, 08:54:15 am
Wowsers. Just stumbled on this film, not sure if it's been recommended yet

http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/ (http://www.theexpendablesmovie.net/)

Stallone, Stratham, Li, Lungren. Wow!

Nice to see Arnie can still fit in some acting in between governating Cali.

It's going so well (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/california-failing-state-debt) he deserves some time off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on January 11, 2010, 01:01:38 pm
Watched '44 inch chest' the other day, fucking brilliant! Great cast of British actors, John Hurt and Ian Mcshane were particularly excellent. I thought it was going to be a bit like Sexy Beast and in some ways it was, as in 'Get this, he's in a phone box only it's not a phone box it's her cunt...with teeth...no, no, pardon me, let's get this right, not teeth, dentures'. Unlike SB there isn't the gangster 'action' but this in no way detracts. Well worth seeking out and a good antidote to mindless CGI shit.

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0914837/ (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0914837/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 11, 2010, 01:11:52 pm
Got a lovefilm gift thing for crimbo and so have ordered a few films i might not ordinarily have gone to see. first up was the new star trek on saturday which i thought was pretty good. no remains of shatner thank god. even my julie enjoyed it. her plan A was to not enjoy it, plan B was to fall asleep, so she was pretty embarrassed when plan C occurred; staying awake and enjoying it.

hurt locker is next up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 11, 2010, 01:17:47 pm
Watched Gone Baby Gone on Friday evening.  If I remember rightly this got pulled from general release as it's about child abduction and happened to coincide with the disappearance of Madeleine Mcann and the girl in the film looks uncannily like here.  Anyway it's really good. Casey Affleck puts in a great performance and his elder brother has done a fine job for his first time in the Directors chair.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BenF on January 11, 2010, 02:28:13 pm
Saw The Road last friday night.  Tremendous film if rather harrowing.  Spoilt slightly by the couple of knobheads laughing at some upsetting moments, did they think they were watching an "ironic" Tarantino film or what?  Not much cheer throughout, but who'd expect anything different from it?  Really strong performances, good filming and a well put together "feel" from start to finish.  And plenty of food for thought too. 

Oh yeah, its a comment upon the clientelle rather than the film but one of the laughing idiots down the row from us also answered his phone midway through the film.  I despair.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on January 11, 2010, 03:51:55 pm
Saw Sherlock Holmes t'other day.

Actually remarkably good - I don't generally like Guy Ritchie films, especially for their propensity to encourage chavs from East London to think they are 'well 'ard gangstas' - but this was a good romp with quite a lot of faithfulness to the Sherlock Holmes opus (and I don't see any Victorians going around reckoning they are hard and starting fights).

They have really emphasised a couple of elements of Sherlock Holmes: (1) martial arts - Holmes was in the stories a keen amateur boxer and practitioner of 'baritsu' (early form of mixed martial art based on jujitsu). In the film he is pretty much a grade A bad-ass. As a martial arts fan the fight scenes are very good. (2) Holmes' eccentrity - interestingly he is portrayed at times almost as an autistic savant, although with a remarkable ability to make wisecracks.

Robert Downey Jnr is brilliant. I like him in every film now. Jude Law was almost bluff and bantersome, which makes a big change from twattish, effeminate and annoying which is my general perception of him. The relationship between them almost reminded me of Riggs and Murtagh (sp?) in the Lethal Weapon films.

The setting was atmospherically gothic; the story was the worst thing - went a bit Da Vinci Code with a secret society and black magic etc. Though this is not outside the Sherlock Holmes theme, it was quite badly done, and left us on a set-up for a sequel, which I hate.

However, on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed the film and would broadly recommend it if you tend to like action flicks.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on January 11, 2010, 03:58:14 pm
I thought Sherlock Holmes was pretty decent too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 11, 2010, 04:02:32 pm
(and I don't see any Victorians going around reckoning they are hard and starting fights).


With one notable exception:

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oa_dcpChg8Y/SYBmCwXqoII/AAAAAAAAASw/DSxde_eUAHM/s400/Gentleman+thug.jpg)

http://www.vizartwork.co.uk/raffles-at-the-fair-285-p.asp (http://www.vizartwork.co.uk/raffles-at-the-fair-285-p.asp)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffles,_Gentleman_Thug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffles,_Gentleman_Thug)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 12, 2010, 09:26:38 am
I'm ignoring Avatar.  No interest.




Let The Right One In,  a Swedish vampire film.  Exceptional, one of the very best in the genre.

Let the Right One In Official HD Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICp4g9p_rgo#)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 12, 2010, 09:35:46 am
That looks amazing.

I'm with you on Avatar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 12, 2010, 10:38:48 am
Saw LTROI earlier this year, was cool, go watch it while there's still loads of snow around.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 12, 2010, 11:13:02 am
LTROI is the best film I watched last year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 12, 2010, 11:34:49 am
I concur, awesome film.  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on January 12, 2010, 07:59:26 pm
Has someone mentioned this yet?

(http://insequential.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/moon-movie-poster.jpg)

Apologies if etc..   but it's fine, really fine.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on January 12, 2010, 08:01:46 pm
Yet again Houdini 'comes correct' with his film choices, LTROI is fantastic. The book is well worth reading too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 12, 2010, 10:08:37 pm
LTROI is fantastic. The book is well worth reading too.

I've only read the book, but thought the blend of horror and beauty was finely pitched. The violence is at times extreme, but never feels gratuitous.  Looking forward to the film.

I liked Sherlock Holmes too; its a bit like a wittier Bond movie with a tweed fetish. Guy Richie is still a twat though.

Don't know if its already been discussed but Encounters at the End of the World is fantastic, far more entertaining than a fairly serious documentary has any right to be.  Werner Herzog could probably direct romantic comedy and still be a genius.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on January 12, 2010, 10:23:18 pm
Don't know if its already been discussed but Encounters at the End of the World is fantastic, far more entertaining than a fairly serious documentary has any right to be.  Werner Herzog could probably direct romantic comedy and still be a genius.

Nice one Creamtime, caught this on More4. I enjoyed him quizzing the penguin expert about gay and deranged penguins in his comedy accent and the volcano scientists deadpan safety talk. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 13, 2010, 10:25:46 am
The Prestige - I FINALLY got around to seeing it the other week, and it was a rather classy film with a particularly good escalation of intensity. I do think it's value depends quite a bit on whether one has read the book (one of Christopher Priest's many excellent novels).  If one HAS read the book then it's a good film, if one HASN'T read the book then it's a great film, as it does rely quite a bit on the story (which isn't that much diluted AFAIK, and I forgot one of the twists anyway).


P.S. 2009 favs in order:

District 9
Watchmen
Let The Right One In

Can't think of any others?? Wanted to put TDK and Slumdog in but they're both 2008 IIRC??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on January 13, 2010, 10:49:33 am
Pretty behind the times, but I've recently discovered Hayao Miyazaki's anime films. For Christmas someone got me Princess Mononoke which is in my opinion is absolutely brilliant. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Mononoke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Mononoke)

Great story, eerily beautiful animation and soundtrack, all in all utterly transports you into the world of the film. I couldn't predict what was going to happen - at times it was pretty dark. I totally loved it.

My brother and I agreed that we could have watched it again immediately, which I think means it is a very good film.

Best films I saw in 2009 (though not necessarily OF 2009) were Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, District 9, No Country for Old Men.

Recently checked this list - which though I don't 100% agree with from the ones I have seen, I do think seems pretty good. Have added a lot of them to my Lovefilm list!

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-films-of-the-00s,35931/1/ (http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-films-of-the-00s,35931/1/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 13, 2010, 09:40:19 pm
Princess Mononoke which is in my opinion is absolutely brilliant.

Word. This is one of my favourite films full stop.  I think Japanese cinema seems to manage a degree of idealism and innocence that is currently absent from any Western films i can think of, without being horrifyingly sentimental. And its got cool demons.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 14, 2010, 11:25:12 am
I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night, quick spoiler alert: it's not a Bollywood version of Moulin Rouge / Mama Mia I was expecting, it is pretty good though, maybe more so as it came so out of left field compared to what I thought it would be like.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on January 14, 2010, 11:28:38 am
Saw Fifty Dead Men Walking last night, was very good i thought. It depicts the goings on in NI very well according to reviews.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097643/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097643/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 14, 2010, 11:43:11 am
I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night, quick spoiler alert: it's not a Bollywood version of Moulin Rouge / Mama Mia I was expecting, it is pretty good though, maybe more so as it came so out of left field compared to what I thought it would be like.  ;D

Safe. Saw it too for the first time last night and really enjoyed it. Wish I'd seen it at the flicks. Not what I was expecting either. Some of it was beautifully shot I thought.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ben on January 14, 2010, 11:59:55 am
bit of an old one, but saw 'the lives of others' last night. German film set in the former GDR, really good I thought.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 14, 2010, 03:01:52 pm
Wish I'd seen it at the flicks. Not what I was expecting either. Some of it was beautifully shot I thought.
Yeah, I bet it was awesome on the big screen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on January 16, 2010, 04:17:03 pm
Just finished watching Angel-A (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473753/) directed by Luc Besson.  Beautifully shot in Paris in black and white with an excellent subtly humorous story line about someone who's down on their luck and gets a little help sorting things out.  :great:

Must have been shot very early in the morning for the streets to be so clear!

Had the pleasure of viewing this treat of a film this week. Really well shot (only realised it was B&W half way through the film!) with a strong narrative that really draws you in with a couple of good twists along the way. One of Luc Besson better flicks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 16, 2010, 08:02:54 pm
I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night, quick spoiler alert: it's not a Bollywood version of Moulin Rouge / Mama Mia I was expecting, it is pretty good though, maybe more so as it came so out of left field compared to what I thought it would be like.  ;D

agreed on that, really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on January 17, 2010, 12:45:41 am
we just saw avatar in 3d.maybe the best film i ever saw.will see the road next week
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 17, 2010, 11:36:25 am
I watched The Road last w/end. A very different film.
Almost like reading a book! There is very little dialogue, instead it relies on very very good cinematography and superb acting to tell the sad tale. A pretty emotional film. 7/10

Last night I watched the Moon. Another very very good film with a simple but superb story. 9/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 17, 2010, 07:53:37 pm
Children of Men is on tonight
and that is an excellent film....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 17, 2010, 08:52:01 pm
Went to see Avatar 3D this afternoon. Visually stunning but extremely predictable and maybe should have been called Ferngully (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104254/) 3d instead?

The 3D tech made me feel a little nauseous to start with during some of the quicker action scenes but I think I settled into it about half way through. Colours, gunships etc. were fantastic but I didn't come out wowed by a film, more by the capabilities of animators these days.

Very long as well, is there any need its not as if the plot was deep.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 18, 2010, 09:38:57 am
Watched I'm a Cyborg, But thats OK (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497137/) over the weekend.

Funny and quirky, I really enjoyed it, and its beautifully shot.  :thumbsup:

Directed by Park Chan-wook (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/) of Oldboy/Sympathy for Mr/Lady Vengence.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 18, 2010, 11:44:05 am
Went to see Avatar 3D this afternoon. Visually stunning but extremely predictable and maybe should have been called Ferngully (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104254/) 3d instead?

The 3D tech made me feel a little nauseous to start with during some of the quicker action scenes but I think I settled into it about half way through. Colours, gunships etc. were fantastic but I didn't come out wowed by a film, more by the capabilities of animators these days.

Very long as well, is there any need its not as if the plot was deep.

wholeheartedly agree with this assessment.

I'm a bit bored of CGI to be honest, would much rather watch real actors "acting" (isn't that the point of the movies? I'm definitely with Cheeta on that score).

Sig Weaver's Avatar actually started me off in hysterics - looked like the big-breasted college girl version of her (that she wished she still was?).

The above review of the Road has me very interested. sounds much more like my kind of thing

edit: and i didn't think the 3d was that great tbh, like they hadn't made the most of it? 1 scene after the felling of the "home tree" (please...) where the ash was falling through the forest looked cool, but otherwise meh
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 18, 2010, 02:46:09 pm
Saw the road last night. Don't see what all the fuss is about. It's a bit of a Yawn fest really. I wasn't entertained and I emerged feeling miserable and genuinely concerned about the 14 I'd wasted on the tickets.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 19, 2010, 12:37:29 am
Daybreakers - i thought it was a flawed, but reasonably intelligent and very entertaining vampire movie.  Some great touches, and the vampire police state senario was nicely drawn.  Imagine blade runner meets blade meets bad taste with a bit of event horizon. There you go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 19, 2010, 09:15:08 am
Imagine blade runner meets blade meets bad taste with a bit of event horizon. There you go.
Gosh errr. Classic if weird cyberpunk meets overrated flashy nonsense meets hilarious gore meets a genuinely freak horror movie. Not sure what that adds up to but I think I'd check it out!

Edit: Sounds good from Rottentomatoes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 19, 2010, 10:17:49 am
Oooooh, another vampire film!  :bounce:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 19, 2010, 10:49:13 am
I wonder if I can find any Glasgow vampire fans who would be up for going...??  :whistle:

Althought it doesn't sound like Vampire Hollyoaks...  ::)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 19, 2010, 07:48:55 pm
what is it with birds and vampires? The wife is into all that shit, it starts with buffy, then moves onto angel and then keeps going
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 19, 2010, 10:29:41 pm
Fucking teen romance bollox... All polished young things with smouldering looks and no real blood and gore and trauma...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 20, 2010, 11:23:43 am

Gosh errr. Classic if weird cyberpunk meets overrated flashy nonsense meets hilarious gore meets a genuinely freak horror movie.
[/quote]

 ;D I'd just about go with that. Possibly with the addition of "entertaining in a trashy sort of way" to "overrated flashy nonsense" Its hardly classic, clever or really that memorable, but fun to watch like a good pub fight. Maybe you get enough of that in Glasgow anyway.

If its blood and gore you like daybreakers is for you. Its all over the walls, faces, being drunk, riots, decapitation .... Sam Neill's character's fate is a superb exercise in the 'lets see how nasty we can make it for the bad guy at the end' vein. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: john horscroft on January 20, 2010, 04:12:51 pm
Setting myself up for some piss taking here, but saw the new Clooney, Up In The Air.  Have to admit it was bloody good and Clooney can act............
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 20, 2010, 04:47:33 pm
Have you not seen O brother where art thou?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on January 20, 2010, 05:50:50 pm
Out of sight?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 20, 2010, 06:16:47 pm
out of mind?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 20, 2010, 11:07:58 pm
Just saw Chavatar. I thought it was pretty awesome in it's genre. It promises a cheesy soppy sci-fi spectacle and woe betide you if you expect anything else because it delivers pretty much the pinnacle of that in cinema so far. Basically lots of fancy shit, laid over an entirely generic story - you can't polish a turd but if you gild it enough you can make it look pretty damn cool.

I saw it in 3D at Imax which obviously means I got the full benefit of that fancy shit.

And yes I would bang the princess woman, and yes I want a hammer head rhinocerous.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on January 20, 2010, 11:25:06 pm
clooney is a damn good actor
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on January 21, 2010, 12:14:45 am
I recently enjoyed Sherlock Holmes  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 21, 2010, 01:54:41 pm
Have you not seen O brother where art thou?

Top movie that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: john horscroft on January 22, 2010, 10:29:11 am
Have you not seen O brother where art thou?

That's not acting, that's just mugging for the camera.............
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 22, 2010, 10:34:43 am
Watched The Hurt Locker last week. Really very good. Nicely shot, good acting, and a darker insight into a unsavoury war.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 31, 2010, 09:38:05 pm
saw Narc the other night. brilliant, gritty grim; ray liotta is awesome.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on January 31, 2010, 11:48:14 pm
Saw something which I haven't seen for a long time yesterday. A decent new film. Went to the flix to watch Un Prophete (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1235166/). Very gritty, very gruesome (but it wasn't mindless, like Tarantino), in fact, somewhat like a French "This is Britain".

9/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 01, 2010, 01:50:53 pm
Interview with Chris Morris prior to screening of Four Lions (http://festival.sundance.org/2010/news/article/qa_four_lions/)


Supposed to be seeing Un Prophet on Wednesday, sounds good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on February 01, 2010, 07:16:04 pm
It's very good. I'd recommend you pay attention to people's names, as (I was a bit tired so) I got a little bit lost about who was who, and how they related to the story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 02, 2010, 03:44:09 pm

Supposed to be seeing Un Prophet on Wednesday, sounds good.

Spoke to someone who saw this on Friday. Supposed to be amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 08, 2010, 04:00:54 pm
Saw Un Prophet last Wednesday as planned.  Good film, interesting story, thought it dragged itself out a bit towards the end.

(Barely) watched Awake on Saturday. Very slow to start with, got a bit more interesting towards the end.  I wouldn't bother going out of your way to see it though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 10, 2010, 09:58:55 pm
The Road - a perfect feel-good movie for a first date...  :-\

I think if I hadn't read the book I'd be pretty shell-shocked by this. Does it exactly what it says on the tin, an atmospheric and accurate translation of a bleak and gripping book, with only a few minor deviancies. Even having read the book, I still thought it was great, really well done. I found the book bleak, but the film more sad than bleak, there's a few scenes where if I hadn't been a big fat strong weak climber punter I'd have shed a few tears. Pretty serious stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on February 15, 2010, 09:35:07 pm
Invictus -  you know this is going to get a good review because its directed by the coolest man who has ever lived, well worth going to see though if i could change one thing it would be the musical score.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on February 15, 2010, 11:13:54 pm
Sherlock Holmes is pretty good, but not as good as L'ennemi public n1 and L'instinct de mort. Two gangster films about the life of France's most notorious criminal Jacques Mesrine.
Apprcier  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on February 16, 2010, 07:10:02 pm
Thought you'd enjoy it Eddies, if only to watch the awesome figure that is a Gerard Depardieu playing a fat, small time Godfather figure - genius! One of the best films of the year for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 19, 2010, 10:49:53 pm
Probably been mentioned before but Volver by Pedro Almodvar is really good.  Gentler and less in-your-face than the other admittedly few Almodvar films I've seen, Volver is a heartwarming story of two sisters, a daughter and mother circling each other getting to grips with big unresolved family secrets. It's funny, thought provoking, beautifully shot and Penelope Cruz is really good (and really fit).

8.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 22, 2010, 11:07:49 am
Saw Un Prophet last Wednesday as planned.  Good film, interesting story, thought it dragged itself out a bit towards the end.


Indeed; pity, it felt like it could've been a masterpiece otherwise. Really good film.

The Road = Great film except i woke up sweating in the middle of the night afterwards, not even joking. Not a pleasant popcorn film by any stretch.

Precious = a good, feel better(if not feel-good?) film. Actually i think I'd  love this film if not for Oprah, the hype, and the fact that i can't stand watching fat people eating junk food. Worth a watch, and a good one to watch with all the family, except for the kids.

Invictus = really good film, but as with "a prophet" not a masterpiece. Maybe I'm harsher on this because of expectations, but i think the people involved and the story behind the film demands greatness. It barely achieved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 23, 2010, 07:28:34 pm
Stuff I've seen recently

9 - ace
Nine - shite
Moon - lovely, quiet paced sci-fi
Legion - watched as far as the little old lady swearing and biting people and then had to attend to baby.
Crank: High Voltage - good, daft sequel to Crank with amusing swearing, fighting and sex. Have decided to model myself on Chev Chelios. Follows on from the first Crank, so worth watching that first (watch both in a row to get yourself fired up for sending big numbers)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 23, 2010, 09:29:44 pm
- of sleeping pills down you own neck.  :whistle:



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 24, 2010, 02:50:18 pm
What are you on about Stallion?

I forgot to mention Teeth (http://www.teethmovie.com/). Fucking weird teen movie about a bird with teeth in her vagina that bite fingers and cocks off. Different, but does involve sleeping pills at one point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 24, 2010, 04:06:50 pm
Sorry, I out-Transportered myself a while ago and the thought of watching both Cranks back to back gets my bile rising.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 24, 2010, 04:32:47 pm
Ah, I get you now. I'm the same way about Julie Andrews after too much Mary Poppins and Sound of Music.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bernard Jefferies on February 24, 2010, 04:38:43 pm
Stuff I've seen recently

9 - ace
Nine - shite
Moon - lovely, quiet paced sci-fi
Legion - watched as far as the little old lady swearing and biting people and then had to attend to baby.
Crank: High Voltage - good, daft sequel to Crank with amusing swearing, fighting and sex. Have decided to model myself on Chev Chelios. Follows on from the first Crank, so worth watching that first (watch both in a row to get yourself fired up for sending big numbers)

I watched Moon the other day too.  Not quite sure what to make of it to be honest.  I think the film is probably trying to address all sorts of issues.  Well filmed I thought for a low budget movie and Kevin Spacey is kinda creepy as the robot.

Also watched Burn After Reading (Coen brothers film).  As a fan of some of the Coen brothers films I was left a bit disappointed when it came to an end.  Almost seemed a bit unfinished.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 24, 2010, 09:15:38 pm
After enjoying Frostbitten last year I was moved to watch another Swedish vampire film Let The Right One In recently. Very good film, slightly marred by the use of crap actors for some of the English voice-overs. It did have a similar feel to Frostbitten (similar architecture and snowy streets in Sweden?). The film is based around the relationship between a human child and a vampire child - which is developed very well. By no means an action movie, the whole thing seems very believable. Nice
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 25, 2010, 09:49:04 am

Also watched Burn After Reading (Coen brothers film).  As a fan of some of the Coen brothers films I was left a bit disappointed when it came to an end.  Almost seemed a bit unfinished.

Yup. Felt the same.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 25, 2010, 10:04:36 am
Yup felt the same. Was.....vague.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 25, 2010, 10:13:33 am
I on the other hand thought it was excellent.

However the ending of the Prestige was rubbish and spoiled the film for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 25, 2010, 10:39:14 am
Boo hisssss!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 25, 2010, 10:54:54 am
I was expecting that. Don't get me wrong the rest of the film was excellent, but the end was silly as it changed the nature of the film from an interesting study of the obsessive nature of practitioners of the art of illusion to a sci-fi nonsense. If it was going to be sci-fi make believe it should have set out as such. It didn't, instead it provided insight into the ridiculous extremes people will go to in providing a "magic" experience. And then the final solution is some other worldy cloning flim-flam, a shame as it is otherwise splendid.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 25, 2010, 10:57:32 am
However the ending of the Prestige was rubbish and spoiled the film for me.
I wasn't that blown away either, and I am most annoyed that I have ruined the book for myself, as it IS meant to be really good.

Also, I have just realised about the cloning, I thought they were twins when I watched it.  I am RUBBISH. :lol:  :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 25, 2010, 10:59:07 am
i think the key words here are fictional film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 25, 2010, 11:03:09 am
You're right Jim, it was a story. But for me it had a weak ending which didn't deliver what the rest of the film promised.

Magpie I think (if I remember correctly) that one of the magicians was simply a twin (the one missing a finger) but the main character was cloning himself. I might be remembering it incorrectly though, it was a while ago.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 25, 2010, 11:10:03 am
No, let's stick with that version, Nik, that's what I thought too.  Machine for cloning, but set of twin magicians.  I feel better now, it too me long enough to get over the fact the whole film wasn't a CIA thriller like I expected, I don't need more confusion.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 25, 2010, 11:15:16 am
Where is the facepalm smiley?!

At least you knew what The Road was about  ;)

Nik and you are right, that is what happened.  I still thought it was great. And hey they cloned a kitty too!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 25, 2010, 11:23:09 am
so you thought it would of ended better when he went to jail and the credits should of started rolling?
i thought it was excellent
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 25, 2010, 11:38:51 am
No, I just thought the film lent itself to a practical (but outrageously complex) explanation of how he was doing the trick rather than spending the whole film debunking the "magic" and then at the end the big reveal is magic (OK cloning isn't magic, but instant cloning with "crazy electricity science" is all a bit Accapi for me).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 25, 2010, 12:35:13 pm
i refer you back to my first comment on this film :smile:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on February 25, 2010, 12:38:43 pm
but not as good as L'ennemi public n1 and L'instinct de mort. Two gangster films about the life of France's most notorious criminal Jacques Mesrine.
Apprcier  :thumbsup:

Agreed, very good. Preferred the first one out of the pair. Subtitles leave a bit to be desired!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on February 26, 2010, 09:20:28 am
butn after reading: turned it off after about 40 mins, like the actors, like the directors, the actual film was tedium incomparable
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on February 27, 2010, 07:28:23 pm
From Paris With Love. Tosh, but entertaining tosh!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 28, 2010, 10:31:55 pm
Just saw the new(ish) star trek and was v impressed for a star trek film. The gf likes it too.

As an aside, I'm assuming you all know imdb.com is great for populist reviews and finding out who played what when in what etc...

But if you want some really great professional (albeit artsy) reviews, check out http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/ (http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/) -- or better still subscribe to the mag, it's beautiful, interesting and makes really good coffee table material. Or even better, subscribe a friend as a present and then go nick it.

 :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 01, 2010, 03:20:14 pm
Finally watched Constantine on Saturday night. Rather tricky to follow at times but I really enjoyed it. Keanu can't act for shit but it doesn't matter in this. Hope rumours of a sequel are true.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Charles on March 01, 2010, 07:08:20 pm
Probably been mentioned before but Volver by Pedro Almodvar is really good.  Gentler and less in-your-face than the other admittedly few Almodvar films I've seen, Volver is a heartwarming story of two sisters, a daughter and mother circling each other getting to grips with big unresolved family secrets. It's funny, thought provoking, beautifully shot and Penelope Cruz is really good (and really fit).

8.5/10

Broken Embraces (latest from Almodovar) was really good as well, more in the vogue of Volver. I watched Matador shortly after and it does seem he's tamed somewhat over the years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 01, 2010, 08:37:40 pm
butn after reading: turned it off after about 40 mins, like the actors, like the directors, the actual film was tedium incomparable

We did the same thing. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 02, 2010, 09:24:21 am
Another vote here for District 9
great film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: john horscroft on March 02, 2010, 11:09:40 am
butn after reading: turned it off after about 40 mins, like the actors, like the directors, the actual film was tedium incomparable

Unusually for the Coen brothers, the plot's weak, weak, weak.  Therefore all the mugging and overacting just looks a bit desperate.  A real shame.......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 02, 2010, 12:16:06 pm
Thought District 9 poor Sci Fi, whatever message re: race they tried to convey felt crass and, no pun intended, skin deep.


Glad I leeched it & didn't go to the flix for this one.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 02, 2010, 10:11:51 pm
Hmmmpphhhh. Another vote for Jim here!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 03, 2010, 09:55:32 pm
Hmmmpphhhh. Another vote for Jim here!
:agree:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on March 04, 2010, 11:37:05 pm
Went to see Micmacs (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1149361/) tonight. Absolutely loved it. Very classically Jean-Pierre Jeunet, being filled with quirky humour, and beautifully ornate visuals. A somewhat serious start, and it's continued throughout the film, but not oppressively.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 07, 2010, 10:11:09 pm
now I know I'm a big softy but Stardust is on right now and it's my all time "family" film  :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 14, 2010, 08:43:34 pm
Watched In Bruges last night. Which, in agreement with others here, I thought was splendid...



...until the very end when it became a bit contrived. I liked the apparent randomness throughout the film and the ending tied up all the various story elements into one tidy bundle whereas a couple of loose strands would have been more befitting IMHO. But as hardly anyone seems to agree with me on this thread feel free to ignore me. Anyway I still think it was excellent overall, 8/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 14, 2010, 10:03:52 pm
Went to see Crazy Heart tonight with the 'rents. (Mother's day n all that :-[ )

Brilliant performance from Jeff Bridges and also Maggie Gyllenhall. Story is nothing new, but the acting made this film a cut above.

About an hour in I thought "mmm, I don't like country and I hope this film goes somewhere soon" but fear not, it all builds towards the end.

Very good, 9/10.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 14, 2010, 10:27:02 pm
Mesmer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110496/) 1994.  Written by Dennis Potter.

5.6/10 seems fair, as it's probably too eccentric for some.  Ties in w/ my scale, which is tough.  Rickman is great, 1st lead role IIRC.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 14, 2010, 10:43:39 pm
Very good, 9/10. 

Sort yr grading out, Fultonius.  Very good is not 9/10.  10/10 is perfection and unattainable, so one should never offer a 10.  9/10 is therefore stunning. That's not very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 15, 2010, 12:22:47 pm
...until the very end when it became a bit contrived. I liked the apparent randomness throughout the film and the ending tied up all the various story elements into one tidy bundle whereas a couple of loose strands would have been more befitting IMHO

No, I agree the ending was contrived and a bit daft, but thought the rest of the film more than made up for it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 16, 2010, 11:58:16 am
Very good, 9/10. 

Sort yr grading out, Fultonius.  Very good is not 9/10.  10/10 is perfection and unattainable, so one should never offer a 10.  9/10 is therefore stunning. That's not very good.

Appologies, I regrade at 7.5/10, due to the fact the film doesn't really cover any new ground.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 16, 2010, 12:03:34 pm
(awaiting overgrading backlash)  ::)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 16, 2010, 12:19:47 pm
I always said it was piss and that Fultonius was just inflating the grade to keep his sponsors happy. Disgraceful.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 16, 2010, 12:22:52 pm
With the new searchable posting rules it should be easy for us to search back and regrade any other films that Fultonius has claimed.


I regrade at 7.5/10, due to the fact the film doesn't really cover any new ground.

Is 7.5/10 the most that can be claimed for an eliminate?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 16, 2010, 12:39:55 pm
I'm sorry, i just was going for the ego-tick!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 18, 2010, 08:34:33 am
Watched "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" last night. Excellent film. Really enjoyed it. Graphic, shocking, funny and a good old murder mystery who-dun-it. 9.8/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on March 18, 2010, 09:21:01 am
Forgot to post about Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I also really enjoyed it, and was glad I hadn't read the book as the story line was really interesting and quite unusual in some ways.  Well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 19, 2010, 10:17:33 am
Interesting Greenaway interview. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/mar/18/peter-greenaway-nightwatching)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on March 19, 2010, 10:20:50 am
Watched Let The Right One In last week on my lovefilm ting. Really good and beautifully shot. Loved it. Got Watchmen to watch tonight while babbysitting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 19, 2010, 10:36:57 am
Word. Viking movies are really producing the goods of late.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 19, 2010, 11:07:59 am
I thought I'd already posted about this, but can't seem to find it. Now all I need to do is remember what I thought I'd written...

I watched Synecdoche, NY a couple of weeks ago. Liked it. That whole play within a play (and then a play within a play within a play)  thing appeals to me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 19, 2010, 11:11:48 am
Let The Right One In ... beautifully shot

I think they should make a coffee table book of the most interesting frames from the film. Could be a different take on the graphic novel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 19, 2010, 12:00:08 pm
Got Watchmen to watch tonight while babbysitting.

Don't expect too much. Or for it to follow the original story. Some good bits though. And PVC.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 19, 2010, 08:38:27 pm
I think it was well cool as comic book films go. Entertaining, stylish, and a couple of really intriguing characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 19, 2010, 09:49:23 pm
saw this a week or so ago - totally beautiful...
Origin Spirits of the Past  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493247/)
Origin - Spirits of the past trailier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kwpQG7k2zU#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 25, 2010, 10:22:15 pm
Shutter Island
Dire, what a waste of my life.
1/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 26, 2010, 09:46:30 am
Shitter Island
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 26, 2010, 11:50:12 am
I'm glad you've warned me off that as I thought it looked pretty good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on March 26, 2010, 02:36:38 pm
Thats a shame. I'll prob see it anyway, Marty being shit is bound to be better than 99% of all other films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 26, 2010, 06:39:44 pm
It has to be said that a fair number of people completely disagree with my opinions of films so you may like it.

I still think it's shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 26, 2010, 09:01:12 pm
After Cofes tip, thought it would be interesting to post my lovefilm list...
We only recently joined, so what am I missing? What should be on my list?

At home:
500 Days of Summer
 Vicky Cristina Barcelona

List:
The Hurt Locker            
An Education            
Cloverfield            
        Evan Almighty            
        Fish Tank            
        Forgetting Sarah Marshall            
        Ghost Town            
        In The Valley of Elah            
Lost In La Mancha            
        Milk            
        Night at the Museum 2 - Battle of the Sm...            
        Paranormal Activity            
        Sicko
Star Trek            
        The Fantastic Mr. Fox            
        The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus            
        The Wrestler            
        There Will Be Blood            
        Tropic Thunder            
        Wanted            
        Assassination of Jesse James by the Cowa...            
        Gran Torino            
        Sleep Furiously            
RESERVED
         Coraline   
         It's A Wonderful Life

Rented:
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men   
Up
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on March 26, 2010, 09:37:57 pm
I don't think you should be banned, Nik at Work, or thrashed to within an inch of your life, or merely called names - just that you should never be aloud to grade a film.

1/10?   Fuck off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 26, 2010, 09:50:05 pm
so what am I missing? What should be on my list?

You've got a pretty good list there and they'll keep you busy for some time yet.

This doesn't directly answer your question but what I did once I started running out of ideas of what to order I started checking lists like "100 best action movies" to find stuff I'd either never known about, forgotten about and missed or seen ages ago and would like to see again.

For example
Empires 500 greatest movies of all time (http://www.empireonline.com/500/1.asp)

Doing this brought to my attention the works of Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli which made it worth while.

Enjoy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 26, 2010, 10:11:16 pm
toby, we only joined recently as well.
Its well jackson I recon.
Definately need to get:
star trek
hurt locker
district 9
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 26, 2010, 10:44:12 pm
Houd you're probably right, it isn't a 1 as that would be truly terrible on an epic scale. I'll up my score to 2/10.

I still think it is complete shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 26, 2010, 10:59:59 pm
That's a great idea Platts, I'll check it out. So far not massively impressed with the Lovefilm website, I want it to do more Amazon like stuff, "you liked this so you'll probably like this..." recommendations etc. It may do this and I've not found it yet. District 9 is awesome, one of the few films I've seen in the cinema over the last couple of years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 26, 2010, 11:16:32 pm
I've not been to the cinema for years, everytime we get the opportunity, theres fuck all on worth watching.
There is recomendations, scroll further down.
I like the list idea, pot luck what you get unless you put on high priority.
Didn't like the idea to begin with but now I think its great
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on March 27, 2010, 12:48:04 am
been with tesco/lovefilm for ages now

definately recommend hurt locker...the mrs did say what was the point of it when it finished but she does like the twilight films.

recently had zombieland good different and funny in parts

got paranormal activity at the mo and fantastic mr fox on the way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 27, 2010, 11:53:15 am
yes, zombieland is very good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 06, 2010, 10:20:52 am
At 3.30am this morning I decided to accept the fact that I was losing my battle with insomnia. Ironically, a bit of go-ogling pointed me in the direction of Alex Rivera's Sleep Dealer.
A cracking bit of believable sci-fi. Most of it is in Mexican Spanish, so I watched it with subtitles, but this in no way detracted from getting sucked in to the plot. Nice steady paced story set in the context of the exploitation of Mexican people by the US and the way that the US conducts it's "anti-terror" wars (told you it was believable) in the near future. Not a big budget Hollywood spectacular by any means, but all the better for that (cost $2million).
I'll watch it again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on April 06, 2010, 10:32:44 am
After Cofes tip, thought it would be interesting to post my lovefilm list...
We only recently joined, so what am I missing? What should be on my list?

Recent views that I'd add word would be:

Let the right one in
Sideways
The Last King of Scotland
Juno

We've got District 9, 500 Days of Summer and Shifty due.

Also, have watched Flags of our Fathers, with Letters from Iwo Jima still to watch. But I have those on DVD so I'll lend you them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 06, 2010, 11:15:05 am
has brick (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0393109/) been mentioned on this thread before??
well worth a peek if you haven't seen it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on April 06, 2010, 01:17:17 pm
Do not, repeat DO NOT see Clash of the Titans, even if Zeus commands you. Utter tripe of the highest order.

A mindless patsiche of Gladiator and Lord of the Rings with terrible scripting, awful acting, and no character development . How this got made I will never know. It's a complete  insult to the original.

It cost us nearly 30 for two to see too because of the Inflated price for '3D' and the 3D glasses stealth tax. I feel like I've been well and truly bummed.

I notice that all the big franchises like shrek and toy story are lining up new film for 3D too. Is this what we're coming to? CG + 3D = no need for good films?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 06, 2010, 01:33:26 pm
Is this what we're coming to? CG + 3D = no need for good films?

Just go to independent cinemas like The Showroom (http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/) (Sheffield) or The Corner House (http://www.cornerhouse.org/) (Manchester) and check out the "World Cinema" offerings from the likes of Tartan (http://www.tartanvideo.com/default.asp).

On that note, went and saw Samson and Delilah (http://www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/samsonanddelilah) last Friday.  I thought it was pretty dam good, very well acted (although there is little dialog for large parts of it).  No doubt quite true of some situations in the outback.  Definitely going to have to get the soundtrack ( ;) ).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 08, 2010, 09:57:42 am


Saw Kickass with the missus last night....f**ing awesome. Original, energetic, cool, funny film, the nearest a mainstream film gets to being a cult movie. Maybe the best film I've seen in the last year. Check it.

Kick-Ass Movie Trailer - International Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y0AIzEnNVc&feature=related#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 10:26:49 am


Saw Kickass with the missus last night....f**ing awesome. Original, energetic, cool, funny film, the nearest a mainstream film gets to being a cult movie. Maybe the best film I've seen in the last year. Check it.



Thats likely because the director, Matthew Vaughn, made the film without any studio backing as none were willing to bankroll it.  This gave him the creative freedom to make the film he wanted.  The studios then became interested in it and offered to market/distribute it.  See interview with Vaughn (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22657).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 08, 2010, 10:33:39 am
Isn't the original comic / graphic novel by a Glaswegian? Really keen to see it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on April 08, 2010, 10:42:44 am
Don't bother w/ The Hurt Locker, really, it's for retards.

4/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 10:45:17 am
Isn't the original comic / graphic novel by a Glaswegian? Really keen to see it.

In linked article it says the script was written at the same time as comic book writer Mark Millar was writing the book.  A quick search leads to his Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Millar) entry which notes that he's Scottish and was born in Coatbridge, but is now resident in Glasgow.

 :-*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 08, 2010, 11:14:30 am


Saw Kickass with the missus last night....f**ing awesome. Original, energetic, cool, funny film, the nearest a mainstream film gets to being a cult movie. Maybe the best film I've seen in the last year. Check it.



Thats likely because the director, Matthew Vaughn, made the film without any studio backing as none were willing to bankroll it.  This gave him the creative freedom to make the film he wanted.  The studios then became interested in it and offered to market/distribute it.  See interview with Vaughn (http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=22657).

This is true, but being an independently produced film does not automatically give a 'cult feel' or 'cult status'. Example - The Hurt locker was made for less money and independently with great freedom for the director yet would hardly be construed as a 'cult movie'.

The reason IMHO for the films cult feel, is an accurate translation of an original comic to film (helped by a studio not sticking their beak in!). Not trying to be pedantic, but freedom to direct doesn't neccessarily give cult. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 11:25:37 am
Indeed "cult (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define%3A+cult)" (in this context of fad as oppossed to the religious connotation) depends on individual perspective, what I consider a cult (or cult like) and would choose to follow closely/be heavily interested in may be different from what you consider worthy of such status.

However, we do agree that freedom from interference by studio's does give great creative freedom which likely translated as a closer adaptation of the original story (although it probably helped that the film and book were written in close conjunction with each other, so it could well be that aspects of the film influenced the content of the "original" comic!).

It'll be a cult when there's a YouTube video of some fat kid in blue and yellow lycra waving a stick around.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 08, 2010, 11:42:08 am
Don't bother w/ The Hurt Locker, really, it's for retards.

4/10

I was expecting a lot from this - stupidly bought it on blu-ray to test out the new PS3 and was distinctly underwhelmed. Didn't really get the point of it all. Didn't find the characters all that engaging and the cinematography, scenes etc. were not as visually spectacular as I was expecting.

Maybe would go as low as 4/10, but it wouldn't get more than a point or two above that!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 08, 2010, 12:10:39 pm


It'll be a cult when there's a YouTube video of some fat kid in blue and yellow lycra waving a stick around.

 ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 08, 2010, 12:44:53 pm
Isn't the original comic / graphic novel by a Glaswegian? Really keen to see it.

In linked article it says the script was written at the same time as comic book writer Mark Millar was writing the book.  A quick search leads to his Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Millar) entry which notes that he's Scottish and was born in Coatbridge, but is now resident in Glasgow.

 :-*

Thank you Mr Logic. A simple "yes" would probably do me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 12:47:34 pm
Isn't the original comic / graphic novel by a Glaswegian? Really keen to see it.

In linked article it says the script was written at the same time as comic book writer Mark Millar was writing the book.  A quick search leads to his Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Millar) entry which notes that he's Scottish and was born in Coatbridge, but is now resident in Glasgow.

 :-*

Thank you Mr Logic. A simple "yes" would probably do me.

But what do you define as a "Glaswegian"?  Do you have to be born and bred, or just habiting?  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 08, 2010, 01:28:42 pm
You've got the pedantometer cranked up to 11 today haven't you?  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 01:42:10 pm
Currently entrenched in analysis, can't switch off  :wall:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on April 08, 2010, 01:43:23 pm
But what do you define as a "Glaswegian"?  Do you have to be born and bred, or just habiting?  :P

You have to born within the sound of a bar fight over heroine, don't you?  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamesD on April 08, 2010, 01:56:14 pm


Saw Kickass with the missus last night....f**ing awesome. Original, energetic, cool, funny film, the nearest a mainstream film gets to being a cult movie. Maybe the best film I've seen in the last year. Check it.

Kick-Ass Movie Trailer - International Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y0AIzEnNVc&feature=related#ws)

100% with you on that one, went to see it with the other halfs sister, and am going back to see it with my girl ASAP.

Amazing, brilliant, without a doubt a cult movie that will be watched for years to come :)

I hope they make a sequel that is equally brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2010, 01:57:00 pm
Heroine?  As in...

(http://ferdyonfilms.com/Mary%20Stevens%202.jpg) (http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=312)

 :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 08, 2010, 02:06:05 pm
I knew you wouldn't be able to resist!  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: vivahate on April 08, 2010, 02:17:35 pm
Don't bother w/ The Hurt Locker, really, it's for retards.

4/10

Totally agree, I couldn't believe how critics were hailing it as brilliant, honest portrayal of the war. It's not by a long shot. Generation Kill, the miniseries adaptation (by the guys that did The Wire) of Evan Wright's book detailing his 4 week stay with US Marines at the start of the Iraq war is leagues better.

I went to see Kick Ass the other night and for some reason didn't rate it as highly as I thought I might.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 08, 2010, 06:03:39 pm
But what do you define as a "Glaswegian"?  Do you have to be born and bred, or just habiting?  :P

You have to born within the sound of a bar fight over heroine, don't you?  ;)

That describes pretty much all urban scots.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on April 08, 2010, 09:02:46 pm
Just another vote for the awesome film Kick Ass - really tight script, the dialogue is spot and it has some truly hilarious moments in it. Anyone else pick up on the little references to Tarantino as well?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on April 09, 2010, 08:53:33 am
Just saw a trailer for Four Lions last night, looks pretty funny.
Four Lions Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGk2TojOd-4&feature=related#ws)
Trailer: Four Lions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdFnLGKIDsE#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 09, 2010, 09:17:38 am
Just another vote for the awesome film Kick Ass - really tight script, the dialogue is spot and it has some truly hilarious moments in it. Anyone else pick up on the little references to Tarantino as well?

We talking slicing to surf music, manga and ponytails. Word
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on April 11, 2010, 12:15:05 am
While you've all been enjoying kick ass I had the misfortune to sit through Shutter Island today.

Frankly, If I hadn't been taking my Nan for her 70-odd th birthday I would have walked out. The plot isn't that encaspulating, the twist is obvious all bar the last line from Di Caprio (shit performance from him as well, same charachter as in the bleeding Departed). Kingsley does his best to bring the film back to life but its too big a job for one man.

I counted ceiling tiles.  :wank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on April 11, 2010, 09:02:53 am
i was slightly disappointed with kick ass. the wife was definately not impressed when i was selling it over her choice of the blind side.... better than the watchmen tho.

recently had fantastic mister fox on dvd. now that was better. it was great to see stop action animation again
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 13, 2010, 09:37:18 am
Another vote for Kick-Ass. Really enjoyed it. When I wasn't laughing out loud I had a big smile on my face and not many films can do that for me (read miserable bastard). Good stuff.

Saw that top 4 lions trailer last night too. Looks great.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shark on April 21, 2010, 09:50:39 pm
Kick-ass is mega - the best film Tarantino never made
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on April 23, 2010, 12:06:28 am
Kick-ass is mega - the best film Tarantino never made
This. 2/3 Tarantino, 1/3 high school teenage angst film with more swearing and better dialogue. Didn't really know what to expect nor how it could actually be a half decent film, but it was great fun, just well done and very entertaining. Perfect example of a Daily Mail "No stars moral outrage decline of society" film that does just that, in a good way. The little girl is ace, as is the boss.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 23, 2010, 10:21:18 am
recently had fantastic mister fox on dvd. now that was better. it was great to see stop action animation again

Is it proper stop action tho'? I thoguh it was just CGI made to look like stop action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on April 23, 2010, 10:51:23 am
Perfect example of a Daily Mail "No stars moral outrage decline of society" film that does just that, in a good way. The little girl is ace, as is the boss.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-1262948/Kick-Ass-Dont-fooled-hype--This-crime-cinema-twisted-cynical-revels-abuse-childhood.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-1262948/Kick-Ass-Dont-fooled-hype--This-crime-cinema-twisted-cynical-revels-abuse-childhood.html)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on April 23, 2010, 11:11:41 am
Watched Michael Clayton last week. It's really very good, well written, rather understated and very nicely shot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 23, 2010, 11:49:05 am
Quote
This crime against cinema is twisted, cynical, and revels in the abuse of childhood
Now I really want to see it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 23, 2010, 12:00:52 pm
A fine example of a reverse barometer!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on April 23, 2010, 01:03:49 pm
Written by numbers bollocks m'lud...

Quote from: Frothing at mouth Daily Mail reviewer
...played, simplistically, for laughs by Nicolas Cage.

Thought it was a stock performance from Nicolas Cage actually.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 23, 2010, 01:36:02 pm
Quote
This crime against cinema is twisted, cynical, and revels in the abuse of childhood
Now I really want to see it.  :thumbsup:

Me too. That Mail spew is the cinema review version of Craggs' "Dire at every level" post.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on April 23, 2010, 01:59:41 pm
Unfortunately the review doesn't entirely hit the mark. The casual glorification of underage violence and swearing is spot on, but there really aren't ANY sexual overtones whatsoever in the wee heroine's performance. Which is a good thing in a good film, I feel - she is cool as a cheery but down-to-earth 11yr old psychopath casually slaughtering people with foul-mouthed glee* rather than a misplaced object of lust.


* obviously I can see how this might be a role model for some, well, one UKB viewer  :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 23, 2010, 02:09:25 pm
Sounds like what my eldest daughter is heading towards - except that she wants to be a gothy punk rock country star at the same time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 23, 2010, 02:32:38 pm
Your daughter sound cool, Lagers.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on May 02, 2010, 10:56:30 am
considering the weather down here in the grim south it's a TV morning, wel it wasn't going to be I was goin to find something "constructive" to do but Charae is on the TV and it really is a fantastic movie  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 03, 2010, 07:06:59 pm
The best thing about Tarantino, is that the slimey worm will be dead within a generation.




Dreadful evening here, trying to find one film that will hold the imagination for longer than 30 minutes; many failures not necessary to list ...   

Finding LEGION pretty good though, really fine pensioner goes whack and writhes around the ceiling, lubricated in PURE EVIL-moment, very Exorcist.  Recommended.



LEGION Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_y-VxF_4tE#ws)


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 03, 2010, 07:17:19 pm
Ah, Houdini. while you're online you may be able to help (though it could be a long shot)... watched a good looking film (entirely in German) last night (in Wien at the moment) and it was about a prisoner who was let out of Dachau (for some reason) to go back to his native luxembourg and there some SS tried to get him to do something which he wouldnt.. the main characters name was Kramer... any ideas? Would like to find a subtitled version upon return to blighty...
T
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 03, 2010, 07:25:13 pm
Vague, man.




Check the listings and hit imdb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 03, 2010, 07:36:19 pm
Vague, man

Check the listings and hit imdb.

Bingo (should rtfm..) "Mut in Zeiten der Angst" might be a crock of shit but looked strong...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 03, 2010, 08:37:41 pm
btw Legion is not so good, not even for Catholics
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 03, 2010, 10:20:49 pm
Surrogates.


w/ Bruce Willis (don't let that stop you, it's a cool premise for a film).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 04, 2010, 03:03:30 pm
Watched 2012 last night. Its wonk. Seen one disaster movie etc etc.

Anybody seen Passion of the Christ? Its in the library and I'm watching it next time theres fuck all else in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 04, 2010, 05:32:16 pm
Supposed to be like pulling teeth unless you're a Flying Teapot botherer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 04, 2010, 05:34:22 pm
NIght at the museum II it is then.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 10, 2010, 05:05:07 pm
Four Lions is very good. Relentlessly funny as you might expect, but surprisingly inoffensive. Almost all is set and filmed in Sheffield, even the bits that are supposed to be in London. Recommend you watch it at Meadowhall to get the full effect from the opening shot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 10, 2010, 05:12:15 pm
Watched The Damn United last night. Good little film that really captures the madness / genius of Clough. Great cast and the football scenes (which usually ruin these type of films) were actually pretty well done.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on May 10, 2010, 05:13:35 pm
NIght at the museum II it is then.

brilliant film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 10, 2010, 09:53:25 pm
Night at the Museum II was out. The passion of the Christ was actually alright........bit of a shit story though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Houdini on May 17, 2010, 10:08:34 am
http://www.bigriverman.com/ (http://www.bigriverman.com/)

In February 2007 Martin Strel began an insane attempt to be the first person to swim the entire length of the world's most dangerous river, the mighty Amazon. Martin is an endurance swimmer from Slovenia, who swims rivers - the Mississippi, the Danube and the Yangtze to date - to highlight their pollution to the world. Martin is also a rather overweight, horseburger loving Slovenian in his fifties who drinks two bottles of red wine a day... even when swimming.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 22, 2010, 12:01:30 pm
Saw Robin Hood on thursday night.  :yawn:

It was OK, but dragged a bit, and had levels of character development reminiscent of the Star Wars prequals. Probably OK on DVD though a bit long...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 26, 2010, 09:40:49 am
How good is Kick Ass?!  :bow:

Not really what I was expecting AT ALL but still excellent, loved the soundtrack too.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 26, 2010, 10:32:43 am
Paranormal Activity - Yawn, not scary in the slightest, was wishing for both of them to die within minutes.  Worse than Blair Witch and that was utter shite. 

The Men Who Stare at Goats - Rubbish & really boring.

Broken Embraces - Superb, brilliant, compelling filmmaking from Pedro Aldomovar and I love Penelope Cruz ( :kiss1:).

The Hurt Locker - Like Jarhead II, didn't do much for me at all.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on May 26, 2010, 10:38:28 am

The Hurt Locker - Like Jarhead II, didn't do much for me at all.

thought it was just me, i was remarkably unimpressed by the hurt locker also.


Cheers
Tim
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 26, 2010, 03:28:13 pm
The Men Who Stare at Goats - Rubbish & really boring.

The book was log too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 26, 2010, 04:35:42 pm
Paranormal Activity - Yawn, not scary in the slightest, was wishing for both of them to die within minutes.  Worse than Blair Witch and that was utter shite. 


Glad you warned me off this as was looking at getting it from the library the other day. I also thought Blair Witch was total wank.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 28, 2010, 10:11:15 pm
Ninja Assassin.  Highly entertaining ridiculously over the top bloodthirsty gore fest with tongue firmly in cheek  :thumbsup: Watch in HD if possible.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bigd942 on May 29, 2010, 11:34:57 pm
girl with the dragon tattoo - really good movie, good story, well shot with good actors, see it now before hollywood ruin it for you.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hongkongstuey on June 01, 2010, 06:40:11 am
girl with the dragon tattoo - really good movie, good story, well shot with good actors, see it now before hollywood ruin it for you.

really good trilogy of books too - shame the author has popped his clogs and won't be producing any more stories....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on June 02, 2010, 12:02:24 am
we watched mesrine tother night.a 2 dvd french gangster flick set in the 50s to late 70s.came from love film.the wife and i agreed best thing we seen in years
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Richie Crouch on June 03, 2010, 09:33:51 am
The Terry Pratchett 2 parter that was on Sky 1 over last Sunday & Monday - Going Postal was excellent. I think it is due to be released on DVD in short time, so if you are a fan of his books, you will no doubt enjoy this film adaption too  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 03, 2010, 10:26:37 am
I saw Sex and the City 2 last night, just in case any of you were in any doubt at all, you DO NOT want to see this film, ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 03, 2010, 10:43:00 am
I saw Sex and the City 2 last night, just in case any of you were in any doubt at all, you DO NOT want to see this film, ever.

Can I show this to someone who wants me to go see it with them?

I have offered to babysit instead.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 03, 2010, 11:26:43 am
You not only can, you should.  You'll hate it Chris, I would have been hideously uncomfortable had I made a man go and watch it, really.  It's OK for girls cause the shoes and clothes are really great and there are odd funny bits in it but really no straight, sensible man should be put through it.  :(

The story is pretty gash, it's really disrespectful in places and about 95% of the characters are hideous.  That's before getting into all the awful stereotypes and assumptions about women.  In hindsight I think it was only the fashion that kept me going for 146 minutes*.  :lol:

*That's 146 minutes of film, after the 40 minutes of adverts and trailers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 03, 2010, 11:29:51 am
Mrs FD went lasty night when I was safely a few hundred miles away (phew).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on June 03, 2010, 11:35:33 am
watched once were warriors this morning
not exactly an enjoyable viewing but certainly worthwhile
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 03, 2010, 11:51:43 am
watched once were warriors this morning
not exactly an enjoyable viewing but certainly worthwhile

Great film, but as you say not really feel good one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 03, 2010, 02:41:16 pm

*That's 146 minutes of film, after the 40 minutes of adverts and trailers.

From what I've seen about the outrageous amount of product placement it's more like 186 mins of adverts non?

I'm so glad my Mrs isn't into any of this shit. SATC / Glee / Mama Mia etc all passes me by in a blissfully ignorant haze, punctured only by the odd horrific soundbite on the radio or when I fail to pick up the Sky+ remote quickly enough to fast forward a trailer or song on some music channel (panic!).

To be forced to sit though an entire episode or (God help them) film must be the equivalent of waterboarding to most sane / straight / conscious men. I mean it's not even as if the women are attractive enough to just stare at while trying to block out the inane drivel they're speaking.

Unless you have a thing for horses of course:

http://sarahjessicaparkerlookslikeahorse.com/ (http://sarahjessicaparkerlookslikeahorse.com/)

(http://sarahjessicaparkerlookslikeahorse.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/151.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on June 03, 2010, 02:53:08 pm
http://www.youtube.com/v/uHeQeHstrsc&hl=en_GB&fs=1&

On a more positive note, i found Unthinkable (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914863/) interesting if a little predictable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 03, 2010, 05:12:57 pm
Really enjoyed watching the Machinist last night (on Film4 will no doubt be on for the next fortnight).

Christian Bale certainly was dedicated to allow himself to get to that level of starvation. He looked horrendous.

Unfortunately I doubt I'll escape SATC2. I'll make sure to take some cheap hayfever tablets that I tend to only favour using before very boring meetings.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 03, 2010, 05:27:35 pm
 :boohoo: the unluckiest man on UKB lives up to his rep.  :)

(are you seriously going to have to go? If so I hope you get a <insert wished for sexual favour> in return!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 03, 2010, 05:33:22 pm
There I was thinking your luck had changed.
 :'(

Sneak a hip flask of Absynthe overproof rum meths in, vomit all over the cinema aisle and have to be rushed to A&E? Surely a night in the Northern Gen is preferable.

The Machinist is a top film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 03, 2010, 05:37:47 pm
The Terry Pratchett 2 parter that was on Sky 1 over last Sunday & Monday - Going Postal was excellent. I think it is due to be released on DVD in short time, so if you are a fan of his books, you will no doubt enjoy this film adaption too  :thumbsup:

Really looking forward to this once i can get hold of it, am reading the books at the mo. The early ones are fairly amusing but can get a bit repetitive, while the later ones are often more like genuinely good writing.


Saw Lebanon yesterday. Prob 10/10 if your job involves being in a tank. Standard relatively traumatic look at war in the middle east, but on an extremely macro level. Dragged a bit in the middle. If you're going to be arty, serious, and avoid humour and hollywood tricks etc, you have to be a bit more engaging than this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on June 12, 2010, 09:36:29 am
Watched this last night;

(http://alanyanai.com/fishtank1.jpg)

If you like gritty British films, flinching story lines, escapism, fucked up characters and outstanding debut acting (Katie Jarvis was talent spotted having an argument with her boyfriend) then this for you. One of the better films I've seen of recent months.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on June 15, 2010, 10:42:44 am
Just watched the A-Team. Was brilliant. Some of the scenes were a bit far fetched to say the least. Very watchable. Not quite sure what makes it brilliant, maybe just because its the A-Team!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on June 15, 2010, 01:55:00 pm
Finally saw District 9 the other night. Brilliant. Couldn't get enough of the main guy saying 'fuck'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 23, 2010, 12:49:31 pm
This film looks like it will be quite intersting.  180 South (http://www.180south.com/)
180 South - Official Movie Trailer 2010 [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWBz_pxYC0A#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 23, 2010, 11:55:28 pm
Watched this last night;

[fish tank]

If you like gritty British films, flinching story lines, escapism, fucked up characters and outstanding debut acting (Katie Jarvis was talent spotted having an argument with her boyfriend) then this for you. One of the better films I've seen of recent months.

Indeed, well worth a watch, though you might want to drink heavily afterwards so you forget it. Good british cinema!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on June 25, 2010, 08:40:54 pm
Watched 'Pulling John' the other night. A documentary about arm wrestling and the legendary John Brzenk. Good on several levels, I particularly enjoyed comparing the humility of the two main challengers to the Brzenk thrown.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on June 26, 2010, 05:07:25 pm
I fully expect a spanking down for this but...

I saw Let The Right One In last night and was underwhelmed. Maybe I expected too much from the high praise it received here but it was just OK. Sorry.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 29, 2010, 09:53:42 am
Did you watch it at home?  I definitely think it added something for me watching it on the big screen in a half empty cinema, I'm not sure it would be the same watched in my living room at home.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 29, 2010, 10:32:44 am
finally got round to seeing "an education" last night. Very good, and very watchable, although if i'm going to be critical i'd say that i wished the deuteragonist was revealed as a more (realistic) complex character rather than the stereotype we're given...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 29, 2010, 05:11:35 pm
oh, i should probably say "an education" was a film to watch with the other half

Leaves of Grass get a big recommendation from me. Loved it, and it's one of those i'm guessing most people haven't seen. Great drama, some good dark humour, and not the infantile weed film i was worried it might be.

Edward Norton gives almost as good a performance as in Fight Club.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 29, 2010, 06:15:32 pm
I fully expect a spanking down for this but...

I saw Let The Right One In last night and was underwhelmed. Maybe I expected too much from the high praise it received here but it was just OK. Sorry.

I read last week it was receiving the Hollywood remake treatment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chummer on June 29, 2010, 07:15:32 pm
'This is England', by Shane Meadows (2006), brilliant I reckon, well worth a watch...particularly for all the 30/40 somethings out there..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on June 29, 2010, 09:10:20 pm
'This is England', by Shane Meadows (2006), brilliant I reckon, well worth a watch...particularly for all the 30/40 somethings out there..

You should deffo check out Somers town next
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1650197785/ (http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1650197785/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chummer on June 30, 2010, 06:37:42 pm
 :thumbsup: Already have! A fantastic film, fully recommended. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on July 01, 2010, 09:34:48 am
Got round to watching 'Shutter Island' the other day, highly recommended. A detective (DiCaprio) is brought in to investigates a missing person on an island hospital for the criminally insane.

Also watched 'The Maiden Heist'. A film about 3 art gallery security guards who have each fallen in love with a work of art and plan to steal them when they find out that the pieces will be moved to a museum in Denmark. An enjoyable feel-good comedy with Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William Masey.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 01, 2010, 05:53:04 pm
Got round to watching 'Shutter Island' the other day, highly recommended. A detective (DiCaprio) is brought in to investigates a missing person on an island hospital for the criminally insane.

Are you kidding?
Shutter island IMO was decidedly average. Wooden acting by Di Caprio (lifted straight out of the departed into a different role not that he'd noticed). The plot seems fairly apparent throughout and I ended up so bored I counted ceiling tiles.
If I hadn't taken my Nan (she usually goes for Seagal movies, I'm not kidding) I would have walked out.

Oh and I did get dragged to see SATC2. I suggested Nat went with a freind. Somehow this evolved into a double date scenario (cringeworthy already), which got worse and worse. She apologised after 10 mins in and said she'd have walked out if we didn't have company (who worringly enjoyed it, in fact the other girl had seen it before).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 01, 2010, 06:00:28 pm
Tell Nat she must never contact these people again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 01, 2010, 06:04:14 pm
Tell Nat she must never contact these people again.

The thing is we both got smashed beforehand (or at least I did, PIMMS'o'clock came early) thinking that might make it bareable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 01, 2010, 11:39:21 pm
You must have forgotten to nod off in an alcohol induced slumber when the trailers were running.

Works for me, I slept through most of Flashdance Musical at the Lyceum much to my wife's chagrin.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: iain on July 02, 2010, 08:56:26 am

Watched Micmacs last night, (same guy that did Delicatessen and Amelie) and thought it was whimsical and brilliant.

finally got round to seeing "an education" last night. Very good, and very watchable, although if i'm going to be critical i'd say that i wished the deuteragonist was revealed as a more (realistic) complex character rather than the stereotype we're given...

Saw this recently too and really enjoyed it despite being very sceptical from the description.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 02, 2010, 02:55:25 pm
Not a film, but I watched the whole series of Spartacus: Blood and Sand last week. It would have been more appropriately named Spartacus: Blood and Sex and More Blood. A bit like 300, but with a more personal edge to the violence and a lot more shagging and deception. John Hannah is very good as a scheming Roman and Lucy Lawless is great as his nasty wife (didn't realise it was her 'till the credits).
Definitely not family viewing. Nice to see good use of the word "cunt" for a change.
13 hours well spent if you like that sort of thing. Pisses all over shiny Hollywood "action" films.

edit:
I should also add that it is probably not very historically accurate, despite the makers using "historical accuracy" as an excuse for loads of grimness and violence.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy B on July 02, 2010, 05:00:59 pm
This may have been mentioned before, but we watched Dancer In The Dark a few nights ago. I'm not keen on Bjork's music, and fucking hate musicals but this is one of the best films I have ever seen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 07, 2010, 07:15:56 pm
Daybreakers - cool film, good antidote to the cheesey soppy angsty teenage girl smouldering look bollox vampire romance pr0n bullshit that's saturating the film market at the moment. Really well set-up premise, lots of cool touches, first half is great, tails off a bit and the ending is a bit weak, but good stuff. Could have gone a lot further I reckon, into the settings and general vibe and made a real classic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on July 07, 2010, 10:19:56 pm
Enjoyed Lymelife today (at showroom - what a great cinema!)

I spent the whole film switching between grinning and grimacing, as well as once or twice getting worryingly turned on.
Also worrying, is that it appears the Culkins can act, especially the littl'un. Great little indie american and impressively-small-budget film.
Improves with retrospect too i think, would watch it again now i know what to expect.

Anyone seen "Whatever Works"?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Critchlow on July 08, 2010, 12:14:00 pm
The Book Of Eli

Very very good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on July 10, 2010, 10:47:29 pm
The Book Of Eli

Very very good

Agreed. Tad slow in places. Anyone else notice all the Oakley branding on stuff? Sunglasses, bag, jacket.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Critchlow on July 12, 2010, 01:53:03 pm
Crikey your not wrong !

do you think it might be a sponsor ?  :lol:

hope your well Adam btw !
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on July 19, 2010, 11:11:38 am
Inception. Do it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 19, 2010, 11:24:22 am
Quite psyched for that, trailers look great. Is Leonardo de Ladyboy good, I find him irrirtating sometimes?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on July 19, 2010, 11:38:37 am
I'm normally hating on Leo but he doesn't spoil this at all
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Percy B on July 19, 2010, 09:50:29 pm
One Day Removals.

Semi-unintelligible Aberdeen accents, and a slowish 10 minutes, followed by an awesome low-budget film. I liked it....

but then I liked Bubba Ho'Tep too....which is also awesome!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 21, 2010, 01:12:51 pm
Inception... Great film, does exactly what it promises, although the mad curving city shit is negligible. Like TDK it's an action crime thriller dressed up as (sort of) sci-fi, and it does that very well. The action is pretty average but the concept and the set-ups and dicking around with dreams within dreams are all very cool, I particularly like the "timings" aspect.

TBH I think a film doesn't really do the idea justice and it could easily be longer and more indepth, particularly with the background to both the dream-tinkerers (what context do they exist in) and their targets.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 21, 2010, 01:34:48 pm
TDK?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on July 21, 2010, 01:39:42 pm
The Dark Knight.

I'm not sure I agree that it could have been longer, it's already over 2 hours, I' sure he wrote more in the 10 years it took him to come up with the script, but blockbusters can't be too bloated!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 21, 2010, 02:27:25 pm
The Dark Knight.


Ah
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 21, 2010, 02:44:58 pm
I was thinking...

(http://www.universalinfoshop.com.br/sas/fotos/tdk.gif)

On the topic of acronyms, they fucking piss me off, people use them because they think its quicker and easier, but there is an implicit assumpation (demonstrated here, and not having a personal dig fiend) that those who are reading/hearing the acronym actually know what it is (sometimes out of a multitude of possibilities).  As with txt-speak it places an onus on the recipient to decipher the acronym on the fly (which may not be possible).  Language has developed for a reason, because it aids communication and the understanding of each other, these days it seems we're moving backwards with the increasing use of acronyms. Its rife here at work where people can trot off whole sentences with acronyms conjugated together and no real words.   FFS  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 21, 2010, 03:03:37 pm
Old cassettes was the only thing I could think of. Glad I'm not the only old skooler.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ferrito on July 21, 2010, 11:03:53 pm
Just watched Sin Nombre after hearing only good things about it. Didn't disappoint. Gangsters, immigrants and a train journey would sort of sum it up. Oh, and a Ford Ka.

Brilliant film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 22, 2010, 12:50:10 pm
Inception. Do it.

What Stubbsy said...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on August 06, 2010, 11:56:56 am
Watched Thirst (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/) the other night.
Highly recomended
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on August 06, 2010, 12:00:53 pm
Watched Thirst (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/) the other night.
Highly recomended

 :thumbsup: Excellent, will seek that out, I've liked most of Chan-wook Park's films so far.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on August 06, 2010, 12:11:25 pm
Just rewatched Factotum (charles bukowski novel) and remembered how much I'd liked it, it's on BBC 2 iPlayer at the moment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on August 09, 2010, 08:34:56 am
My recent sojurn down under gave me the chance to catch up on some inflight movies... they included:

The Green Zone - Good, not brilliant but good...

The Loft. Pretty good Belgian murder mystery about a group of men who buy a swanky loft apartment where they can take their extra marital affairs etc... until a body turns up there.. Never seen a Belgian film I can remember - but this was really good. Well worth a DVD watching punt if you dont mind subtitles...

Gattaca. Interesting and fairly good sci-fi thriller thingy - not bad despite having Jude Law in it...

Kick Ass. Great film - as previous posts on here say....

Hurt Locker - really good - not in a 'shit that was amazing' kind of way  - more that creeping making you think about it afterwards type of goodness..

The Castle. If you're Australian you'll know all about this. Its one for the pool room...  If not, its hard to describe but kind of an Australian version of the Royal family - except its not... really really funny... if you liked Kenny - you'll love this one but it takes a bit of time to get into the humour..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on August 09, 2010, 01:54:20 pm
Just rewatched Factotum (charles bukowski novel) and remembered how much I'd liked it, it's on BBC 2 iPlayer at the moment.

I've read the book, but am a bit nervous about watching the film incase it ruins the book for me. Do you think that is likely or is the film quite faithful to the book?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on August 09, 2010, 04:10:42 pm
Never seen a Belgian film I can remember

have a watch of Man Bites Dog - it's quite memorable
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: InsanityWolf on August 10, 2010, 03:38:52 am
have a watch of Man Bites Dog - it's quite memorable


awesome film! crazy belgians.


just saw Ip Man 1 and Ip Man 2 (Electric Boogaloo). If you like Kung Fu films with huge amounts of ass kicking they're a good watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saintlade on August 10, 2010, 03:12:16 pm
Just rewatched Factotum (charles bukowski novel) and remembered how much I'd liked it, it's on BBC 2 iPlayer at the moment.

I've read the book, but am a bit nervous about watching the film incase it ruins the book for me. Do you think that is likely or is the film quite faithful to the book?

To be honest don't remember much of Factotum, it's semi autobiographical  so not as out there as some of his stuff e.g pulp. I thought the film was quite good and captured certainly a sense of Bukowski's style.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on August 10, 2010, 03:34:30 pm
Just rewatched Factotum (charles bukowski novel) and remembered how much I'd liked it, it's on BBC 2 iPlayer at the moment.

I've read the book, but am a bit nervous about watching the film incase it ruins the book for me. Do you think that is likely or is the film quite faithful to the book?

To be honest don't remember much of Factotum, it's semi autobiographical  so not as out there as some of his stuff e.g pulp. I thought the film was quite good and captured certainly a sense of Bukowski's style.

Cheers, I'll take the plunge and report back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drew on August 13, 2010, 12:32:06 am
'This is England', by Shane Meadows (2006), brilliant I reckon, well worth a watch...particularly for all the 30/40 somethings out there..

Just seen an advert for "This is England '86" (http://www.channel4.com/microsites/T/thisisengland86/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on August 13, 2010, 08:41:32 am
Just seen an advert for "This is England '86" (http://www.channel4.com/microsites/T/thisisengland86/)

I've just watched that trailer and the be honest, it looks fucking terrible. Just a load of the worst type loutish, football chav behaviour cobbled together. I would rather sandpaper my nuts than watch any more of it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 13, 2010, 02:50:13 pm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/aug/12/the-last-airbender)

*chortle*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hongkongstuey on August 24, 2010, 09:37:54 am
have just done a weekend jaunt back to the UK so notched up a fair few hours film watching on the flights either way:
Kick Ass - simply superb...
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - pretty good, worth watching
Alice in Wonderland - Better than I expected it to be
The Joneses - had never even heard of this one but it turned out to be half decent
Star Trek - about the 4th or 5th time i've watched it on a flight as nothing else captured my imagination - still quality

referring back to some earlier reviews, i thought Book of Eli and Daybreakers were both pretty mediocre and nothing too special
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 10, 2010, 12:12:42 pm
This may have been done before but....

Cloverfield  despite a high rating series of reviews on the usually moderately reliable rotten tomatoes, i though it was massively unsatisfying, not very scary and the novel use of the shaky first person camera for the monster / disaster movie genre didn't really work. Perhaps it's one of those movies that only really works on a big screen?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on September 11, 2010, 09:58:08 am
I didn't even finish watching Cloverfield and I like watching crap sci-fi

dire at most levels
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 11, 2010, 11:25:22 pm
Someone recommended that I put 'In the Valley of Elah' on my lovefilm list...thanks if if was someone here...Awesome film. Tommy Lee Jones is a great actor, he's been in some shite movies but give him a good script and director and he's amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on September 24, 2010, 08:00:50 pm
Winter's Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/) - just seen it at the Showroom - very dark; recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 25, 2010, 12:43:46 pm
go see scott pilgrim its well good i tell thee
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 02, 2010, 02:31:01 pm
Went to see the Town last night, and I'm not sure what to make of it.
Starts well, slows down then catches up with some good action scenes (car chases a bit reminiscent of Ronin) but there is a hell of a lot more human interest than I was expecting. I was expecting my better half to hate it but it seemed to keep her attention. Not quite sure its worth the 8.2/10 given by IMDB.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 02, 2010, 03:39:09 pm
Forgot to say: Quite looking forward to Mr.Nice as I enjoyed the book (it seemed to be the only in the Ceuse campsite!). Lets see if they do it justice?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Sloper on October 02, 2010, 08:24:50 pm
Not new but good, le diner des con, please avoid dinner for cunts.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on October 02, 2010, 09:34:21 pm
Forgot to say: Quite looking forward to Mr.Nice as I enjoyed the book (it seemed to be the only in the Ceuse campsite!). Lets see if they do it justice?

The Howard Marks book? Can not imagine that it is going to be the most exciting thing in the world as the book featured not very subtle undertones of "Me me me".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 03, 2010, 06:50:51 am
Forgot to say: Quite looking forward to Mr.Nice as I enjoyed the book (it seemed to be the only in the Ceuse campsite!). Lets see if they do it justice?

The Howard Marks book? Can not imagine that it is going to be the most exciting thing in the world as the book featured not very subtle undertones of "Me me me".

Trailer...

Mr. Nice - Movie Trailer (2010) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk_jsXRb17U#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on October 03, 2010, 03:04:36 pm
Watched Harry Brown t'other night.
Me and Mrs Jim really enjoyed it, definately worth a watch IMHO.
Word
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on October 04, 2010, 07:37:39 pm
Can't wait to see this http://www.filmstalker.co.uk/archives/2010/06/jackboots_on_whitehall_trailer.html (http://www.filmstalker.co.uk/archives/2010/06/jackboots_on_whitehall_trailer.html)
"I'm really hopeful for Jackboots on Whitehall, which gives me the feeling of Team America: World Police but with British humour and the interesting set-up that the Nazi's invaded and took over England, and Churchill is hiding out and launching his counter offensive."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on October 06, 2010, 12:28:29 pm
It's only just out in the US so I don't think we'll get it in the UK for a wee while yet.  Not heard much about it, good or bad, so far.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 06, 2010, 12:30:17 pm
Social Network? Saw it advertised on telly recently, so can't be far off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 08, 2010, 04:39:22 pm
Forgot to say: Quite looking forward to Mr.Nice as I enjoyed the book (it seemed to be the only in the Ceuse campsite!). Lets see if they do it justice?

The Howard Marks book? Can not imagine that it is going to be the most exciting thing in the world as the book featured not very subtle undertones of "Me me me".

Isn't that the point of a biography?  To talk about yourself and your life?  :shrug:

(I guess some may come across as smug gits, whilst others are more humble).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 10, 2010, 10:49:28 pm
I'm agreeing with paul b on THE TOWN its good but its just not HEAT which has both al pacino and robert deniro, and you could buy it on dvd for less than the price of going to see THE TOWN in the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 10, 2010, 11:01:05 pm
thats a good point, I rented Heat from Blockbuster and couldn't watch it due to the copy being f*cked. Time I rectify that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on October 11, 2010, 12:29:27 am
Isn't that the point of a biography?  To talk about yourself and your life?  :shrug:

(I guess some may come across as smug gits, whilst others are more humble).

Yes the point of a biography is to write about oneself but as you point out there are many ways to do so. It has been a while since I read the book but I remember it being pretty awful fare with Howard Marks portraying himself as some sort of martyr and by smuggling weed he was somehow taking it to the man and righting the awful injustice that weed is not legally available in this country.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on October 11, 2010, 06:53:45 am
Finally saw The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1054606/) on the weekend.

Well I love Terry Gilliam's films anyways and this was up there with the best of them  :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 13, 2010, 08:08:03 pm
Teeth.

Promising premise that had the potential to be weird, darkly humourous, and totally fucked up, but it just didn't capitalise on it. Because the premise is such a one trick pony, it needed a lot more atmosphere and clever set-ups to keep it gripping and freaking, but it didn't have that (apart from the brother's flashback maybe).

Dull and disappointing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on October 14, 2010, 11:01:25 am
Is that the one where there are teeth in the ladies... well, you know where I mean.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 14, 2010, 01:57:54 pm
CLUNGE??

(yes)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 14, 2010, 05:43:32 pm
bigger faster stronger is thought provoking funny and insightful well worth a watch especially as it will only cost you time being free on youtube

Bigger Stronger Faster (Part 1/11) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-8MY1Gep_A#)

i thought i was getting some quality gay pr0n but every cloud ...........
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 14, 2010, 05:54:47 pm
the vitamin c side effects list was my favourite part of that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 14, 2010, 11:03:36 pm
Teeth.

Dull and disappointing.

low budget though (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg247206/topicseen.html#msg247206)

not a patch on zombie strippers, eh?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 17, 2010, 08:23:52 pm
Danny Boyle directs a film about Aaron Ralston's mishap

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/)

The good vs the terrible wonder where it will end up?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 17, 2010, 09:07:49 pm
Watched 500 days of summer last night. I can't believe it gets 8/10 on IMDB. Ok, so there are some comic lines delivered in a very dry manner but thats about it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 17, 2010, 09:25:29 pm
I thought it was quite good, never heard anything about it until I saw it, so maybe didn't expect that much.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 17, 2010, 09:35:28 pm
I thought it was quite good, never heard anything about it until I saw it, so maybe didn't expect that much.

The opposite here, it was given to us by her brother and I dutifully checked the reviews (the right of veto earned by suffering SATC2). Out of the two he'd given us, that and Watchment it scored higher. 8/10 is a high ranking to get on that site as well so I was expecting something more profound or entertaining. Maybe I'm just stupid as miss the point in most films?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: erm, sam on October 17, 2010, 10:31:29 pm
Quote
bigger faster stronger is thought provoking funny and insightful well worth a watch especially as it will only cost you time being free on youtube

Thanks for that, just watched the first 2 and it looks good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 18, 2010, 09:40:44 am
scored higher

I can see the error of your ways right there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 18, 2010, 11:37:20 am
It's often a problem when something is recommended by everyone, your expectations become so high that the film is always going to struggle to live up to them.

I thought this might be the case with Kick Ass when I finally got round to watching it on Saturday night but it wasn't. I thought it was brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 18, 2010, 04:58:32 pm
At risk of being considered a bit (http://renegade.nsgstation.com/gfx/faces/limpwrist.gif) and about 2 years too late... I watched Juno the other day - what an ace film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 18, 2010, 05:09:31 pm
I generally only see things two or three years after they've come out if at all. Once you have kids going to the cinema seems like a waste of a babysitting favour.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 18, 2010, 05:11:44 pm
Too true, when going out on the piss is a lot more fun!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 18, 2010, 05:16:44 pm
Long haul flights are normally where I catch up on the last few months viewings...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on October 18, 2010, 10:10:39 pm
Just been given the heebie-geebies watching Case 39. Beautifully directed to create a suprise of a thriller-horror. Film of the year (even if it was released 2009), despite starring Renee Zellweger.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on October 18, 2010, 10:45:21 pm
At risk of being considered a bit (http://renegade.nsgstation.com/gfx/faces/limpwrist.gif) and about 2 years too late... I watched Juno the other day - what an ace film...

It is really good!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on October 24, 2010, 12:48:23 pm
Watched ninja assassin last night
not a good film in terms of plot
but if you like mindless violence....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on November 22, 2010, 12:25:10 am
Social Network? Saw it advertised on telly recently, so can't be far off.

I managed to persuade my better half to down the DIY and go to see this on Fri night. We both thoroughly enjoyed it although I have no background knowledge of the story and can't comment on its accuracy; as entertainment it was good. The ending was somehwhat abrubt and it all gets a little intense at the Henley rowing scene compared to the rest of it.

An added bonus was having the pick of seats in a desserted showing, sitting in a priority leather chair you haven't paid for certainly improved things.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on November 22, 2010, 09:25:33 am
Watched 'The Other Guys' yesterday with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. Well funny but not necessarily in a laugh out loud way. The scene where Terry meets Allen's wife is brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 22, 2010, 09:53:03 am
I didn't even finish watching Cloverfield and I like watching crap sci-fi
dire at most levels

I sat through thisd the other day when I was ill at home. Not sure why I got drawn in, but found it mildly entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 22, 2010, 11:28:48 am
I saw Social Network at the weekend too, I agree with Paul, it was pretty good, better than I was expecting it to be.

Also watched Unthinkable with Samuel L Jackson, it was good, definitely worth a watch and a bit different from a lot of terrorist type movies, pretty dark in places.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on November 22, 2010, 11:40:34 am
I actually saw this a while back but thought I would recommend as it hasn't been mentioned yet....The King of Kong (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/).

It's a documentary about the top two Donkey Kong players in the world, in the lead up to a head-to-head world record attempt. The premise doesn't sound great but it's a really absorbing documentary. Highly recommended!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on November 22, 2010, 07:15:01 pm
absolutely brillian doc.  Proves just how great a doc can be no matter what the subject matter. And if you like Kong its the best doc about.

you should check out "wordplay" for yet more crazy americans.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on November 22, 2010, 08:20:51 pm
Winter's Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/) - just seen it at the Showroom - very dark; recommended.

You read the book bubba? Had forgotten all about reading this years ago until I saw your post - didn't realise they'd made a film. Thought the book was amazing though - look it up (not a light read, but then I'd imagine thats obvious from the film). His other stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Woodrell) is good too
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 22, 2010, 08:29:08 pm
The Killer Inside Me.. A compelling but not particularly enjoyable depiction of a sadistic, misogynistic small town sherriff in over his head. Casey Affleck is brilliant and the film is compelling but it's not one to watch for some light relief.  Jim Thompson (no relation to his namesake off here) who wrote the novel in the 50's is cut from the same nihilistic cloth as Hubert Selby Jr.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 26, 2010, 11:18:56 pm
Heads up - 'In Bruges' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/), previously highly recommended by several on here...Sat night, Film4, 9pm. Set your DVRs people.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 27, 2010, 02:39:24 pm
Saw new harry potter last wk, went outside for 20 mins in middle of film, n haven't spoke about it since then
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drewski Rootbitch on November 27, 2010, 03:02:24 pm
Are you ready to open up yet? What happened in those 20 minutes outside?

Stallion, UKBraping Drew.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 27, 2010, 05:36:05 pm
when i was a baby i was savaged by a turbot
made a phone call and had a shit. thought about donuts but foolishly went back in to finish the farce
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 27, 2010, 06:28:20 pm
Saw new harry potter last wk, went outside for 20 mins in middle of film, n haven't spoke about it since then

So it was better than the last one then?  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on November 27, 2010, 09:23:48 pm
Saw new harry potter last wk, went outside for 20 mins in middle of film, n haven't spoke about it since then

I know I don't know you, but sorry.....you should get an automatic ban for even mentioning that you've been to see Harry Potter. I don't think 20 minutes of absenteeism during the middle of the film excuses you either!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 27, 2010, 09:40:55 pm
Saw new harry potter last wk, went outside for 20 mins to crack one off in the middle of the film, n haven't spoke about it since then
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Drewski Rootbitch on November 27, 2010, 09:56:15 pm
Saw new harry potter last wk, went outside for 20 seconds to crack one off in the middle of the film, n haven't spoke about it since then

Stallion. Still UKBraping.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 28, 2010, 10:42:27 am
Going against the grain I thought that the last couple of installments of HP have been worth a watch. The acting is awful but the special effects and the visualisation of the HP "world" is fantastic.

The latest installment is undoubtedly a letdown. There's a good chase scene at the start but that's about it. Because they've split it into two parts it suffers from having no "mission accomplished" moment and so a large part of the film is the characters wandering around seemingly aimlessly. There are, however, some lovely shots of Malham Cove and some grotty looking limestone crag on a very wooded hillside above a big river. Any ideas where that is?

On the plus side Daniel Radcliffe has now put himself on equal footing with Orlando Bloom for his portrayal of "The Wooden Block".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 28, 2010, 11:50:33 am
As (presumably) Will was a kid when the first Potter book came out he has an excuse for reading them / watching the films. Likewise parents reading the books to their kids / having to take them to the films.

Nobody else does.  ;)

Thinking of watching Inception this evening but I'm worried it's going to be ruined by my Mrs asking me what's going on every five minutes / getting bored and not paying attention but then wanting to know what's going on ten minutes later etc etc.

Is it as difficult to follow as some reviewers are making out?  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 28, 2010, 12:11:14 pm
No
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 28, 2010, 02:47:10 pm
No
:agree: Me and MrsTT found it no problems.. You may need to keep a mental note of what the dream within a dream count is.. But that aside the bits where you go eh? Wafuck? Are bits where you're supposed to do that..

Do it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 28, 2010, 03:28:45 pm
Cool. Cheers fellas.  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 28, 2010, 06:27:28 pm
 :off:
No
Have you seen "Syriana", Ben? If so, how does Inception rank vs that on the plot impenetrability scale?

Yes I've seen Syriana. A really good film. Again not difficult to follow if you listen and watch it  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on November 28, 2010, 08:14:55 pm
Is it as difficult to follow as some reviewers are making out?  :-\

As other people have said......NO!

It continually explains itself throughout the film.......just in case you don't get it.

And if you haven't quite got it....don't worry, it'll explain itself again within the next five minutes!

Don't get me wrong, it's a decent film, but it tries to be more complicated than it is!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on November 29, 2010, 01:36:48 pm
There are, however, some lovely shots of Malham Cove and some grotty looking limestone crag on a very wooded hillside above a big river. Any ideas where that is?
I have not seen the film but a Wye Valley crag seems like a reasonable guess as - having read all seven books  :o to son #1  - I recall much of the HP&TDH action takes place in the Forest of Dean.

I'm pretty sure it's Wintour's leap.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 29, 2010, 01:37:57 pm
:off:
No
Have you seen "Syriana", Ben? If so, how does Inception rank vs that on the plot impenetrability scale?

Yes I've seen Syriana. A really good film. Again not difficult to follow if you listen and watch it  :)

Don't know why the Off Topic man appeared... must have jabbed the screen on my phone accidentally
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 29, 2010, 02:03:38 pm
There are, however, some lovely shots of Malham Cove and some grotty looking limestone crag on a very wooded hillside above a big river. Any ideas where that is?
I have not seen the film but a Wye Valley crag seems like a reasonable guess as - having read all seven books  :o to son #1  - I recall much of the HP&TDH action takes place in the Forest of Dean.

I'm pretty sure it's Wintour's leap.

I thought it looked like the banned crags at Symonds Yat. Shame Harry and co. didn't check out Huntsham's while they were in the Forest.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 29, 2010, 05:26:29 pm
Is that a challenge or something  :-*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 29, 2010, 06:36:49 pm
What is so difficult to understand about Syriana?  There might be a few things going on, but it's not exactly a Thomas Pynchon novel...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 29, 2010, 09:34:03 pm
:off:
No
Have you seen "Syriana", Ben? If so, how does Inception rank vs that on the plot impenetrability scale?

Yes I've seen Syriana. A really good film. Again not difficult to follow if you listen and watch it  :)

Actually, Ben is right. The first time I saw Syriana I'd been up for 4 days straight on a combination of speed and smack, and spent most of the movie licking out the arsehole of a Parisian hooker (called Virginie, ironically) and playing air guitar. As such, I found myself marginally confused about the relationship between Whiting and the CIA.  However, the second time I watched it I was having a cheap month and without any distractions it didn' take too much brainpower to figure out that, as a member of the Committee to Liberate Iran, Whiting was probably ex CIA or similar, and hence his involvement in the Nasir assassination attempt made more sense.   Everything else is pretty straightforward, hooker notwithstanding...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 30, 2010, 11:21:34 am
Because Bob no longer has a lot to lose.  Have you read the book on which his character is based?  See No Evil, by Bob Baer? That Bob B was a hardcore case officer who was no stranger to getting his hands dirty.  In the film - with his job and marriage on the rocks I think it's perfectly plausible that such a man could quite convincingly threaten a man like Whiting.

Re Whiting's CIA links - I don't think the links aren't exactly explicit. In fact, on reflection (based on the fact that he's a senior partner in a law firm that bears his name) I think it's far more plausible that he was a lawyer in the State Department than the CIA.  And even if he were in the latter, based on his background it's unlikely that he would've been doing anything operational. He's a clever lawyer, not someone running agents.  He may have been in Beirut, but sitting behind a desk.  As such, I maintain again that an unstable Bob could threaten such a man with a pretty fierce degree of conviction.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 30, 2010, 03:20:06 pm
I conclude that either the screenwriter had got lost himself at this point or there is some deeper layer of meaning in the movie to be uncovered.

If I was a betting man, my money would be on the first explanation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 30, 2010, 03:32:43 pm
With respect to Whiting's involvement in the Nasir assassination - surely all he needed to do was to make the right noises in those CLI meetings.  In the one that Bob is asked to do his Iran presentation, he is asked "When can we expect a pro-Western, pro-business government in that country?" or words to that effect.  I understand that the US concept of Syriana is of a similarly pro-US Middle East, or countries therein.  As such, Whiting's persuasiveness in the right ears in the CLI should be all that's required in the case of Nasir vs Meshal - he paints Nasir as anti US / pro China, politically an undesirable ally who doesn't want to play ball (but who must be rubbed out in favour of) pro-US puppet Meshal.

Re Bob - I think it's Bob's background as a case officer and lone operator and probable (in the context of the film) ex-CIA status that make him potentially more of a threat to Whiting than if he were a still-serving CIA officer. Whiting's influence (as either ex CIA or other department and member of CLI) would make threats from a serving and legit CIA officer less of a worry.  But I think Bob has proved throughout the film that he's been on the ground in so many undesirable places and with all sorts of people (some of which are now in the private sector) that, if he left some instructions to be acted on in the event of his death with one or other of these people, they may well be taken care of...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 30, 2010, 03:37:43 pm
Back to the first paragraph, having reread it - there are discussion afoot relating to the "liberation" of Iran.  Bearing this in mind, if all that is required to avoid the fictional Emirate turning into its own little proto-Iran (not literally, but in terms of what the US seem to resent about the actual Iran) all they have to do is send Bob to Beirut to kidnap and kill him*. Hardly a big deal in comparison with a potential full-blown invasion.

That's why I think Whiting's influence is limited to his persuasiveness and guile, rather than some mysterious official clout...

*Him being Nasir...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 30, 2010, 03:55:10 pm
I want to watch this again now....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 30, 2010, 04:11:45 pm
has has anyone seen any good films lately been replaced with has anyone who wishes to see a good film don't bother since we're going to debate the plot for you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 30, 2010, 04:25:48 pm
You could put your fingers in your ears and say, "Nanananannanananananann"...?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 30, 2010, 07:14:14 pm
I do that whenever I go for a curry. I never eat them all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 01, 2010, 09:21:33 pm
With respect to Whiting's involvement in the Nasir assassination - surely all he needed to do was to make the right noises in those CLI meetings.  In the one that Bob is asked to do his Iran presentation, he is asked "When can we expect a pro-Western, pro-business government in that country?" or words to that effect.  I understand that the US concept of Syriana is of a similarly pro-US Middle East, or countries therein.  As such, Whiting's persuasiveness in the right ears in the CLI should be all that's required in the case of Nasir vs Meshal - he paints Nasir as anti US / pro China, politically an undesirable ally who doesn't want to play ball (but who must be rubbed out in favour of) pro-US puppet Meshal.
Maybe. Though I had always assumed that the single-issue lobby group nutjobs (like this fictional CLI) don't actually influence US policy very much, as in the end it is all neutered by bureaucrats.
[/quote]

You see, I see the CLI in Syriana not as a lobby group, but as a secretive State Department committee, rather like the War Committee in In the Loop. Mainly because of the relationship between that committee and the CIA.  A lobby group wouldn't have briefings by a serving CIA case officer, shirely?  The fact that action is taken against Nasir so quickly is shurely testament to the fact that the CLI is tied in quite tight to the CIA in an operational sense. Or rather, in the sense of the nomination of potentially pro-US operations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 04, 2010, 01:56:43 pm
jesus christ can you two continue this debate in private or get a room  :shag:

also king of kong is entirely on youtube, well good innit :wave:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 04, 2010, 07:11:51 pm
Inception's good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 05, 2010, 10:17:40 am
Saw 'The girl with the dragon tattoo' last night on DeeVeeDee...

 :thumbsup: excellent film (watch it in Swedish with subtitles, not dubbed) kept me engrossed all the way through. Reccommended.


How did you get on with Inception Jas? Did MrsSharpe have to explain it to you  :P
 ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on December 05, 2010, 02:12:49 pm
saw "the warriors way" the other day. think shogun assasin meets western meets fairground, but not in a good way

saw "the takers" the other wk, pretty good oceans 11 type nonsense
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on December 05, 2010, 02:17:31 pm
saw "the takers" the other wk, pretty good oceans 11 type nonsense

Agreed, pretty good. Not in the same league as say, 'Heat' though. In a similar vain, 'The Town' is pretty good too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 05, 2010, 10:51:30 pm
MONSTERS just been to go see this.

Recommended. Tense, effectively acted with some amazing cinematography and effects given the budget! It manages to nicely interweave a strong narrative thread on the American attitude to the aliens and Mexicans with the developing relationship between the two main characters. If i have a criticism , it is that it relies a little too highly on lots of very dark shots (presumably because they could n't afford much else!) but that said, it remained pretty effective: the darkness is certainly more frightening than the current usual Hollywood trope of full frontal monster from minute two of the movie.

I have a horrible suspision it will recieve a big budget remake inthe near future, which needn't necessarily be bad (i like a good massive cgi monster as much as the next man); but lets face it, that's not what usually happens....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Idol eyes on December 06, 2010, 12:39:25 am
Looking forward to TRON Legacy...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 07, 2010, 09:21:20 pm
TRON gives me a boner (or olivia wilde does  :-\)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 10, 2010, 12:06:55 am
Primeval: this movie has two redeeming features: that it is free on iplayer at the moment, and there is a very big crocodile. In pretty much every other aspect it is unremittingly awful.

It is almost worth watching for the croc. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: soapy on December 29, 2010, 09:38:36 pm
had opportunity to catch up with a couple of flicks over the break:

coen bros. take on mccarthy's no country for old men, a gripping adaptation;

volver, both comic and poignant with a brilliant strong ensemble headed by cruz
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: iain_cbr on December 29, 2010, 11:19:06 pm
I saw Blade Trinity the other day. Pretty samey but it did have Jessica Biel's adorable midriff on show for much of it. I think I'd sit through it again for that.
And yes, I know it's not a new film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on December 30, 2010, 09:36:15 am
It is almost worth watching for the croc.

Lake Placid is the best croc film out. Predictable story but if you like a crocs and some amusing banter it's worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 30, 2010, 08:20:45 pm

volver, both comic and poignant with a brilliant strong ensemble headed by cruz

Watched this the other night. Brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 30, 2010, 08:49:41 pm
 :agree: best film I saw last year (and I have a massive crush on Ms Cruz)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 30, 2010, 09:15:14 pm
Really wanted to watch it but was overruled. Hopefully on again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on December 31, 2010, 05:07:23 am
Winter's Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/) - just seen it at the Showroom - very dark; recommended.

You read the book bubba? Had forgotten all about reading this years ago until I saw your post - didn't realise they'd made a film. Thought the book was amazing though - look it up (not a light read, but then I'd imagine thats obvious from the film). His other stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Woodrell) is good too
Sorry to totally ignore your post Duma, missed it for some reason. Had no idea there was a book - will seek it out after the Christmas book-pile has been exhausted...

Very psyched to re-watch Winter's Bone on Blu-Ray when we replace the just expired crt with a 1080p lcd - hopefully this weekend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on January 01, 2011, 11:41:30 pm
we watched Arn - knight templar last night 99p rental from i tunes.bloody great film.it is everything that kingdom of heaven should have been.there seems to be a great load of stuff coming out of sweden at the mo
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 02, 2011, 08:54:37 am
Finally got around to watching Princess Mononoke
If you like anime it's a must see.
Would probably watch it with subtitles rather than dubbing next time - Minnie Driver's performance is rather irritating....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: soapy on January 02, 2011, 01:10:58 pm
..Minnie Driver.. is rather irritating..


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 02, 2011, 01:45:06 pm
Go watch "the american"

Doesn't manage greatness, but a really decent watch i thought

Tron 3d = yes
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 03, 2011, 06:35:33 pm
I watched Inception last night and thought it was pretty fantastic and fairly straightforward to follow.

A few days earlier I was conned into going to the cinema to watch "Love and other drugs", apart from Anne Hathaway looking rather fetching at times the rest of the film is a very romantic piece of turd. Avoid.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bigd942 on January 04, 2011, 04:34:39 pm
Beneath Hill 60 - true story of the mines/explosives laid under the german front line, good story and well told.

The Entity - early 80's paranormal, quite enjoyed this.

The Iron Giant - saw this over crimbo again, great movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 04, 2011, 04:48:26 pm
Saw Invictus the other night. I thought I'd hate it as 1. Its got Matt ferking Damon in it and 2. Its centred about Rugby which I have little/no interest in. But thought it was really good - (bit flat in the middle but otherwise great).

By mistake Bollockbusters put some film called Greenfields or Greenedge or Greensmegma or something in one of the boxes instead of the film we wanted. its a film based around Ben Stiller being a character who's recovering from a breakdown and then visits his brothers house while he's away and tries to bang his Aupair.. Sounds great huh! Utter shite. Well the first 30 min was then it was switched orf.. Shitty stick touch wouldnt with.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 04, 2011, 04:53:02 pm
This presumably:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234654/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1234654/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 04, 2011, 04:59:58 pm
Thats the badger - 'Greenberg' a right load of pony. I mean, ffs, there wasnt even a car chase! what kind of film is that eh! And I kept thinking Zoolander (which I quite like) every time I saw Ben Stiller...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on January 04, 2011, 05:00:32 pm
Anybody seen "Black Death" with Sheffields finest Napoleonic rifleman? Its beckoning to me every time I go in there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 04, 2011, 08:48:12 pm
Splice: good. More subtle and sentimental than your average monster flick.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 06, 2011, 08:37:27 am
At risk of being considered a bit (http://renegade.nsgstation.com/gfx/faces/limpwrist.gif) and about 2 years too late... I watched Juno the other day - what an ace film...

Three years late we finally watched Juno last night.

For a film to A: Hold my wife's interest for it's entirety B: Make her cry and C: Have her say "What a BRILLIANT film." afterwards it must be pretty good.

If anyone still hasn't seen it then do so.

(I didn't cry..... no no not me..... honest.....)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2011, 08:56:41 am
We watched it while the missus was very pregnant and emotional. I was worried she would need a saline drip after all the blubbing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2011, 08:59:00 am
Saw Invictus the other night. I thought I'd hate it as 1. Its got Matt ferking Damon in it and 2. Its centred about Rugby which I have little/no interest in. But thought it was really good - (bit flat in the middle but otherwise great).

MATT DAMON!!

I was there when it happened. Needless to say I was very very drunk.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 08, 2011, 06:55:05 pm
127 Hours. Worth a watch if you fancy the cinema but definitely not one I'll be rushing to get on DVD.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 08, 2011, 07:01:01 pm
127 Hours. Worth a watch if you fancy the cinema but definitely not one I'll be rushing to get on DVD.

Why? I'm genuinely interested to hear a climbers viewpoint on the film.. whats it like compared to other 'climbing' horror epics like Touching the Void?

I heard the cutting scene is especially gruesome and as a pussy someone who has to hide the screen when casualty is operating on someone I'm not in a great rush to see it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 08, 2011, 07:06:38 pm

If anyone still hasn't seen it then do so.


 :agree:

lent it to my old man over Christmas and he thought it was ace too...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: iain_cbr on January 08, 2011, 11:20:22 pm
I actually bought juno and I've seen it about 6 or so times and I still think it's a corker. I am a sad bastard though.

Oh, and it's ok. Ellen Page was 20 when they filmed, so it's cool to have THOSE thoughts. Or so I'm told. By myself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 09, 2011, 12:31:38 am
4OD documentaries are a very good way to fill an evening

This is outstanding documentary film-making:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dancing-with-the-devil (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dancing-with-the-devil)
 :'(


p.s. at 100 mins, this is def a film and it's not even iplayer so this is the right thread.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 09, 2011, 01:38:55 pm
127 Hours. Worth a watch if you fancy the cinema but definitely not one I'll be rushing to get on DVD.

Why? I'm genuinely interested to hear a climbers viewpoint on the film.. whats it like compared to other 'climbing' horror epics like Touching the Void?

I heard the cutting scene is especially gruesome and as a pussy someone who has to hide the screen when casualty is operating on someone I'm not in a great rush to see it!

I might have been a little harsh in hindsight. I was glad that I watched it and it held my attention throughout (although perhaps 10 minutes shorter would have been better) but I can't say I particularly "enjoyed" watching it due to the obviously grim nature of the story. The gory bits weren't mindblowingly bad but during the main bulk of them I was grimacing with hands over face (peeking through fingers). They didn't last very long though.

In terms of watching it as a climber it was a lot better than the likes of Vertical Limit. There wasn't really any of this XTREME bullshit with people doing running jumps across ravines and catching the other side with their axes. The protagonist is depicted as being a bit of a self proclaimed "adrenalin junkie" type and in his own words a "big fucking hero" but this is somewhat important to show the contrast between that image and the reality of being stuck in a hole, screaming for help and drinking stale piss for about 5 days.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on January 09, 2011, 02:07:32 pm
Quite enjoyed 127 hours myself, though i went in with fairly low expectations. I was impressed at how it managed to stay engaging despite knowing whats going to happen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 10, 2011, 10:13:15 am
I liked 127 hours, mainly cause I managed to watch the whole thing and not hate the guy's guts.  I read the book a while back and by the time he was hacking his arm off in that I was desperate for him to get septicemia or bleed out, he came across as a total wank.  In the film however he seemed less vile and I loved the way they did the scenes of the amputation, it was very well done, you could really feel bits of it.  It's a very well done film, I was impressed.

Also watched Into the Wild this weekend which was awesome, I really enjoyed it although I'm not sure why.  It was pretty long and I think it's the sort of film that you have to get quite involved in so that you enjoy it fully, it was a cool story though and well translated into film.

Inside Man is also worth a watch, I think it's been out for a while but it's a pretty cool take on the usual bank job film.
Title: 127 hours
Post by: countotto on January 10, 2011, 10:18:28 am
127 Hours. Worth a watch if you fancy the cinema but definitely not one I'll be rushing to get on DVD.

Why? I'm genuinely interested to hear a climbers viewpoint on the film.. whats it like compared to other 'climbing' horror epics like Touching the Void?

I heard the cutting scene is especially gruesome and as a pussy someone who has to hide the screen when casualty is operating on someone I'm not in a great rush to see it!

I might have been a little harsh in hindsight. I was glad that I watched it and it held my attention throughout (although perhaps 10 minutes shorter would have been better) but I can't say I particularly "enjoyed" watching it due to the obviously grim nature of the story. The gory bits weren't mindblowingly bad but during the main bulk of them I was grimacing with hands over face (peeking through fingers). They didn't last very long though.

In terms of watching it as a climber it was a lot better than the likes of Vertical Limit. There wasn't really any of this XTREME bullshit with people doing running jumps across ravines and catching the other side with their axes. The protagonist is depicted as being a bit of a self proclaimed "adrenalin junkie" type and in his own words a "big fucking hero" but this is somewhat important to show the contrast between that image and the reality of being stuck in a hole, screaming for help and drinking stale piss for about 5 days.

Hmmm,...

Read the book a few years ago and thought, well if ever an accident was waiting to happen, then this was it. The guy was lucky he returned from any number of previous adventures, adventures in which he wilfully ignored others advice and planned trips that were way beyond his abilities and experience because he thought he was so much better than he was!

Also, I felt rather sickened by the obsessive way in which this guy, without any real self-awareness, was after fame and fortune through Outdoor Pursuits/rambling, and only managed in the end to get it through rescuing himself from a situation that he would never have been in, had he not been so narcissististic, and chopping his lower arm off. A media-whore through and through. Why don't you try cutting your whole head off next time and then maybe someone'll give you a fucking purple heart.

Although the film sounds like it might be better than the book, maybe someone's had a word on the production side of things- said- oi Aaron- you're a cock! Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss it! ;-)

Love and Peace!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: countotto on January 10, 2011, 10:28:52 am
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Rock-Hard-Place-Ralston/dp/0743495802/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294655182&sr=1-1#reader_0743495802 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Between-Rock-Hard-Place-Ralston/dp/0743495802/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294655182&sr=1-1#reader_0743495802))

BTW, I believe Mr Ralston is planning to try out his prosthesis on some of the UK's premier gritstone crack lines. Suggestions anyone ;-)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2011, 10:34:22 am
I think the guy is a total douchebag (to quote his countrymen) and I'm going to avoid seeing it, as any income means more publcity and more cash for him.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 10, 2011, 10:41:16 am
Watched Gomorra last night. Really really good.

The "story" is very haphazard and fragmented but that's sort of the point. It isn't really a story, more a snapshot of how the Camorra's grip on the lower levels of society affects ordinary people. Harsh and grim throughout it manages to not be too depressing as the inevitability of the downfall of most of the characters is apparent from the start. You don't have any expectations for any of them but the film still manages to keep a strong feeling of tension going as you never know when or to whom the next bad event will occur out of nowhere.

Made me interested to read up on the area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scamp%C3%ACa) and the history of the Scampia feud. My Mrs spent some time living in Napoli and never realised that there were areas like that in the city. Understandable as you wouldn't visit by choice....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 10, 2011, 10:41:53 am
I think the guy is a total douchebag (to quote his countrymen) and I'm going to avoid seeing it, as any income means more publcity and more cash for him.

 :agree:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 10, 2011, 10:53:02 am
Read Ralston's book and thought he came across as a bit of a cock in that so not bothered about going and watching the film, despite good comments.


Watched Watchmen over xmas and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Had previously read the comic book once and didn't really get what was going on (should probably have read it again, but had given it back to my mate and never got round to it), the film helped clarify quite a few things.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 10, 2011, 11:17:29 am
Watchmen was cool. Entertaining, stylishly done and pretty original as comic book stuff goes. I found Dr Manhattan really intriguing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 10, 2011, 11:18:43 am
Watchmen was cool. Entertaining, stylishly done and pretty original as comic book stuff goes. I found Dr Manhattan really intriguing.

Was that 'cause of his knob (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,16771.msg295247.html#msg295247)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2011, 11:23:00 am
the film helped clarify quite a few things.

IIRC the film was a vastly simplified version of the GN. Although I think there is an extended cut on DVD which may follow the original story a bit more closely, and includes The whole Tales of the Black Freighter bit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 10, 2011, 12:24:55 pm
With regards to film versus book for 127 hours, nobody who sees the film is going to agree with the book readers about what a cock he was, I've already had heated discussions about it. 

countotto, you spoke my brains, I felt exactly the same.  The film shows very little back story so you don't realise that this isn't a one off incident and his bad attitude is definitely played down.  I wasn't going to watch the film but was persuaded in the end and it didn't fill me with the vicious rage which the book did.  :lol:

Several people have said that the book came out too fast, before he properly had time to take stock and realise what a douche he'd really been before and immediately after the accident, and that now he's much more humble and nicer for it and that's what the film shows, who knows what the truth is.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 10, 2011, 12:31:24 pm
the film helped clarify quite a few things.

IIRC the film was a vastly simplified version of the GN. Although I think there is an extended cut on DVD which may follow the original story a bit more closely, and includes The whole Tales of the Black Freighter bit.

I probably need to read the book/GN again (and whilst sober :pissed:)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 10, 2011, 12:34:15 pm

Several people have said that the book came out too fast, before he properly had time to take stock and realise what a douche he'd really been before and immediately after the accident, and that now he's much more humble and nicer for it and that's what the film shows, who knows what the truth is.  :shrug:

Or he and the film's producers realised that nobody would go to see it unless they toned down what a bell end he actually was?
 :greed: :greed: :greed:  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 10, 2011, 12:37:59 pm
Sadly, that's probably closer to the truth.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: apharri on January 10, 2011, 12:49:07 pm
Someone may well have mentioned this before but nay mind. Watched Four Lions last night and its a great watch. Gets you warming up to some very cold characters and laughing at stuff which is obviously not funny in the slightest. If you haven't seen it and dont mind your comedy very dark indeed then I highly reccommend  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2011, 01:05:43 pm

Or he and the film's producers realised that nobody would go to see it unless they toned down what a bell end he actually was?
 :greed: :greed: :greed:  ;)

I would like to think Danny Boyle refused to make a film about an utter cock so employed some artistic license. But that's probably rose tinted specs because he seems like such a nice bloke.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dobbin on January 10, 2011, 02:12:06 pm
Someone may well have mentioned this before but nay mind. Watched Four Lions last night and its a great watch. Gets you warming up to some very cold characters and laughing at stuff which is obviously not funny in the slightest. If you haven't seen it and dont mind your comedy very dark indeed then I highly reccommend  ;)

Rubber dinghy rapids brother Omar!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 10, 2011, 04:16:55 pm
I loved Four Lions, it was properly hilarious.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: apharri on January 10, 2011, 06:16:11 pm
Someone may well have mentioned this before but nay mind. Watched Four Lions last night and its a great watch. Gets you warming up to some very cold characters and laughing at stuff which is obviously not funny in the slightest. If you haven't seen it and dont mind your comedy very dark indeed then I highly reccommend  ;)

Rubber dinghy rapids brother Omar!

We'll blow up the internet for brother Fezil
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Charles on January 10, 2011, 07:51:33 pm

Or he and the film's producers realised that nobody would go to see it unless they toned down what a bell end he actually was?
 :greed: :greed: :greed:  ;)

I would like to think Danny Boyle refused to make a film about an utter cock so employed some artistic license. But that's probably rose tinted specs because he seems like such a nice bloke.

Apparently when Danny Boyle met him he didn't like him.

Can't quote a source as one of my friends provided this harsh truth.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on January 10, 2011, 08:40:51 pm
I know I'm a few pages late with this but I've just tried to watch Inception. Lasted thirty minutes before giving up and letting the wife put Downton Abbry back on. Just dull silliness as far as I could tell. I think this maybe goes against the tide of opinion but hey-ho.
Part of the problem may be DiCaprio who also featured in Shutter Island which I should have walked out of but didn't so I've over-compensated by not giving this offering a fair hearing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2011, 09:41:37 pm
Refusing to watch anything involving ladyboy de Caprio is probably a good maxim to live your life by.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 11, 2011, 06:35:54 am
Just dull silliness as far as I could tell. I think this maybe goes against the tide of opinion but hey-ho.

I thought it was stupid rubbish too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 11, 2011, 09:48:55 am
Our lass half read the Ralston book before proclaiming him a cock and didn't finish the rest and she's a really nice person who see's the best in everyone....including me thank God.

Leonardo has done some good films and but does suffer from having a face and body of a boy which makes him unrealistic playing a man and you generally just want to smash his face in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 11, 2011, 10:47:23 pm
Refusing to watch anything involving ladyboy de Caprio is probably a good maxim to live your life by.

Basketball diaries is a mint film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 11, 2011, 11:36:50 pm
I thought TRON was an immersive and brilliant cinematic experience especially as someone who's a fan of the first film well the worth the money to go and see

The Tron Dude Abides
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 12, 2011, 12:01:40 am
Basketball diaries is a mint film.

 :agree: was going to post as much earlier. He's also quite good in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 12, 2011, 09:24:07 am
No doubt there are one or two exceptions, but given a choice of watching all of his films in the hope of finding a good one vs avoiding them completely, I think I would be breaking out the longer of my bargepoles. For all I know there might even be a good Michael McConaughey film out there, but I'm not going to take the time to find out.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on January 12, 2011, 10:19:33 am
Watched Gomorra last night. Really really good.

The "story" is very haphazard and fragmented but that's sort of the point. It isn't really a story, more a snapshot of how the Camorra's grip on the lower levels of society affects ordinary people. Harsh and grim throughout it manages to not be too depressing as the inevitability of the downfall of most of the characters is apparent from the start. You don't have any expectations for any of them but the film still manages to keep a strong feeling of tension going as you never know when or to whom the next bad event will occur out of nowhere.

Made me interested to read up on the area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scamp%C3%ACa) and the history of the Scampia feud. My Mrs spent some time living in Napoli and never realised that there were areas like that in the city. Understandable as you wouldn't visit by choice....

Jas read the book its fucking mint.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on January 12, 2011, 10:25:48 am
Also two films I've seen relatively recently I really enjoyed: Of Gods and Men based on a true story and about a monastery in Algeria and the decision the monks make to stay in the face of  of an increasingly dangerous fundamentalist insurgency and brutal government retaliation. Slow but powerful.
And I am Love that you will either find boring over filmed understoried tosh of lush.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 12, 2011, 06:30:02 pm
I also watched Black Swan recently, it's well weird.  I can't decide if I liked it or not, I think it was pretty well done but it goes cock out crazy by the end and is all a bit odd.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on January 12, 2011, 08:31:32 pm
No doubt there are one or two exceptions, but given a choice of watching all of his films in the hope of finding a good one vs avoiding them completely, I think I would be breaking out the longer of my bargepoles. For all I know there might even be a good Michael McConaughey film out there, but I'm not going to take the time to find out.

Don't try and disguise your love by spelling his name wrong Chris. I've seen your Failure to Launch 2 disc special edition. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamesR on January 12, 2011, 09:03:40 pm
I saw 'A Prophet' a French film, directed by Jacques Audiard. Very gritty, edge of the seat stuff, a reet good film. Prison life, mafia shennanigans, drugs, revenge, sex and brilliant acting. It has the lot. On topic, another well cool French film..... District 13. A very entertaining film with some amazing Parkour/Free Running stunts.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 12, 2011, 09:09:06 pm
District 13 is great, they brought out a second one which wasn't up to much and did a version in English which was rotten, the original is good though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: apharri on January 12, 2011, 10:53:36 pm
The Edukators is well worth a watch. Never heard of it until the mrs reccommended it. Anti Capitalist German film.. A wee bit cheesey but pretty sweet  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on January 13, 2011, 12:04:13 am
I know I'm a few pages late with this but I've just tried to watch Inception. Lasted thirty minutes before giving up and letting the wife put Downton Abbry back on. Just dull silliness as far as I could tell. I think this maybe goes against the tide of opinion but hey-ho.
Part of the problem may be DiCaprio who also featured in Shutter Island which I should have walked out of but didn't so I've over-compensated by not giving this offering a fair hearing.

There's a book called 'Only Forward' by Micheal Marshall Smith which is similar to the concept of Inception. Worth checking out if you're into that type of thing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0006512666 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0006512666)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 13, 2011, 09:40:50 am

Don't try and disguise your love by spelling his name wrong Chris. I've seen your Failure to Launch 2 disc special edition.

I did spell it right? Google to check it and everything.

And F2L2 (as we fans and facebook friends of him call it) Is not a patch on the original. :)

Definitely getting the extended version of this though, ticks all the boxes for me

(http://www.dvdnear.com/images/Surfer-Dude-B001FU793A-L.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 13, 2011, 07:53:23 pm
I watched 127 hours last night. Didnt realise it was a Danny Boyle film until it started. I highly recommend it, I really enjoyed it.
127 Hours Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWWcQC0ZxIM#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 13, 2011, 07:55:43 pm
Have you actually looked at the previous page?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 13, 2011, 07:58:11 pm
Have you actually looked at the previous page?

Chill dude, remember: "love and waves, thats what we need in these dark days"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 13, 2011, 11:44:15 pm
I saw 'A Prophet' a French film, directed by Jacques Audiard. Very gritty, edge of the seat stuff, a reet good film. Prison life, mafia shennanigans, drugs, revenge, sex and brilliant acting. It has the lot.

+1

this one has stayed with me
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2011, 10:21:52 am
Have you actually looked at the previous page?

Chill dude, remember: "love and waves, thats what we need in these dark days"

I shudder to think how bad that film can be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 14, 2011, 11:17:57 am
Has anyone seen 127 hours yet? I hear the bloke it's about is supposed to be a bit of a dick.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2011, 11:25:58 am
Is that the one directed  by Banny Doyle or something?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on January 14, 2011, 11:38:12 am
Has anyone seen 127 hours yet? I hear the bloke it's about is supposed to be a bit of a dick.

Yeh he is a bit of a dick, thats the whole point of the film really. He learns a valuable lesson!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 14, 2011, 11:54:04 am
Really? I don't think I'd go to see it anyway. (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.1525.html)  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 14, 2011, 11:59:04 am
Digested film reviews of films wot i has watched in the last week or so:

Shutter Island: Shit
Avatar: Better than Titanic.
The Kingdom: Not unwatchable. Still find it distracting that Scouse looks like Jamie Foxx.
Defiance: Amazing story, not a great fillum.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 14, 2011, 12:20:45 pm
Animal Kingdom

Some Melbourne gangsters (with a scary Barbara Windsor type mum) get into an escalating contretemps with the police. Various incidents of gun crime, murder and blockies ensue. Entirely unexpected ending (assuming you don't check it on Wikipedia).

Based on various true stories.

Yossarian rating - 8/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 16, 2011, 12:56:11 pm
The Kings Speech

Great film - went to see this with MrsTT last night and wasnt really looking forward to it  - but its superb. Its no costume drama, more about the friendship that develops between the King (to be) and his speech therapist - played by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush respectively. Despite all the Colin Firth hype surrounding this film Rush stole the show for me - the way the two characters interacted and bounced off each other was superb. Its a funny film too in places - beautifully made. The story is hung around the period of Edward abdigating and running off with another woman, and the beginning of WW2 and this running historical interest keeps it all running along nicely. The plot line for the Kings Speech is (for me) not inspiring on paper, but how the characters work together is superb. Well reccommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 16, 2011, 01:41:45 pm
Watched Inception on Friday. Wow etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 16, 2011, 01:56:42 pm
Saw Sonatine (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108188/) last night.
I'm a big fan of Beat Takeshi's gangster films, slow, understated, unglamourised and touchingly hilarious in places.
Nihalistic in places too like his other but if you have the patience a fantastic film
If you like Sonatine then Hana-Bi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119250/) is equally great in a similar  vein.

On the same note if you like your gangster movies a bit faster paced and obvious (i.e. American) his cross-over film Brother (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0222851/) is also very good in a quite different way....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on January 16, 2011, 02:07:03 pm
The Kings Speech

Great film - went to see this with MrsTT last night and wasnt really looking forward to it  - but its superb. Its no costume drama, more about the friendship that develops between the King (to be) and his speech therapist - played by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush respectively. Despite all the Colin Firth hype surrounding this film Rush stole the show for me - the way the two characters interacted and bounced off each other was superb. Its a funny film too in places - beautifully made. The story is hung around the period of Edward abdigating and running off with another woman, and the beginning of WW2 and this running historical interest keeps it all running along nicely. The plot line for the Kings Speech is (for me) not inspiring on paper, but how the characters work together is superb. Well reccommended.

Definitely one for your "must see" list.

I though the stand-out performance was Guy Pearce as David, The Prince of Wales/Duke of Wndsor, closely followed by Michael Gambon as George V. (Would have liked Eve Best's Wallis Simpson to have been fleshed out a little more, too)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2011, 02:10:56 pm
Would have liked Eve Best's Wallis Simpson to have been fleshed out a little more, too

What, you wanted to see her tits?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 16, 2011, 04:40:01 pm
Would have liked Eve Best's Wallis Simpson to have been fleshed out a little more, too

What, you wanted to see her tits?

Yeah, why not, she was a bit slutty in the film  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 16, 2011, 07:13:29 pm
Watched The Profit last night after it being mentioned on here, great film, really enjoyed it.

Then watched True Grit this afternoon which was also really good, totally not my kind of film, I wouldn't have chosen to watch it myself but I'm glad I was persuaded, the characters are brilliant and the wee girl who plays the lead in it is fantastic.  Well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2011, 07:28:24 pm
I'm assuming this is a remake of the John Wayne version? Be hard to beat the original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 16, 2011, 07:36:43 pm
Coen brother. The advance word has been very positive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 16, 2011, 07:43:54 pm
Sex and the City 2 reviewed by Mark Kermode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHeQeHstrsc#ws)

Mark Kermode SATC2 review. Easy target but still very good...

Simon Mayo: "You said you weren't going to rant....but that was 10 minutes ago!!"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 16, 2011, 07:49:58 pm
Where did satc2 come from??? This is a thread about good films!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 16, 2011, 08:01:48 pm
I'm assuming this is a remake of the John Wayne version? Be hard to beat the original.
No idea, like I said it's not a genre I watch or even really pay attention to, it is indeed the Coen brothers though. And excellent.

SATC 2 is one of the worst films I have seen for some time, even the clothes and shoes didn't save it and that's coming from someone who watches an awfully lot of really shit films. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on January 17, 2011, 02:03:40 pm
Girl with the dragon tattoo. Really good. A tiny bit different to the book. Quite graphic in a couple of places. The two others in the trilogy should be good too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on January 17, 2011, 02:25:38 pm
Another vote for The King's Speech. I was blown away by all the performances, but Firth really was incredible. 10/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 24, 2011, 06:06:18 pm
King's Speech, not my style of film but objectively a very good one, and one I enjoyed. I never think in terms of actors / performances, but this had some strong characters in and was well filmed and very well put together, running a good gammut of emotions, with a general air high quality and pleasing air of tally ho upper class Britishness.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: The Sausage on January 24, 2011, 07:09:02 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but saw the Akira Kurosawa classic "Ran" at the weekend; Ran means 'chaos' apparently. It's based on a parable about a Japanese warlord, but has very striking similarities with King Lear.

It's set in fuedal Japan, and the costumes, sets, battle scenes and atmosphere are sensational. Primarily though, it is a great story, and beautifully and dramatically told. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 24, 2011, 11:52:39 pm
Saw Ran recently myself for the first time - on a new Bluray DVD version that looked lovely.  I second the recommendation -  don't be put off by the length, as it doesn't outstay its welcome. 

I reckon Kurasawa must have the most consistantly brilliant back catalogue of any director.  The likes of the Seven Samurai, Rashoman, Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo and Throne of Blood are all acknowledged classics.  But, even more"minor", non-Samurai works are really good.  I recently got round to seeing "Ikiru", although I'd heard it was very affecting, I was unprepared for how funny it was.  It's the story of a office drone who, on finding he's dying, tries to get a kids playground built.  Despite age and cultural distance its barbed view of council jobsworths and passing-the buck cultures was spot-on.   High and Low was good too - although the thought of Kurasawa making a a kidnap drama / police procedural based on anEd McBain book still seems odd !
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 28, 2011, 11:16:06 pm
Enjoyed Micmacs  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1149361/)tonight. By Jeunet who did  Amelie although probably more reminiscent of his earlier Delicatessen. All good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 31, 2011, 12:31:06 pm
I've recently seen:

Let The Right One In - As previously recommended on here, it's very good and is more a story about people / relationships than a vampire film.

Blades of Glory - Fucking hilarious. Both me and Mrs S were properly lolling all the way through. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

The Fighter - Great film. Watched this last night and was really impressed. Even Mark Wahlberg is quite good in it and Christian Bale makes a very convincing crackhead but the female performances steal the show, particularly Melissa Leo as the nightmare mother. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 31, 2011, 12:35:45 pm
Blades of glory is hilarious. Totally daft :)

Saw Salt at the weekend... Fairly good run of the mill thriller. A bit over hollywooded but fine for a non thought provoking DVD night in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 12:37:05 pm
Watched Nattevagten (Nightwatch) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110631/) the original version of the film in Danish again last night (was only 3 to buy and enjoyed watching it on rental years ago).  Brilliant film  :thumbsup:  Got Krlighed p film (Just Another Love Story) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024942/), by the same director Ole Bornedal (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0097079/), at the same time for about 3, yet to watch it but will report back when I get round to it.

Fuck going to the cinema at 7/person when you can get great films on DVD for < 50%  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 31, 2011, 12:39:56 pm
Yeah, but you don't get to spend a fortune on shit popcorn and watered down drinks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 12:52:18 pm
I occasionally treat myself to some of these accompanied with a glass of ice that I let melt...

(http://cheaphotsauces.com/images/snacks/HH425_AK_chili_lim_popcorn.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 31, 2011, 01:16:14 pm
Do you invite some random strangers round to walk about in front of your tv and talk / unwrap sweets / eat nachos / get calls on their super loud pink LG phone with Black Eyed Peas ringtone while you're trying to watch the film (whilst banning yourself from having a beer for the duration)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 01:21:28 pm
Usually its just the cats making a fuss for more food or the wife walking out muttering something about "fucking stupid subtitles".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 31, 2011, 02:05:40 pm
Do you invite some random strangers round to walk about in front of your tv and talk / unwrap sweets / eat nachos / get calls on their super loud pink LG phone with Black Eyed Peas ringtone while you're trying to watch the film (whilst banning yourself from having a beer for the duration)?

You also need to make the carpets nice and sticky (ooer) to get that full multiplex experience.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 31, 2011, 02:08:10 pm
The more I think about it, the more I realise why we never go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 31, 2011, 02:45:23 pm
The more I think about it, the more I realise why we never go.

Don't get me started on the fucking 3D tax they've introduced!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 02:56:05 pm
The more I think about it, the more I realise why we never go.

Don't get me started on the fucking 3D tax they've introduced!

Why 3D is dead in the water (http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/post_4.html)

Quote from: Walter Murch
The biggest problem with 3D, though, is the "convergence/focus" issue. A couple of the other issues -- darkness and "smallness" -- are at least theoretically solvable. But the deeper problem is that the audience must focus their eyes at the plane of the screen -- say it is 80 feet away. This is constant no matter what.

But their eyes must converge at perhaps 10 feet away, then 60 feet, then 120 feet, and so on, depending on what the illusion is. So 3D films require us to focus at one distance and converge at another. And 600 million years of evolution has never presented this problem before. All living things with eyes have always focused and converged at the same point.

If we look at the salt shaker on the table, close to us, we focus at six feet and our eyeballs converge (tilt in) at six feet. Imagine the base of a triangle between your eyes and the apex of the triangle resting on the thing you are looking at. But then look out the window and you focus at sixty feet and converge also at sixty feet. That imaginary triangle has now "opened up" so that your lines of sight are almost -- almost -- parallel to each other.

We can do this. 3D films would not work if we couldn't. But it is like tapping your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time, difficult. So the "CPU" of our perceptual brain has to work extra hard, which is why after 20 minutes or so many people get headaches. They are doing something that 600 million years of evolution never prepared them for. This is a deep problem, which no amount of technical tweaking can fix. Nothing will fix it short of producing true "holographic" images.

Maxivision48 sounds interesting (http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/more_than_ever_the_future_of_f.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 31, 2011, 02:57:23 pm
Went to see Black Swan a couple of nights ago. Very good indeed but quite dark and disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 31, 2011, 07:10:09 pm
Went to see Black Swan a couple of nights ago. Very good indeed but quite dark and disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.

 :agree:

Compulsive viewing, but very disturbing in places.

About five or ten minutes in, I thought my Mum would like it having been pro ballet dancer in her youth. 30-40 minutes in I'd dramatically changed that view!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 01, 2011, 03:09:53 pm
Had some films through the door from LoveFilm the other day Team America and The Secretary.

The former was as expected humorous, clever, entertaining etc.

The later was not the Saturday night sit-in-with-the-GF light entertainment we were expecting! It was good, if difficult viewing. It explores some odd themes, but does so in a way that doesnt seem to glorify it, or make too much of a moral statement. Well acted and directed. As shes a fairly new GF, I did have to explain that its not my usual type of film, and no, Im not into spanking
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on February 01, 2011, 03:25:31 pm
Went to see Black Swan a couple of nights ago. Very good indeed but quite dark and disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.

Ditto. Was impressed with this film. Can't say I enjoyed it but thought it was very good.

The shaky camera, Natalie Portman's portrayal of paranoia, the oppressive classical music, and the sound effects that let you hear her breathing and footsteps the whole time add up to an extremely tense film.

I had to go home and watch cartoons for a bit afterwards to chill out!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 01, 2011, 03:34:54 pm
The later was not the Saturday night sit-in-with-the-GF light entertainment we were expecting! It was good, if difficult viewing. It explores some odd themes, but does so in a way that doesnt seem to glorify it, or make too much of a moral statement. Well acted and directed. As shes a fairly new GF, I did have to explain that its not my usual type of film, and no, Im not into spanking

James Spader plays the role well and continues a similar charachter into Boston Legal (seres). This was on again the other day and looked very dated.

Went to see Black Swan a couple of nights ago. Very good indeed but quite dark and disturbing. Not for the faint of heart.

I still can't decide if this is worth seeing at the cinema, it seems to get mixed reactions.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duz on February 01, 2011, 05:50:14 pm
Anyone seen "A serbian movie"?

Wrong, just plain wrong, wrong in an irreversible way but way wronger.

 :o
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on February 12, 2011, 12:06:34 am
Just watched Troll Hunter, a Norwegian film in documentry style. Definately worth a go for something a bit different. Further details here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 12, 2011, 12:16:33 am
Had some films through the door from LoveFilm the other day Team America and The Secretary.

The former was as expected humorous, clever, entertaining etc.

The later was not the Saturday night sit-in-with-the-GF light entertainment we were expecting! It was good, if difficult viewing. It explores some odd themes, but does so in a way that doesnt seem to glorify it, or make too much of a moral statement. Well acted and directed. As shes a fairly new GF, I did have to explain that its not my usual type of film, and no, Im not into spanking

Brilliant film, in so many ways.
I once watched "a complete history of my sexual failings" with my sister and a new gf. Don't know what i was thinking, the clue is most definitely in the title. It's a self-made documentary. Again, what the fuck was i thinking!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 12, 2011, 12:24:43 am
are you sure that wasn't a mad dream? it sounds very surreal
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 12, 2011, 09:17:41 am
Anyone seen "A serbian movie"?

Wrong, just plain wrong, wrong in an irreversible way but way wronger.

 :o

Yup, that's pretty much what the reviews said so I steered well clear!!  :o

The Secretary.

Brilliant film, in so many ways.
I once watched "a complete history of my sexual failings" with my sister and a new gf. Don't know what i was thinking, the clue is most definitely in the title. It's a self-made documentary. Again, what the fuck was i thinking!

Went to watch Blue Valentine the other day with the GF - another great film with Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. It also has some "interesting" moments - didn't bother us at all, but the Mother/Father/19yr old Daughter combo in the row in front were certainly finding it uncomfortable! At times you could actually see the gulf between the girl and her dad grow as the scene went on - classic! (The graphic man giving woman vigorous head scene was a personal favourite in the awkwardness stakes!)

Very good film, dark and sombre, with some light hearted moments. A tale of love and loss.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mikomon on February 13, 2011, 10:08:24 am
If you don't mind subtitles, check out La Haine (the hate). Its set in paris and according to the box is "a portrait of an inner city, multiracial community drawn together by boredom, anger, prejudice and pounding rap music".  I've watched it a fair few times now and it's still hair on the back of my neck-lifting tackle, oldish but ###### full-on
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 13, 2011, 06:24:04 pm
If you don't mind subtitles, check out La Haine (the hate). Its set in paris and according to the box is "a portrait of an inner city, multiracial community drawn together by boredom, anger, prejudice and pounding rap music".  I've watched it a fair few times now and it's still hair on the back of my neck-lifting tackle, oldish but ###### full-on

The French primeminister of the time made his cabinate sit down and watch it as a demonstration of what was happening in the Paris suburbs

and yes awesome film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 16, 2011, 10:00:27 am
I was disappointed with The Fighter, we watched it at the weekend.  I don't really know why though, it just wasn't what I expected, I think maybe because we'd been talking about the story beforehand and what happened in the film wasn't really what had been explained to me about his career and fighting style and stuff.  The characters were amazing though, that family, all the sisters!! :lol:

Also watched NEDs which was ok but again not what I expected at all and went a bit odd at the end, I'm not really sure how it finished up.  It was fun to watch though and brought back a lot of memories from school and younger days despite the fact I'm a generation behind the people featured in the film.

I've got Troll Hunter downloaded but I don't know if I can bring myself to watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 16, 2011, 10:02:31 am
Has anyone seen True Grit yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2011, 10:11:09 am
Magpie - see middle previous page.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 16, 2011, 11:13:20 am
Yes, me.  :)

It was much better than I expected, well worth a watch, I'd say.  The wee girl is fantastic in it.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 17, 2011, 07:48:19 am
I want to see the Troll Hunter. Hmmm how did I forget about that one?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 19, 2011, 12:38:47 pm
I really enjoyed True Grit. I can't make any comparisons between the original or other Westerns as its not really a genre I've been exposed to.
I think the best thing about it is just the feeling of adventure and pioneering that comes across throughout the film. The action is well interspersed with some good comedic scenes and its very well shot. The relationship between the three main characters is great too.
Only problem is that sometimes Jeff Bridges should really have subtitles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 21, 2011, 11:17:31 am
Animal Kingdom

Some Melbourne gangsters (with a scary Barbara Windsor type mum) get into an escalating contretemps with the police. Various incidents of gun crime, murder and blockies ensue. Entirely unexpected ending (assuming you don't check it on Wikipedia).

Based on various true stories.

Yossarian rating - 8/10

I concur. Watched this on Saturday. Very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 21, 2011, 12:19:12 pm
Watched The Bahder Meinhoff Complex last week.    A fairly good dramatisation of events leading up to and during the reign of terror by the Red Army Faction in the 60's and 70's. 



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 21, 2011, 05:16:41 pm
I agree. I watched it around the same time as Mesrine, and thought they both captured that grimy 70s look pretty well.

I saw Breach the other night - not sure if it's been mentioned before.  Concerns the story of the final period leading up to the arrest of FBI traitor Robert Hanssen.  Ryan Phillipe and Chris Cooper. Not altogether satisfying, though I don't suppose that was really the point...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Seb on February 21, 2011, 05:24:49 pm
Im not sure if this has already been mentioned but I just saw Black Dynamite. Its a spoof / homage to 70s Blaxploitation. Good fun B movie nonsense with some very funny moments and lines.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on February 23, 2011, 11:03:17 am
Few i have watched this week. Both really good.

The next three days
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458175/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458175/)
Guess they couldn't afford Liam Neeson for very long!
8/10

The Mechanic
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/)
Not as good as Transporter films, but decent storyline. Even if a bit predictable!
7/10

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hairich on February 23, 2011, 08:46:33 pm
i watched the original swedish girl with the dragon tattoo last night.bloody great film.although the rape scene is not for the faint hearted
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 23, 2011, 08:58:35 pm
So far the evening viewing in Font has included

Legion - a well acted angels vs, well you'd expect demons but... sort of thing. Won't be to everyones taste, definitely not high brow cinima but enjoyable supernatural action hi-jinx

Ponyo - beautifully animated and at times quite touching fair from Studio Ghibli. Felt the story was wrapped up in a bit of a hurry at the end but other than than lovely.

Whip it - Roller Derby coming of age drama with "Juno's" Ellen Paige (how long will she still be Juno's Ellen Paige I wonder...). I'm a sucker for the well executed, touching family/coming of age type drama so I wasn't suprised that I loved it - not as sacrine as it could have been which was good.

A side point - all three were rented very cheaply from the village library, if we hadn't been taking Jr T to get books regularly I wouldn't have thought of getting DVD's there - suprisingly they have a very good and up to date selection...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 24, 2011, 06:42:28 pm
and of course we've watched Cars a number of times with Jr T whilst waiting for the rain to go away...  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on February 26, 2011, 09:30:58 pm
i watched the original swedish girl with the dragon tattoo last night.bloody great film.although the rape scene is not for the faint hearted
I thought all 3 films were pretty good - better than the books imo. Agree on watching the Swedish versions, don't go for the overdubbed English. Can't see how the upcoming Hollywood remakes are going to be as good.


Anyway, just went to see Animal Kingdom (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1313092/) tonight - gritty, dark and gripping - excellent!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 28, 2011, 09:47:59 am
Watched Skeletons at the weekend, weird but good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on March 13, 2011, 11:04:45 pm
Watched 'Pulling John' the other night. A documentary about arm wrestling and the legendary John Brzenk. Good on several levels, I particularly enjoyed comparing the humility of the two main challengers to the Brzenk thrown.
watched this myself last night.
top film, really enjoyed it. well worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 27, 2011, 08:04:03 pm
The Adjustment Bureau

Great, really enjoyable, good balance of being nice and watchable and intriguing too. Some speechs made me smile too. Ending was weak and soppy though and the concept doesn't bear to deeper scrutiny.

Elise was very good and I utterly adored her in the early scenes  :wub:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 29, 2011, 01:55:29 pm
Don't think I'll bother with this one.......

http://cavecitysink.tumblr.com/post/4167367840/this-movie-made-me-feel-bad-to-be-alive-a-review-of (http://cavecitysink.tumblr.com/post/4167367840/this-movie-made-me-feel-bad-to-be-alive-a-review-of)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 30, 2011, 09:38:33 am
Are you sure?

Quote
I am going to assume that his next film will begin with forty pounds of dog feces being dropped directly onto the head of an innocent person eating Sno-Caps.

Got me checking show times at the multiplex.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on March 30, 2011, 10:07:15 am
I went to see submarine recently and thought it was really excellent. I was prepared to be a bit disappointed and endure another quirky rom com, but it was actually very very good. Would highly recommend it. Made me want to buy a super 8 camera for some old school grainy filming.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on March 31, 2011, 06:40:34 pm
Im not sure if this has already been mentioned but I just saw Black Dynamite. Its a spoof / homage to 70s Blaxploitation. Good fun B movie nonsense with some very funny moments and lines.

Totally.
"Black Dynamite, that was the best night of my life"
"Ssssh, you'll wake the other bitches"
 8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 04, 2011, 09:34:46 am
Frost/Nixon which was amazing, I really enjoyed it.  Watergate isn't really something I knew very much about but the film was really interesting and the characters were so well played, I'd definitely recommend it.

London Boulevard which was good, I enjoyed it but it wasn't amazing, worth a watch if there is nothing else on.

From Paris with love; totally crass, unintelligent shoot em up.  It was mildly amusing in bits but it was so poorly done and obvious throughout.  I did like JT in it though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 04, 2011, 10:38:35 am
Whilst on hol we took a few DVDs and had a classic 80s/90s movie fest. Watched 'Dazed and confused' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106677/) for the umpteenth time but the first time in ages. Reminded a)quite what a brilliant and funny movie it is and b) Matthew McConaughey used to be brilliant but now just makes shite romcoms.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 04, 2011, 11:09:10 am
Watched Frozen on Friday night, so bad it's funny. Plays out the "what would you do if you got stuck here" conversation that crops up on chairlifts.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 04, 2011, 12:07:53 pm
I'm looking forward to tomtom's review of Watchmen.  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on April 04, 2011, 08:47:28 pm
That's the one with Angelina Jolie right, and the suicide rats?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 05, 2011, 09:31:20 am
Yeah and something to do with sewing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 08, 2011, 09:46:35 am
We watched Temple Grandin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1278469/) last night, I liked it (enough to sob quietly at the end of the film  :'( ), Clair Danes was fantastic in it, she played the part so well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on April 08, 2011, 03:29:43 pm
I've watched Let Me In (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1228987/), Death at a Funeral (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1321509/) and Limitless (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/) in the last couple of weeks.

To be honest I wouldn't really recommend any of them. Let Me In is almost scene for scene the same as Let the Right One In, but not done anywhere nearly as well - although it's not actually a bad film it just doesn't offer anything over the original and I don't know why they bothered.

Death at a Funeral was slightly funny in places, but nothing special - there was one scene in particular with Danny Glover's character being helped to the toilet which was particularly gross (which I found funny).

Limitless had the potential to be a good film, it's a fairly original idea and could have been so much more...but frankly didn't deliver.

I've just read about a new Japanese film today called Cold Fish (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632547/) which looks pretty good, might try and get to watch that next.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 11, 2011, 09:44:44 am
Buried (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1462758/) - I wouldn't bother watching it unless you're really stuck for something else to watch, not a great film and it gave me mild palpitations a couple of times through feeling claustrophobic.
Battle Los Angeles (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217613/) - cheesy action nonsense, ok for what it was but not really worth seeing unless you have never seen an 'aliens attack America' film ever before. 
Also watched about 85% of The Way Back (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023114/) before falling asleep, it was pretty good but too quiet and slow to keep me awake at 1am, I will watch the end at some point though as it was a decent film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on April 11, 2011, 11:06:48 am
Went to see Oranges and Sunshine at the weekend. It is about the uncovering of the deportation of children in care to Australia by the British Government. A very good film. Really well acted, a couple real heart wrenching moments, and you come out with a whole load of mixed emotions going on. Top!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 22, 2011, 09:36:51 pm
Just watched Dark City (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118929/) on DVD

A rather good bit of sci-fi noir - rather suprised it's not on any of the "best sci-fi" movies list
If you like that kind of thing I'd highly recommend it......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on May 09, 2011, 11:01:40 pm
Source Code

From the trailer I described it as "Groundhog Day meets Speed meets The Matrix". And watching it it was pretty much Groundhog Day meets Speed meets The Matrix. Cool film I liked it a lot. Just nicely done and interesting how it pans out. Manages to do a lot with very little (a train, a small room, a science lab, and 5 main characters), the army girl is cool, and the feelgood ending is pretty nice too. Could have been slicker in places and possibly deeper but still good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 10, 2011, 06:37:19 pm
Just watched Senna - I was a only 11 when it happened and I don't think I was actually watching that race, but I definitely remember it happeneing.

What an incredibly moving film. His face on the grid of Imola was like a man off to war. Scary.


 :-[ Just realised it's not released in the UK until June 3rd. Woops.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 10, 2011, 06:51:01 pm
Anyone seen 'Meek's Cutoff'? Looks like my kind of thing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 11, 2011, 04:45:22 pm
Just watched Senna - I was a only 11 when it happened and I don't think I was actually watching that race, but I definitely remember it happeneing.


I was at the Newstones/Baldstones for the first time with Al Williams listening to it on the radio on the way to the crag.. I'd like to see the film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on May 11, 2011, 07:32:37 pm
As part of a conversation at work today, re: Triumph des Willens


Have they done a remake?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 16, 2011, 03:59:58 pm
The Hudsucker Proxy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110074/), it was good, I liked it, it was a lot funnier than I expected.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 16, 2011, 04:01:36 pm
Monsters- wank. save yourselves 2.50 and punch yourself in the balls for 90 minutes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 13, 2011, 07:54:07 pm
The Secret in Their Eyes - A great slow burning Spanish subtitled thriller that won the Oscar for best "foreign" film last year (I think).  Currently on Sky movies if you know someone who has it.
 
Senna - Worth all the accolades and plaudits and then some.  For a documentary it's unusual in that there are no talking-heads or voiceovers.  The whole film is cut from archive film and TV which gives it a tremendous feeling of immediacy that keeps you gripped throughout.   A fitting tribute to a great man.  Go see at the Cinema if you can.

I have Wake Wood and Lemmy on rental on the iPad
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on June 14, 2011, 12:15:21 am
I am number  4...I am a pile of post curry number 2, more like.

Not an original idea in the whole thing. If you ignore the shameless Twilight rip off, insipid acting, dire script and shocking plot holes, It'd still be more fun to buff your balls with an angle grinder and fill your arse with broken glass.

I'm never getting that time back.

The Rite was much more entertaining, despite the disappointing ending.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 14, 2011, 11:43:51 am
Paul - Very good, I liked it a lot, it was very funny and not at all what I expected, I loved all the little nods to other Sci-Fi films throughout it too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on June 15, 2011, 08:32:08 am
 
Senna - Worth all the accolades and plaudits and then some.  For a documentary it's unusual in that there are no talking-heads or voiceovers.  The whole film is cut from archive film and TV which gives it a tremendous feeling of immediacy that keeps you gripped throughout.   A fitting tribute to a great man.  Go see at the Cinema if you can.

That's twice I've read "There's no talking heads" which I found odd, thinking "I'm sure there was at least 40 minutes worth of talking heads, are you all blind?!?!"

Went to the cinema to watch it last night and went "Ahhhhhh" - the copy I was given was not the final edit!  all the voicover's from commentators/journos etc. were shown in full (i.e. "talking heads"). Also explains why it's 1hr 10 minutes shorter in the cinema!

Glad I went to see it again. Once again, the shot of him at the grid in Imola was scary! It was as if he new what was going to happen...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Simon Brown on June 26, 2011, 09:49:07 am
Potiche, a rather charming and knowingly kitsch look at late 1970's relatively wealthy provincial French family life and politics. Some sly humour and one or two vicious digs at bloody mindedness. Nice to see the chief protagonists in a film cast as slightly weathered middle aged folk (played by Grard Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve,) making the best of their way in the world; with no guns or botox and the visible side effects of good food and wine.

Managed to raise belly laughs and some tears from two supposed adults and our fifteen year old daughter.

On a side note, my wife has two hearing aids; she reports the audio loop in screen3 at The Showroom let her hear a film better than she has done for twenty years.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 27, 2011, 11:44:52 am
The Priest, Arthur and Source Code are all worth a watch.  I was expecting Arthur to be shit but I actually really enjoyed it, you do need to be a fan of Russell Brand though otherwise I suspect you'd hate it.

The Hangover 2 is a massive letdown.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 27, 2011, 12:02:10 pm
Limitless (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219289/) is good. Daft escapist fun but well done.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 27, 2011, 02:33:52 pm
Yeah, it is good, I saw that recently too.  I like Bradley Cooper.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 27, 2011, 03:10:19 pm
Do 2 Unlimited do the theme tune?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 04, 2011, 07:06:30 pm
Probably already covered here (translated means I cant be arsed to look back through the thread..), But...

Me & MrsTT watched the Fighter last night.

What a superb film. Brilliant. Engaging, and based on a true story (watch the credits if you see it.. its unmissable..).

MrsTT is not a boxing fan, but really enjoyed it.. Affleck and Warhberg were superb. 10/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 04, 2011, 09:39:10 pm
Just watched My Neighbour Totoro - so beautiful
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 05, 2011, 12:11:13 pm
Peacock (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1188113/); it's weird and the ending isn't as good as I'd hoped but it's quite a cool film, Cillian Murphy is excellent it and make a VERY convincing lady.

I wasn't that impressed with The Fighter, it was ok but I wouldn't tell people to rush out and see it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 06, 2011, 11:12:47 am
Monsters - slow, sparse, but good. Settings and people were done pretty well, I liked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 11, 2011, 04:26:35 pm
The new X Men is awesome although I have a bit of a soft spot for that sort of film, definitely worth seeing if you liked the other ones though.

The Lives of Others which we watched off the back of loads of really good reviews and it just wasn't as great as I was hoping, I also found the subtitles pretty hard going as they were small and the pace of them was awfully fast as it's a rather wordy film. 

Man on Fire which we watched because it was supposed to be like Taken but wasn't half as good, I didn't think, worth a watch if you're stuck but not brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on July 12, 2011, 08:14:24 am

Brighton Rock - Well shot, beautiful bleak colours, the early 60s setting with costumes, cars, sets etc looked great but...... moving it to the early 60s and mixing it up with the mods/rockers meant I was a bit lost as to where Pinkie and the rival gang fitted in. They seemed a bit incongruous as if they were from an earlier time (which I guess they were). I also struggled to believe in Pinkie and his ability to seduce Rose with niggled a bit.

Anyway, worth watching but not wow.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 21, 2011, 08:41:30 am
Watched Cell 211 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1242422/) last night. I could ramble on about it for ages but suffice to say it's the best film I've seen in a long time. Worth watching for Luis Tosar's (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869088/) voice alone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davey_C on July 21, 2011, 11:45:15 am
Recently watched Super (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1512235/), which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's the same concept as Kick-Ass (wannabe super hero), except darker and a LOT more violent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 21, 2011, 11:53:43 am
Ironclad (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233301/) is pretty good, although it contained the most lifelike and gratuitous violence I have seen in a film for some time.  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 21, 2011, 01:23:08 pm
The new X Men is awesome although I have a bit of a soft spot for that sort of film, definitely worth seeing if you liked the other ones though.

I thought this was pretty good until the last action scene then it all got a little bit tacky.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 21, 2011, 02:42:51 pm
Yeah, it was a bit cheesy at the end.  I kind of expect stuff like that to have a bit of cheese though so I let it slide. :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 21, 2011, 05:54:13 pm
I think it's been recommended earlier on but I rented Fire in Babylon off iTunes and it's bloody brilliant.  Documentary telling the story of the West Indies cricket team under Clive Loyd during the eighties. With this and Senna, its a great year for Sports films
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 18, 2011, 04:13:20 pm
Watched Another Year (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/nov/04/another-year-film-review) recently and I completely disagree with this review.

I love some of Mike Leigh's stuff. Happy-Go-Lucky (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045670/) is really good and Secrets & Lies (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117589/) one of my favourite films of all time. However Another Year, despite great acting and some nice touches of dark comedy, just wasn't interesting or unpredictable enough to make enjoyable viewing of the thoroughly depressing subject matter.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 19, 2011, 11:45:51 am

Source Code It got a rare five stars (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/mar/31/source-code-review) rating from the Guardian's reviewer ... I wouldn't argue with that. A very tight elegant bit of film-making.


 :agree:

We watched this last night. Superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 19, 2011, 11:49:59 am
I concur. Very nicely done. Groundhog Matrix ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 19, 2011, 12:16:27 pm
I liked Arthur.  :-[  I want to see Sucker Punch but the hetrosexual male in my life doesn't seem keen.  >:(

Watched Super 8 last night, it's really good, a proper epic kids adventure.  I really enjoyed it, it felt like the big kids films my dad use to bring home for us when we were younger like The Goonies.  The kids in it are really great, it's well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 19, 2011, 12:41:57 pm
I want to see Sucker Punch but the hetrosexual male in my life doesn't seem keen.  >:(


Don't think I'll bother with this one.......

http://cavecitysink.tumblr.com/post/4167367840/this-movie-made-me-feel-bad-to-be-alive-a-review-of (http://cavecitysink.tumblr.com/post/4167367840/this-movie-made-me-feel-bad-to-be-alive-a-review-of)



 ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 19, 2011, 03:18:16 pm
I have been banned from reading that, the computer thinks it's either pr0n or social networking and therefor not suitable for viewing in work time. :D  I'll check it out later.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 19, 2011, 03:28:05 pm
I read the review on my phone.  I might give it a miss, I had no idea that was what it was about and it sounds vile, cheers J.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on August 19, 2011, 05:30:00 pm

Source Code It got a rare five stars (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/mar/31/source-code-review) rating from the Guardian's reviewer ... I wouldn't argue with that. A very tight elegant bit of film-making.


 :agree:

We watched this last night. Superb.

Excellent this landed on the doormat today :)

Saw monsters this week and really liked it. Superb, especially considering the budget..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on August 19, 2011, 08:03:09 pm
out of my recent cinema trips:

transformers 3-better than the second one but not as good as the first.the new girl is way hotter than megan fox though ;)

green lantern-watchable and the gf loved it but bit dissapointed

hangover 2-amazing,well funny possibly even better than the first

horrible bosses-well funny
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: al123 on August 19, 2011, 08:48:27 pm
The Inbetweeners!!!!!!!  :2thumbsup:
the film shoots, it scores, right up the V**......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on August 19, 2011, 11:53:35 pm
Yeah the inbetweeners was brilliant! So many good scenes ;D Recently spent 9 hours in a plane on the way back from the states. I had time to watch Fast and the Furious 5 - High class action where you never have to pay attention. great. Your Highness - Surprisingly funny, and Natalie Portman in a thong  :-[
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on August 19, 2011, 11:56:08 pm
Oh yeah and I watched Thor. It was shit, waste of time. Wouldn't have paid to see it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on August 20, 2011, 11:38:50 am
I watched quite an amusing film called Super the other night. like a kick-ass rip off with a dark ending but overall pretty good. It's a specific type of comedy that won't be everyones taste, so be warned!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Percy B on August 21, 2011, 09:01:47 pm
I will have mentioned One Day Removals before as one to watch. However, I just googled it to send a link to a mate I'd recommended it to recently and I found this. Apparently its one of, if not the most profane film ever made! The scores on the doors are at the end - well over 400 fucks, loads of cunts, but only one wank....impressive stats.
One Day Removals - Sweary Movie (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRvaxZakoTk#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on August 21, 2011, 10:39:23 pm
Thats great :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on August 22, 2011, 10:59:29 am
I think it's been recommended earlier on but I rented Fire in Babylon off iTunes and it's bloody brilliant.  Documentary telling the story of the West Indies cricket team under Clive Loyd during the eighties. With this and Senna, its a great year for Sports films

Another vote for Fire In Babylon from me, I bought it about a month ago and I've already watched it three times...though I am a cricket geek so this may have something to do with it!

Watched The Adjustment Bureau over the weekend - was OK, a twisty/turny thriller trying to be a bit too clever in my opinion but worth a watch nevertheless.

Some good recommendations here, just reminded me I need to check out Senna and Source Code.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 22, 2011, 11:42:32 am
hangover 2-amazing,well funny possibly even better than the first
Really?  I thought it was pretty shit, nowhere near as funny as the first one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on August 22, 2011, 11:46:28 am
hangover 2-amazing,well funny possibly even better than the first
Really?  I thought it was pretty shit, nowhere near as funny as the first one.

concur, just like the first one but not as funny in parts.

watched Inbetweeners movie yesterday, just like an extended episode with just as many cringeworthy bits, boring gap filler bits and an ending like it was splurted out thru a disney distribution centre
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 04, 2011, 11:20:06 pm
http://www.curzoncinemas.com/film_on_demand/ (http://www.curzoncinemas.com/film_on_demand/)

 8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andybfreeman on September 05, 2011, 09:03:19 am
I think it's been recommended earlier on but I rented Fire in Babylon off iTunes and it's bloody brilliant.  Documentary telling the story of the West Indies cricket team under Clive Loyd during the eighties. With this and Senna, its a great year for Sports films

Another vote for Fire In Babylon from me

 :agree: Fire in Babylon is superb, had it from Lovefilm last week. Senna is excellent and everyone, not just F1 geeks, should enjoy it (IMHO)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 05, 2011, 11:59:11 am
I will have mentioned One Day Removals before as one to watch. However, I just googled it to send a link to a mate I'd recommended it to recently and I found this. Apparently its one of, if not the most profane film ever made! The scores on the doors are at the end - well over 400 fucks, loads of cunts, but only one wank....impressive stats.

One of the guys in that film owns a sex shop not far from where I work (never been in though, honest!). He also does stand-up comedy and I can confirm he's a foul mouthed bugger.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on September 14, 2011, 07:00:34 pm
Watched The Guard the other night. Very good. Same guy as in In Bruge (Brendon Gleeson) and sort of similar humour as well. Well worth an hour and a half of anyone's time:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jmews on September 14, 2011, 09:59:16 pm
Saw Leaves of Grass recently. Edward Norton playing two very different twin brothers. I enjoyed it, but not entirely sure why. I think I would definitely recommend it, though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 16, 2011, 01:24:17 pm
TROLL!!!!

The Troll Hunter
Very cool, well done in a Troll Witch Project style, comedy funny in places, made all the better by how completely straight and dead pan it's played, especially the main character. Okay there's some plot holes and the trolls could have been scarier, but does exactly what it says on the tin. Oh, I did find the constant rain a bit depressing though, too much like Scottish climbing trips!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 17, 2011, 11:31:46 pm
Just back from 'Tinker tailor soldier spy'. In a word Sublime.

Made like an old school film, great actors, story, screenplay, cinematography.. Non fancy cgi or MTV sound track. Don't take any noisy sweets though :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on September 18, 2011, 05:03:13 pm
Can't deciede if its overall good but for sheer crazyness machette is worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 18, 2011, 06:01:44 pm
Just back from 'Tinker tailor soldier spy'. In a word Sublime.

Made like an old school film, great actors, story, screenplay, cinematography.. Non fancy cgi or MTV sound track. Don't take any noisy sweets though :)

Me and mrsTT have been talking about the film all day today.. it was really really good.. still salivating over some of the camerawork... one c.5 min single take/shot scene filmed on a super long lens really sticks in the mind.. Just outstanding.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on September 18, 2011, 06:32:16 pm

Hope to catch Tinker Tailor.. soon. I've been slowly working my way through all LeCarre's audiobooks whilst out driving.

If you're interested, the original film is all watchable on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC95824BF4DD2A8C4 (http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC95824BF4DD2A8C4)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 18, 2011, 06:37:40 pm
Almodovar's The Skin I'm In is superb.  A macabre suspense thriller, I was gripped throughout.  Amazing cinematography and attention to detail.  5 stars from me.

Can't wait to see TTSP.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on September 18, 2011, 07:20:02 pm
Just back from 'Tinker tailor soldier spy'. In a word Sublime.

Made like an old school film, great actors, story, screenplay, cinematography.. Non fancy cgi or MTV sound track. Don't take any noisy sweets though :)

Really looking forward to watching this.

Did you catch Page 8 with Bill Nighy? Was on iplayer for a while. Worth seeking out, it's sort of a TV film, but great spy type action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 18, 2011, 09:04:53 pm
Finally got round to watching 4 Lions from when it was on C4 recently. A lot darker than I expected, but excellent and very funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on September 18, 2011, 09:22:12 pm
my recent dvd watching spell.

limitless-not going to win any oscars but perfectly watchable
attack the block-absolute rubbish imho
unknown-not a patch on taken and not a film i would watch a second time
no strings attached-watchable
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chris20 on September 19, 2011, 01:42:22 pm
Just back from 'Tinker tailor soldier spy'. In a word Sublime.

Made like an old school film, great actors, story, screenplay, cinematography.. Non fancy cgi or MTV sound track. Don't take any noisy sweets though :)

Really looking forward to watching this.

Did you catch Page 8 with Bill Nighy? Was on iplayer for a while. Worth seeking out, it's sort of a TV film, but great spy type action.

Yeah I caught Page 8 and thought it was very good.  Similar to the original Tinker tailor soldier spy in that it isn't fast pace action but great viewing.  Also made even more watchable by the beautiful Rachel Weisz.

Did anyone watch or have seen City of men? Was on the bbc last night but I'm planning on watching it on the iplayer
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 19, 2011, 02:10:22 pm
Yeah I caught Page 8 and thought it was very good.  Similar to the original Tinker tailor soldier spy in that it isn't fast pace action but great viewing.  Also made even more watchable by the beautiful Rachel Weisz.

+1
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on September 19, 2011, 02:13:38 pm
If you say so. (http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/762000/762458_f879_625x1000.jpg)  :whistle:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 19, 2011, 02:28:22 pm
(http://thefilmstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Rachel-Weisz.jpg)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hCEkCtAlKgc/Tgd4Dm9Wc1I/AAAAAAAAINE/ei6ou9DfZyo/s1600/rachel-weisz-images-maxim.jpg)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uJD-dSdHhmo/SdS1ql21-FI/AAAAAAAABxg/vk_IypyPdXs/s400/RachelWeisz5.jpg)

 :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on September 19, 2011, 02:33:58 pm
 :)

Kylie's (http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/778500/778895_b194_625x1000.jpg) gone off the rails too
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 19, 2011, 03:13:16 pm
No no no. Not even opening that.  :spank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on September 19, 2011, 05:32:45 pm
Just back from 'Tinker tailor soldier spy'. In a word Sublime.

Made like an old school film, great actors, story, screenplay, cinematography.. Non fancy cgi or MTV sound track. Don't take any noisy sweets though :)

I really enjoyed it. I found it quite amusing watching the first of the new series Spooks last night with it's sharp suits, money and ninja-ing people to death compared to the drab seventies colours, the years doing import/export as a cover or trawling round the embassies of the world and the fact it's all solved by sitting in a crap hotel reading the contents of faded manilla folders.

A few comments:
Didn't think any of the changes from the book detracted at all. Quality film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 20, 2011, 02:38:11 am
Colin Firth picked up a stutter during the making of Kings Speech.

I just watched Bridesmaids on the plane... very funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on September 20, 2011, 09:18:43 am
Kill List - http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/sep/01/kill-list-film-review (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/sep/01/kill-list-film-review)

Saw this last week. Low budget, bleak, uban look. Excellent acting and script. Fair bit of violence (not the glammed up type), but very very good.
Also has the bonus of being filmed in Sheffield so you can play spot that building.

Well worth seeing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 20, 2011, 09:32:25 am
Not sure where else to post this, as it will likely be shite, but anyone who has been climbing at Boltsheugh or any of the other Newtonhill crags will recognise some of the locations.

Attack of the Herbals OFFICIAL TRAILER (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfEfu1l1B-s#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: superfurrymonkey on September 21, 2011, 10:33:47 pm
Attack the block. Very enjoyable, funny and an awesome soundtrack. Nice cinematography too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 22, 2011, 06:03:38 am
Saw One Day the other week, which I thought was better than the reviews said - not as good as the book but quite captivating. 7/10


On the flight out here to Azeriland I watched Super 8 which was really good - exciting, good plot, liked it! 8/10

Then I watched Midnight in Paris whihc was uttelry gash - I read a few reviews afterwords which blabbed on about how wonderful it was but I thnk people maybe get too excited just because it's woody allen - I thought Owen Wilson was fvcking awful in the lead role. 4/10 mainly for thje sets and feeling of the film. Maybe could've been 6/10 if you replaced Owen Wilson!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Seb on September 27, 2011, 10:39:55 am
I saw Rushmore in the cinema yesterday. Forgot how funny it was, its possibly my favourate Wes Anderson film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on September 27, 2011, 10:44:53 am

"They're my OR scrubs"

"Oh are they......."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 03, 2011, 09:57:30 am
Don't think these have had a mention yet...

Drive - Nicholas Winding Refn-directed thriller / car movie / delicious piece of cinematic art.  The best film I've seen for, umm, ages.  Curiously timeless.  Not seen TTSS yet, but it'll have to be very good to eclipse this...

Hanna - Thriller about a teenage assassin, but far less trivial than that sounds.  Almost like a grown-up Bourne film, but starring a teenage girl.  Particularly excellent acting by Tom Hollander as sadistic German nightclub owner and catcher of people.

I also watched Horrible Bosses, which I am almost (but not quite) ashamed to say was very amusing...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 03, 2011, 10:19:56 am
I'd be surprised if this has not had a mention somewhere in these 70 pages; but Amores Perros; what a movie! Amazing, absolutely amazing. Although, it has to be said, not one to watch if you need cheering up, or are sqeamish about the sight of horribly mauled dogs, or indeed people.
The way that seperate storylines are skillfully woven together into a  thematic thread in this movie is a great example of what many Hollywood movie makers aspire to, but generally manage to achieve only a crude example of.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Seb on October 04, 2011, 06:43:57 pm
Nthing Drive. Saw it yesterday with my friend who was seeing it for the second time in two days. Totally blew me away. Everything about it was amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 04, 2011, 06:54:33 pm
Yeah, I watched Drive twice in two days too. Never done that before.  Might go again at the weekend!

It is nearly perfect.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Seb on October 04, 2011, 10:00:31 pm
I'm definitely going again at the weekend. My friend said it was better the second time. I think ill have to go with some one who hasn't seen it yet as well to get their reaction.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 10, 2011, 08:51:35 am
 :agree:

We watched this last night. It's stunning.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 17, 2011, 08:49:13 am
Finally got round to watching Just Another Love Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024942/) yesterday.  Like the original Nightwatch (from the same director before it was remade with Ewen McGregor) its quite dark in places and the filming style reflects this.  Would recommend it.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 17, 2011, 12:41:34 pm
Got around to watching Stardust  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/)last night, actually pretty good for a fantasy cheese-fest. Great cast not taking themselves too seriously. De Niro is great, and I could watch Clare Danes all day... :wub: Currently seems to be shown at least once a week on E4 or other channels.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on October 23, 2011, 11:46:16 pm
another  :thumbsup: for drive.

And does visualising murdering people who  :popcorn: throughout the entire film make me a sociapath?  What would dexter do?

Tim
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 31, 2011, 05:11:37 pm
Contagion :sick:

Really good. Tight, lean, well paced, down to earth but unsentimental. Although I would have prefered a bit more tension towards the end.

A good example of modern thriller type films where they take a fuckupable premise and don't fuck it up. Good soundtrack too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 02, 2011, 05:08:05 pm
Just clocked this trailer, could be worth a viewing...

The Trip - Official Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxq-I_e_KXg#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on November 02, 2011, 05:25:29 pm
saw THOR and Captain America last week,wouldnt rate either for more than one watch so rent rather than buy imho :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 02, 2011, 05:28:12 pm
Slackers,

Wasn't that a BBC series they've mashed together into a film? Assuming it is the same (the clips all seem to be from the series) it was good in the half hour doses but not sure I'd stick a whole film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 02, 2011, 05:48:32 pm
If it was it passed me by. :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: clm on November 02, 2011, 08:37:48 pm
I thought hanna was really good too. Saw the Kevin film . Good but with so much hype about the book I think it was always gonna be difficult to make a movie where everyone already knows the twist.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on November 05, 2011, 09:19:37 pm
Just watched La Haine again - still an awesome film - 16 years on and has anything really changed???
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on November 06, 2011, 12:13:21 pm
went to see contagion last night-itshad mixed reviews but i liked it.more a docu-film than a movie in my eyes but worthwhile none the less
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 09, 2011, 09:17:08 pm
A search suggests no-one has mentioned the incredible Winter's Bone; can this really be true. A fun film for all the family.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on November 09, 2011, 09:24:24 pm
Oh yes they have! Think bubba and I mentioned it a while back, maybe in the books thread though. You read it? Do so if not.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 09, 2011, 10:39:42 pm
On the flight out here to Azeriland I watched Super 8 which was really good - exciting, good plot, liked it! 8/10
Agreed. Nice film.

Quote
Then I watched Midnight in Paris which was utterly gash - I read a few reviews afterwords which blabbed on about how wonderful it was but I think people maybe get too excited just because it's woody allen - I thought Owen Wilson was fucking awful in the lead role. 4/10 mainly for the sets and feeling of the film. Maybe could've been 6/10 if you replaced Owen Wilson!

Disagree! Loved it, both in the little nuggets of detail (for example, the OTT Hemingway character) and the overall escapist premise. And I don't normally seek out Woody Allen films.

In reflection, I was surprised that my parents thought it was fairly good, as we've got similar tastes. I've come to the conclusion that I might not have given it justice, being the third film in a row, on a plane, with a tiny screen!  I still don't think
Owen Wilson was great...

Also caught Rise of the Planet of the Apes flying back from Greece yesterday. Ridiculous plot obviously but the apes are very cool.

Was quite keen to see that one!

Watched The Tree of Life the other day. Can't decide if I liked it or not. I think it's maybe a film for film buffs!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 10, 2011, 07:23:59 am
A search suggests no-one has mentioned the incredible Winter's Bone; can this really be true. A fun film for all the family.

Never trust the search...... (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg293334/topicseen.html#msg293334)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on November 10, 2011, 07:30:00 am
Never trust the search......
Never trust the forum search anyway.

Here's the best way to search ukb.  (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%22winter%27s+bone%22+site%3Aukbouldering.com)

Winter's Bone was the film of last year imo - Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 10, 2011, 07:49:17 am
Winter's Bone was the film of last year imo - Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic.

Agreed. I actually went to Missouri shortly after seeing it. I made sure to stick to St Louis.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 14, 2011, 10:20:21 am
Watched The Town (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0840361/) last night and agree with what others have said on here. Worth watching and certainly has it's moments but the cliche count gets a little high. Some good characters though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Tim Broughtonshaw on November 14, 2011, 10:40:43 am

Winter's Bone was the film of last year imo - Jennifer Lawrence was fantastic.

aye saw this over the weekend. Good Film.  Laura Palmer is looking a bit haggered these days isnt she...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 14, 2011, 10:47:31 am
Watched 'Cemetry junction' on DvD at the weekend. And whilst I would normally rather bbq my cock whilst sticking a blunt rusty syphillitic spoon in my eye, than watch a Ricky Gervais film... it was alright. If not charming in places - though thin in others. Worth it for a mid week DVD night in,.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on November 14, 2011, 11:59:55 am
Saw two pretty good films on DVD this week.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring Korean film. Beautifully shot on some weird floating Buddhist monastery. Bit depressing, think it might have been an odd Buddhist parable of some kind. Ultimately I didn't really know what point the film was making. I thought it was pretty good though.

A Prophet Best prison-based film I've seen since The Shawshank Redemption. Opposite message in a way though. More depressing than life-affirming. Very brutal, very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 14, 2011, 12:20:37 pm
The Ides of March

Went to see this last week. Serviceable entertainment, good performances, slick direction, yet unspectacular - it seemed to be missing punch at the end. Certainly a worthwhile watch though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 14, 2011, 09:26:16 pm
Turnout

This somehow ended up on our Lovefilm list, although I'm not sure how.  Total rubbish, if you want to watch something about East End gangsters I suggest this:

Sunday Observer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEiNrLESexg#)

Washing Machine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAGlUUAmjxk#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 18, 2011, 09:05:28 am
Watched Bridesmaids last night and agree with FD - very funny.

Have heard it described as The Hangover for women and although there are certainly similarities I thought it was a much better film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 18, 2011, 09:43:29 am
Turnout

This somehow ended up on our Lovefilm list,

MrsTT has a worrying control on our (I pay for it) Love film list... an increasing number of love story vampire type shite films seem to be arriving..

Fortunately I'm normally back from work before her, so I can always return them unviewed ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 18, 2011, 09:48:49 am
 :lol: Good effort!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 18, 2011, 09:56:17 am
You mean she doesn't steal your iPad and stream them whilst lying in bed with you for a romantic evening in?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 18, 2011, 10:06:17 am
As if he allows her to touch his iPad. #iphonegaylord
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on November 18, 2011, 10:29:56 am
Went to see "We need to talk about Kevin" and thought it was very good. I was initially quite apprehensive about seeing it, since I thought it might tick too many cliche psychopath boxes. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it in a typical sense, since I found the whole film very unsettling and uncomfortable. But would definitely recommend seeing it if you fancy seeing a movie that will think for several days afterwards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 18, 2011, 10:51:41 am
Be interested to see it, if only to see how it is adapted from the book. Which had me thinking for several weeks afterwards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 20, 2011, 08:39:07 pm
You mean she doesn't steal your iPad and stream them whilst lying in bed with you for a romantic evening in?

Shh... She's not sussed that there's now an iPad love film viewer app... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 20, 2011, 10:05:15 pm
quite apprehensive....  cliche psychopath boxes. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it.... very unsettling and uncomfortable.... think for several days afterwards.

Sounds like going round to Jasper's house
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 05, 2011, 04:33:01 pm
This looks like it could be quite exciting...

TT3D : Closer To The Edge - Official Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldZiR9eQ_0#ws)

 :o
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on December 10, 2011, 10:24:34 pm
Just watched Warrior, very, very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 12, 2011, 12:07:28 pm
I watched In Time (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637688/) last night.

Total shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on December 12, 2011, 12:25:36 pm
anyone seen "the Rum Diaries"? I quite enjoyed it, despite spending most of the film scratching my head trying to remember the book having read it years ago.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on December 16, 2011, 06:00:37 pm
The new Sherlock Holmes one is an interesting diversion

(The Robert Downey / Jude Law retconned "new" one, not the Mark Gatiss new "new" one)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 17, 2011, 01:32:29 am
I am of course 3 years late to the party, but "in the valley of elah" is on iplayer at the mo and made me cry, TLJ's performance is great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on December 17, 2011, 09:26:54 am
I agree, and posted the David scene in Quality non-...I didn't cry though, there was a bit of grit or something.  :'(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 17, 2011, 04:25:06 pm
Watched Eastern Promises last night (finally)
So good on so many levels.....
Not what you'd expect fron Cronenburg.
Subtle and (after the first few minutes) quite understated
No the sort of film I'd watch for a second time but I am very excited about a possible sequal
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 17, 2011, 11:10:44 pm
anyone seen "the Rum Diaries"? I quite enjoyed it, despite spending most of the film scratching my head trying to remember the book having read it years ago.

I thought exactly the same: on both counts. I concluded that maybe the movie wasn't really that much like the novel at all, and perhaps a bit more like 'Withnail and I go to the Carribean'. No worse for that though, i still enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 19, 2011, 11:28:49 am
I watched In Time (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637688/) last night.

Total shite.

Been thinking about this and should have elaborated. This film is total and utter dogshit, do not bother watching it under any circumstances. Possibly the most annoying thing about it (and there are so very many) is that the concept (of time as a currency) was a really interesting one and they totally fucked it up.

Timberlake isn't actually that bad (just quite bad) but some of the other performances are woeful. Add in the fact that the "plot" is so full of holes that it's more hole than plot and that it tries so desperately to be clever and reference the banking system and inequality in society (also failing miserably) and it's basically *INSERT SMUG CRITIC'S JOKE ABOUT "TIME" I'M NOT GETTING BACK HERE*

Avoid.  :shit:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 20, 2011, 06:03:44 pm
Not a full film but certainly a mouth watering trailer....
The Dark Knight Rises official theatrical trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZV9lwDLBqw#ws)
 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: saltbeef on December 20, 2011, 06:19:25 pm
films I've seen recently

good ones - rare exports, submarine, animal kingdom, hanna

not so good ones - biutiful (avoid if you are in a gloomy mood, i nearly ended it)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on December 21, 2011, 04:41:07 pm
I quite liked In Time.  It wasn't great but the concept was good and I was surprised at JT not being totally gash.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on December 26, 2011, 08:43:05 am
Life In A Day (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaFVr_cJJIY#ws)

watched this morning,very good.infact amazing.

watched hangover 2 yesterday,that was a laugh
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on December 26, 2011, 05:21:47 pm
Just went to see the girl with the dragon tattoo with my dad. He's read the book and I haven't.

Like all films based on books they have had to cut a lot out. He really enjoyed it though. I thought you still got a very good idea about the plot and character development. I thought it was great. They've toned down the violence and sex a bit for the film but it's not something to take the grandparents to :whistle:

Strongly reccomend it!
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 26, 2011, 10:21:51 pm
Just went to see the girl with the dragon tattoo with my dad. He's read the book and I haven't.

Like all films based on books they have had to cut a lot out. He really enjoyed it though. I thought you still got a very good idea about the plot and character development. I thought it was great. They've toned down the violence and sex a bit for the film but it's not something to take the grandparents to :whistle:

Strongly reccomend it!

Watch the original film. Im gobsmacked they re-made it.... Iirc they didnt tone down the sexual violence much for the Swedish original...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on December 27, 2011, 08:29:43 pm
Repo Men - pretty good
The Inbetweeners Movie - alright but not as funny as I was expecting
Cowboys and Aliens - shit
Warrior - much better than I was expecting
Contagion - alright, nothing new
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on December 27, 2011, 09:57:40 pm
Saw Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows at the flicks the other day. Full on Guy Richie escapism and in a similar vein to the first. Professor Moriarty was well played and not over the top. Find some comfortable seats as it's long. Half an hour less would have been better in my opinion. Definitely worth a watch if you enjoyed the first one.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 27, 2011, 10:08:49 pm
I rather liked Cowboys and Aliens - I watched it on the basis that I hadn't seen something truly awful for a while and as such needed reset my assessment apparatus.  But it was a pretty amusing romp and the Daniel Craig / Harrison Ford combo worked pretty well.  Not bad at all...

Ides of March - I thought the ending was perfectly judged.  As an antidote to grandiose political thrillers, it worked nicely - blink and you'll miss the devious canny sell-my-mother-for-a-promotion manipulating fuckhead.  I liked the way he dealt with the journalist at the end too. 

Has anyone seen the trailer for Prometheus? Now that should be a cool film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on December 28, 2011, 12:59:35 pm
 :yes: It looks amazing
Prometheus - Official Trailer [TRUE HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 28, 2011, 06:26:50 pm
The Hangover 2 - enjoyed it more than the first but that may simply be due to  :alky:

Limitless - A bit of a let down. The concept seemed pretty interesting but they missed a trick with the ending, surely it'd have been more interesting if he ended up under the thumb of big pharamceutical companies due to more than campaign contributions?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Joepicalli on December 28, 2011, 06:43:55 pm
Hugo in 3D. The message is a touch sententious, the characters a bit thin ( excepting Sir Ben's character). But! The use of 3D is truely brilliant: it enhances the plot, enriches classic shots (the "tracking" shot at the start is endless and totally immersive) and plays on the history of cinema and its effects while using the latest of them.
Loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 29, 2011, 11:14:08 am
The Secret in Their Eyes - A great slow burning Spanish subtitled thriller that won the Oscar for best "foreign" film last year (I think).  Currently on Sky movies if you know someone who has it.
 

Once again a fine recommendation FD.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on December 31, 2011, 02:13:24 pm
I was up with the bro', sister-in-law and their weans at Christmas - they don't have broadcast television - but do havve BT "onDemand"

This little gem was put on to entertain the kids, and ended up entertaining yours truly.

Most amusing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/)

Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on December 31, 2011, 02:21:23 pm
I get to watch it almost every day  :)

Officer Earl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrNxTfVlTBc#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 31, 2011, 04:51:00 pm
The Secret in Their Eyes - A great slow burning Spanish subtitled thriller that won the Oscar for best "foreign" film last year (I think).  Currently on Sky movies if you know someone who has it.
 

Once again a fine recommendation FD.

Oh good. I'm glad someone else liked it.  A really great film...

I tried to watch Kill List last night using HMV on Demand but it was stuttery and kept pausing so gave up.  We've been working through Game of Thrones though on Sky+ which is surprisingly good..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 05, 2012, 11:06:32 am
I watched Kill List the other day.  I must admit that I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to appreciate it.  I think the right frame of mind would probably entail having crashed a very nice new car and then discovered that your insurance actually started tomorrow rather than today - along the lines of nihilistic ennui.  I found it quite horrible - the main protagonist is played by the guy who was the fat bloke in Football Factory. I disliked him intensely in the latter (but that's really Nick Love's fault) and I still find him hard to bear. Anyway, it's a curious, mysterious, bleak and fucking violent, and not entirely resolved film, which I think is exactly what the director intended.

I also watched something from about 5 years ago - the Rise of the Footsoldier.  Repellent, monstrous shit of the highest order. Its only redeeming feature is amusement relating to a hideous wig sported by one of the main characters. Not sure if the costume department intended that to be the case, but even so, it's still pretty funny. But totally shit otherwise.

In Time - Hollywood retard vehicle for Justin Timberlake that would've been lame if it had come out in 1992, but in this day and age it's truly unforgivable. Quite why I bothered to sit through it I'm not sure.

The Inbetweeners - I gave up on the TV series after 5 minutes.  This appalling film is so bad I remained transfixed throughout, persuading myself that it couldn't get any worse, whilst it got worse and worse and worse.  Urgh... I think it might've been made specifically to entertain Alex Reid.

--- At this point I made a conscious decision to stop watching anything remotely rubbish ---

Restrepo - Amazing low budget documentary about a US unit in Afghanistan. Classic modern war reporting.

Gasland - Intriguing and depressing documentary about shale gas extraction in the USA.

Helvetica - The first of Gary Hustwit's trilogy of design documentaries.  Saw Objectified first, and not seen Urbanized. Great films, although I must declare a high degree of design geekery, so possibly not everyone's cup of tea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on January 05, 2012, 11:20:37 am
Just went to see the girl with the dragon tattoo with my dad. He's read the book and I haven't.

Like all films based on books they have had to cut a lot out. He really enjoyed it though. I thought you still got a very good idea about the plot and character development. I thought it was great. They've toned down the violence and sex a bit for the film but it's not something to take the grandparents to :whistle:

Strongly reccomend it!

Having seen the original, i was pleasantly surprised by the new version.  Having said that, it's almost an exact re-make except in English- a lot of the actors seem to have been picked to look like the original cast?!  Certainly recommend it though.

I watched Kill List the other day.  I must admit that I wasn't really in the right frame of mind to appreciate it.  I think the right frame of mind would probably entail having crashed a very nice new car and then discovered that your insurance actually started tomorrow rather than today - along the lines of nihilistic ennui.  I found it quite horrible - the main protagonist is played by the guy who was the fat bloke in Football Factory. I disliked him intensely in the latter (but that's really Nick Love's fault) and I still find him hard to bear. Anyway, it's a curious, mysterious, bleak and fucking violent, and not entirely resolved film, which I think is exactly what the director intended.

Ordered this from Amazon, it's not here yet but I'm looking forward to it.  Still got NEDS to watch too, only managed to see the first half hour when I sat down to watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 05, 2012, 11:25:23 am
Don't let me put you off! It's powerful stuff. The Irish guy is a great character - think he's Miranda Sawyer's husband actually.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 05, 2012, 01:19:36 pm
I also watched something from about 5 years ago - the Rise of the Footsoldier.  Repellent, monstrous shit of the highest order. Its only redeeming feature is amusement relating to a hideous wig sported by one of the main characters. Not sure if the costume department intended that to be the case, but even so, it's still pretty funny. But totally shit otherwise.

I watched A Lonely Place to Die recently by the same director, Julian Gibley. Fantastic shots of the Scottish highlands and a half decent thriller. It's a little like a low rent deliverence with a touch of the Wickerman at the end but though that description sounds pretty bad, I enjoyed it. Decent acting with Sean Harris a very convincing bady and the climbing scenes in it are pretty good for a movie too.

It did give the wife nightmares though.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 05, 2012, 01:37:43 pm
Enjoyed watching Anything for Her (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1217637/), essentially a love story, but really a thriller which builds to a nice climax.

Think it was ~3 from a jungle in South America.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 05, 2012, 02:43:47 pm
I watched A Lonely Place to Die recently ... like a low rent deliverence with a touch of the Wickerman at the end but though that description sounds pretty bad, I enjoyed it.

I expected it to be awful and was pleasantly surprised to find it standard watchable hokum - Cliffhanger abseilling into Deliverance was what occurred to me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 05, 2012, 02:49:11 pm
Yeah, I thought it was better than it might be too.

Watched The Son of Rambow last night, which was fun/watchable. Quite touching in places. Still on Iplayer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: csurfleet on January 05, 2012, 03:47:23 pm
I saw Son of Rambo on xmas eve. It might have been the laphroaig, but I really enjoyed it. All seemed to go a bit lord of the flies at one point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 05, 2012, 03:50:13 pm

In Time - Hollywood retard vehicle for Justin Timberlake that would've been lame if it had come out in 1992, but in this day and age it's truly unforgivable. Quite why I bothered to sit through it I'm not sure.


I told you so. However I missed out "truly unforgivable" from my review which was an oversight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 06, 2012, 11:10:32 am
Sorry - I missed your critique,as well as losing my grip on reality and intelligent thought!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 10, 2012, 03:16:54 pm
I know I'm about 6 years too late for the party with this one but I watched Perfume last night.

I was completely mesmerized by the visuals and filmmaking but the ending was either done poorly, or just poor I couldn't decide which. Has anybody else watched this and rated/hated it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2012, 03:31:37 pm
Also a bit slow off the mark, but got round to watching Transformers on Film 4 the other night. Super low maintenance, but loved it, especially the special effects are fantastic. And Megan Fox. Are the sequels on a par?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 10, 2012, 03:44:48 pm
Also a bit slow off the mark, but got round to watching Transformers on Film 4 the other night. Super low maintenance, but loved it, especially the special effects are fantastic. And Megan Fox. Are the sequels on a par?

I watched Transformers Revenge of the Fallen whilst ironing my shirts one evening. It was utter shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 10, 2012, 04:00:16 pm
Also a bit slow off the mark, but got round to watching Transformers on Film 4 the other night. Super low maintenance, but loved it, especially the special effects are fantastic. And Megan Fox. Are the sequels on a par?
 

I sat and watched the most recent one on a plane last year. I really don't know what prevented me from switching over. Utterly, utterly awful.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was the only redeeming feature, and even then...  :badidea:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 10, 2012, 04:09:12 pm
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was the only redeeming feature, and even then...  :badidea:

Only? Megan Fox helped a bit I'm sure  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 10, 2012, 04:12:39 pm
Woops  :-[

I got mixed up with the newest one (Dark of the Moon)...  And yes, megan fox  :wub:  is way better than that other one.  :-*

[Edited]

No no no, it was Dark of the Moon I saw, it was utter shite and Megan Fox  :wub: wasn't in it.  :'(


Honestly, DO NO WATCH IT IT'S TERRIBLE!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2012, 04:31:37 pm
So that's a no then :). Will take the Highlander / Matrix approach and pretend there can only be one / is a Chosen One.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on January 10, 2012, 04:50:36 pm
Don't let me put you off! It's powerful stuff. The Irish guy is a great character - think he's Miranda Sawyer's husband actually.

Just watched Kill List.

It's a very well put together film, loads of tension and discomfort and very different from the mainstream.  I really liked it, but I can see how it wouldn't be many people's cup of tea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 11, 2012, 12:40:39 pm
Drive I guess most people have seen this by now. Beautifully filmed but I didn't wholly see the point.
I didn't even think it was that well filmed, it annoyed me, there were too many long pauses in dialog for no apparent reason and the story was a bit shit AND bloody what'shisface didn't even take his top off which should be written into all his film contracts as he's not a good enough actor to get by on his skills without flashing his torso.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 11, 2012, 12:48:12 pm
I didn't even think it was that well filmed, it annoyed me, there were too many long pauses in dialog for no apparent reason and the story was a bit shit AND bloody what'shisface didn't even take his top off which should be written into all his film contracts as he's not a good enough actor to get by on his skills without flashing his torso.

Did you see it in the cinema?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 11, 2012, 01:21:30 pm
I know I'm about 6 years too late for the party with this one but I watched Perfume last night.

I was completely mesmerized by the visuals and filmmaking but the ending was either done poorly, or just poor I couldn't decide which. Has anybody else watched this and rated/hated it?

I thought they did a pretty good job of transferring an impossible to film book to the cinema. The ending is a bit unsatisfying in the book so it was never going to be the high point of the movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 11, 2012, 01:28:41 pm
Drive I guess most people have seen this by now. Beautifully filmed but I didn't wholly see the point.
I didn't even think it was that well filmed, it annoyed me, there were too many long pauses in dialog for no apparent reason and the story was a bit shit AND bloody what'shisface didn't even take his top off which should be written into all his film contracts as he's not a good enough actor to get by on his skills without flashing his torso.

magpie you are cruising for a puntering. I know choice of films is entirely subjective but anyone who "quite liked" In Time and slates Drive has to either have been smoking crack or is just trying to wind me up.
 :jab:

My Mum didn't like Drive cos it was "too violent". A generation thing maybe, it's hardly Irreversible.  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 12, 2012, 11:59:53 am
I only smoke crack on special occasions.  ;)

I thought In Time was a(n albeit badly done) big blockbuster / mass media type film which was ok to fill in the time, I wasn't expecting much and it was like a form of brain bubblegum than a life changing or even very good film, I wouldn't rave about it, I liked the general premise of it though.  I have no idea what the premise of Drive was, there just seemed no point.

I did not see Drive at the cinema as I hate the cinema, which maybe had an effect.  To be honest though unless it was a different film they showed at the cinema I can't see it helping.  :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 12, 2012, 01:57:12 pm
Drive is definitely a cinema/home theatre film. I could imagine my mind wandering during those long scenes if I wasn't so immersed in the whole thing.

How can you not like the cinema??  :shrug:

I think a similar thing happened to me when I saw Midnight in Paris on the place. The plot/acting didn't carry the film well enough without the total immersion into the concept that you get at the cinema. (in my opinion)



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 12, 2012, 02:35:35 pm
Indeed. In the same way I don't know how anyone can have an opinion on a film after watching it on a flight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 12, 2012, 02:40:19 pm
How can you not like the cinema??  :shrug:

a) Its expensive.
b) There are other people who interrupt your concentration.
c) There's no pause function when you need a piss, and when you do go you then have to interrupt others concentration.
d) Few allow you to drink alcohol whilst watching a film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 12, 2012, 02:51:38 pm
e) not everyone has a huge multiplex (or two) within a stone's throw of their flat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on January 12, 2012, 03:04:10 pm
F) some people (me and the wife) don't want to a waste a precious baby sitter chance to have a night out the doesn't involve getting drunk.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 12, 2012, 03:12:25 pm
What slackers said. Plus as discussed previously, when you have kids and get a  babysitting favour then a good restaurant and / or the pub are always better options. EDIT - rich, you beat me to it!

I have no problem getting immersed in a film when watching it at home.

Drive is definitely a cinema/home theatre film. I could imagine my mind wandering during those long scenes if I wasn't so immersed in the whole thing.

Funny cos it's been a long time since I found a film as gripping. The sense of tension and potential disaster just round the corner all the way through it (along with the quality of the cinematography and the soundtrack) was what made it great. As an aside, my Mrs also loved it and was similarly gripped. This is very unusual, she's a tough crowd when it comes to films.

Anyway, to each their own*.

*But magpie is still wrong about In Time which is fucking abysmal.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 12, 2012, 03:27:25 pm
Not new either but I watched "patagonia" a trilingual (Welsh/English/Spanish) film with subtitles. I'm bound to be biased towards welsh language actors and films, but I thought it was quite good really.

The acting may not have been top drawer (Duffy, dwi'n meddwl amdanach chi rwan), and parts of the plot a bit outlandish (Viking burial) but quite good in a "the missus would enjoy it as it's a bit of a tearjerker" kind of way.

has anyone seen "Separado"? The Gruff Rhys film about tracking down relatives in Patagonia?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 12, 2012, 04:26:30 pm
Don't get me wrong, I can totally understand that for a lot of people the cinema is a much less attractive option. I watch most film at home ( i do have a sub woofer/surround sound thingmy and big-ish tv).

But, but but but, I'm surprised people don't like the cinema  :-\

Each to their own.

Indeed. In the same way I don't know how anyone can have an opinion on a film after watching it on a flight.

Ok, discount my scathing review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. I saw it on the plane. It's still horseshit though  ;)


P.S. in my last post I meant to say plane, not place.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Iesu on January 12, 2012, 04:50:51 pm
i'm with you; I forgot to mention that I far prefer being at a "proper" cinema (but I HATE modern multiplexes, can't beat an good old fashioned cinema).  :popcorn:

I DON'T have a subwoofer or surround sound so maybe that's part of the reason why (I do like the fact that i can rent films online for 99p, especially since my local Blockbuster closed down)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 13, 2012, 06:42:03 am
Drive - it was the sparseness of dialogue / not needing to say things for the sake of giving actors something to do that I found particularly potent.

Interestingly, the only Ryan Gosling film that I'd seen previously was the also very good Half Nelson, in which he does a lot of not talking too.

I've recently tried to make right the behaviour that included the viewing of In Time - reacquainting myself with the rest of Nicholas Winding Refn's oeuvre. The Pusher Trilogy is really amazing cinema, particularly the first and the third. It really knocks the whole of the British Lock Stock gangland pr0n era into a cocked hat.

Bizarrely though, an Australian film called The Hard Word was almost certainly an down under attempt at cashing in on the Lock Stock mentality, but by combining a decent chunk of butchery ephemera and Aussie charm, it is remarkably appealing. The cast is pretty strong though, which is probably why it works so well.

Armadillo - a Danish Afghan documentary, very similar to the previously mentioned Restrepo. I think its amazing how visionary documentary makers these days can really create such polished and slick cinema on such low budgets. It's a beautiful film, if ultimately depressing in the way that anything related to Afghanistan usually ends up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 13, 2012, 08:27:40 am
The Guard - suffice to say, I agree with the almost uniformly good reviews.  A "high concept" summary is the plot of "48 Hours"  in the style of "In Bruges".  But, much better than that - Brendan Gleeson's lead character has a depth of sadness behind his contrary ways that makes him far more appealing than the usual local-yokel cipher of these affairs.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 13, 2012, 09:31:39 am

Indeed. In the same way I don't know how anyone can have an opinion on a film after watching it on a flight.

Ok, discount my scathing review of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. I saw it on the plane. It's still horseshit though  ;)


I forgot you had said that, it was just an observation in general.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 13, 2012, 10:08:11 am
Warrior: Good stuff. Watch it before training!

Scores 8+ on IMDB but found it hard to get friends to watch it by just giving them the plot summary. Could tell it was gonna be good, but it was better than i expected. Combines worthwhile drama with some UFC style fun in the "cage"  :boxing:

Wanted to go train after watching this, if only it hadnt've been midnight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 16, 2012, 12:07:09 pm
How can you not like the cinema??  :shrug:
Pretty much what everyone else said; the cost, the lack of control about when it starts and finishes, not being allowed a glass of wine or a G&T, the having to leave the house ;) but mostly what I hate is the people.  Chatting, eating, pissing about on their phones, snogging, breathing loudly, fidgeting, sitting right in front of me with their giant heads.  :chair: 

The only thing I like about the cinema is the smell in the foyer.  I'll go to see 3D films at the Imax or ones which I know will be much better on the big screen and I am really keen to see them but other than that I just can't bring myself to do it.  Also adding to my irrational hatred (at least I am aware it's partly irrational  :whistle: ) is the fact that it's so often suggested for a first date, why if I want to get to know someone better would I choose to spend 2 hours in a dark room, not talking, not looking at them and generally ignoring everything but the giant TV?!  :badidea:

I thought Warrior was really good too, I do love a bit of UFC though so it's not surprising I liked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on January 16, 2012, 01:18:30 pm
went to see the girl with the dragon tattoo saturday night.brilliant film,very well put together,quite dark,pretty violent in places.not seen the swedish version or read the book but hoping to in the near future.highly recomended
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 17, 2012, 08:43:51 am
Watched the the girl who played with fire and despite the first one being quite good, i found it to be complete and utter arse gravy. Can't bring myself to

Same for moneyball. Interesting concept but went on and on and on and on.....and on.

Real Steel was unmittigated tosh too.

I shall try either Trollhunter or Tinker tailor soldier spy tonight and report back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 17, 2012, 10:18:12 am
There's so much shit out there, so much generic crap. And when hollywood remakes  a swedish film, I know what I'd rather see.

I hate the multiplex cinemas. The whole concept and set up makes me feel like a guinea pig in a lab. Horrid places. Impersonal. And then there's the films... So I don't go. And if I want to see mainstream films I watch them at home, most often with friends.

On the other hand, independent cinemas can be different, and having one of the best student cinemas and one of the best indy cinemas in the country doesn't hurt, for those of us in sheffield. Reckon i'm off to see shame tomorrow night at showroom... will report back on how traumatised i am.  :lets_do_it_wild:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 17, 2012, 10:20:18 am
We've got both of those (Troll Hunter / TTSS) to watch too, I am not at all sure about Troll HUnter but apparently it's better than most people expected it to be / so bad it's actually quite good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 17, 2012, 10:50:29 am
I hate the multiplex cinemas. The whole concept and set up makes me feel like a guinea pig in a lab. Horrid places. Impersonal. And then there's the films... So I don't go. And if I want to see mainstream films I watch them at home, most often with friends.

On the other hand, independent cinemas can be different, and having one of the best student cinemas and one of the best indy cinemas in the country doesn't hurt, for those of us in sheffield.

Agree. And I hate sticky carpets!

The local indie here is pretty good too, along with all the out of mainstream pics, they also show lots of things that you normally only get to see on DVD; they showed the new Scottish surf movie, The Art of Flight snowboarding film, some of the recent Collective MTB Films. And they really are worthwhile watching on a big screen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 17, 2012, 11:21:16 am
We've got both of those (Troll Hunter / TTSS) to watch too, I am not at all sure about Troll HUnter but apparently it's better than most people expected it to be / so bad it's actually quite good.

It's far better than that - it's good because it's good!  Can't be categorised easily - it's funny, but not really a comedy; has monsters, but not consistently scary enough to be a horror. 

It's a fake realist documentary of an imaginary job!  What the old Belgian film "Man Bites Dog" was to serial killers, this does the same for troll hunting.  Basically takes an fantastic premise and demystifies it by entertainingly dragging it into the mundane.  Troll Hunting is just another, low paid, unappreciated civil-service job.  Full of moaning about pay and conditions, bitching about the boss and moaning about rules and regulations.  All leavened with plenty of black humour and some entertaining peril.  Another comparison that somewhat bizarrely comes to mind is that NHS sitcom Getting Out (the one written by Jo Brand); a mixture of black humour, broad comedy and exasperation.  That said, I'm likely over-analysing it.  It's a film about killing big monsters innit?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 17, 2012, 11:35:19 am
What the old Belgian film "Man Bites Dog" was to serial killers, this does the same for troll hunting.

I'm hoping it has fewer scenes as uncomfortable as those in Man Bites Dog.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 17, 2012, 12:05:10 pm
I'm hoping it has fewer scenes as uncomfortable as those in Man Bites Dog.

No fear there.  It's a similar premise but an opposite effect to Man Bites Dog.  To me, the mundanity in MBD accentuated the horror (this could be happening near you, the setting is everyday and I am a potential victim).   With Troll Hunter, the mundanity just makes the horror funny (wouldn't it be great if this really was happening.... safely away in the back of beyond!).

Strange really that MBD haasn't been subject to a Hollywood remake.  I guess shaky-cam gore-pr0n like Saw, Hostel etc might be a legacy, though those films are perhaps more the bastard off-spring of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 17, 2012, 01:14:03 pm

I was hoping to watch Troll Hunter with the wife, I'm not sure she could stomach MBD.

No fear there.  It's a similar premise but an opposite effect to Man Bites Dog.  To me, the mundanity in MBD accentuated the horror (this could be happening near you, the setting is everyday and I am a potential victim).   

As you probably know, that was the original title, "It's happening near you". I agree with all of the above. I found it all quite uncomfortable to watch, with the film crews increasing involvement and the fact that Benot Poelvoorde creates a serial killer with whom I found myself liking and at times, sympathising with.

Strange really that MBD hasnt been subject to a Hollywood remake.  I guess shaky-cam gore-pr0n like Saw, Hostel etc might be a legacy, though those films are perhaps more the bastard off-spring of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

I think it would be a very difficult re-make. The shear horror of some scenes (the rape and murder of the couple in their home) aren't really Hollywood fodder.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 17, 2012, 01:59:06 pm

I was hoping to watch Troll Hunter with the wife, I'm not sure she could stomach MBD.

As you probably know, that was the original title, "It's happening near you". I agree with all of the above. I found it all quite uncomfortable to watch, with the film crews increasing involvement and the fact that Benot Poelvoorde creates a serial killer with whom I found myself liking and at times, sympathising with.

I think it would be a very difficult re-make. The shear horror of some scenes (the rape and murder of the couple in their home) aren't really Hollywood fodder.

No fear with Troll Hunter - the MBD comparisson is more of technique rather than content.  As I said at first, for me Troll Hunter wasn't a horror film - as its focus was more on slice-of-life humour than shock. 

I didn't know that about MBD's original title - good knowledge!  Re a remake being too horrible for Hollywood... that didn't stop them with Funny Games, which was pretty disturbing.  Just imagine.. Man Bites Dog starring the cast of Glee!  They should start filming now, maybe wait until after remaking Irreversible as a Tom Hanks vehicle!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 17, 2012, 03:00:24 pm
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kBG1MS7-lY/TrF815AEbVI/AAAAAAAAKMY/Xsrsw2EfugM/s1600/tom+hanks+funny+face.jpg)

Quote
Are you a soldier? Good soldiers get fucked to death!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 17, 2012, 03:11:53 pm
I didn't know that about MBD's original title - good knowledge!  Re a remake being too horrible for Hollywood... that didn't stop them with Funny Games, which was pretty disturbing.  Just imagine.. Man Bites Dog starring the cast of Glee!  They should start filming now, maybe wait until after remaking Irreversible as a Tom Hanks vehicle!

I did French with Engineering at uni and in an attempt to impress girls of a more artistic nature, watched a lot of foreign/arthouse films. Man Bites Dog is C'est Arriv Prs de Chez Vous Its happening where you live. Turns out it doesnt make a good date movie. Neither did the Lars Von Trier film The Idiots come to think of it. As an aside, if you like Benot Poelvoorde and can cope with subtitles; Le Vlo de Ghislain Lambert is very good, especially if you like cycling.

Right. Troll Hunter is on the list. Thinking of heading to Manchesters independent cinema on Thurday, Cornerhouse but what to see, The Artist or Shame?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 17, 2012, 03:15:44 pm
Definitely The Artist

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/the-artist-named-this-year%e2%80%99s-'amaaayzing'-film-201201164770/ (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/the-artist-named-this-year%e2%80%99s-'amaaayzing'-film-201201164770/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 18, 2012, 02:10:00 am
Opted for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy last night. Really good remake. Enjoyed it alot, partly because of the amazing cast and partly because they didnt try to 'hollywoodize' it. Best film I've seen for a while.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 18, 2012, 08:36:32 am
Saw "Harry Brown" at the weekend....

I really liked it, but its pretty bleak. Its kind of along the lines of Grand Torino (former soldier takes issue with local scrotes) but set in Elephant and Castle rather than LA somewhere - along with the associated bleakness. Michael Caines main character is shuffling old man rather than grunting sneery eatswood, but I liked this and the way it added to the overall gloom of the film.

Theres no happy part to this film really - so dont see it if you live on an estate and are on the brink of depression - but I thought it was pretty good, some very strong performances and good scenes - especially with the dealer scenes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 18, 2012, 10:47:08 am
I saw Rise of Planet of the Apes last night.  Good... but I was left a little disappointed.   With all the hype, I was hoping for something on a par with the original Planet of the Apes.  Instead, it's decent sci-fi-thriller but without the gravitas and oddly haunting, metaphorical character of the original (I'm not kidding - the original is a great film, maybe takes itself a bit seriously, but, for me, its reputation has suffered unfairly from pop-culture and sequels).  My fault... I guess for being taken in. 

Still, it is well made with lots of chimp action and it (almost) makes up for the Tim Burton film.  Perhaps I never recovered from the early realisation that the premise is very similar to Deep Blue Sea - I was waiting for Samuel L Jackson to appear and shout "Just what the hell did you do to those sharks chimps?!". 

If feeling uncharitable you could also regard it as a po-faced remake of Gremlins too.  Instead of  "Don't feed after midnight" it's "Don't give them experimental anti-Alzheimers drugs"!  Perhaps those scientists should have researched something less risky, like making the world's cheekiest chimp - that way, any mishaps would be limited to showers of flung shit!


Also *SPOILER ALERT* though only for people who don't understand what the title means.... A few questions for others who've seen it, did I miss something?



Towards the end, where the hell do all those apes come from? You see one zoo being raided but does San Francisco have a population of hundreds, thousands of chimps all waiting for liberation? And surely only the original lab subjects would be intelligent enough to take part in the "rise"?  Also, I'll go along with the drugs making the chimps clever, but they also appear to grow Cornelius the new chest/tongue muscles and voicebox that human speech require!  Not to say enhanced althletic abilities - there are apes that could enter the Olympics as discus and javelin throwers!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 18, 2012, 11:07:33 am


Towards the end, where the hell do all those apes come from? You see one zoo being raided but does San Francisco have a population of hundreds, thousands of chimps all waiting for liberation?

They are freed by the C.L.I.T.

(http://www.meta-cortex.com/image/cache/data/productimages/jsb04-600x600.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 18, 2012, 03:27:57 pm
I am excited about Troll Hunter now, you guys have made it sound much better than I was expecting.

I didn't really like Rise of the Planet of the Apes much, all the cruelty to the chimps made me sad. :girl: 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 23, 2012, 01:41:12 pm
Finally got round to watching The Guard this weekend. Very good black comedy with strong performances by Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. Simple plot with great characters and consistently humorous as well laugh out load funny in places.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 23, 2012, 04:07:13 pm
Watched Mesrine: Killer Instinct (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259014/) and Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0411272/) recently, they're both excellent, long but totally worth the time to watch them.  Vincent Cassel is excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on January 23, 2012, 04:28:00 pm
nothing new, but recently I watched "The Tree of Life" and...
wow.
what a movie. as heavy and slow as a ton of bricks, but what an intensity. I don't know if I'd watch it again, but am well happy to having done so. no ones has the balls to do films like that.
I understand it could easily be regarded as c**p, but I think it's great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 23, 2012, 09:33:59 pm
again, nothing new but I caught 'the Reader' the other night. I thought it was fantastic, quite chilling at times.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 26, 2012, 11:36:08 pm
saw Girl with the dragon tatoo yesterday (the David Fincher directed one, rather than the Swedish 2009 movie) ... and thought that it was well worth it; in fact a considerably better movie than it was a novel, in my opinion, as it loses Larsson's rather ponderous, repetitive writing style, but retains the power and narrative drive which seems to have made his trilogy such a success. O, and the soundtrack is great. Give Trent Reznor a medal.  :clap2:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on January 28, 2012, 10:24:17 pm
looking forward to going to see the muppets  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on January 29, 2012, 12:45:24 am
for all you alien fans  Prometheus - Official Trailer [TRUE HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU#ws)

really hoping this film has been worth the wait as the bit before the start of alien,all about the space jockeys and how the ship they found actually came to be on lv426 has needed telling.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on January 29, 2012, 01:22:55 am
I'm so excited by Prometheus I could shit. Mind you I was exciited about the Gash of the Shitans film and look how that turned out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on January 29, 2012, 01:43:49 am
i suppose it depends what you are expecting.if you are expecting it to be alien,it wont be,you cant make a film like that anymore as it was such a new idea when it came out.if you are expecting an action packed story to give you some answers to alien,i think it will be enjoyable,i hope it is anyway as ive been waiting 10 years for this film.

i was forced to watch class of the titans but it must have done well as there's another due out soon :badidea:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 29, 2012, 09:10:00 am
Prometheus... on the one hand, Ridley Scott who made the orignal Alien is directing.  On the other hand, Ridley Scott who made Robin Hood, A Good Year and Kingdom of Heaven is directing....

Still, the cast looks half-decent: Michael Fassbinber, Noomi Raplace, Guy Pearce, Rafe Spall - so even if the plot stinks at least there should be some quality, scenery-chewing thesping.

Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 29, 2012, 09:54:54 am
Prometheus... on the one hand, Ridley Scott who made the orignal Alien is directing.  On the other hand, Ridley Scott who made Robin Hood, A Good Year and Kingdom of Heaven is directing....

Still, the cast looks half-decent: Michael Fassbinber, Noomi Raplace, Guy Pearce, Rafe Spall - so even if the plot stinks at least there should be some quality, scenery-chewing thesping.

Rafe Spall.. Excellent. Hope he plays someone mentally unhinged.. Of which there is a fair chance!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on January 29, 2012, 01:01:48 pm
kingdom of heaven is an excellent film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 29, 2012, 01:28:17 pm
I also enjoyed Kindgom of Heaven, much better than its reputation implied.

Some cracking reviews in today's Observer.  The Descendents looks great as does The Grey and Patience (after Sebald) plus there's a DVD release of Two Lane Blacktop.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 29, 2012, 05:31:36 pm
Rafe Spall.. Excellent. Hope he plays someone mentally unhinged.. Of which there is a fair chance!

Rumour has it that Rafe will indeed be doing what he does best: he plays an effete, lisping alien with twin passions for fine-china and carnage.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on January 29, 2012, 06:02:38 pm
I also enjoyed Kindgom of Heaven, much better than its reputation implied.
:agree:
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 29, 2012, 06:16:00 pm
Rafe Spall.. Excellent. Hope he plays someone mentally unhinged.. Of which there is a fair chance!

Rumour has it that Rafe will indeed be doing what he does best: he plays an effete, lisping alien with twin passions for fine-china and carnage.

The drowning cat scene in the recent bbc drama he was in stood out for me....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 29, 2012, 10:39:24 pm
Finally got around to watching The Worlds Fastest Indian (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/) this weekend, nothing to do with a Cherokee Usain Bolt wannabe, but basically a road movie about a Kiwi old timer taking a highly modified motor-'sickle' to the Bonneville salt flats for 'speed week'. Great movie irrespective of your level of interest in all things two wheels. Hopkins is at his best. Sticks pretty close to the true story it's based on, it's such a good story why make it up?
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 29, 2012, 10:57:15 pm
Finally got around to watching The Worlds Fastest Indian (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/) this weekend, nothing to do with a Cherokee Usain Bolt wannabe, but basically a road movie about a Kiwi old timer taking a highly modified motor-'sickle' to the Bonneville salt flats for 'speed week'. Great movie irrespective of your level of interest in all things two wheels. Hopkins is at his best. Sticks pretty close to the true story it's based on, it's such a good story why make it up?

It's brilliant.. Saw it ages ago..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 30, 2012, 01:52:38 am
went to see anonymous last night. It's good because it doesn't really centre on a being a conspiracy, just makes a good story around it.  Ryhs effands is brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 30, 2012, 09:06:45 am
Watched American Gangster (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/) last night. It's pretty good. Very long but needs to be really to tell the story properly (and it is a very interesting story).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 30, 2012, 10:21:25 am
I saw Troll Hunter at the weekend, it was ok, pretty funny but not great, I thought.  I also watched Thor, it was ok too but not great either.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 30, 2012, 10:57:48 am
Finally got around to watching The Worlds Fastest Indian (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/) this weekend, nothing to do with a Cherokee Usain Bolt wannabe, but basically a road movie about a Kiwi old timer taking a highly modified motor-'sickle' to the Bonneville salt flats for 'speed week'. Great movie irrespective of your level of interest in all things two wheels. Hopkins is at his best. Sticks pretty close to the true story it's based on, it's such a good story why make it up?

It's brilliant.. Saw it ages ago..

Another one of those films which proves that the supposed subject of a film is just irrelevant, if the true subject is people. A total must watch. Glad you liked it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on January 30, 2012, 10:29:47 pm
"The Artist": Subtitle - "I enjoyed it"

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on January 31, 2012, 05:55:54 pm
And the dog should win "Best Supporting Actor"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2012, 05:59:34 pm
Watched Punyo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/) the other day, fell asleep half-way through (often happens to me with films unless they're subtitled), but was entertaining/engrossing enough for my skeptical wife to watch through to the end and she enjoyed it (which is rare with cartoons).  Will watch the remainder myself at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 31, 2012, 06:15:20 pm
Watched Punyo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/) the other day, fell asleep half-way through (often happens to me with films unless they're subtitled), but was entertaining/engrossing enough for my skeptical wife to watch through to the end and she enjoyed it (which is rare with cartoons).  Will watch the remainder myself at some point.

Ahem... Ponjo....

Superb film. Watched this in the deck chair cinema in Darwin. Strange, but really good. Would be quite mad if really stoned... (I wasnt :( )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 31, 2012, 06:21:50 pm
Love Studio Ghibli films. All slightly bonkers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 31, 2012, 10:19:09 pm
And the dog should win "Best Supporting Actor"

People keep saying this sort of stuff.

Nietzsche said big animal lovers generally don't like people. I must really love people. It's a dog.

The film did very little for me either.

I don't love anoyone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2012, 10:54:25 pm
Watched Punyo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/) the other day

Ahem... Ponjo....

Third time lucky...Ponyo!  :slap:

Would be quite mad if really stoned... (I wasnt :( )

This may have had something to do with why I fell asleep  :-[

Love Studio Ghibli films. All slightly bonkers.

Yeah, they're a bit strange, which is definitely part of their appeal, the art work in them is also brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 03, 2012, 09:33:26 am

Watched Punyo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/) the other day
Love Studio Ghibli films. All slightly bonkers.
Yeah, they're a bit strange, which is definitely part of their appeal, the art work in them is also brilliant.


Princess Mononoke is a work of genius.

I saw Attack the Block last night. It is absolutely brilliant, and everyone should see it. If you do not like it you are wrong. What could possibly be funnier than two pre teen south london kids flame-throwing an alien with a super soaker? :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 06, 2012, 02:48:30 pm
Blitz - Statham - Dross. Like a usual Statham vehicle, but without the action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 06, 2012, 03:00:26 pm
Blitz - Statham - Dross. Like a usual Statham vehicle, but without the action.
:o

Yikes. That really does sound pretty awful.

Saw Carnage t'other night. All a bit mature and worthy, but funny, and stunning performances make up for it not really appearing to have anything very much to say other than 'adults behave like children, sometimes'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 06, 2012, 03:12:07 pm
 The Debt. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226753/) Very good.

What's Your Number?  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770703/) Not too bad actually. Ladies film but still watchable by metrosexual hommes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 06, 2012, 03:40:18 pm
Watched this pile of shite last night. A lonely place to die (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422136/). Some great shots of Scotland however the story and characters are bollocks.
The two avalanche shovels packed for a summer condition VDiff are up there with the ice axes for a caving expedition in The Descent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 06, 2012, 03:52:46 pm
The Debt. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226753/) Very good.

What's Your Number?  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770703/) Not too bad actually. Ladies film but still watchable by metrosexual hommes.

How did you find it though? ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on February 06, 2012, 06:14:46 pm
Watched this pile of shite last night. A lonely place to die (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422136/). Some great shots of Scotland however the story and characters are bollocks.
The two avalanche shovels packed for a summer condition VDiff are up there with the ice axes for a caving expedition in The Descent.

I also watched something from about 5 years ago - the Rise of the Footsoldier.  Repellent, monstrous shit of the highest order. Its only redeeming feature is amusement relating to a hideous wig sported by one of the main characters. Not sure if the costume department intended that to be the case, but even so, it's still pretty funny. But totally shit otherwise.

I watched A Lonely Place to Die recently by the same director, Julian Gibley. Fantastic shots of the Scottish highlands and a half decent thriller. It's a little like a low rent deliverence with a touch of the Wickerman at the end but though that description sounds pretty bad, I enjoyed it. Decent acting with Sean Harris a very convincing bady and the climbing scenes in it are pretty good for a movie too.

It did give the wife nightmares though.....

How opinions differ.......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on February 06, 2012, 07:00:15 pm
Been mentioned more than once in this topic already but time off work finally allowed me to catch up with Watchmen (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/) (Ultimate Cut).

It's very long (3.5 hours) but I thoroughly enjoyed it despite a smattering of Hollywood nonsense at the end.

Jackie Earle Haley was superb as the menacing Rorschach.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: RAK Punter on February 07, 2012, 03:15:25 am
Watched Margin Call twice on flights back from Canada yesterday. A pretty good film IMHO with probably the most accurate portrayal of an investment bank that I have seen on film. Nicely politically-incorrect too: how can you not like a film in which Demi Moore's character is called a cunt within the first five minutes?

Watched it last night when I should have been very asleep.  Would rate better than pretty good.

Also recently watched:
Burning Plain:  pretty good.
American History X: outstanding but not to be watched with the kids or when trying to charm a potential partner.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 07, 2012, 08:33:51 am
Some great shots of Scotland

Fantastic shots of the Scottish highlands

How opinions differ.......

At least we agree on something  :hug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 14, 2012, 10:23:12 am
The Machinist - Why did I not see this already? Great film, really enjoyed it. Actually kept me guessing the whole way and the ending was spot on.


Watchmen was great, really well done and Rorshach and Dr Manhattan were intriguing characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 14, 2012, 10:41:55 am
Not seen the Ultimate Cut, but I loved the Watchmen Book, thought the film was a lot better than the panning it got from critics, fans of the book and just about everyone. Might set the 3.5 hours aside sometime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 14, 2012, 11:32:10 am
I saw Watchmen without even having heard of the comic. I read the comic after and thought the film was better - the cinema brings the atmosphere to life better, and the ending plot was considerably better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2012, 11:39:16 am
I saw Watchmen without even having heard of the comic. I read the comic after and thought the film was better - the cinema brings the atmosphere to life better, and the ending plot was considerably better.

I've never read a comic other than Beano, and the NOTW, but thought Watchmen was superb....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 14, 2012, 12:16:35 pm
American History X is a great film.

I saw The Wrestler the other night and was surprised by how much I liked it, the lack of proper ending annoyed me a bit though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2012, 12:29:26 pm
American History X is a great film.


 :agree:

Watched The Departed (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/) over the weekend and for once didn't fall asleep half way through.  Good story, well acted & filmed, only downside was having to explain who was who & what was going on for about the first 1/3 of the film as wife didn't quite get it up to that point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on February 14, 2012, 12:45:18 pm
Not seen the Ultimate Cut, but I loved the Watchmen Book, thought the film was a lot better than the panning it got from critics, fans of the book and just about everyone. Might set the 3.5 hours aside sometime.
I think most of the extra running time of the Ultimate Cut is the inclusion of the Tales of the Black Freighter comic within a comic from the original book.  I read the comic about 20 years ago and it blew my mind so it was good to see the film adaptation doing a strong job.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2012, 03:10:20 pm
American History X is a great film.


 :agree:

Watched The Departed (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/) over the weekend and for once didn't fall asleep half way through.  Good story, well acted & filmed, only downside was having to explain who was who & what was going on for about the first 1/3 of the film as wife didn't quite get it up to that point.

:) you two should try tag teaming films - you stay awake for the first half, inform MrsSL whats happened, then while you Doze off she can look after the second part ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2012, 03:13:01 pm
If only, I've tried that already and get the usual retort of "Well you should have stayed awake if you want to watch the film"!

Perhaps next time I'll try "If you want to understand whats going on you should be paying attention"  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 14, 2012, 03:16:49 pm
only downside was having to explain who was who & what was going on for about the first 1/3 of the film as wife didn't quite get it up to that point.

Always my favourite part of watching a film with a complicated plot. (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2012, 03:21:27 pm
I think I'll save Tinker, Tailor to watch alone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 14, 2012, 03:26:02 pm
you sick fuck.  :wank:

:lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2012, 03:38:37 pm
only downside was having to explain who was who & what was going on for about the first 1/3 of the film as wife didn't quite get it up to that point.

Always my favourite part of watching a film with a complicated plot. (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)

MrsTT is a film fan - so I always get (in the left ear) oh - look its Jack McPartwidget, who was in "One flew under the lizards on planes" with Kim Largenipples. AND he's the son of Graham Boringeyebrowtwitcher who was married three times to a Cuban donkey etc.......

 (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)                    (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)
        (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)       (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)
               (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)   
        (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)       (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)
 (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)                    (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)



We have at least managed to agree to a mutual facebook (her) ukb (me) cease fire during viewing... (except adverts)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2012, 03:40:41 pm
you sick fuck.  :wank:

:lol:

Maybe a solider will spy on me. :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on February 16, 2012, 04:18:53 am
Coming Soon!

Nazis! From the Moon!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046477 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046477)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 16, 2012, 07:40:02 am
I don't think anyone has mentioned Submarine?

Beautiful, funny coming of age film dir by Richard Ayoade.

Had been on my sonar for a while, but only recently surfaced...

A perfect antidote if you've recently overindulged on Hollywood.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 16, 2012, 08:24:11 am
only downside was having to explain who was who & what was going on for about the first 1/3 of the film as wife didn't quite get it up to that point.

Always my favourite part of watching a film with a complicated plot. (http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/guns/suicide.gif)

MrsTT is a film fan - so I always get (in the left ear) oh - look its Jack McPartwidget, who was in "One flew under the lizards on planes" with Kim Largenipples. AND he's the son of Graham Boringeyebrowtwitcher who was married three times to a Cuban donkey etc.......
I get something similar without the information...."Oh it's erm erm, what she been in before? I know 'er from somewhere." I then spend the next ten minutes trying to remember her name and CV whilst following the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 16, 2012, 08:46:30 am
I get something similar without the information...."Oh it's erm erm, what she been in before? I know 'er from somewhere." I then spend the next ten minutes trying to remember her name and CV whilst following the film.

Save yourself some time and have a laptop with IMDB (http://www.imdb.com) open.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on February 16, 2012, 01:38:50 pm
I don't think anyone has mentioned Submarine?

Beautiful, funny coming of age film dir by Richard Ayoade.

Had been on my sonar for a while, but only recently surfaced...

A perfect antidote if you've recently overindulged on Hollywood.

Agreed. I really loved this film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 16, 2012, 03:08:46 pm
I don't think anyone has mentioned Submarine?

Beautiful, funny coming of age film dir by Richard Ayoade.

Had been on my sonar for a while, but only recently surfaced...

A perfect antidote if you've recently overindulged on Hollywood.

Can't remember if I posted about it on here, but I saw it a few months back. It divided opinion in the room a little - some thinking it a bit to bizarre. I thought it was really good, a good change from run-of -the-mill nonsense!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2012, 03:17:33 pm

Save yourself some time and have a laptop with IMDB (http://www.imdb.com) open.

or just have the app running on your phone. I have to do it constantly. "Oooh what was he in?"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 23, 2012, 09:26:02 am
Blitz - Some great actors (and Jason Statham) failing to make any sense of a ludicrous nonsensical plot.  Vaguely like a crap feature length episode of the Bill.

The Three Musketeers - Some excellent actors (apart from the noxious little prat playing D'Artagnan) murder the Dumas classic. Bizarrely, the most convincing acting comes courtesy of Orlando Bloom.  Yes, I know...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on February 23, 2012, 09:28:02 am
Blitz - Some great actors (and Jason Statham) failing to make any sense of a ludicrous nonsensical plot.  Vaguely like a crap feature length episode of the Bill.

 :lol: That's exactly how i described it to my girlfriend!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 23, 2012, 09:55:23 am
Thirst (2009) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/) Vampire movie from Chan-wook Park (director of Oldboy, Sympathy for Lady Vengence, I'm a Cyborg).

Bit long but very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 23, 2012, 10:02:37 am
Watched Rampart (http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/90845/rampart.html) the other night.

Woody Harrelson is brilliant and I loved how it was shot, just not sure about the ending (however I had  consumed quite a lot of wine by that point). Recommended anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 23, 2012, 11:16:23 am
Quote from: that film review that Jaz linked
and Sigourney Weaver as a thin-lipped department head

isn't she thin-lipped in all her films?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 24, 2012, 06:42:16 pm
Great interview with Alex Cox as Repo-Man gets a blu-ray release in the UK.

http://thequietus.com/articles/08085-repo-man-alex-cox-interview (http://thequietus.com/articles/08085-repo-man-alex-cox-interview)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 25, 2012, 08:21:02 am
Got around to seeing Drive the other day. Awesome. Hope it wins some Oscars. Soundtrack immense. Style level off the charts.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 25, 2012, 09:53:59 am
I saw Warrior last night and really enjoyed it.  A proper good, rousing piece of schlock with just enough grit to overcome the sheer ridiculousness of it all (Bronson, Inception, Tinker Tailor... the Tom Hardy quality guarentee). One hell of an achievement given the tremendously unpromising materials: it's long, about cage fighting, and built entirely of cliches.  It's like a perfectly functional house built from porridge oats and stale bread. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 25, 2012, 10:19:34 am
Aliens vs Cowboys...

Surprisingly alright.. I was expecting a banal/pointless daft wikiwikiWildWildWest style mindless mashup. But it was alright... Even MrsTT managed to stay awake and express moderate interest....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 25, 2012, 02:11:38 pm
Got around to seeing Drive the other day. Awesome. Hope it wins some Oscars. Soundtrack immense. Style level off the charts.

It'll have a job as I think it's only been nominated for one. Which is a joke.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 25, 2012, 02:14:23 pm
Aliens vs Cowboys...

Surprisingly alright.. I was expecting a banal/pointless daft wikiwikiWildWildWest style mindless mashup. But it was alright... Even MrsTT managed to stay awake and express moderate interest....

Quote from: MrsTT
That was better than sex
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 25, 2012, 02:48:27 pm
I had to wear my Daniel Craig mask..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 27, 2012, 10:26:53 am
Rampart looks good.  Screenplay by James Ellroy and a leading role from Woody Harrelson.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 27, 2012, 10:34:04 am
Yeah seeing that performance it's difficult to believe he's the same guy who got famous playing the dopey bartender in Cheers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 27, 2012, 12:03:52 pm
Yeah.  He's an enigma and a real quality actor.  His role in No Country for Old Men was terrifying. It'll be interesting also to see a film actually written by Ellroy who writes in a very cinematic style anyway as opposed to watching an adaption of one his novels.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 27, 2012, 12:12:42 pm
Having thought more about what I said on the previous page I've realised that it wasn't that I was too pissed or missing something about the ending. It just is how it is. A character study where the plot is of secondary importance.

Good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 27, 2012, 05:55:13 pm
Yeah seeing that performance it's difficult to believe he's the same guy who got famous playing the dopey bartender in Cheers.

True, but whilst playing the bartender naif he was reportedly massively over-indulging in drugs and groupies and his dad was in jail for being a contract killer! So, although his performance in Cheers was so naturalistic you couldn't believe he wasn't just playing himself, in retrospect it was probably the least characteristic role he ever had.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 27, 2012, 06:07:10 pm
Aliens vs Cowboys...
Surprisingly alright..

 :agree: not the godawful cheese fest the title implies.

I recently saw Transporter, having discounted watching any of those movies for years on the grounds that they looked shit, and actually really liked that too. I am reliably informed that the sequels are a bit more on the side of being worthless dross?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 27, 2012, 06:47:59 pm
Aliens vs Cowboys...
Surprisingly alright..

 :agree: not the godawful cheese fest the title implies.

I recently saw Transporter, having discounted watching any of those movies for years on the grounds that they looked shit, and actually really liked that too. I am reliably informed that the sequels are a bit more on the side of being worthless dross?

They're more of the same... a bit dafter - but they are a little tongue in cheek so generally watchable....
I'd rank them as not worth getting out on DVD etc.., but if they were on and nothing else was, not too bad... 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 28, 2012, 12:13:11 pm
Yeah seeing that performance it's difficult to believe he's the same guy who got famous playing the dopey bartender in Cheers.

True, but whilst playing the bartender naif he was reportedly massively over-indulging in drugs and groupies and his dad was in jail for being a contract killer! So, although his performance in Cheers was so naturalistic you couldn't believe he wasn't just playing himself, in retrospect it was probably the least characteristic role he ever had.

Ha! Didn't know that.  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 28, 2012, 06:41:38 pm
Interesting interview with him here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/17/woody-harrelson-my-father-contract-killer-rampart (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/17/woody-harrelson-my-father-contract-killer-rampart)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on February 28, 2012, 08:48:54 pm
The rum diary. Don't bother. Utter rubbish. Worst film I have watched in years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 28, 2012, 09:11:46 pm
Interesting interview with him here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/17/woody-harrelson-my-father-contract-killer-rampart (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/feb/17/woody-harrelson-my-father-contract-killer-rampart)

Good stuff. Now I definately want to see the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 29, 2012, 08:00:43 am
The rum diary. Don't bother. Utter rubbish. Worst film I have watched in years.

Disagree. Great story, and while I'm sure the book is better, the film is excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 29, 2012, 09:22:44 am
I'd also forgotten about Harrelson's role in Zombieland before reading that article.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 29, 2012, 09:45:42 am
I thought he was great as the cowboy in Toy Story.





(sorry)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 29, 2012, 10:11:28 am
One of my favourite Harrelson roles was in The Walker where he played a fixture of Washington society who acts as "gay best friend" for politicians wives and gets involved in a murder scandal.  It's like American Gigalo decades on and Harrelson gives a lovely mannered performance as a crusty, shallow queen. 

I'm really looking forward to Rampart though - just because it sounds like a film version of The Shield.  The real-life basis for the story is incredible.  The LA police were mixed up in all the Biggie / Tupac business as they reportedly earned money on the side providing security for the gangs (Bloods, Crips etc).  Another filmic link is that the central shootout in Heat is supposedly based on an incident where some Rampart cops went rogue and held up a bank.  They were so heavily armed and armoured that the outgunned police response had to go to a gun shop and commandeer heavier weapons.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 29, 2012, 10:21:13 am
 8) :2thumbsup:

White Men Can't Jump Billy vs Sidney Shootout Bet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnMKbKk6CBc#ws)

Natural Born Killers is brilliant, might have to go and get a copy to watch again as its been a few years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 01, 2012, 10:05:17 am
I'm going to add Rampart to my to watch list, I love Woody. :wub:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on March 02, 2012, 10:34:43 pm
The Baader Meinhof Complex is on iplayer at the moment:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cr94k/The_Baader_Meinhof_Complex/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cr94k/The_Baader_Meinhof_Complex/)

Worth seeing if you've not already. I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 03, 2012, 08:14:34 am
Saw 'We Need to Talk About Kevin" last night. Superb.  Everything about it - the imagery, sound, performances, structure - felt absolutely pitch perfect.  It is one of those rare films where I watched it with a dawning sense that "This. Is . Very . Special". 

I still feel faintly rattled.  I have not felt that for a very long time. 

Admittedly it's not always the greatest films that arouse that feeling.  More those where every aspect fits and is obviously the result of a clearly held creative conviction.  As a digression, another example for me is Mean Streets; it's perhaps not Scorcese's most complete film, but it perhaps refelects best its creator's personal obsessions: rock'n'roll and Catholic imagery.  Some of Tarantino's films too.  Watch Reservoir Dogs, forget that its Director is a bit of a prick and has made some duffers; the mise-en-scene is beautiful and somehow complements the brutality and pop culture banality perfectly.

Any way, back to "We Need to Talk About Kevin".  It's one of the few films where I'm glad I didn't see it at the cinema.  The sound design is incredible - lots of liquid splats and masticating - and I found it rather disturbing.  I think it might have been a bit overwhelming in full, ultra-loud Dolby surroundsound.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 05, 2012, 08:16:11 am
We watched Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/) last night and really enjoyed it. Think it helped that neither of us knew anything about it other than it was a Woody Allen film with Owen Wilson in it so the plot all came as a complete surprise.

Really well done with fantastic little touches everywhere and Wilson was actually really good. Probably because "confused, slightly pissed, head in the clouds bloke" comes pretty easily to him but still.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 07, 2012, 04:14:31 pm
This looks rather good:

http://www.dustinputman.com/reviews/c/12_chronicle.htm (http://www.dustinputman.com/reviews/c/12_chronicle.htm)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 07, 2012, 04:20:01 pm
 :agree:
Chronicle - Official Trailer (2012) [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGcwSDNFcsU#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 07, 2012, 05:23:47 pm
 :agree: too. Looks like a good and intriguing take on the superpowers genre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on March 07, 2012, 05:41:15 pm
Pretty excited about this!

Iron Sky Official Theatrical Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_IndUbcxc#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 07, 2012, 06:14:33 pm
And that looks like a good and intriguing take on the space nazis genre...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 07, 2012, 06:20:28 pm
We watched Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/) last night and really enjoyed it. Think it helped that neither of us knew anything about it other than it was a Woody Allen film with Owen Wilson in it so the plot all came as a complete surprise.

Really well done with fantastic little touches everywhere and Wilson was actually really good. Probably because "confused, slightly pissed, head in the clouds bloke" comes pretty easily to him but still.....

I watched it a few weeks back with mixed expectations but absolutely loved it.  The best thing Woody has done for years and years.  I've never been a fan of Owen Wilson but casting him as the anxious, introspective Woody Allen character was absolutely brilliant.  One of the funniest and best feel good films I've seen for ages. 9/10 (would have been 10 but the ending was a bit weak).   :clap2:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on March 07, 2012, 06:25:51 pm
How apt. Just finished watching Inglorious Basterds. I don't believe either of these films are factually correct.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 07, 2012, 10:26:33 pm
How apt. Just finished watching Inglorious Basterds. I don't believe either of these films are factually correct.

I thought Inglorius Basterds was wank - but something made me watch it.. Its hard to put my finger on it, but its like a load of N.American cliche's about WW2 loosely thrown together through a series of 4 or 5 mini-plays... some of which (like the opening scene) are excellent but rammed full of cheese. Pah. Mark Commode eat my quiff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on March 08, 2012, 03:37:35 pm
Trash Humpers

not worth it

when I re-make it at the age of 85 with Jasper and Grumpy Crumpy as my co-stars, then it might be worth seeing
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 08, 2012, 04:02:46 pm
I thought Inglorious Basterds was very good.  I might be way off beam but i thought it was about our (the audience) relationship with the moving picture, cinema and propaganda and how it influences us and our perspective of history; a reflection on the influence of the third Reich in 20th century filmmaking (the Leni Reifenstal references, the whole hero in the tower, Goebells co-opting the European film industry); us watching an over the top ridiculous revenge movie where the final act is all centered around an audience watching an over the top propaganda/revenge movie where the cinema and the film itself becomes the weapon.

 :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 08, 2012, 04:08:44 pm
not enough car chases in it for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 12, 2012, 05:31:07 pm
Watched Timecrimes on Saturday night.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/)

An excellent little Spanish time travel film. Creepy and sometimes hilarious it also really makes you think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 13, 2012, 06:39:11 pm
Sounds good to me - noted.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on March 14, 2012, 07:53:49 am
pleasantly surprised by "a dangerous method" last night. Some good acting. And spanking.

Raised some interesting questions about monogamy as well I thought.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 14, 2012, 07:57:22 am
After negotiations to gain Match of the Day viewing rights last weekend, I watched Tamara Drew with mrs TT... Surprisingly good, more of a (non intellectual) British comedy than a rom com...

I fell asleep 10 min in to MOTD. :(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 14, 2012, 10:27:38 am
Finally got round to watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the other night, I really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing the other two, not least so I don't have to read the rest of the 3rd book. :)

Also say The Guard (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/) which was totally not what I expected but excellent, really funny and quite quirky.

And The Grey (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1601913/) which was uttely pants in too many ways to mention.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 14, 2012, 10:52:28 am
I thought Inglorious Basterds was very good.  I might be way off beam but i thought it was about our (the audience) relationship with the moving picture, cinema and over the top ridiculous revenge movie where the final act is all centered around an audience watching an over the top propaganda/revenge movie where the cinema and the film itself becomes the weapon.

I thought Inglorius Basterds was wank ...Pah. Mark Commode eat my quiff.

There is an interesting diversity of critical review on UKB isn't there.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 14, 2012, 10:57:34 am
Finally got round to watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the other night, I really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing the other two, not least so I don't have to read the rest of the 3rd book. :)
:agree: I think I voiced the same opinion about the movie being better than the book when i saw it.

I watched Tamara Drew with mrs TT... Surprisingly good, more of a (non intellectual) British comedy than a rom com...
I like that you feel the need to assert that TD is 'non-intellectual'. I can't say I agree with 'surprisingly good' however. Although it has to be said that i switched it off after about 20 minutes, and went to do something interesting instead.  :coffee:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 14, 2012, 11:25:40 am
Finally got round to watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo the other night, I really enjoyed it, looking forward to seeing the other two, not least so I don't have to read the rest of the 3rd book. :)
:agree: I think I voiced the same opinion about the movie being better than the book when i saw it.
I quite enjoyed the first book, the second was OK but I can't bring myself to finish the 3rd it's so bad.  It was by far one of the best film adaptations of a book I've seen, I usually don't like them at all but really enjoyed this one, I thought Daniel Craig was good in it and I've never really rated him before and the girl who played Lisbeth was excellent.  I was also surprised that even though it as long I didn't get bored or fidgety which happens a lot. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 14, 2012, 12:48:35 pm
I watched Tamara Drew with mrs TT... Surprisingly good, more of a (non intellectual) British comedy than a rom com...
I like that you feel the need to assert that TD is 'non-intellectual'. I can't say I agree with 'surprisingly good' however. Although it has to be said that i switched it off after about 20 minutes, and went to do something interesting instead.  :coffee:

Holy fuck I just looked that up on imdb. It looks atrocious tomtom!  :sick:

Are you sure this wasn't just a case of being prepared for something to be so awful that when it wasn't quite that awful it seemed ok?

Once again I praise the flying teapot that my Mrs isn't into shit like that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 14, 2012, 12:57:29 pm
The plot of that film sounds like one of those Chick Lit book you get free with Cosmo during the summer which is described as 'a fun beach read!'. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on March 14, 2012, 01:03:55 pm
Watched Warrior on DVD last week, after initially writing it off but then seeing Brett Easton Ellis saying how good it was on Twitter. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291584/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291584/)  I was suitably impressed; the story seems clichd at the outset, but is very well put together, and the fight sequences are amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 14, 2012, 01:06:31 pm
Saw 'We Need to Talk About Kevin" last night. Superb.  Everything about it - the imagery, sound, performances, structure - felt absolutely pitch perfect.  It is one of those rare films where I watched it with a dawning sense that "This. Is . Very . Special". 

I still feel faintly rattled.  I have not felt that for a very long time. 


I felt the same after reading the book.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 14, 2012, 04:15:22 pm
The plot of that film sounds like one of those Chick Lit book you get free with Cosmo during the summer which is described as 'a fun beach read!'. :lol:

I was an adaptation of a fairly long running cartoon/comic in the Gaurdian's weekend review section.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 14, 2012, 11:23:47 pm
The plot of that film sounds like one of those Chick Lit book you get free with Cosmo during the summer which is described as 'a fun beach read!'. :lol:
Nail, head, hit.

Are you sure this wasn't just a case of being prepared for something to be so awful that when it wasn't quite that awful it seemed ok?
I started watching it prepared for pretty much the worst, just felt like watching a movie and that was all there was available.
My imagination proved not to have been able to conjor the idea of a cinematic experience this bad. 
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 15, 2012, 07:14:57 am
Well.... Feeling the need to justify myself... ;) it was a bit like Jasper said, you think oh god as it starts, then after 1/2 hour it was alright... Gemma Artherton (sp?) provided some occasional visual highlights, and as it progressed it reminded me more of a play.. Again an alright one. The plot was predictable, the characters over exaggerated, but well acted - and like an Ealing comedy it was all jolly good fun...
I'll make a comparison with Hot Fuzz.. It's a similar type of film (daft - British - set in a sepia chocolate box village) but (thankfully) without Simon Peg ET al..  (I liked Shaun of the dead btw.,,)..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 15, 2012, 09:04:38 am
Has anyone mentioned The Grey?

Possibly the worst animal themed film since Arachnophobia (which I've only just realised stars Jaspersharp):

(http://www.best-horror-movies.com/images/arachnophobia-1990-movie-review-21294191.jpg)

Liam Neeson has the most irritating American accent in the whole of cinema, and he is even more languid and morose in this than ever before.

Avoid...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 15, 2012, 10:25:06 am
Has anyone mentioned The Grey?


Yes.


And The Grey (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1601913/) which was uttely pants in too many ways to mention.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 15, 2012, 11:44:03 pm

I'll make a comparison with Hot Fuzz.. It's a similar type of film (daft - British - set in a sepia chocolate box village)

....but it's shit and not funny, and hot fuzz is funny. This, i feel is an important distinction in cinematic criticism.  ;)
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 16, 2012, 05:03:50 am

I'll make a comparison with Hot Fuzz.. It's a similar type of film (daft - British - set in a sepia chocolate box village)

....but it's shit and not funny, and hot fuzz is funny. This, i feel is an important distinction in cinematic criticism.  ;)

Perhaps if you'd watched all of both films you'd be in a position to say.... ;)
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 16, 2012, 05:07:52 am
Mind you, I'd better be careful, i am after all comparing a turd to a shitty stick...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on March 16, 2012, 08:25:09 am
Well.... Feeling the need to justify myself... ;) it was a bit like Jasper said, you think oh god as it starts, then after 1/2 hour it was alright... Gemma Artherton (sp?) provided some occasional visual highlights, and as it progressed it reminded me more of a play.. Again an alright one. The plot was predictable, the characters over exaggerated, but well acted - and like an Ealing comedy it was all jolly good fun...
I'll make a comparison with Hot Fuzz.. It's a similar type of film (daft - British - set in a sepia chocolate box village) but (thankfully) without Simon Peg ET al..  (I liked Shaun of the dead btw.,,)..

At least you didn't have to explain the 'plot' every five minutes (I hope?).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chummer on March 16, 2012, 09:14:48 am
The Guard. Fucking brilliant, clever and very very funny

THE GUARD Official film Web Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_kJ3d1vqs4#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 16, 2012, 10:13:03 am
Only Jasper reads my posts I said The Grey was shit and The Guard was excellent on the last page.  :'(
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 16, 2012, 10:14:09 am
Well.... Feeling the need to justify myself... ;) it was a bit like Jasper said, you think oh god as it starts, then after 1/2 hour it was alright... Gemma Artherton (sp?) provided some occasional visual highlights, and as it progressed it reminded me more of a play.. Again an alright one. The plot was predictable, the characters over exaggerated, but well acted - and like an Ealing comedy it was all jolly good fun...
I'll make a comparison with Hot Fuzz.. It's a similar type of film (daft - British - set in a sepia chocolate box village) but (thankfully) without Simon Peg ET al..  (I liked Shaun of the dead btw.,,)..

At least you didn't have to explain the 'plot' every five minutes (I hope?).

I had to have it explained to me ;) I was paying attention honest!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on March 16, 2012, 10:27:40 am
I'm surprised Magpie hasn't commented on The Guard or on The Grey. Could you have a look Jasper?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 16, 2012, 12:03:22 pm
Has she? I'm not sure. I don't pay a lot of attention to magpie's posts on this thread since she rated In Time.


 ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 16, 2012, 12:54:46 pm
Only Jasper reads my posts I said The Grey was shit and The Guard was excellent on the last page.  :'(

Sorry!

But you only mentioned how shit it was in very brief terms, and considering actually how shit it is, I think you really should've put more effort into it.  It was so shit that, if you're going to write a review, you should really have made at least five hyperbolic comments about how terribly terribly shit it was to really grab our attention.  Otherwise people like me don't notice and then we end up watching it too, and that doesn't do anyone any favours.

Colombiana - like a slightly less shit Transporter with a skinny girl and less speeded-up car chases.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 16, 2012, 09:51:51 pm
But you only mentioned how shit it was in very brief terms, and considering actually how shit it is, I think you really should've put more effort into it.  It was so shit that, if you're going to write a review, you should really have made at least five hyperbolic comments about how terribly terribly shit it was to really grab our attention.  Otherwise people like me don't notice and then we end up watching it too, and that doesn't do anyone any favours.
I was worried if I started I may never stop ranting, those stupid fucking wolves and his bloody faux scientific bullshit.  :chair:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 17, 2012, 12:51:34 am
Has anyone seen "In Time"?  Apparently the reviews are mixed. As in,, it's the.worst film of 2011......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on March 20, 2012, 01:35:08 pm
Watched a couple at the weekend:

Drive very cool. Really liked this one. Reminded me a bit of A History of Violence. What really made it was the excellent soundtrack.

The Ides of March Clooney sure knows how to make a classy film. Smart, well acted, well shot. Nice.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 20, 2012, 01:49:49 pm
Watched Drive again on Sunday night. It's still amazing when you know what's going to happen. Agree about the soundtrack.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on March 20, 2012, 06:07:53 pm
Are we allowed to post trailers for films that have us ridiculously excited?

Prometheus - Official FULL Trailer [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UEv03g51kU#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 20, 2012, 06:43:37 pm
The bar has been set high and I approve. That looks immense. Hints of Aliens and Stargate.    :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on March 21, 2012, 01:05:05 am
The various Prometheus trailers  out there have turned me into a gibbering mess of excitment and I'm gnawing the furniture with anticipation. It will, of course not live up to its hype, but no matter how many times I tell that to myself, I'd still cheerfully stuff my arse with broken glass and sandpaper my nuts to get tickets for the opening night at the imax.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on March 31, 2012, 09:31:16 am
i watched tt closer to the edge the other night
really enjoyed it,guy martin is one of those friendly likable types of blokes,completly unfazed by the fame and does what he wants.
watching tt always makes me think of the father in law recounting going over a brow on a works yamaha 700 so quick the front end came up.as he was tucked behind the fairing he just kept it at full throttle not knowing where he was going.when the front dropped he was pointing the right way :o takes a differant breed of biker than the weekend heroes you see riding like morons.all the gear no idea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on March 31, 2012, 11:58:06 am
Quote
guy martin is one of those friendly likable types of blokes,

Must admit he came across a bit of a weapon whilst restoring that barge on tv 'by eck, shall we ave a brew boy/ boss/ chief' etc etc, though I didn't realise he was a wad on a bike.

Having said that he bears more than a passing resemblance to Turnip, so I can see the appeal for you.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on March 31, 2012, 12:19:12 pm
Well keen to see TT. Didn't get chance at the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on March 31, 2012, 12:40:05 pm
Quote
guy martin is one of those friendly likable types of blokes,

Must admit he came across a bit of a weapon whilst restoring that barge on tv 'by eck, shall we ave a brew boy/ boss/ chief' etc etc, though I didn't realise he was a wad on a bike.

Having said that he bears more than a passing resemblance to Turnip, so I can see the appeal for you.

haha,well spotted.i hadnt noticed that.
i also didnt realise he was such a nutter on a bike whilst i watched the boat thingy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 31, 2012, 08:31:02 pm
The TT film is brilliant, they are mental. I'd try and write some gushing flim-flam here but would fail horrendously so instead I'll just encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to watch it. In fact in that vein if you haven't seen it Stallion I'll lend it you tomorrow.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on March 31, 2012, 08:36:51 pm
Nice one. You can have Pissing Pussies back while we're at it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 02, 2012, 10:07:33 am
Watched The Divide (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535616/) at the weekend, thinking it was a post apocalyptic thriller type thing.  I need to learn to do more research.  It was post apocalyptic but totally not what I was expecting, it's really dark and pretty gory but there are some pretty good, mental, characters in it, so it's worth a watch if you don't mind a bit of gore and a rather dark film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on April 02, 2012, 10:30:46 am
Watched the Awakening at the weekend.  Good and suspenseful and promising, then a twist that I felt was a little far fetched to hold the whole thing together.  an OK watch, but could have been a lot more.

Just bought SnowTown, but not watched it yet.  Wanted to see it at the flicks but it wasn't really on for long here.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on April 06, 2012, 10:12:05 am
We watched Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/) last night and really enjoyed it.

I watched it a few weeks back with mixed expectations but absolutely loved it.

Watched it with Frau M last night. She enjoyed it. I found the single continuously repeated name drop/double take joke rather irritating and juvenile after the first half dozen repetitions. Times & perceptions change: I suppose one could say similar things about The Sleeper, which I absolutely loved in my (and Woody's) dim & distant youth.

It did make Paris look pretty, I suppose. My previous recollections of Paris basically consist of battling through crowds of pickpockets and muggers in the Metro en route to & from 'bleau (as it was called in my pre-car days) so I never really got the whole romantic bit.

And those twenties cars really do have do be the coolest-looking machinery ever built.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 06, 2012, 12:36:14 pm
Already mentioned in the music thread, but the Chemical Brothers "Don't Think" (http://store.digitalstores.co.uk/chemicalbrothers/) is well worth a watch...

DONT THINK FULL TRAILER - The Chemical Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21UItm9UCr0#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on April 06, 2012, 12:38:56 pm
After watching the Group B documentary the other day, and with a reminder from "The Spherical Cow", I watched TT: Closer to the edge last night and was duly impressed.

Some of the high speed, slow-motion footage is absolutely amazing to watch and the acceptance of (high) risk by the competitors is totally mind-boggling.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 06, 2012, 08:26:49 pm
A few recent DVD viewings   

Win Win - a low key, shambling comedy-drama that combines the plotlines of legal, wrestling, and curmugdeon-finds-purpose--looking-after-moppet films.  Pleasant enough and worth a look for anyone stuck for options who enjoys the likes of Sideways.

Hugo - I enjoyed this more than I expected: it trod the right side of the mawkish/feel-good divide and exuded a love of its craft.  A true family film in that its charms should appeal to all ages; rather than the usual juvenile tat with a few jarring adult jokes thrown in.  Still, I can't help but selfishly regret that Scorsese devoted so much of himself to a mash-up of Oliver Twist and Amelia: get back to the gangsters NOW! 

Take Shelter - Man has visions of impending meteological apocalypse: is he a prophet or having a breakdown.  A worthy effort that's played dead straight.  For me though, it lacked a little something -  I never really invested in the characters .

Snowtown - Aussie crime drama where a teenage kid gets drawn into the orbit of a disturbingly commonplace serial killer.   This has had great reviews but I was left a little non-plussed.  For some reason it didn't grab me.  It was just a little too low key, uncinematic and "domestic". Realism is all very well but if I wanted to watch uncharismatic people being unpleasant I'd hang around a town-centre after last-orders.  Animal Factory was a far better film in the same mileu.

My Week With Marilyn - Pleasant fluff, well acted by a cast who look like they're enjoying themselves.  Very pleasant if you're feeling benign.... probably best avoided if feeling embittered as it could be construed as an unbearably smug luvie-fest
 
Rum Diary, The - Hugely disappointing.  Not having read the book, I was hoping for a Fear and Loathing style orgy of Depp-ian dissipation.  Instead, its few promisingly unhinged aspects were used to garnish a dull story about hotel development. I wanted ether-snorting, adrenocrome-fuelled fun.  Instead, I got a worthy exposition on inequality (it's bad, who knew!) and the ecological burden of tourism... just with a few cocktails thrown in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on April 07, 2012, 08:16:36 pm
After watching the Group B documentary the other day, and with a reminder from "The Spherical Cow", I watched TT: Closer to the edge last night and was duly impressed.

Some of the high speed, slow-motion footage is absolutely amazing to watch and the acceptance of (high) risk by the competitors is totally mind-boggling.

just had the father in law around.we lent the tt film to him last week.
said he knows guys dad and the engineer who does all the engines.it was 75/76 when he raced there.
was on about a time joey dunlop came to cadwell park and he beat him in both races,he did say he knew cadwell park well and it was in the wet though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 08, 2012, 09:57:06 pm

Snowtown - Aussie crime drama where a teenage kid gets drawn into the orbit of a disturbingly commonplace serial killer.   This has had great reviews but I was left a little non-plussed.  For some reason it didn't grab me.  It was just a little too low key, uncinematic and "domestic". Realism is all very well but if I wanted to watch uncharismatic people being unpleasant I'd hang around a town-centre after last-orders.  Animal Factory was a far better film in the same mileu.


I agree - had heard great things, but found it bordering on nihilistic boring/awful/miserable, etc. 

I wish Australian cinema would move on from domestic serial killer cinema and start making films about nice, happy stuff, like artisan cheese maker / surfer buddy movies, things with space ships, amusing fly-on-the-wall at a Perth-based rental car firm, etc...
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 08, 2012, 10:30:38 pm
I loved the oyster farmer (if we're talking about Oz cinema..). Really good and funny film..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_Farmer

And 'one for the pool room' has to be 'the castle'. Nearly pissed myself :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Castle_(film)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 09, 2012, 09:32:25 am

Snowtown - Aussie crime drama where a teenage kid gets drawn into the orbit of a disturbingly commonplace serial killer.   This has had great reviews but I was left a little non-plussed.  For some reason it didn't grab me.  It was just a little too low key, uncinematic and "domestic". Realism is all very well but if I wanted to watch uncharismatic people being unpleasant I'd hang around a town-centre after last-orders.  Animal Factory was a far better film in the same mileu.


I agree - had heard great things, but found it bordering on nihilistic boring/awful/miserable, etc. 

I wish Australian cinema would move on from domestic serial killer cinema and start making films about nice, happy stuff, like artisan cheese maker / surfer buddy movies, things with space ships, amusing fly-on-the-wall at a Perth-based rental car firm, etc...

Interesting. I considered this a few weeks ago and decided it sounded that bit too grim. Sounds like a good decision. Did you mean Animal Kingdom btw Moose? That's a brilliant film (as mentioned several times on the thread).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 09, 2012, 11:04:39 am
Aye, I meant "Animal Kingdom".  Great film.  Though no discussion of Aussie cinema is complete without Razorback: beautiful, disturbing, horrifying and about a giant pig.  One of the few quality works of art that makes you crave a bacon sandwich!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 09, 2012, 02:36:54 pm
The first film I recommended in this thread is one of the better Aussie films I've seen.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382806/)

Shame Tim Winton's Novels haven't made it onto the big screen. I think Breath and Dirt Music would both make excellent films .
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 09, 2012, 03:25:48 pm
I think Breath is currently in production.... Sure I read it somewhere....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 09, 2012, 07:43:03 pm

Snowtown - Aussie crime drama where a teenage kid gets drawn into the orbit of a disturbingly commonplace serial killer.   This has had great reviews but I was left a little non-plussed.  For some reason it didn't grab me.  It was just a little too low key, uncinematic and "domestic". Realism is all very well but if I wanted to watch uncharismatic people being unpleasant I'd hang around a town-centre after last-orders.  Animal Factory was a far better film in the same mileu.


I agree - had heard great things, but found it bordering on nihilistic boring/awful/miserable, etc. 

I wish Australian cinema would move on from domestic serial killer cinema and start making films about nice, happy stuff, like artisan cheese maker / surfer buddy movies, things with space ships, amusing fly-on-the-wall at a Perth-based rental car firm, etc...

Interesting. I considered this a few weeks ago and decided it sounded that bit too grim. Sounds like a good decision. Did you mean Animal Kingdom btw Moose? That's a brilliant film (as mentioned several times on the thread).

Yes -  rather like Kill List - I am increasingly discovering that my stomach for pointy, "We're setting out to fuck with your frame of mind for, oooh, say a good few days" kind of films is declining at a rate.  Animal Kingdom is more animated. This one was pretty much a cinematic summing up of the Snowtown murders Wikipedia entry.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 09, 2012, 08:54:21 pm
I rather liked Kill-list myself but I am a sucker for  any hint of Wicker man. That said, I far preferred the director's earlier Down Terrace as it  had an slightly absurd , humour that leavened the kitchen sink sensibility.

In general though I am now far less willing to sit through relentless unpleasantness. When I was younger, I could convince myself of the merit of the most  gratuitously nasty films - decent acting or artful cinematography would see me through.  These days I seem to need jokes or sympathetic characters. Not sure whether that's a bad thing. Has  my mind become sentimental and less aesthetically rigorous? Maybe it's just that my job involves a fair amount of hard work and exposure to unpleasantness and there's only so much reality I can take.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 10, 2012, 09:02:10 am
I don't think that's a bad thing moose. I watch films to enjoy myself not to be "challenged" to the point of depression! There's enough of that shit in the real world without going looking for more. A bit of nastiness here and there is all good but as you say, it needs balancing with something (humour, characters you can relate to) for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 10, 2012, 10:05:09 am
I think Breath is currently in production.... Sure I read it somewhere....

Seems like Dirt Music is and The Riders are in development, but not Breath.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Winton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Winton)

Unless wiki is out of date?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on April 20, 2012, 02:30:32 pm
The Cabin In The Woods - not quite worth the mega-rating it gets on Rotten Tomatoes, but a good fun sort of sci-fi thriller with escalating excitement and plenty of LOL moments. The main thing worth knowing is that despite the ominious poster, the catch/hook of this initially-horror-orientated film is nothing weird, freaky, or downright surreal - it's a straight up different rationale for the horror scenario that pans out to be a jolly good romp (albeit with an abrupt ending and an underdeveloped backstory which is a pity as the premise has lots of potential), rather than a horror headfuck. Favourite moments: the entrance of Marty (proper lol if you've seen Dollhouse), and the lift doors moment.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 23, 2012, 10:03:15 am
We watched Gone Baby Gone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452623/) over the weekend, it was very good but really quite dark.  Well worth a watch provided you're not looking for laughs or anything too uplifting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on April 23, 2012, 12:30:42 pm
Quick shout whilst it's still about for  Headhunters (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1614989/)  (Hodejegerne, but subtitled from the original Geordie, it sounds like anyway though I didn't realise they had fjords round Gateshead.)

Took my teenage lads to see it and the 17yrold is going back with his mates. I know of no higher recommendation.

Might even dig out the  book  (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,3825.500.html)...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 23, 2012, 01:28:21 pm
Saw The Ides of March the other week. Thought it was very good although the lasting impression was that in real life, you'd never get a presidential candidate with such sound policies (however dodgy he was).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 29, 2012, 09:35:10 pm
Shame (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723811/) - I didn't really like it, it reminded me of Drive so loads of people will probably think it was amazing, I thought it was a bit dull and weird and had a shit ending.  It was full of filth though, if you like that sort of thing. :)

Chronicle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706593/) - excellent, a different kind of take on super powers and alternative superheros, what Hancock could have been like had the ending not been so massively lame.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 29, 2012, 09:39:28 pm
Prometheus trailer (long) was the whole first ad break in homeland tonight.  Looked really really good :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 30, 2012, 10:36:50 am
Prometheus trailer (long) was the whole first ad break in homeland tonight.  Looked really really good :)

 :agree:
Prometheus International Launch Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1byZkbNB3Jw#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 30, 2012, 03:44:58 pm
Alan Partridge film announced by Armando Iannucci (http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000806/alan_partridge_movie_confirmed_preproduction/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 03, 2012, 01:58:16 pm
"You've replaced the lifeguards with strippers?

"This looks like a seriously intellectual movie;

Hoff, Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd, Strippers, what's not to like?

Piranha 3DD Offical Trailer (starring Ving Rhames, David hasselhoff) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_44yNy_FdI#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jmews on May 03, 2012, 02:38:01 pm
I recently watched Submarine and Bottle shock. Both very enjoyable in different ways. Submarine really brought back that secondary school feeling, and bottle shock was just a fun watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on May 03, 2012, 03:06:10 pm
I recently watched Submarine and Bottle shock. Both very enjoyable in different ways. Submarine really brought back that secondary school feeling, and bottle shock was just a fun watch.

+1 for Submarine, had the same feel to it as The Royal Tenenbaums. A great and bleakly funny movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on May 05, 2012, 11:09:59 pm
Watched True Grit last night, and The Fighter tonight. Both really good. The girl in True Grit stole the show I thought, and brilliantly shot as always by the Coens. The Fighter was a surprise hit, wasn't sure what to expect. The fight scenes were very good, and well acted. Based on a true story, there's an interesting back story when you start reading into it, quite a few people play themselves.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 06, 2012, 09:28:13 am
"the lives of others". Superb, pre wall E.German drama focusing around politics and the Stasi... Really really good film... A surprise love film decided to send us (outside of the usual rom com vs action MrsTT vs TT choices)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 07, 2012, 02:35:09 pm
Probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but watched and adored Bright Star - Jane Campion's lustrous, gorgeous study of the romance between John Keats and Fanny Brawne. Love's young dream for sure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 08, 2012, 11:19:26 pm
Carnage. Polankski's adaptation of a stage production. Really good.  Very funny and great character acting from the cast.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 09, 2012, 02:34:13 pm
Watched Bee Movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389790/) with a hangover the other day as it was on tv. Mildly amusing with a nice story and good animation. I quite enjoyed it and it's recommended for 5 year olds.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on May 09, 2012, 03:02:43 pm
Mission Impossible 3 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317919/) - Pretty rubbish
This Means War (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596350/) - Also pretty rubbish
The Decoy Bride (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657299/) - Very rubbish
God Bless America (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1912398/) - Awesome, definitely worth a watch.

 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on May 17, 2012, 10:27:42 pm
Pirates! An Advensture With Scientists.

Most enjoyable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 18, 2012, 09:12:53 am
Got around to watching Rampart.  It's really good, Harrelson is excellent but there are fine performances from Ned Beatty, Sigourney Weaver and others.  It's filmed with handheld cams and there's a lot of muttered dialogue so you have to concentrate.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 28, 2012, 12:32:30 pm
Watched The Raid the other night. It's the best martial arts film I've seen for years, every fight scene is in some way slightly different and a bit innovative plus there's a properly nails little sadistic bad guy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 01, 2012, 04:53:37 pm
Snow White & The Huntsman - fairly good entertainment but obviously not as good as it should have been - it could have been great if the content had matched up to the style. It's all rather dark and dramatic and has pretty cool fantasy setting, but lacks depth and a strong background - the style reminded me a lot of BB / TDK, but while they had some sensible mythology to support and enhance it, this film doesn't, which is a pity because what is hinted on (especially Ravenna and her effect on the land) could be quite intriguing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on June 01, 2012, 05:18:24 pm
Watched True Grit last night, and The Fighter tonight. Both really good. The girl in True Grit stole the show I thought, and brilliantly shot as always by the Coens.

thought true grit was amazing
reminds me i borrowed it andi and still have it,thats the next job.find it

like you say the girl in acted like she was double her age,modern westerns are brilliant when done properly

my mate went to see prom at dinner time today,said it very good.others off to see it later
it does look bloody good though,looks nice and dark
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 03, 2012, 09:51:42 pm
Just back from seeing Prometheus. Superb...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on June 04, 2012, 09:16:37 am
May have been mentioned before but check out Hanna (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0993842/). Given somewhat unlikely plot it is actually a really good film with good tight directing and excellent acting. If that's not enough it also features one of the campest bad guys ever (think the bastard off spring of Elton John and Robbie Williams with a large dash of psychopathy thrown in and you have a rough idea).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 04, 2012, 01:10:55 pm
I enjoyed that too.  Sounds a bit rubbish on paper but it's great. ( the baddie is the vicar in Rev on the telly ).

Prometheus in IMAX 3D tonight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 04, 2012, 01:29:58 pm
Just back from seeing Prometheus. Superb...

OK, at a proper keyboard so I can give this more effort....

Prometheus is a top notch Sci-fi film. Its not a horror creep show of Alien, and its not an out and out slam bam rollercoaster of Aliens. Bits of it reminded me more of 2001 (especially the beginning which was superb) with nods to other Sci-fi including Blade runner etc.. Its hard to talk too much about it without giving away what happens - but I was completely taken in by watching the story unfold. Character development is not the films strong point - though Fassbenders 'David' is superb, Theron is suitably icy but a little unbelievable and Noomi Thingi is good (though not as superb as in the Dragon Tattoo series). Other characters are there (A suitably lacking in social skills Geologist, and a upon reflection a good Rafe Spall performance as a biologist) but its almost like there is too much plot, story development, sci-fi story to get accross to allow the time for their characters to develop. Kind of the opposite to Alien - which was all about the characters and the whole Alien thing had no explanation. But, I was enthralled trying to figure out what was happening and what it all meant.

Effects are great - and not too over the top. Some neat 'ideas' such as the dotty hologram recordings of what happened. The opening 5 min of flying over Iceland (I suspect) were superb on their own!! ;) </scenery geek> There are great twists on the xenomorph (for the Alien fan) and the 'space jockeys' (Big People) are really well done... All the alien stuff was just really well done.. I didnt think "ach they wouldnt have done that it should have been like this etc..". Twists in the plot were foreseable, but not gapingly so (as in it didnt spoil it). Like good sci-fi films its made me think about what was in it and what it meant for a few hours the evening and day after watching it... The ending is good - and leaves plenty of room for a sequel - not in the direction you might of initially thought either..

I saw it in 3d - which was OK, I dont think that really added much to it (but didnt take away either).. and would have happily seen it in 2d (it would have been a bit brighter too..).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on June 04, 2012, 03:26:49 pm
Watched Kill List last week after missing out when it was on the big screen.

It's a very good, if pretty grisly film - and with a rather strange story that's creepy and twisty at the same time.

My only criticism was that in places the dialogue was sometimes hard to make out - seemed a bit over-muffled and I missed out on some of the lines that I read later on in an article that were important to the plot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on June 08, 2012, 12:02:21 pm
Just back from seeing Prometheus. Superb...

OK, at a proper keyboard so I can give this more effort....

Saw it last night and whilst undoubtedly a good film I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Whilst safe for work contains spoilers...

NSFW  :
My main gripe was with the whole biologist/geologist sub plot, which I thought was poor. How they ended up getting lost was only unexpected because I expected more. Same with the resident evil esk super strength monster, which they decide to open the hold for with no checks. I may be missing something, but that whole section could have been removed without losing any content.

And whilst some of the promo material I thought was great (the viral stuff), I found that the actual trailer gave far too much away - that it was a ship and that the ship would be knocked out of the sky was a given.

But as tomtom mentioned it has quality in that it gives you lots to think about, and has great details.


Overall I did enjoy it, and the 2 hours flew by. Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 08, 2012, 12:23:40 pm

Saw it last night and whilst undoubtedly a good film I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Whilst safe for work contains spoilers...

NSFW  :
My main gripe was with the whole biologist/geologist sub plot, which I thought was poor. How they ended up getting lost was only unexpected because I expected more. Same with the resident evil esk super strength monster, which they decide to open the hold for with no checks. I may be missing something, but that whole section could have been removed without losing any content.

And whilst some of the promo material I thought was great (the viral stuff), I found that the actual trailer gave far too much away - that it was a ship and that the ship would be knocked out of the sky was a given.

But as tomtom mentioned it has quality in that it gives you lots to think about, and has great details.


Overall I did enjoy it, and the 2 hours flew by. Recommended.

All you need to have done to know about the ship was to have seen Alien, non?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Serpico on June 08, 2012, 12:39:49 pm

Saw it last night and whilst undoubtedly a good film I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Whilst safe for work contains spoilers...

NSFW  :
My main gripe was with the whole biologist/geologist sub plot, which I thought was poor. How they ended up getting lost was only unexpected because I expected more. Same with the resident evil esk super strength monster, which they decide to open the hold for with no checks. I may be missing something, but that whole section could have been removed without losing any content.

And whilst some of the promo material I thought was great (the viral stuff), I found that the actual trailer gave far too much away - that it was a ship and that the ship would be knocked out of the sky was a given.

But as tomtom mentioned it has quality in that it gives you lots to think about, and has great details.


Overall I did enjoy it, and the 2 hours flew by. Recommended.

All you need to have done to know about the ship was to have seen Alien, non?

Well... read on for more spoilers
NSFW  :
It's not the same ship - in Alien the ship is on LV-426 with an in-situ Space Jockey, this takes place on LV-233 and the SJ's chair is empty.
As for the film I was disappointed, it's visually excellent, and it does have some big concepts, but it doesn't expand on them or resolve any of the questions it raises, and ultimately it's a bit of a predictable monster romp, which very closely mirrors what Scott did all those years ago (better) in Alien. Overall it felt like part one of a sequel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 08, 2012, 01:06:37 pm
Surely there'll just be a directors cut which will be the flim it should have been but was held back so they can reap more money in?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 08, 2012, 05:58:16 pm
Theres very obviously a part II lined up at the end.
Serps, a nice link here where they discuss some of the unanswered things:
(spoiler alert - if you click on this link and read the page you will spoil the plot..)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jun/08/prometheus-ten-key-questions (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jun/08/prometheus-ten-key-questions)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 11, 2012, 04:30:28 pm
The Devil's Backbone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256009/) enjoyable Guillermo del Toro movie I'd not seen before.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Serpico on June 11, 2012, 05:03:03 pm
Theres very obviously a part II lined up at the end.
Serps, a nice link here where they discuss some of the unanswered things:
(spoiler alert - if you click on this link and read the page you will spoil the plot..)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jun/08/prometheus-ten-key-questions (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jun/08/prometheus-ten-key-questions)

Thanks for that. It did actually answer my major question - why is this film so shit? Answer - it was written by the bloke that wrote Lost.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on June 13, 2012, 10:23:09 pm
Intriguing Prometheus analysis here - http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html (http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html)

(Probably best not to read it if you haven't seen it or have loads of important stuff to do, especially if you're easily distracted.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 14, 2012, 11:06:48 am
Intriguing Prometheus analysis here - http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html (http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html)

(Probably best not to read it if you haven't seen it or have loads of important stuff to do, especially if you're easily distracted.)

DAMN!

I was fairly disappointed. Here's hoping the sequel is extremely enlightening. However, one thing is for sure; I won't be going to the cinema to see it.

With the amount of marketing hype before the film I wonder if it ever could have lived up to expectations?

Spoilers Within:
NSFW  :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-x1YuvUQFJ0
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 15, 2012, 01:32:52 pm
Johnny Mnemonic - drivel, terrible acted cyberpunk cliche fest.

Chronicle - great, nicely done spin on the superpowers concept with good characters and good escalation from lowkey beginnings to a cool ending.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on June 15, 2012, 03:42:57 pm
The Devil's Backbone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256009/) enjoyable Guillermo del Toro movie I'd not seen before.

I really like this. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jamiev on June 15, 2012, 03:49:50 pm
Slightly alarming to see it's so long since American Beauty came out. Agree it's superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 15, 2012, 04:53:37 pm
Intriguing Prometheus analysis here - http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html (http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html)

(Probably best not to read it if you haven't seen it or have loads of important stuff to do, especially if you're easily distracted.)

DAMN!

I was fairly disappointed. Here's hoping the sequel is extremely enlightening. However, one thing is for sure; I won't be going to the cinema to see it.

With the amount of marketing hype before the film I wonder if it ever could have lived up to expectations?

Spoilers Within:

Its interesting - I heard the best description (from my perspective) in a text read out on Kermode and Mayo

"I really enjoyed it though I can see why some people might be disappointed by it"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 20, 2012, 12:00:59 am
Intriguing Prometheus analysis here - http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html (http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html)

(Probably best not to read it if you have the slightest intolerance of mind-numbingly tedious anally retentive nit-picking micro-analytical drivel written by someone who could painfully contrive lifetime's worth of deep meaning in a 30 second advert)


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 20, 2012, 11:39:23 am
Prometheus: Liked it, really good sci-fi action, first 2/3 are brilliant, last 1/3 is okay, but quite a big mess joining the "plot" together. Style is great but it is let down by patchiness and inconsistency later on, and avoids the more interesting questions it raises.

Also:

Why was the Engineer infecting himself at the start? What was the ship at the start?
If this is supposed to be the Engineer dissolving himself to produce human life, why does the planet look like LV-whatever and why does the fluid look like their black fluid later on?

What were the Engineers in the holo-recording running from?

Assuming there are at least 3 stages of Alien micro-evolution (parasite via consumption, squid via secondary infection (impregnation by parasite host), Alien via tertiary infection)...
Why was there a bas-relief of an Alien behind the Engineer head?

Why the change in the nature of the lifeform?

Why did she "give birth" to a squid?

Assuming the oral infection of the abandoned human duo by the "cute" tentacle thing and the oral infection of the enginner by the squid were the same, how did the cute tentacle thing develop?

Assuming the cute tentacle thing is a black-fluid induced development of the maggot worms (similar to how the fluid mutated tattooed geologist), where did the worms come from?

How was David communicating with Weyland senior via a mask (before Vickers interrogated him)?

Why were Weyland also trying to infect humans and how did they know how to do that?
 Was this Weyland senior's instructions?

Why was Weyland senior kept a mystery?

Why did David want Weyland senior to die ("dont all children want their parents to die")?

Why is the surgery machine only configured for one gender and why does Vickers have it? If it was for Weyland, why was it in her quarters?

Why does Shaw have a change of heart and accompany the Weyland team even though Fassbender tried to use her as a host?

Why does no-one bat an eyelid about Shaw's near-birth experience?

 :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 20, 2012, 12:09:16 pm


Also:

Why was the Engineer infecting himself at the start? What was the ship at the start?
If this is supposed to be the Engineer dissolving himself to produce human life, why does the planet look like LV-whatever and why does the fluid look like their black fluid later on?

What were the Engineers in the holo-recording running from?

Assuming there are at least 3 stages of Alien micro-evolution (parasite via consumption, squid via secondary infection (impregnation by parasite host), Alien via tertiary infection)...
Why was there a bas-relief of an Alien behind the Engineer head?

Why the change in the nature of the lifeform?

Why did she "give birth" to a squid?

Assuming the oral infection of the abandoned human duo by the "cute" tentacle thing and the oral infection of the enginner by the squid were the same, how did the cute tentacle thing develop?

Assuming the cute tentacle thing is a black-fluid induced development of the maggot worms (similar to how the fluid mutated tattooed geologist), where did the worms come from?

How was David communicating with Weyland senior via a mask (before Vickers interrogated him)?

Why were Weyland also trying to infect humans and how did they know how to do that?
 Was this Weyland senior's instructions?

Why was Weyland senior kept a mystery?

Why did David want Weyland senior to die ("dont all children want their parents to die")?

Why is the surgery machine only configured for one gender and why does Vickers have it? If it was for Weyland, why was it in her quarters?

Why does Shaw have a change of heart and accompany the Weyland team even though Fassbender tried to use her as a host?

Why does no-one bat an eyelid about Shaw's near-birth experience?

 :-\

Its a film, it doesn't have to make sense, as long as you were entertained (or so my wife tells me when I point out contradictions and continuity errors when we're watching films).

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 22, 2012, 10:53:04 am
Yossarian: No, no I'm not. Just can't be arsed with someone trying to create such waffle out of thin air.

Anyway, I enjoyed Prometheus as a good sci-fi film, despite some of it's inconsistencies. Did you??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on June 23, 2012, 10:26:03 pm
Prometheus... I gave up after the abortion scene. An avid fan of the alien (predator and terminator) genre, I wasnt looking it as the prequal of the alien franchise as instructed but what a let down. Thank funk we got our tickets cheap from groupon.

Girl with the dragon tattoo...the Swedish original...recorded this off the tv and managed to watch it yesterday. Brilliant tho the slightly let down by the end twist and reunion. The sore bum part was funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on June 26, 2012, 10:32:14 pm
Yossarian: No, no I'm not. Just can't be arsed with someone trying to create such waffle out of thin air.

Anyway, I enjoyed Prometheus as a good sci-fi film, despite some of it's inconsistencies. Did you??

I was impressed by the amount of effort he put into that analysis. I am also intrigued by the direction the sequel might take. There were plenty of unanswered questions in the film and there's plenty of scope for a cool sequel.

I liked the film - it could never have the same effect as the first two as the goalposts were always going to be set too high. Nonetheless - I thought it was stylish and ambitious.

I apologise for the bad karma. You didn't deserve it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on June 27, 2012, 08:56:02 am

I liked the film - it could never have the same effect as the first two as the goalposts were always going to be set too high. Nonetheless - I thought it was stylish and ambitious.

Visually I thought it was stunning (I saw it in IMAX 3D) but I struggled with the plot holes, the silly decisions but mainly, my lack of empathy for the characters!

I felt they had a lot of plot to get through so time for the back story/development of the characters was compromised and as a result, I didnt really care who lived or died. I really enjoy films (and novels) where there is an emotional engagement with the characters. I dont have to like them but in Prometheus, I was generally apathetic as to their fate and that spoilt the whole film. The only person I was bothered about was David, as he seemed to be a right bastard with ulterior motives which wasnt what I was expecting form an android, the rest of them could go to hell in a hand basket (to quote my mother) for all I cared.

I got the feeling, and have since read, that there were a lot of scenes on the cutting room floor that would have improved the movie. Im sure there will be a  Utimate/Directors/Superdooper/etc Cut that will be released in due course that will explain all..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 04, 2012, 12:08:24 pm
Total Recall (original). Saw this again on TV recently, forgot just how good it is. I remember it as a standardly entertaining Arnie sci-fi action thing, but I'd forgotten about all the plot twists (pretty good for an action blockbuster) and the one-liners and humour and stuff. Just a great film all round.

Now then....I know it's cool to hate on remakes, but....

'TOTAL RECALL' Official Trailer #2 (2012) [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx_9uxohMTI#ws)

....I think this looks pretty good. Sure it's derivative of everything, ever, including the original, but I actually think the fights / stunts / action look good enough on their own to warrant a cinema view.  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on July 04, 2012, 01:07:22 pm
Caught the end of the Edinburgh International Film Festival with the lass on Saturday.

First film was Demain?  An artsy French tale about a young female poet, her horrible sycophant of a mother, getting stuck in a marriage and all other things French. Great acting and cinematography. Set in Montevideo in Uruguay. Moving, captivating and curious. Someone else's review here: http://www.cine-vue.com/2012/06/eiff-2012-demain-review.html (http://www.cine-vue.com/2012/06/eiff-2012-demain-review.html)

Second was a collections of short animations.  We both really liked The Maker, A little Suicide, 7 minutes in the Warsaw Ghetto and La Viande et L'amour the others were unmemorable/average.

The final film in our epic film-fest was It Looks Pretty from a Distance (Z daleka widok jest piekny).

Hmmm. Where do I start. Well - we both hated it. It was somehow very compelling, as in, we watched attentively hoping something, anything might happen!

It was almost devoid of dialogue and there was no score. It was dull, confusing and we both left with a sense we just didn't get it. We thought "maybe it's us" so we checked a few reviews. Two were glowing, full of praise such as "gloriously bucolic in its imagery and lush with breathtaking long shots".  Ah, those ten second long shots of nothing, where...nothing....happens!   One summed it up for us: Add in a deliberate lack of characterisation and dialogue and theres little here for even the most hardened cineaste to really enjoy.

I recommended you go and watch it and tell me I'm missing the point...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on July 04, 2012, 01:16:37 pm

....I think this looks pretty good. Sure it's derivative of everything, ever, including the original, but I actually think the fights / stunts / action look good enough on their own to warrant a cinema view.  :-\

Total Recall/Minority report mash up!  Same producer as underworld, so I assume lots of overlong fight scenes.  The original is amazing, PKD has such a good back catalogue to base films on, especially the short stories.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 04, 2012, 01:21:34 pm
Total Recall / Minority Report / I, Robot / Blade Runner / Inception mashup, stylistically. I'm not sure there is anything original at all there ;) But it still looks good to me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on July 04, 2012, 01:37:13 pm
In a way most films are now, at least in part, a vague hash-up of ideas, themes and plot lines. They're just going for it unashamedly!

I still can't believe the Steig Larsson trilogy in Swedish have been rehashed in RipoffWood already though....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: namnok on July 04, 2012, 02:08:09 pm
....I think this looks pretty good. Sure it's derivative of everything, ever, including the original, but I actually think the fights / stunts / action look good enough on their own to warrant a cinema view.  :-\

the cgi looked "too" cgi in that trailer esp when he fell thru the roof tiles, worth a watch tho. glad they kept the 3 boobie prostitute scene
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 04, 2012, 06:31:33 pm

I liked the film - it could never have the same effect as the first two as the goalposts were always going to be set too high. Nonetheless - I thought it was stylish and ambitious.

Visually I thought it was stunning (I saw it in IMAX 3D) but I struggled with the plot holes, the silly decisions but mainly, my lack of empathy for the characters!

I felt they had a lot of plot to get through so time for the back story/development of the characters was compromised and as a result, I didnt really care who lived or died. I really enjoy films (and novels) where there is an emotional engagement with the characters. I dont have to like them but in Prometheus, I was generally apathetic as to their fate and that spoilt the whole film. The only person I was bothered about was David, as he seemed to be a right bastard with ulterior motives which wasnt what I was expecting form an android, the rest of them could go to hell in a hand basket (to quote my mother) for all I cared.

I got the feeling, and have since read, that there were a lot of scenes on the cutting room floor that would have improved the movie. Im sure there will be a  Utimate/Directors/Superdooper/etc Cut that will be released in due course that will explain all..

Me and Galpinos chin stroked our way through various recent films over lunch on Saturday and talked about Prometheus at length.  It reminded me of Danny Boyle's Sunshine, a great existential quiet brooding sci-fi spoiled with action and horror.  I would have much preferred that both had stayed more in line with the 2001/Solaris/Event Horizon big-questions and skipped the horror/action plot and scenes.  The pod scene should have stayed, but all the other stuff could have been ditched and left a much more challenging and disturbing film.  I await the directors cut for more exposition and a more balanced film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 06, 2012, 11:55:45 am
One summed it up for us: Add in a deliberate lack of characterisation and dialogue and there’s little here for even the most hardened cineaste to really enjoy.

I recommended you go and watch it and tell me I'm missing the point...
Sounds like my review of Drive, I think I might give it a miss. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on July 06, 2012, 12:53:40 pm
If you thought that about Drive, my god, you'd only last 10 minutes...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 09, 2012, 07:17:56 pm
Another +1 for Drive from FD. 

Watched Children of Men on Friday (by coincidences think it was on Tele last night) and was surprised by how good it was.  Aside from the occasional wooden acting and dialogue from the supporting actors which seems to be a feature in British films, it was really compelling.  Quite unusual and quite frightening in its potential realism.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 09, 2012, 09:57:20 pm
The Dark Knight Rises - Featurette (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UuUxqfAOUM#ws)

Not yet... but I have IMAX tickets  :w00t:

and on the Sir Michael Caine front I'd second FD's appreciation of Children of Men
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 11, 2012, 09:29:16 pm
Just finished watching Stake Land (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1464580/)
Got it off love film as a silly vampire waste of an evening but actually...
really good little indy flick
well worth a punt  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 12, 2012, 09:33:02 am
Watched The Hunter at the cinema last night.  Quite gripping and unusual in the way that only Aussie films can be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on July 18, 2012, 06:54:42 pm
Total Recall (original). Saw this again on TV recently, forgot just how good it is. I remember it as a standardly entertaining Arnie sci-fi action thing, but I'd forgotten about all the plot twists (pretty good for an action blockbuster) and the one-liners and humour and stuff. Just a great film all round.

Now then....I know it's cool to hate on remakes, but....

'TOTAL RECALL' Official Trailer #2 (2012) [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx_9uxohMTI#ws)

....I think this looks pretty good. Sure it's derivative of everything, ever, including the original, but I actually think the fights / stunts / action look good enough on their own to warrant a cinema view.  :-\

like you say the original is brilliant but this also looks really good

consider this a divorce....boom !
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on July 18, 2012, 08:50:40 pm
Watched The Hunter at the cinema last night.  Quite gripping and unusual in the way that only Aussie films can be.

I really liked the Hunter. Captured Tassie wilderness very well, and you can't go too far wrong with Willem Dafoe either.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 18, 2012, 09:25:51 pm
I spent 24 hours as a guest of Singapore Air earlier in the month and tried out a range of their (normally good) in flight movies. Sadly nothing stood out except one.

"Act of Valour".
Is the worst film I have seen since Superman II. Utter complete shite. If this lands on your doormat via love film etc.. just send it back. Dont even try and watch it. It is utter utter wank. I normally like brainless action films. But I would rather bed bath George Osbourne than try and watch this again. After he'd got really drunk and shat himself. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 20, 2012, 04:51:07 pm
Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/), weird, not very good.  I was promised a RomCom as a birthday treat and this was not what I was expecting.  :lol:

Cleanskin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598873/) - I suspect this is better than I thought it was but I wasn't that keen.

Get the Gringo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567609/), which has apparently changed name now.  It was ok but a bit weird and I wasn't keen.

I'd be quite interested to hear what others thought if you've seen any of them as I'm not sure whether my opinion was skewed by my condition at the time of watching.  They get decent ratings online but I really wasn't impressed with any of them. :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: richdraws on July 20, 2012, 05:16:04 pm
The Station Agent, was expecting much but really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 20, 2012, 06:42:59 pm
The director's other two films are both pretty good - the Visitor and Win Win - worth a look if you like schlubby, low key comedy-drama (likes of Sideways etc). 

And of course, if you can't get enough of Mr Dinklage, Game of Thrones has more sardonic-small-fella action than you could shake a stick at.  His character steals every scene - funny, charming, and Machiavellian.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 20, 2012, 08:54:02 pm
Attempted to sleep through the new Batman this afternoon.
Title: Re: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on July 21, 2012, 12:52:47 am
Attempted to sleep through the new Batman this afternoon.

Does that mean you went there planning to have a snooze and were surprisingly entertained so you didn't or that the film was so dire that the inside of your eye lids held more interest?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 23, 2012, 02:22:35 pm
Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/), weird, not very good.  I was promised a RomCom as a birthday treat and this was not what I was expecting.  :lol:

Cleanskin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1598873/) - I suspect this is better than I thought it was but I wasn't that keen.

Get the Gringo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567609/), which has apparently changed name now.  It was ok but a bit weird and I wasn't keen.

I'd be quite interested to hear what others thought if you've seen any of them as I'm not sure whether my opinion was skewed by my condition at the time of watching.  They get decent ratings online but I really wasn't impressed with any of them. :shrug:

Re Midnight in Paris.....

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg353337/topicseen.html#msg353337 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6004.msg353337/topicseen.html#msg353337)

Although I believe other UKBers weren't quite as impressed as me and FD.  ;)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on July 23, 2012, 03:12:45 pm
I loved it too. So many lovely little amusements. Like the Carla Bruni cameo, and the intensely irritating Michael Sheen character, and the Picasso interpretation...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 23, 2012, 05:55:14 pm
Ok so this is from a biased point of view because I'm a huge Batman fan...
or maybe it's from a harsh point of view because I'm a huge Batman fan...
one or the other...

Anyways went to the BFI IMAX today to see The Dark Knight Rises

For me it was everything I wanted, yes there was the action and the gadgets but there were the characters too
None of them too distant from the conventions of the DC universe but none (thankfully) came to close to the "camper" incarnations of the earlier, pre-Nolan, films.

For, what was essentially, an action film there was enough development and in many ways the ensemble cast made it closer to an indie type movie rather than a single hero lead fight fest...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was outstandingly understated - amazing to think how far he's come since 3rd Rock..

As for the "outrage" at the casting of Anne Hathaway - I thought she was spot on, not exactly the catwoman one might expect from the more fantastical Batman offerings but certainly one which fitted with the more real world Loeb/Lee comics which apparently were the source for the Nolan imagining Of Gotham

Oldman was of course excellent - I fail to remember a film where he wasn't

and Bane's voice - I had no problem with it and I'm deaf in one ear making everything muddier as it is...

So for the fan it was excellent - maybe you need to be bought into the Gotham universe to really "get" it maybe not - I'm in no position to answer that as Mrs T is just as bigger Batman fan as I am -but even as a character lead action film it ranks up there with the last Nolan offering of Inception which I though was brilliant so there you have it.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 24, 2012, 12:35:53 pm
Jasper you and I can clearly never go to the cinema together. :))

We watched Project X (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1636826/) at the weekend which is pretty good for what it is, although not an ideal choice to watch with a 15 year old boy. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 29, 2012, 11:44:33 pm
Just caught up with Super 8 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/) which channels elements of Close Encounters, The Goonies, Outbreak etc etc. Very enjoyable. You can tell Spielberg and JJ Abrams are involved.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on July 30, 2012, 06:17:26 pm
Having also been subjected to about 48 hours on a Singapore Airlines 777 (Return flights to Sydney) I can let you know their selection for August has improved some what, or at least I thougth it had. I hadn't managed to see The Avengers, so was well happy to watch it finally. They had gone a bit Marvel crazy and had loads on there. I also watched Battleship (Ok, but after watching the Avengers, didn't stand much chance!) The 5 Year Engagement (Actually pretty funny and painless to watch) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (Which I thought was excellent!) Hunger Games (Pretty average and didn't quite live up to the hype for me) & some tossy generic Nicholas Cage film about justice, was crap.

As I was staying in Sydney with friends, we decided to watch the Dark Knight Rises at the wolrds biggest IMAX. Holy shit, it was pretty mental. Afterwards though, me and the mrs decided it was actually a little too big although it could be the fact I am used to wathcing stuff at Keswick's cinema which is fairly vintage. The film was excellent though, enjoyed it very much indeed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Sasquatch on July 31, 2012, 04:39:15 pm
Midnight in Paris (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/), weird, not very good.  I was promised a RomCom as a birthday treat and this was not what I was expecting.  :lol:

I'd be quite interested to hear what others thought if you've seen any of them as I'm not sure whether my opinion was skewed by my condition at the time of watching.  They get decent ratings online but I really wasn't impressed with any of them. :shrug:
Defo not a romcom.  I thought overall the movie was engaging, but more from a visual perspective and the ridiculousness of Owen's engagement with the rest of the cast.  Owen Wilson always seems so whiny, while everyone else seemed to have great personality as their characters.  Made for a pretty absurd dichotomy. 

Watched [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1655442/]The Artist[/url] - Very good, but took a little bit to get into it.

Haven't watched much else lately.  Not enough time.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wipey Why on July 31, 2012, 08:10:41 pm
For those of you who have seen Dark Knight Rises and thought exactly the same thing (http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/07/30/the_dark_knight_rises_climbing_scenes_don_t_make_any_sense_at_all.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 31, 2012, 10:59:53 pm
Salmon fishing in the Yemen - fine but a little soft, even when watched with my good lady.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - given the cast I was expecting a bit more (i.e. a classic British comedy) but it was 'just ok'.

The Dark Knight Rises - Really impressed by this (not just due to Anne Hathaway  :wub:), I was a bit unsure following the opening scene but I thought Bane was a great villain and some of the more gritty fight scenes really helped the film along. Did anyone else notice a big change in the visuals in the last 5 minutes or so? It looked like it'd been shot on completely different kit.

On the trailers:

I have to strongly disagree with Fiend re: Total Recall, the new version looks terrible. Ok, so they've found two very good looking ladies and made them fight and kept the alien with 3 breasts but this seriously didn't need a remake and for heavens sake, it was originally an Arnie movie, it doesn't need dumming down any further (as the dialogue in the trailer suggests).

Judge Dred - Seriously? Does nobody come up with original ideas anymore?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: yorkshireman on July 31, 2012, 11:13:23 pm
on the new total recall film:its not even set on mars for most of it anymore=wtf!!!!!

im still not sure about the dark knight rises.yes its good but its still nowhere near as good as batman begins.

anyone see god bless america?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on July 31, 2012, 11:16:04 pm
The Dark Knight: a few of the punch up scenes went a bit:

epic fight scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL81QClpLaA#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 01, 2012, 10:32:45 am
Judge Dred - Seriously? Does nobody come up with original ideas anymore?

Seriously? Maybe it will be a bit truer to the original than the pile of shite Stallone made.

Be nice if someone dug through some of the older 2000AD stuff and made a film that stayed close to the original story;

Halo Jones
ABC Warriors
Rogue Trooper?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 01, 2012, 10:40:57 am
Like this you mean?

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=32121 (http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=32121)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 01, 2012, 11:33:22 am
Hell yes, that'll do.

There is what looks like a trailer of some sort for ABC Warriors on youtube, but not sure if it's a cutscene from a video game or what.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 01, 2012, 11:47:09 am
Seriously? Maybe it will be a bit truer to the original than the pile of shite Stallone made.

Judge for yourself: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/)  :wall:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 01, 2012, 12:21:32 pm
Hmm, looks a bit silly, but possibly marginally better than the Stallone one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on August 01, 2012, 12:59:37 pm
I had forgot to give 21 Jump Street a mention, very good if you like easy watching comedy  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 01, 2012, 01:45:26 pm
Another remake? There's nothing new under the sun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 01, 2012, 04:45:30 pm
21 Jump Street was a lot funnier than I expected it to be, the cameos were good.   :)

anyone see god bless america?
Yes, I loved it, thought it was a great film and well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 01, 2012, 04:57:25 pm
*crosses off list*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 01, 2012, 10:07:05 pm
lol
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on August 02, 2012, 01:26:24 pm
maybe you need to be bought into the Gotham universe to really "get" it maybe not

No, you don't. I've never read a Batman comic and still thought it was great. I think conversely some people can get so wrapped up in their vision of the Batman world that they'd dismiss it because it doesn't fit that vision, more fool them.

It was very much a mixture of the first and the second films, and whilst that means on it's own merits it was pretty much as great as they were, I did find it didn't quite have the distinctiveness nor the power to triumph as the finale. Nevertheless, all the hallmarks of grittiness, layers and depth, strong characters, action and spectacle, and well put together enough to be gripping for 2.44 hours.

Favourite bits: Bane (really came across as a dehumanized psychopathic thug), the human drama with BW / Albert / Blake etc, the action of Bane isolating the city.

Least favourite: Some other action not as gripping as the bigger picture, Bane's demise quite weak, some of the plot wasn't as tense as it could be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy_e on August 02, 2012, 01:31:28 pm
Attempted to sleep through the new Batman this afternoon.

I would have done if it wasn't so cold in the cinema!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on August 02, 2012, 01:50:21 pm


I have to strongly disagree with Fiend re: Total Recall, the new version looks terrible. Ok, so they've found two very good looking ladies and made them fight and kept the alien with 3 breasts but this seriously didn't need a remake and for heavens sake, it was originally an Arnie movie, it doesn't need dumming down any further (as the dialogue in the trailer suggests).

Judge Dred - Seriously? Does nobody come up with original ideas anymore?

Agree, Total Recall was and is a classic. The new one looks shit, and even it's good, why cant they leave classics alone, its not even that old (20yrs). Anyway the new broads don't look a patch on Sharon Stone in her spandex  :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 02, 2012, 01:52:42 pm
Although the 3BB (Boob Bird) is a bit foxier than the old one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on August 02, 2012, 02:32:49 pm
(http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/8/5/85phcokx1hd7p5cd.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 02, 2012, 04:18:30 pm
 :agree:

No need.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on August 02, 2012, 05:22:55 pm
(http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/8/5/85phcokx1hd7p5cd.jpg)

I'm 17 again ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on August 03, 2012, 03:41:44 am
"consider that a divorce" classic!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on August 07, 2012, 11:20:04 am
For those of you who have seen Dark Knight Rises and thought exactly the same thing (http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/07/30/the_dark_knight_rises_climbing_scenes_don_t_make_any_sense_at_all.html)

It made me think of two things, firstly what grade it would get? and secondly that a couple of beastmakers in the pit and everyone would be escaping in no time  :strongbench:.

Overall I thought it was a good film though, ticked all the boxes required for a blockbuster action film... looking forward to what must surely be coming - a Batman and Robin film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 07, 2012, 11:35:34 am
Climbing scenes making no sense is a longstanding batman tradition

(http://www.diabetesblast.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/batman-climb-300x242.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on August 07, 2012, 11:57:45 am
Saw Ted yesterday. Pretty funny throughout with a couple of cracking laugh of loud moments. In particular Ted's interview technique had me laughing so hard I stopped breathing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 07, 2012, 09:44:31 pm
I took in Batman on Sunday night at the Swiss Cottage iMax.  What a great entertaining film.  Better than the previous two parts of the trilogy. We're spoilt these days when you think back to Tim Burton's 80's films for Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Danny Devito to strut their stuff, hamming it up for the cameras.  

Instead we get a dark Dickensian riff on contemporary society with spectacular cinematography and superb character acting from Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Marion Cottillard  :wub:, Morgan Freeman, Cilian Murphy, Michael Caine.. the list goes on.

The perverse and distorted morality of 9-11/Jihad and Authoritarian "counter terror" ideology feature prominently as in the second part of the trilogy. 

It's very hard to pull off a film that's both exciting and thought provoking but this is a smart, entertaining and impressive bit of filmmaking.  

It's hard to review without giving away major plot themes so I won't spoil it.  Well worth a trip to the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 07, 2012, 09:45:18 pm
Oh and it's miles better than Prometheus.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 15, 2012, 11:14:00 am
The Hunger Games (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/) is a bit... meh, I know having read and loved the book pretty recently it was never going to live up to my expectations but I really wasn't impressed at all.

Also saw The Dictator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1645170/) recently which was ok, it was quite funny in bits if you like his sort of humour and don't mind the fact that it's full of racial stereotypes, which I know is the point but I found it a bit lame.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 13, 2012, 08:59:47 pm
Total Recall -  It's actually a cool film. Somewhere between pretty cool and really cool - it does exactly what it promises, slick, stylish, sci-fi action film. As a remake of the original, it's not that bad - the new setting has a good hook to it, aspects of the original are translated fairly well but it has enough of it's own character going on. As a film in it's own right, it's great, despite getting a bit silly towards the end, the action (car chase), pace and many of the scenes (UFB vs Colony styles) are well done, as are a lot of the little future touches (blend of current architecture with fancy technology). BUT it suffers from the story being in the shadow of the original - if the original had never been made, this could be one of the best current sci-fi films, but since everyone is familiar with the concept, the plot and twists lose their impact. But that doesn't spoil the entertainment much.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 18, 2012, 01:11:54 pm
I kveld med YLVIS - Jaques et Florine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajop7imecgc#ws)

:clown: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067185/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on September 21, 2012, 09:51:48 am
Judge Dred - Seriously? Does nobody come up with original ideas anymore?

Seriously? Maybe it will be a bit truer to the original than the pile of shite Stallone made.

Be nice if someone dug through some of the older 2000AD stuff and made a film that stayed close to the original story;

Halo Jones
ABC Warriors
Rogue Trooper?


RE:DREDD
Checked it last night (I think 3D is shit and I was going to pass but as I was an 2000AD geek a long time ago I couldn't resist)

It was actually very good. No spoilers but Dredd was how I always thought he would be and the whole thing was done well... - no deep meanings but class 2000AD/violence without any corn.
If you watched batman (Keaton version) and thought this is shit, and rejoiced when the Nolan remake came out, then u will get that this was the Dredd we wanted.

I highly recommend. :geek:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on September 21, 2012, 10:06:36 am
I highly recommend. :geek:

I agree.

Also very glad to see it was not sanitized to gain what the studios think is a more saleable certificate, making it one of the few adult action film of the past what, 5 - 10 years?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 21, 2012, 10:40:21 am
making it one of the few adult action film of the past what, 5 - 10 years?

I've seen plenty of "adult action" films over the last 5-10 years!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on September 21, 2012, 10:54:00 am
 :slap:
making it one of the few adult action film actions films aimed at an adult audience, (ie those films belonging to the action genre that have been given an 18 certificate,) of the past what, 5 - 10 years?
:)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 21, 2012, 11:15:22 am
Finally got round to watching Driver, and while I thought it was pretty good, it didin't quite live up to (possbily overhyped) expectations, with Gosling playing his usually minimalist verging on wooden character. Great soundtrack though. Maybe better on big screen?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 21, 2012, 11:36:58 am
Yeah, I think it's a film to be enjoyed at the cinema. Too easy to drift off and think about other things at home.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 21, 2012, 11:41:48 am
I was rather underwhelmed by Drive (viewed at home).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on September 21, 2012, 11:54:03 am
Finally got round to watching Driver,

Driver? I assume you mean Drive?

It's like listening to your Dad trying to be cool but getting the name slightly wrong....... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on September 21, 2012, 11:58:10 am
Finally got round to watching Driver,

Driver? I assume you mean Drive?

It's like listening to your Dad trying to be cool but getting the name slightly wrong....... ;)

 :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 21, 2012, 11:59:29 am
Did however watch TT Closer to the Edge and thought that was awesome (and the riders are fucking loons!).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on September 21, 2012, 02:39:11 pm
Anna Karenina - Really enjoyed this. Matthew McFadden, Jude Law and Kiera Kneightley were all very, very good, as was the set/effects. The missus reckoned Vronsky wasn't fit enough so Anna's actions seemed a little unbelievable but all in all a good watch, especially for a period drama which isn't exactly my favourite genre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 21, 2012, 02:46:34 pm
Finally got round to watching Driver,

Driver? I assume you mean Drive?

It's like listening to your Dad trying to be cool but getting the name slightly wrong....... ;)

Drive / Driver, whatever. I am a Dad, and I've never, ever been cool. And I really don't give a fuck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 21, 2012, 03:20:45 pm
another vote for judge dredd,just shows that good action films don't require a massive budget.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 21, 2012, 03:43:11 pm
You're all dicks. Drive is fucking class.

Interesting to hear lots of positivity for Dredd. I'd written it off but might have to have a look.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 21, 2012, 03:45:17 pm
You're all dicks. Drive is fucking class.

If you're into watching navel gazing!  :tease:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 21, 2012, 04:06:38 pm
Maybe Chris put an r when he meant to put an l...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 23, 2012, 09:55:33 am
I was going to make that comment after galpinos's comment but it was actually ok just not quite up to the hype
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: RAK Punter on September 23, 2012, 12:32:52 pm
Did however watch TT Closer to the Edge and thought that was awesome (and the riders are fucking loons!).

"Riders are fucking loons"  Small understatement; I offer full on certifiable crazy death wish on steroids.

Second your recommendation for this very enjoyable film/documentary.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 24, 2012, 02:49:43 pm
I had forgot to give 21 Jump Street a mention, very good if you like easy watching comedy  :lol:

Watched this last night and really enjoyed it. Mrs S was not sure at first but by the end agreed that it was actually very funny.


21 Jump Street was a lot funnier than I expected it to be, the cameos were good.   :)

WHAT THE FUCK???!!! Maybe I'd had too much to drink and it was actually shit.  :P ;)

In the same (easy watching Sunday night comedy) vein we also watched Date Night (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1279935/) recently which is also recommended, particularly for anyone who is married and sometimes has "issues" with their other half (as in everyone who is married).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 24, 2012, 03:15:21 pm
After a vicous coup, MrsTT has finally taken full control of our LoveFilm account.....

However, I have managed to quell the unending MOTD disrupting stream of Vampire/RomComs/Period Drama's by 'pretenting' to post the films back to LoveFilm and 'accidentally' leaving them in my work bag for a week or so every time....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 24, 2012, 03:22:14 pm
 :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on September 24, 2012, 03:40:29 pm
nice one tomtom :)
Now just change the password and e-mail account the love film account is connected to and blame a technical fault that should buy you are few more weeks (or a domestic)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 24, 2012, 04:13:59 pm
I need to change the settings on my Netflix account mine as I gave the password to my sister and now my Facebook profile tells me and my friends every time she watches something so over the last week "I've" given 5 stars to Beaches, 50 first dates, Streetdance 3 and several other masterpieces. 

Whilst she's been enjoying my Netflix account I've been watching the Herzog/Kinski DVD box set which is brilliant.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on September 24, 2012, 08:25:06 pm
Nice one FD me and the missus watched My Best Fiend not long ago, very good. Still trying to get her to watch Fitzcarraldo. The documentary about the making of it, Burden of Dreams is worth checking, shame they didn't include it the box set.

Watched Prometheus last night, bit disappointed to be honest. Gives you a lot to think about it, shame the actual story is so full of holes. It's hard to take its high concept themes seriously when the mapping expert gets lost and someone forgets to run sideways. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 24, 2012, 08:47:57 pm
Nice one FD me and the missus watched My Best Fiend not long ago, very good.

"It was not good... it was MONUMENTAL!"

I watched Into the Abyss recently - okay but not up there with Herzog's best documentaries (Grizzly Man, My Best Fiend, Little Dieter, Encounters at the End of the World).  To me, it came across as bunch of isolated interviews with unsympathetic losers - no real narrative or core "presence" to it.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 24, 2012, 10:41:04 pm
You're all dicks. Drive is fucking class.

Having seen Drive last night I agree, it is brilliant.  Amazing, intelligent cinematography, and a great soundtrack which is used really well within the narrative.

I thought Gosling was good, making the way his character snaps shocking, yet believable. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 25, 2012, 11:50:44 am
Watched Contagion last night. Star studded cast, tedium studded plot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 26, 2012, 11:39:20 pm
The Imposter

Bloody amazing.  Took Stu's advice - read no reviews, find out nothing, just go and see it, and that is definitely worthwhile.  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 29, 2012, 10:25:37 pm
Looper

Had seen it described as this decade's Matrix. It is an awful lot better than that. The first half hour is a little weak, but it gets notably more interesting. Well worth seeing, and quite a bit darker (and a bit more intelligent) than you might expect from a big budget movie with Bruce Willis and lots of guns.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on October 02, 2012, 03:02:35 pm

21 Jump Street was a lot funnier than I expected it to be, the cameos were good.   :)

WHAT THE FUCK???!!! Maybe I'd had too much to drink and it was actually shit.  :P ;)
  >:(

I really want to see Looper.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 02, 2012, 04:31:20 pm
Enjoyed Hugo, watched it with the kids on a wet Sunday afternoon. Nice to watch a 'U' film that was watchable for all ages. Beautifully made.

Got around to watching Copland the other day. Good film, if a little formulaic, basically a gangster movie where the cops are playing the gangsters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 04, 2012, 10:50:52 pm
I really want to see Looper.

Do it, it's great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 04, 2012, 11:01:10 pm
Killing Them Softly

Enjoyable, but not a relaxing watch, and a difficult movie to 'like' (although it does have moments of comedy). It is extremely political, although I'm not sure it really nails any colors to the mast in this respect - just an entrenched and relentless cynicism about American politics, elections ideals and economy. The juxtaposition of Bush / Obama debates about economic affairs and the crime business in the foreground is amusing, though a bit more subtlety would have made it more effective, i thought. The main appeal is the dialogue, especially Brad Pitt's final line, which is the last line of the film "America is not a country, it's a business. Now F***ing pay me." (it sounds better in context, believe me!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 05, 2012, 12:53:06 pm
Looper - brilliant film, slower paced and more emotive and thoughtful than the trailer, a good balance of story, concept and action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 05, 2012, 02:06:02 pm
Would prefer a link in to the IMDB page rather than bold titles of the film.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 05, 2012, 06:18:31 pm
Would prefer a link in to the IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/) page rather than bold titles of the film.  ;)

Just fixed that for you.. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: DubDom on October 12, 2012, 04:54:18 pm
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,20904.0.html (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,20904.0.html)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 12, 2012, 06:03:14 pm
Watched Kill List.  Really good.  Especially the girl from Phone Shop.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 12, 2012, 06:25:08 pm
*shudder*

watched that on a night shift recently, had never heard of it before - certainly didn't turn out to be the mindless guy ritchie type of thing that I think we expected!

Anyone else excited to see Beasts of the Southern Wild (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2125435/)? sounds ace.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on October 12, 2012, 06:46:45 pm
one of my friends said Kill List was one of the most harrowing films he'd watched and certainly didn't recommend it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 12, 2012, 07:20:26 pm
indeed, try it at 5am...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 12, 2012, 07:39:24 pm
Mark Herbet (Dead Man's Shoes, This is England, Four Lions etc) Sheffield resident and mate of GME was the exec producer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on October 12, 2012, 08:27:25 pm
The Spiderman thingy, on the plane to Baku. Meh. Watchable, liked both the spiderman and his interest characters. Story was fairly predictable. Not awful bit not remotely special.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 13, 2012, 01:21:40 pm
Just got two tickets for Warp films 10th Anniversary.  Screening of Dead Mans Shoes with live score by Unkle and Jah Wobble. 

http://warp.net/films/dead-mans-shoes/live-rescore-event-announced (http://warp.net/films/dead-mans-shoes/live-rescore-event-announced)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on October 13, 2012, 07:25:05 pm
Mark Herbet (Dead Man's Shoes, This is England, Four Lions etc) Sheffield resident and mate of GME was the exec producer.

He was interviewed on Kermode & Mayo - seemed a lovely bloke - enthusiastic and dedicated to making great films without any venal compromises. Some exciting news for lovers of British drama and the Tour de France too.  Warp and Shane Meadows have optioned the Tom Simpson biography "Put Me Back On My Bike" - seems Meadows is a huge cycling fan.  I hope it's a success and they option The Death of Marco Pantani too - I think it would make a great rise and fall drama (my minds eye conjures a mash up of Raging Bull and the coke-head desperation section of Boogie Nights).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on October 13, 2012, 07:45:39 pm
Mark Herbet (Dead Man's Shoes, This is England, Four Lions etc) Sheffield resident and mate of GME was the exec producer.

He was interviewed on Kermode & Mayo - seemed a lovely bloke - enthusiastic and dedicated to making great films without any venal compromises. Some exciting news for lovers of British drama and the Tour de France too.  Warp and Shane Meadows have optioned the Tom Simpson biography "Put Me Back On My Bike" - seems Meadows is a huge cycling fan.  I hope it's a success and they option The Death of Marco Pantani too - I think it would make a great rise and fall drama (my minds eye conjures a mash up of Raging Bull and the coke-head desperation section of Boogie Nights).
Worth listening to on Iplayer, the warp philosophy of artist led production was interesting to hear. Sounded like someone just loving what they did.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 13, 2012, 08:09:39 pm
I've told this tale before but his first film was a short about GME as a doley climber and we both climbed Chequers Crack....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on October 13, 2012, 09:02:45 pm
The Imposter

Bloody amazing.  Took Stu's advice - read no reviews, find out nothing, just go and see it, and that is definitely worthwhile.  :popcorn:

Made a mistake and started watching this: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175292/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1175292/) Seems there are two films called The Imposter  :-[

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on October 14, 2012, 01:26:22 pm
Watched The Mechanic (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/) last night
nice turns by Donald Sutherland and Ben Foster
other than that bog standard Statham action fair...
(would love to live in the swamp house  8) )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 15, 2012, 03:59:19 pm
I've told this tale before but his first film was a short about GME as a doley climber and we both climbed Chequers Crack....

Please tell me a copy of this still exists somewhere.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 15, 2012, 07:01:06 pm
It was on proper 16mm with a separate soundreel so I don't know if there's a VHS.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 15, 2012, 07:07:01 pm
Saw some great films this weekend.  A second viewing of The Lives of Others which surpassed the first time I watched it.  La vi en Rose, the biopic of Edith Piaf was great. I had no idea she had led such a tragic life.  Marion Cottillard got an Oscar for her part as Piaf which was extraordinary.  Yesterday went to the Curzon to watch Holy Motors which is just bonkers and absolutely brilliant. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 27, 2012, 11:06:35 pm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/)

Skyfall: I cannot remember liking a Bond movie more. I quite like them even when they are pretty bad, but this is actually quite good. Moneypenny is incredible; and there is a DB7.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on October 28, 2012, 05:25:27 pm
Glad to hear good reviews of Skyfall, off to watch in the week.

Watched Bronson the other night, an excellent film, very surreall, funny and tragic. Tom Hardy is first class.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172570/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172570/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 28, 2012, 08:33:10 pm
Got to love Die hard

http://youtu.be/oW9uT2wQFC0 (http://youtu.be/oW9uT2wQFC0)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 28, 2012, 08:45:31 pm
Hell yes:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/oct/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-the-barbarian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/oct/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-conan-the-barbarian)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 28, 2012, 08:49:51 pm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/)
 and there is a DB7.

I meant DB5, obviously.  :o

Important stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on October 28, 2012, 08:51:07 pm
Glad to hear good reviews of Skyfall, off to watch in the week.

I thought it was good, but not as good as the hype. Best Bond film so far?  Probably.  But many parts were predictable, the action was slow in places and it didn't flow that well IMHO. Still worth seeing though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 01, 2012, 12:52:32 pm
I actually thought this Bond wasn't as enjoyable as the others in the Craig era. I particularly enjoyed Casino Royale and the fresh look at Bond. They've really exploited the whole "Bond on the back foot" thing in the past three films which has been great but is kind of unsustainable I think. Not sure where they're going to take the franchise to next.

Thinking about the film properly there was only one thing I thought was wrong with it. The plot - without which it becomes impossible to make a great film. I'll say no more as I don't want to spoil the film for those who want to see it.

Other than that, the Heineken and VW product placements were a little too cringeworthy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 01, 2012, 01:06:58 pm
Watched Skyfall last night, thought it was excellent; I have to disagree with Will I thought the plot was great, a departure from the standard Bond plot and all the more enjoyable for it.

It sounds like they'll be continuing this particular Bond arc in the next film, it'll be great to see where they take it.

I was expecting horrific product placement: so the car bit was quite obvious but I had no idea what beer I was meant to be drinking!  I don't even remember Bond checking what time it was in this film...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on November 01, 2012, 01:08:10 pm
Have to say I was pretty disappointed with Skyfall. For me it just didn't feel like a bond film, I am not sure why, it just didn't.

If I had gone to see a generic action film I think I would of loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 01, 2012, 01:11:04 pm
If I had gone to see a generic action film I think I would of loved it.

Isn't that what Bond movies have been for some time now (perhaps since Brosnan took the lead)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 01, 2012, 02:04:45 pm
A Lonely Place To Die - A climbing thriller / comedy (I don think it's meant to be though); set in a strange netherworld of Scotland that is Glen Coe and then Glen Etive with views of the Cullin but An Teallach gets mentioned, and Dingwall (I think) is in the same place but has a fireball festival (which actually takes place in Stonehaven).

Pish acting, poor plot, some nice scenery.

In summary, don't bother.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 02, 2012, 11:48:32 am
I also watched something from about 5 years ago - the Rise of the Footsoldier.  Repellent, monstrous shit of the highest order. Its only redeeming feature is amusement relating to a hideous wig sported by one of the main characters. Not sure if the costume department intended that to be the case, but even so, it's still pretty funny. But totally shit otherwise.

I watched A Lonely Place to Die recently by the same director, Julian Gibley. Fantastic shots of the Scottish highlands and a half decent thriller. It's a little like a low rent deliverence with a touch of the Wickerman at the end but though that description sounds pretty bad, I enjoyed it. Decent acting with Sean Harris a very convincing bady and the climbing scenes in it are pretty good for a movie too.

It did give the wife nightmares though.....
A Lonely Place To Die - A climbing thriller / comedy (I don think it's meant to be though); set in a strange netherworld of Scotland that is Glen Coe and then Glen Etive with views of the Cullin but An Teallach gets mentioned, and Dingwall (I think) is in the same place but has a fireball festival (which actually takes place in Stonehaven).

Pish acting, poor plot, some nice scenery.

In summary, don't bother.

Seem's I was the only one who thought this fun?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 02, 2012, 11:57:06 am
Skyfall - Really good. Saw it at the IMAX last night. Thoughts:

NSFW  :
Daniel Craig Hes brilliant. Tough, rugged, looks like he can handle himself and a twinkle in the eye that gets the ladies hearts racing.

Javier Bardem Imagine David Walliams blonde twin brother was a secret agent gone bad. Everything a Bond baddy should be: scary, mental, physical deformity, quite unbelievable. He managed this whilst still being menacing. If I was trapped in a room with him, I wouldnt fancy my chances, unlike with Elliot Carver etc.

Gadgets Theyve still managed to avoid the ridiculous gadgets which I think is the way forward.

Product Placement Not really a problem? Bar the VW Beetles line, which even appeared to make the actress wince whilst saying it, I didnt really notice anything, maybe the phone but thats only in retrospect.

Overall Good action, decent plot and theyve managed to install the cast for the next one. Bonzer!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 02, 2012, 12:05:47 pm
The Cabin In The Woods - not quite worth the mega-rating it gets on Rotten Tomatoes, but a good fun sort of sci-fi thriller with escalating excitement and plenty of LOL moments. The main thing worth knowing is that despite the ominious poster, the catch/hook of this initially-horror-orientated film is nothing weird, freaky, or downright surreal - it's a straight up different rationale for the horror scenario that pans out to be a jolly good romp (albeit with an abrupt ending and an underdeveloped backstory which is a pity as the premise has lots of potential), rather than a horror headfuck. Favourite moments: the entrance of Marty (proper lol if you've seen Dollhouse), and the lift doors moment.

Watched this last night. Pretty much agree with your summary Fiend except the "jolly good" bit. Really disappointing as it is a very promising idea let down by being totally shit but not actually shit enough to be amusing. Made me angry as it was so close to being good if it had only been done right.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2012, 08:38:30 am
Saw Rust and Bone last night.  :o  http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt2053425/ (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt2053425/)

It is absolutely bloody amazing. It is that really, really rare thing, a profoundly emotional yet unsentimental movie. It doesn't need any more wittering from me, just go and see it.
I should add that it is not exactly a bubbly, easy to watch, popcorn munching movie, a good counterpoint to skyfall though! Much 'better' as a movie (by which i suppose i mean arty-worthy) but less fun than Bond i suppose.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on November 04, 2012, 09:43:12 am
Given the lack of reaction when I mentioned it earlier, I assume the UKB massive wasn't too excited by Beasts of the Southern Wild. Anyway, saw it last week - great. The girl who plays Hushpuppy is amazing. Brilliant portrait of her relationship with her father. As someone with a small female child I cried a lot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on November 04, 2012, 11:34:03 am
Actually, I thought it looked amazing. Thanks for posting the trailer, I've been looking forward to seeing it since you did. Glad that it lives up the promise - definitely be checking it out soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 04, 2012, 03:03:33 pm

Seem's I was the only one who thought this fun?

And you slate me for getting a film name slightly out?

It's like 10 year old who thinks they know how to write in English but get it wrong.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2012, 10:34:32 pm
Actually, I thought it looked amazing. Thanks for posting the trailer, I've been looking forward to seeing it since you did. Glad that it lives up the promise - definitely be checking it out soon.

I take it you are referring to beasts...? In which case i thought that it looked well worth a watch from the trailer. The second clip in the boat is uncannily 'apocalypse now'
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 12, 2012, 11:42:58 pm
Has anyone seen Argo? Awesome, absolutely riveting. The way they managed to pull off creating an incredibly tense film with a good dollop of humour is excellently donei thought. Would be interested to hear other opinions.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 13, 2012, 12:45:14 pm

Seem's I was the only one who thought this fun?

And you slate me for getting a film name slightly out?

It's like 10 year old who thinks they know how to write in English but get it wrong.

Touch, my head is hung in shame......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on November 19, 2012, 09:34:32 am
Not a new film but I saw 'Dead Man Shoes' last week on Film 4. Can't believe I missed it from 2004. Paddy Considine from Red Riding etc, fucking excellent low budget Brit flick.


Dead Man's Shoes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmjNLAU7zLQ#ws)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 19, 2012, 12:09:25 pm
If you liked Dead Mens Shoes, I would recommend having a look through the Warp Films catalogue.

http://warp.net/films (http://warp.net/films)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 19, 2012, 12:25:01 pm
In other Shane Meadows related news we watched Once Upon A Time in The Midlands last night his Comedy/Romance/Western from 2002 set in Nottingham:

http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0301684/ (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0301684/)

While not up to the standard of some of his other films (DMS in particular) it was still pretty good and had enough amusing moments to keep us interested. It has a great cast but you get the feeling it might have been a better film without so many "star names". The kid who plays Shirley Henderson's daughter is superb and watch out for the Reeves and Mortimer cameo.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 20, 2012, 12:16:41 pm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009YSWW14/ref=gb1h_img_c-1_0267_A3DOWI5Y852OI3?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=13QX7M11PK5QKGCTAEGE&pf_rd_i=350613011&pf_rd_p=344320267 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009YSWW14/ref=gb1h_img_c-1_0267_A3DOWI5Y852OI3?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=13QX7M11PK5QKGCTAEGE&pf_rd_i=350613011&pf_rd_p=344320267)

6 months of love film reduced from 60 to 16. Grab it now! I did!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 20, 2012, 12:24:37 pm
Nice one. I was about to swap from Netflix to LoveFilm so the timing couldn't be better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 20, 2012, 12:26:16 pm
Word. We got the same deal last year, so will need to wait 'til we move house, and this account will be in Kyle's name!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on November 21, 2012, 10:17:22 am
Nice one. I was about to swap from Netflix to LoveFilm so the timing couldn't be better.

Why are you swapping from Netflix to LoveFilm? We've been with LoveFilm on the postal service but now we have unlimited broadband I thought we'd change to Netflix as it looks good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 21, 2012, 01:19:12 pm
All reports I've heard have said that the choice of content on Netflix is pretty shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 21, 2012, 01:26:28 pm
Nice one. I was about to swap from Netflix to LoveFilm so the timing couldn't be better.

Why are you swapping from Netflix to LoveFilm? We've been with LoveFilm on the postal service but now we have unlimited broadband I thought we'd change to Netflix as it looks good

Very limited content.  It increased quite a lot over the Summer but has really slowed since then.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 21, 2012, 04:02:32 pm
Apparently there's another Black Friday deal coming up for love film this evening.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 21, 2012, 04:11:17 pm
Netflix has better streaming quality (on my computer anyway) and is better for american TV shows, but has less films.  Having said that it does have a lot of old films that LoveFilm didn't have online.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on November 22, 2012, 09:54:14 am
I watched ARGO last night, a really good film with a bizarre mix of a killing fields and frankly rude LA  humour. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 22, 2012, 10:03:03 am
Netflix has better streaming quality (on my computer anyway) and is better for american TV shows, but has less films.  Having said that it does have a lot of old films that LoveFilm didn't have online.

Lovefilm's online content is still pretty poor but growing fast. The only times I've streamed from it (using IPad) I've had no problems with streaming. At the end of this next 6 month deal I'm going to have another look and see how both have improved. Need to sort out an unlimited broadband service first!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 24, 2012, 08:52:17 pm
If you haven't seen it (or even if you have) set the timer for Micmacs on late tonight on C4. I rate it as one of Jeunets best. Also Big Lebowski on in 5mins on itv4.  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on November 24, 2012, 08:58:19 pm
Violent Cop (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098360/)
Beat Takeshi's first and possibly his best - amazed it's passed me by up until now....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on November 25, 2012, 12:10:23 pm
Saw End of watch last night and thought it was pretty good. Hadn't heard much about it but really liked it and thought the sound track was good as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 26, 2012, 12:33:19 pm
Watched Outside Bet last night based mainly on Kermode's review here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/aug/19/marley-outside-bet-battleship-lockout).

Despite being totally far fetched, we really enjoyed it. Great cast, fine performances, a nice feel of the time and the backdrop of Murdoch smashing the printers (along some proper LOLZ) made up for the sometimes daft, totally obvious storyline and the plot flaws (I know of no on course bookie who would accept a 12k bet on a 20/1 shot!). If you don't think too hard, it's an enjoyable romp.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 26, 2012, 04:45:00 pm
The new Total Recall (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386703/) which was better than I expected, although I don't really remember the first one so it was like watching a new film rather than a remake which might have helped.  Battleship (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440129/) which was pretty rubbish and very cheesy and Lawless (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/) which was also much better than I expected, if you can get over the fact that Tom Hardy grunts more than he talks.  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 29, 2012, 05:10:21 pm
Netflix has better streaming quality (on my computer anyway) and is better for american TV shows, but has less films.  Having said that it does have a lot of old films that LoveFilm didn't have online.

Lovefilm's online content is still pretty poor but growing fast. The only times I've streamed from it (using IPad) I've had no problems with streaming. At the end of this next 6 month deal I'm going to have another look and see how both have improved. Need to sort out an unlimited broadband service first!

Got my logon working last night and I have to say the LoveFilm online film catalogue is miles more extensive and of a higher quality than Netflix.  Netflix also don't do the DVD in the post thing either so I'm glad I switched.

Watched The Guard last night which was absolutely brilliant.  Best flick I've seen in a long time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on November 29, 2012, 07:44:58 pm
Skyfall - Really good. Saw it at the IMAX last night. Thoughts:

Overall Good action, decent plot and theyve managed to install the cast for the next one. Bonzer!


What?

You are kidding aren't you?

The plot was preposterous, inconsistent, and far-fetched.

Great fun though and well put together and crafted, but sheesh.

Had it been a "real" mission the film would have been over even before Ms Adkins Soul/pop-infused stylings

[Why did the automatic brakes - fitted onto every train in the World not activate when the hoses between the carriages were severed?

Why did "Eve" have a high-powered sniper rifle that only contained one bullet?]

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on November 30, 2012, 09:41:11 pm
Got my logon working last night and I have to say the LoveFilm online film catalogue is miles more extensive and of a higher quality than Netflix.  Netflix also don't do the DVD in the post thing either so I'm glad I switched.

Watched The Guard last night which was absolutely brilliant.  Best flick I've seen in a long time.

Took the same deal and just watched this as a first stream, came here to say how good it is and noticed FD got there first.  Absolutely loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 03, 2012, 11:14:58 am
What?
You are kidding aren't you?
The plot was preposterous, inconsistent, and far-fetched.
Great fun though and well put together and crafted, but sheesh.

Hmm, have you forgotten you were watching a Bond film? It's not meant to be realistic, it's a fantasy spy action thriller! As you said, great fun.

But, just to humour you....

Had it been a "real" mission the film would have been over even before Ms Adkins Soul/pop-infused stylings

That'd make a great movie wouldn't it.......

Why did the automatic brakes - fitted onto every train in the World not activate when the hoses between the carriages were severed?

Is this a problem you have with every film that takes a little artistic license?

Why did "Eve" have a high-powered sniper rifle that only contained one bullet?

She did but "froze" having just shot Bond?

In general, I do think that they were tied a bit with the anniversary thing, hence the going back to Skyfall but still thought it was avery enjoyable Bond romp with good acting and characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Sasquatch on December 05, 2012, 10:06:48 pm
If you haven't seen it (or even if you have) set the timer for Micmacs on late tonight on C4. I rate it as one of Jeunets best. Also Big Lebowski on in 5mins on itv4.  8)

Second on the micmacs quality :)  Simply fun
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: BB on December 06, 2012, 03:35:30 am
Watched Sinister the other night and found it the most enjoyable horror I've seen in a while.
Bourne Legacy was turd and didn't come close to the Matt Damon films.
The most exotic marigold hotel was great with a superb cast and quality acting from some true legends.
Paranorman - turned it off after 25mins. Shite
Total Recall - poor


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on December 07, 2012, 07:19:15 pm
What?
You are kidding aren't you?
The plot was preposterous, inconsistent, and far-fetched.
Great fun though and well put together and crafted, but sheesh.

Hmm, have you forgotten you were watching a Bond film? It's not meant to be realistic, it's a fantasy spy action thriller! As you said, great fun.

But, just to humour you....

Had it been a "real" mission the film would have been over even before Ms Adkins Soul/pop-infused stylings

That'd make a great movie wouldn't it.......

Why did the automatic brakes - fitted onto every train in the World not activate when the hoses between the carriages were severed?

Is this a problem you have with every film that takes a little artistic license?

Why did "Eve" have a high-powered sniper rifle that only contained one bullet?

She did but "froze" having just shot Bond?

In general, I do think that they were tied a bit with the anniversary thing, hence the going back to Skyfall but still thought it was avery enjoyable Bond romp with good acting and characters.

I never said I didn't like it. <Sorry>
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: aLICErOBERTSfANkLUB on December 08, 2012, 06:11:58 pm
As we had a power cut this morning I went out.


And saw "Seven Pschopaths"


I enjoyed it enormously.


[And yeah. I can point out at least three gaping plot holes in it.


And the (self-referenced) mysoginy inside the entire film.

But I liked it.

So there!]
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 08, 2012, 06:55:44 pm
Watched The Town on DVD.  Directed by Ben Affleck and with some of the cast members from Gone Baby Gone.  Really good heist movie set in Charlestown, Boston.  The version I watched was the extended cut which is apparently much better than the theatrical release.

Worthwhile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on December 08, 2012, 08:27:29 pm
Good shout, I'll give it a try. I enjoyed Gone Baby Gone and thought Casey Affleck was good in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 09, 2012, 07:28:56 pm
Just been to go and see Affleck Snr's latest offering, Argo:  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/ (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/argo_2012/) ... which is incredibly tense, and pretty compelling. I am slightly unsure about the moral position of using a political situation like the one depicted as a form of entertainment, but it is a very good story, an entertaining movie, and a great performance by Affleck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on December 09, 2012, 08:23:04 pm
J ... which is incredibly tense, and pretty compelling. I am slightly unsure about the moral position of using a political situation like the one depicted as a form of entertainment......

Isn't it a largely true story?  In which case it's probably quite fitting; first, entertainment was used to further politics; then politics was used as a form of entertainment.  All very "meta" - give it a few years and Affleck will be kidnapped by one of the Iranian protagonists annoyed at his casting and the cycle will repeat.   Or, it will be revealed that the filming of Argo was cover for Ben to sneak over a border and break into a nuclear facility.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 09, 2012, 11:10:00 pm
My nervousness about the subject matter (which is 'based on' as they say, actual events) which is essentially using a bungled US foreign policy decision, and salvaging a story about the good guys coming up smiling at the end. Admittedly Argo (being produced by Clooney and Affleck) has a 'left-ish' bias, at least as far as a US political spectrum is concerned. But the fact remains that though it mentions the fall of the Shah, and the subsequent political turmoil in the country, it is all rather subordinate to the main thrust of the movie (Affleck looking cool, and rescuing the beleaguered embassy staff).

All that said, it's still a good movie. Unlike Black Hawk Down, which is stunningly directed and shot, but unbearable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 10, 2012, 09:57:24 am
Watched Margin Call (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/) last night and thought it was very good. Fantastic cast and an interesting look at how it probably was inside plenty of investment banks when they realised the shit was about to hit the fan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 10, 2012, 10:55:07 am
All that said, it's still a good movie. Unlike Black Hawk Down, which is stunningly directed and shot, but unbearable.

Why do you find it unbearable? I found it very hard to watch as it feels incredibly claustrophobic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on December 10, 2012, 04:40:04 pm
Watched End of Watch (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1855199/) at the weekend, I thought it was brilliant, like what everyone claimed Drive was; character driven, great soundtrack, interesting cinematic style and a good story to boot.  I was really impressed with it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 10, 2012, 09:18:12 pm
All that said, it's still a good movie. Unlike Black Hawk Down, which is stunningly directed and shot, but unbearable.
Why do you find it unbearable? I found it very hard to watch as it feels incredibly claustrophobic.

I hated Ridley Scott's plundering a a giant US foreign policy f*ck up for a narrative, to try and make another Aliens. I thought it was a great action film - but for the fact that it related to relatively recent events, which it misrepresented. I agree that it is claustrophobic and powerful, I just found it very annoying.

Although possibly part of my annoyance is how good i think Aliens is as a war movie, and wanted to see something else as good, which it wasn't. Anyway, end of rant! ;-)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on December 11, 2012, 10:47:15 am
Watched End of Watch (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1855199/) at the weekend, I thought it was brilliant, like what everyone claimed Drive was; character driven, great soundtrack, interesting cinematic style and a good story to boot.  I was really impressed with it.

Saw the trailer for this the other day and thought it looked really good. I'll not let your recommendation put me off.......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 11, 2012, 01:16:28 pm
  The Sweeney.  Great!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on December 15, 2012, 09:15:35 am
This isn't a good film I've seen lately (in every possible sense) but I cannot believe I haven't heard of this before:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2012/dec/13/pacific-rim-trailer-video (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2012/dec/13/pacific-rim-trailer-video)

Looks like the most brilliantly stupid film ever - a big budget re-make of Godzilla Versus Mecha-Godzilla.  Any film where someone shouts "today we are CANCELLING THE APOCALYPSE!!!" has to be good.  I just hope it lives up to the likes of Deep Blue Sea (the one with LL Cool J - not the Terrance Rattigan play - though that is good, albeit with a distinct lack of creatures).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 17, 2012, 10:02:01 am
Aye, I meant "Animal Kingdom".  Great film. 

Watche this on the weekend, thought it was fantastic. All characters brilliantly portrayed. I noticed it's on Film 4 on NYE, worth setting the box to record.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: csl on January 11, 2013, 09:55:30 am
Django Unchained

Absolutely brilliant. Violent and funny. Christoph Waltz is great in it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 11, 2013, 10:17:23 am
Just watched "Steep" a doumentary about big mountain skiing. A few years old, but some great old school footage, including some Blizzard of Aaaahs clips. Well worth watching.

Also got round to watching TT:Close to the Edge, even though I am no pertolhead I found this to be fascinating and a great watch. Thanks for the recommendations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on January 11, 2013, 11:39:05 am
Django Unchained

Absolutely brilliant.

German release is next week. I'm excited about it.

(I'm not going to see the dubbed version, but they also delay release of the original version so as not to cannibalise the market. Irritating  but there you go - I choose to live abroad and such minor irritations are part of the deal)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: OffshoreAndy on January 11, 2013, 02:30:24 pm
Berberian Sound Studio - looking forward to seeing this. think its out on dvd soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on January 11, 2013, 05:57:39 pm
Django Unchained

Absolutely brilliant. Violent and funny. Christoph Waltz is great in it!

Can't wait for this to come out  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 11, 2013, 06:23:05 pm
Just watched "Steep" a doumentary about big mountain skiing. A few years old, but some great old school footage, including some Blizzard of Aaaahs clips. Well worth watching.

Also got round to watching TT:Close to the Edge, even though I am no pertolhead I found this to be fascinating and a great watch. Thanks for the recommendations.

Chris, I "lost my copy" of steep - do you have a copy you could send me?
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 11, 2013, 06:33:31 pm
In the course of Building up climbing credits with mrsTT will see me watching Les Mis this weekend... I shall dutifully report back if I'm capable...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 11, 2013, 08:39:25 pm


Chris, I "lost my copy" of steep - do you have a copy you could send me?

Sorry streamed it on lovefilm
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 12, 2013, 10:33:30 am
Forgot to mention that amongst the cartoons, kids films and the awesome Muppet Christmas Carol which I watched over the festive period I also watched Too Big To Fail (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/?licb=0.9512116963892822). Absolutely brilliant.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 13, 2013, 10:21:08 pm
In the course of Building up climbing credits with mrsTT will see me watching Les Mis this weekend... I shall dutifully report back if I'm capable...

Fuck me that was painful. Sitting in the cinema for three hours after a monster day at Baslow was hard.. I ache all over. That aside the film is pretty good. I mean there's no car chases, jiggy scenes or spaceships (usual good film criteria in my world) and everyone sang shit instead of talking - but I've seen worse. Overall, perfectly bearable if dragged along, but make sure you get bonus brownie points for going.. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 13, 2013, 11:38:47 pm
An old-ish one, but BRICK is really good, witty and nicely shot, with a simple, intruiging plot and some really memorable use of sound. Rian Johnson (director of the recent Looper) seems to make really interesting films. This is probably artistically superior to Looper, but with far fewer guns and gadgets, not quite as untaxingly entertaining. If you're in the right mood (ie not totally knackered) then watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 14, 2013, 08:15:10 am
Overall, perfectly bearable if dragged along, but make sure you get bonus brownie points for going.. ;)

I really enjoyed it. Yes, some of the male leads singing is a bit ropey and Russell Crowe is a twat (by far the worst performance from the cast) but all in all, very good. I thought Anne Hathaway, someone who has always left me feeling cold and unconvinced, was fantastic. Her singing, "I Dreamed a Dream" was pretty full-on emotional.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 14, 2013, 11:59:19 am
I saw Django Unchained at the weekend, it's is indeed fantastic.  I wasn't expecting much since it was sold to me as a Western but I loved it, definitely worth a watch.

I also saw Silver Linings Playbook which was good too, funny and a bit different for a RomCom.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 14, 2013, 12:39:16 pm
Got 'The Imposter' on Lovefilm after the recommendations on here. Well worth a watch.

Watching the 'speed dreams' on BBC2 reminded me of 'World Fastest Indian' which I may have recommended previously, but still worth a  watch/rewatch. Also highlighted quite what an achievement his 1967 record was, it still stands.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 14, 2013, 01:00:23 pm
Got 'The Imposter' on Lovefilm after the recommendations on here. Well worth a watch.

Did you know anything about it before hand? We didn't and I'm glad. So much more intriguing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 14, 2013, 02:45:13 pm
Got 'The Imposter' on Lovefilm after the recommendations on here. Well worth a watch.

Did you know anything about it before hand? We didn't and I'm glad. So much more intriguing.

Only what was written on the disk. I agree, don't read up on it before watching. A very strange story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 14, 2013, 03:18:48 pm
We watched that a while ago too, I agree it would have been better not knowing the story, sadly someone decided to explain it all to me before he put it on. :lol:  Still good though, weird but good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on January 18, 2013, 10:49:02 pm
Watching the 'speed dreams' on BBC2 reminded me of 'World Fastest Indian' which I may have recommended previously, but still worth a  watch/rewatch. Also highlighted quite what an achievement his 1967 record was, it still stands.

yeah fuck Les Mis this just had me welling up. Great Film, AMAZING story
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 21, 2013, 12:37:21 pm
I saw Zero Dark Thirty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/) at the weekend, it was ok but I didn't really get all the hype about it or see why she'd been nominated for best actress recently.  I suspect it a lot of people loved it just because it was about getting Osama. :))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: B-Bird on January 21, 2013, 01:36:59 pm
Another vote for Django......... great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on January 21, 2013, 01:53:48 pm
I saw Zero Dark Thirty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/) at the weekend, it was ok but I didn't really get all the hype about it or see why she'd been nominated for best actress recently.  I suspect it a lot of people loved it just because it was about getting Osama. :))

I didn't mind it, though it felt a bit 'Homeland - The Movie' and because of this seemed better suited for the small screen. Grim torture realism as well.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 21, 2013, 02:38:17 pm
I thought it was a bit like Homeland too, but shitter. :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on January 22, 2013, 01:40:37 pm
Another vote for Django......... great film.
I saw Django Unchained at the weekend, it's is indeed fantastic.  I wasn't expecting much since it was sold to me as a Western but I loved it, definitely worth a watch.

For the first 90 minutes I would agree but the last 30-45 mins was some the worst film making QT has ever done, it was just unbelievably lazy and without any of the wit or edge that made the first section good. 
Oh yes and the Aussie accents????????????? WTF  :shit: :shit: :shit:
Avoid like the plague because the last section of the film destroys all the good work the rest of it puts in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 22, 2013, 03:24:10 pm
Really?  I thought the ending was the weakest part of the film but I definitely wouldn't say it destroyed the rest of it, it's a three hour film, the last half hour or so wasn't the best but overall I still thought it was really good.

I wonder if there was some reason for the Aussie accents?  QT had (a very bad) one so I thought maybe it was some sort of in joke thing that I just didn't get.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on January 22, 2013, 03:45:04 pm
I wonder if there was some reason for the Aussie accents?  QT had (a very bad) one so I thought maybe it was some sort of in joke thing that I just didn't get.
I read an interview somewhere that he basically rewrote the ending in half an hour, so if it was a joke it was a pretty ill thought out one (I only discovered this after seeing it and hating it). 
I honestly thought the ending utterly ruined it, it was completely incongruous with the style, tone and quality of the first 2 hours, it was just like "I couldn't be bothered thinking of a coherent ending, so here is something a just crapped out in my cigarette break".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dave Flanagan on January 22, 2013, 07:16:06 pm
Saw Another Earth http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1549572/) and Sound of My Voice http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748207/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748207/) recently.
Both interesting. Kind of sci fi, time travel, Donnie Darko, but more linear and quite mellow.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on January 23, 2013, 12:11:50 pm
Really?  I thought the ending was the weakest part of the film but I definitely wouldn't say it destroyed the rest of it, it's a three hour film, the last half hour or so wasn't the best but overall I still thought it was really good.

I wonder if there was some reason for the Aussie accents?  QT had (a very bad) one so I thought maybe it was some sort of in joke thing that I just didn't get.

Saw this last night and thought it was fantastic.

Agree with you about the last section, it was weaker than the rest of the film but still good in my opinion. And yes QT's cameo was pretty dire...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on January 25, 2013, 11:39:13 pm
watched 2 last week
hurt locker-thought it was boring and no where near as good as i expected
goon-thought it was going to be poo,but enjoyed it.worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 26, 2013, 09:01:59 am
I saw Zero Dark Thirty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790885/) at the weekend, it was ok but I didn't really get all the hype about it or see why she'd been nominated for best actress recently.  I suspect it a lot of people loved it just because it was about getting Osama. :))

Good introduction on the most recent Guardian film podcast along the lines of:

"Today we'll be looking at a film about a tall, softly spoken, charismatic leader who was gunned down and later became an inspiration to millions... but enough about Zero Dark Thirty and lets look at Lincoln."
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 01, 2013, 09:42:15 pm
Just watched "Another Earth" from lovefilm etc.. Really good - not what I was expecting, a very touching tale...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crimp on February 03, 2013, 03:38:07 pm
Cockneys versus zombies

absolutely fucking brilliant from start to finish.

Apologies if it's already been recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on February 03, 2013, 04:17:07 pm
Saw les miserables yesterday afternoon. Didn't expect to like it as musicals aren't really my thing, but got to say it was pretty bloody good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 03, 2013, 07:01:00 pm
Just watched bullhead. Can highly recommend it for anyone who likes watching kids having their balls smashed off with rocks by psychos.
Dark, brooding and uncomfortable. Not at all bad. Wouldn't watch it again if you paid me though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 04, 2013, 04:32:44 pm
Flight (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1907668/), typical Denzel film, it was ok but I wouldn't rave about it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2013, 04:39:37 pm
Heads up on a film thats on Film4 tonight Breathless (http://www.film4.com/whats-on/breathless-on-film4)

IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1373120/)

About gangster culture and its pointless/endless cycle.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tj on February 04, 2013, 06:00:07 pm
Just watched bullhead. Can highly recommend it for anyone who likes watching kids having their balls smashed off with rocks by psychos.

That's not a plot-spoiler is it?! On Kermode & Mayo t'other day they alluded to a traumatic event in the lead character's childhood...
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 04, 2013, 06:30:28 pm
Just watched bullhead. Can highly recommend it for anyone who likes watching kids having their balls smashed off with rocks by psychos.

That's not a plot-spoiler is it?! On Kermode & Mayo t'other day they alluded to a traumatic event in the lead character's childhood...

Its alien hedgehogs in flying butternut squashes, controlled by Jamie Oliver via a bin lid on his head...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tj on February 04, 2013, 07:23:00 pm
Oh, the humanity...

TBF, probably was gonna give this one a miss anyway- sounds distinctly like Tyrannosaur- very well made, but utterly unpleasant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2013, 11:20:42 pm
Oh, the humanity...

TBF, probably was gonna give this one a miss anyway- sounds distinctly like Tyrannosaur- very well made, but utterly unpleasant.

Try Eden Lake instead, all about a romantic camping weekend.....  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on February 05, 2013, 09:03:23 am
I quite like gore and horror, but I found Eden Lake a truly unpleasant film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 05, 2013, 09:19:07 am
I've zero intention of ever watching it again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on February 09, 2013, 07:34:41 pm
watched a docu/film called wasteland,really good.worth watching
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2013, 04:49:39 pm
Finally got around to watching Moon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/) last night. Really good and makes you think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on February 13, 2013, 08:13:32 pm
Cockneys versus zombies

absolutely fucking brilliant from start to finish.

Apologies if it's already been recommended.

I wanted to like this but it came across as a school production of Shaun of the Dead, apart from Richard Briar's chase scene, which was inspired.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 13, 2013, 08:47:48 pm
watched this as well the other night. a good watch if you like cheesy zombie stuff.
Mentioned it to someone at work who said it was aweful
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on February 13, 2013, 09:05:29 pm
Watched movie 43 the other day, bizarre. Moments of laugh out loud comedy genius mixed with moments of thats totally unfunny. Couldn't make it's mind up as a film but quite enjoyable really if only for its complete randomness
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crimp on February 13, 2013, 09:10:23 pm
If you come to it expecting a class film i think you'd be disappointed.

I just watched it as a huge long term zombie genre fan, expecting a riotous zom com and wasn't disappointed.

The scenes, like zimmer frame zombie chase were inspired, and plentiful.

Admittedly, many of the individual scenes are better than the film as a whole.

As a bonus, it heavily lampoons that awful Mr madonna fellas cack films.

After a couple of watchings i even reckon its got the edge on shaun (my daughter thinks this is heresy, but everything in shaun had pretty much been done by pegg in spaced)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 13, 2013, 10:24:45 pm
Just watched bullhead. Can highly recommend it for anyone who likes watching kids having their balls smashed off with rocks by psychos.

That's not a plot-spoiler is it?! On Kermode & Mayo t'other day they alluded to a traumatic event in the lead character's childhood...

Well it wasn't 'til you added that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chillax on February 15, 2013, 07:33:14 am
Been laid up in Squamish with a busted ankle, no job, and a lot of time on my hands recently. Made the happy discovery of the Kermode-Mayo film review podcast, and have been getting through some of the recommendations. Here are my findings:

Zero Dark Thirty: Really good, engrossing, with understated character development from the leading lady.

Argo: Tense, gripping, and interesting portrayal of the political situation of the time. Excellent.

Django: Steaming pile from start to end. Several hours I'm not getting back.

Looper: Good timey-wimey action flick, but plot holes you could drive a north american car through.

Source Code: Amazing. best film I've seen in years. Along the same lines as looper, but done better
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 15, 2013, 07:38:13 am
Looper: Good timey-wimey action flick, but plot holes you could drive a north american car through.
Yeah? hmmm go on then what were they?  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2013, 08:13:08 am
In the last couple of days we've watched:

The Angel's Share (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/) - Nothing to do with slab climbing, it's Ken Loach doing comedy. Well, I told Mrs S it was a comedy but being Ken Loach it's not exactly Dumb and Dumber. It's worth watching, predictable but has some great moments.

Seven Psychopaths (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1931533/) - Brilliant cast, totally daft, very entertaining.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on February 15, 2013, 08:24:24 am
Seven Psychopaths (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1931533/) - Brilliant cast, totally daft, very entertaining.

and soundtrack. Watched Stolen last night. Nicolas Cage at his very worst. Proper wonk B flick.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on February 15, 2013, 12:57:15 pm
Looper: Good timey-wimey action flick, but plot holes you could drive a north american car through.
Yeah? hmmm go on then what were they?  :-\

I thought it was fairly widely acknowledged that a time travel film is likely to have plot holes, what with time travel not existing and all...

but its easy to find lists for looper, if you want lmgtfy (http://bit.ly/Zf4W6k).

Heres a good one to get you started, as it doesnt even rely on some time travel paradox (from movieplotholes.com (http://www.movieplotholes.com/looper.html))

NSFW  :
Quote
Why even have Loopers at all? Each Looper is established as having his own designated execution spot, which doesnt have any specific preparation except for putting a little plastic tarp down. So if the future evil crime time travel machines can drop their victims anywhere on Earth why not program them to drop their victims at the bottom of the ocean, inside a volcano, over a pit of sharks with frikkin laser beams, or some other inescapable death trap? Apparently, the super evil crime lords of the future picked a complete idiot to run their Looper program, since Abe decided the best way to dispose of people was to have idiot junkies kill them alone out in the middle of nowhere without any way to definitely guarantee that the victim has been actually killed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2013, 01:16:20 pm
I'm like Homer Simpson with a "DO NOT PRESS" button looking at that post. Not watched Looper yet.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 15, 2013, 01:22:52 pm
Caught the later half of The Kite Runner (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419887/) on BBC4 last night, I'll be seeking out a cheap second hand DVD (or waiting for a repeat).
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 15, 2013, 04:15:53 pm
NEDS Watched it on DVD last night and thought it was really good. gritty stuff. Interestingly the chap who plays the father wrote and directed it - so I suspect most of it reflects his youth...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 15, 2013, 06:51:36 pm
Wished I'd not asked. If I wanted to google the plot holes I would've. Shit I bet I can google plot holes for every film ever flipping made. I wanted to know what Chillax thought the plot holes were. I admit I didn't sit there and pick the shit out of the film cos I was enjoying it.

I've looked quickly at the holes and meh. So what. Still a good film.

I once read a book about a boy who could talk to the dead and had a conversation with Mobius from which he was able to calculate a way to travel through space, time and dark anti matter higgs bosens to another world populated by vampires. I was somewhat dubious about him being a boy. That's proper grown up shit right there.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2013, 09:41:58 pm


I once read a book about a boy who could talk to the dead and had a conversation with Mobius from which he was able to calculate a way to travel through space, time and dark anti matter higgs bosens to another world populated by vampires. I was somewhat dubious about him being a boy. That's proper grown up shit right there.

I once read a book about a boy who was was going to school to learn to do magic. I was somewhat dubious because it was shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on February 15, 2013, 10:22:01 pm
Beasts of the Southern Wild
saw it at the art's center this evening
excellent but not sure I enjoyed it
had an over arching sense of uneasiness
not unlike into the wild
another very good film I don't want to see again
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: iain on February 15, 2013, 11:48:50 pm
I once read a book about a boy who could talk to the dead and had a conversation with Mobius from which he was able to calculate a way to travel through space, time and dark anti matter higgs bosens to another world populated by vampires. I was somewhat dubious about him being a boy. That's proper grown up shit right there.
That's a blast from the past, necroscope (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj71nuo7Oq1qaouh8o1_500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/necroscope&h=276&w=183&sz=1&tbnid=Mf9gF_AOqz4L2M:&tbnh=160&tbnw=106&zoom=1&usg=___BerbdUJMf_SgGZxKPEzUt4DoX4=&docid=qIC0dRz2_F39XM&itg=1&sa=X&ei=K8IeUdL5GaXV4gTirID4Ag&ved=0CMABEPwdMBM), I remember it being brilliant, wonder if it still is.

Re: looper, it was fun to watch, sometimes it's not worth digging too deeply.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 16, 2013, 09:44:24 am
Looper was brilliant.

Source Code was almost as good.

Can't imagine liking one and not liking the other  :???:

Obviously there are going to be ""plot holes"", I suspect even the most seriously scientific exposition of time travel and/or alternate realities would be full of plot holes, unless bloody Hawkings or slackbot wrote it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 16, 2013, 10:08:07 am
"Red Hill"

A good Australian film about a new cop moving to a rural district then getting embroiled in a manhunt (escaped killer stylee). Strong performances, nice plot - well worth a view. SPOILER: No time travel involved at all..  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 16, 2013, 03:54:51 pm
I once read a book about a boy who could talk to the dead and had a conversation with Mobius from which he was able to calculate a way to travel through space, time and dark anti matter higgs bosens to another world populated by vampires. I was somewhat dubious about him being a boy. That's proper grown up shit right there.
That's a blast from the past, necroscope (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj71nuo7Oq1qaouh8o1_500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/necroscope&h=276&w=183&sz=1&tbnid=Mf9gF_AOqz4L2M:&tbnh=160&tbnw=106&zoom=1&usg=___BerbdUJMf_SgGZxKPEzUt4DoX4=&docid=qIC0dRz2_F39XM&itg=1&sa=X&ei=K8IeUdL5GaXV4gTirID4Ag&ved=0CMABEPwdMBM), I remember it being brilliant, wonder if it still is.

Re: looper, it was fun to watch, sometimes it's not worth digging too deeply.

That's the badger. Read about 10 of the necroscope books and really enjoyed them.

Back to films. Watched Avengers Assemble last night it's really very good. Especially enjoyed the Hulk's riposte to Loki.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chillax on February 16, 2013, 06:21:09 pm
Looper was brilliant.

Source Code was almost as good.

Can't imagine liking one and not liking the other  :???:

I didn't dislike Looper, but thought Source Code was miles better. My main beef with Looper is that at 2 separate points in the film there are nods to the audience, essentially saying " Don't think about the time travel stuff, it'll confuse you. Just go with it". I won't go into specifics, as you can find those for yourself if you look for them and I don't want to spoil it. It was entertaining, but I prefer movies that don't start to fall down the more you think about them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 17, 2013, 12:17:18 pm
Watched Looper last night. Thought it was pretty good but have to agree with chillax that Source Code is a MUCH better film of that type of genre. Looper was fun whereas Source Code is actually very clever.

Gotta love Bruce though!  :clap2:

Oh and I've mentioned it before but if you like time travel shit then you really need to watch this.....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/)

...which is superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on February 17, 2013, 08:05:41 pm
Not exactly a film, but I watched three episodes of the first series of Game Of Thrones on TV last night and was well impressed.

Started the books in desperation whilst spending (what felt like) the last several weeks lying in bed coughing, and was pleasantly surprised. Not really Tolkien-ish at all - as far as I've got it's basically the Wars of the Roses (with a few dead dragons lying around and so-far peripheral subplot involving zombies). Great fun.

And the TV series, I found, was that rare thing, an adaptation that actually added to rather than detracting from the books.

(Furthermore, I was schooled from an early age to either admire anything with Sean Bean in it or be scorned by my mother and sister)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 17, 2013, 08:42:11 pm
I love the Game of Thrones books and TV series. Watched the first two seasons quite a few times. The production is probably the best I've seen for a TV show and certainly stays pretty true to the books... so far. The 3rd season is on in April/May time.
I'm on book 6 of 7 and I'm flagging a little bit (well a lot really). Just lost a bit of motivation for them. Really enjoyed them so far.

Just watched Hugo. Thought it was going to be an animation so was a little surprised it wasn't. Thought it was really good mixing fact and fiction (it's based on a book called "The invention of Hugo Cabret) and taught me a bit about George Melies. Excellent film for all the family.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 17, 2013, 10:22:24 pm
Jasper I noted Timecrimes from last time...

GOT is very good really. Fuck reading the books (got enough fantasy/sci-fi to wade through without a 1-book-written-per-decade super complex never-ending political fantasy epic), but it's a great series all round. Also Danaerys nom nom nom.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 18, 2013, 12:54:09 pm
Seven Psychopaths (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1931533/) - Brilliant cast, totally daft, very entertaining.
We watched this at the weekend, I wasn't overly impressed considering the amount of big names in it.  It was just ok, I thought.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crimp on February 18, 2013, 04:23:48 pm
 :popcorn:

anybody seen the chernobyl diaries or silent house?

The trailers for both are good, but trailers often lie (prometheus being a prime example).

Are they worth a punt in anyone's opinion? (a big Asian horror fan)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 18, 2013, 04:28:46 pm
Haven't seen it but I remember reading a review of Chernobyl Diaries that made it sound like one of the shittest films ever made (probably why I haven't seen it).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crimp on February 18, 2013, 04:40:05 pm
I've only seen trailers of em on other dvds.

Film trailers disprove at least one old saying: you can actually gild a turd.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on February 18, 2013, 04:41:48 pm
Useful sites for film reviews (and trailers)...

http://www.imdb.com/ (http://www.imdb.com/)

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on February 23, 2013, 05:30:43 pm
Saw the following recently and thought they were all worth a watch:

Take this Waltz
The Sessions
The Hunter

Also rewatched In The Loop. I'd forgotten how good it is. All hail Malcolm Tucker!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 25, 2013, 11:40:05 am
Horrible Bosses (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1499658/) - Very funny. Similar in style to The Hangover but much better imo.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 25, 2013, 11:48:16 am
Very silly, but very funny. Some great characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on February 26, 2013, 08:28:31 am
Horrible Bosses (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1499658/) - Very funny. Similar in style to The Hangover but much better imo.

Really?? I couldn't make it to the end, thought it was dreadful. Horses for courses...  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 11, 2013, 12:25:13 pm
Knocked Up (http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0478311/) - Amusing concept with some genuinely funny moments spoiled by being way too long, trying to be clever / moralistic and having characters who you don't really give a toss about.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 11, 2013, 12:39:58 pm
Dredd - main characters were good (suitable Dredd style), city block and cityscape were good. That's all. They could have filled the rest with more exploration of the psychotic baddie, the degeneracy of the city, and the contrast between Dredd's robotic sterness and the freaks he has to deal with, but no, instead it was endless displays of boring death/shooting scenes made worse by pointless slow-motion and cheesy rock soundtrack - the classic MTV-style way to fuck up a potentially decent film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on March 11, 2013, 12:54:34 pm
Thirst (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762073/) directed by Chan-wook Park (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0661791/)

Very good vampire movie for people who don't like vampie movies (absolutely no dreamy eyed pasty pin-ups).  On a par with Cronos (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104029/) by Guillermo del Toro (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868219/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 11, 2013, 01:44:35 pm
Mrs Obi is partial to the odd rom-com (and I admit the better ones can be worth watching,  :-[) so I record some from time to time to get add a few brownie points. 'Couples Retreat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078940/?ref_=sr_1)' had sat on the box for months, as heard it was pretty bad. Not many films get a score as bad as 24/100 on IMDB so I thought this I have to see. Suffice to say...it is pretty dire. Not bad in the 'so bad it good' category. Just bad bad.

By far the best thing about it is the location, one review speculated that the cast only signed up as they got to spend a month in this place
http://www.stregisborabora.com/ (http://www.stregisborabora.com/)

If your thinking about watching it I recommend just you spend an hour and a half Googling images of this place... (https://www.google.com/search?q=St.+Regis+Bora+Bora+Resort&hl=en&safe=active&pws=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=md49UfWvPMm47AbI64Fo&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1440&bih=732)
It will be more entertaining. Don't let her get any ideas though, staying there cost between 750 and 8k per night. Bargain.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 11, 2013, 02:29:19 pm
Argo - Watched the (extended cut) DVD last night.  Really good thriller and all the more for it being a true story with the protagonists still alive.  I plan to watch again with the commentary from Tony Mendez, Jimmy Carter and the 'houseguests'.   Nice cinematography and given it's a film about a true story directed by the lead actor who plays a spy pretending to be a director making a film that doesn't exist in which he and others feature using false identities and the where true story was not revealed until the film is made it's all very post-modern.

Jaws - Re done for Blu-Ray.  This just gets better with age.  The remastering has worked a treat.  Schneider, Dreyfuss and Shaw are just awesome.  Turns out John Milius wrote the 'Indianapolis' monologue too, which, come to think of it, isn't much of a suprise.

Lawless - Written by Nick Cave and starring the some of the best of the current crop of actors and actresses.  Bootlegging, moonshine, hillbillies, gangsters.  It's great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 11, 2013, 02:36:38 pm
In which case it's probably quite fitting; first, entertainment was used to further politics; then politics was used as a form of entertainment.  All very "meta" - give it a few years and Affleck will be kidnapped by one of the Iranian protagonists annoyed at his casting and the cycle will repeat.   Or, it will be revealed that the filming of Argo was cover for Ben to sneak over a border and break into a nuclear facility.

Just read this following my previous post - you got there first (and better) with the Meta thing  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 11, 2013, 02:51:36 pm
Winter's Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/?ref_=sr_1), really bleak but good, Jennifer Lawrence is excellent in it.
Hitchcock (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0975645/), alright, better than I was expecting it to be and really made me want to watch Psycho.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 11, 2013, 03:33:03 pm

Lawless - Written by Nick Cave and starring the some of the best of the current crop of actors and actresses.  Bootlegging, moonshine, hillbillies, gangsters.  It's great.

Ah good. Thought this looked worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 11, 2013, 04:01:36 pm
Jaws - Re done for Blu-Ray.  This just gets better with age.  The remastering has worked a treat.  Schneider, Dreyfuss and Shaw are just awesome.  Turns out John Milius wrote the 'Indianapolis' monologue too, which, come to think of it, isn't much of a suprise.

Jaws is fantastic - one of those films whose reputation has unfairly suffered because of bad sequels - odd phenomenon really, like a besmirching turd drifting upstream.  Another comparable example for me is Rocky; re-watched it recently, you forget how seedily downbeat most of it is (Stallone reportedly wrote the script in a single 20 hour stint - and in the original version he throws the fight!).  Isn't  Jaws' tension supposedly because the mechanical shark (Bruce?) kept breaking down so they had to ditch intended action scenes for more suspense?  I've heard filming was a fraught, angry mess - the cast having to spend each night hastily rewriting the following day's script - Roy Scheider was very bitter about the lack of a writing credit.

 "Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, chief. It was comin' back, from the island of Tinian to Laytee, just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in twelve minutes. Didn't see the first shark for about a half an hour. Tiger. Thirteen footer. You know how you know that when you're in the water, chief? You tell by lookin' from the dorsal to the tail. What we didn't know... was our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. Huh huh. They didn't even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, chief. The sharks come cruisin'. So we formed ourselves into tight groups. You know it's... kinda like ol' squares in battle like a, you see on a calendar, like the battle of Waterloo. And the idea was, the shark comes to the nearest man and that man, he'd start poundin' and hollerin' and screamin' and sometimes the shark would go away. Sometimes he wouldn't go away. Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.


Y'know by the end of that first dawn, lost a hundred men! I don't know how many sharks, maybe a thousand! I don't know how many men, they averaged six an hour. On Thursday mornin' chief, I bumped into a friend of mine, Herbie Robinson from Cleveland. Baseball player, boson's mate. I thought he was asleep, reached over to wake him up. Bobbed up and down in the water, just like a kinda top. Up ended. Well... he'd been bitten in half below the waist. Noon the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us, he swung in low and he saw us. He's a young pilot, a lot younger than Mr. Hooper, anyway he saw us and come in low. And three hours later a big fat PBY comes down and start to pick us up. You know that was the time I was most frightened? Waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a lifejacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water, three hundred and sixteen men come out, the sharks took the rest, June the 29, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 14, 2013, 08:29:04 pm
Argo - Watched the (extended cut) DVD last night.  Really good thriller and all the more for it being a true story with the protagonists still alive.  I plan to watch again with the commentary from Tony Mendez, Jimmy Carter and the 'houseguests'.   Nice cinematography and given it's a film about a true story directed by the lead actor who plays a spy pretending to be a director making a film that doesn't exist in which he and others feature using false identities and the where true story was not revealed until the film is made it's all very post-modern.

Watched this the other day - agree that it's a good film. Thought the end was a little unrealistic and, after a bit of googling it turns out the end is
quite "stretched" from the truth. The analysis compared it to zero dark thirty which I think we'll watch soon.

Quote
Lawless - Written by Nick Cave and starring the some of the best of the current crop of actors and actresses.  Bootlegging, moonshine, hillbillies, gangsters.  It's great.

This one it in our pile of films to watch... maybe even tonight!
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 15, 2013, 01:50:09 am
Watched Argo on a flight earlier in the week. Very good film. Loved John Candy and the bald producer/director dude. Afflek just smouldered and bearded his way through the film in a superb way. Reminded me of how Clint says so much with a grunt and sneer...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bubba on March 15, 2013, 05:47:44 am
Winter's Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/?ref_=sr_1), really bleak but good, Jennifer Lawrence is excellent in it.
I'm a huge fan of this film - I was really pissed that J.L. missed out on the Oscar for it but at least she got one this year!  Bleak indeed but a gritty, gripping film and she is downright superb in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 15, 2013, 07:52:50 am
Watched Argo on a flight earlier in the week. Very good film. Loved John Candy and the bald producer/director dude. Afflek just smouldered and bearded his way through the film in a superb way. Reminded me of how Clint says so much with a grunt and sneer...

I went off Affleck for a long time, he made some poor film choices. However, since he's started directing and acting, he's delivered a couple of much better roles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 22, 2013, 04:17:43 pm
Watched Argo on a flight earlier in the week. Very good film. Loved John Candy and the bald producer/director dude. Afflek just smouldered and bearded his way through the film in a superb way. Reminded me of how Clint says so much with a grunt and sneer...

I went off Affleck for a long time, he made some poor film choices. However, since he's started directing and acting, he's delivered a couple of much better roles.

"Affleck, you da bomb in Phantoms, yo!"


Jay and Silent bob Affleck was the bomb in phantoms yo! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw3jMPjAcwg#)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on March 22, 2013, 10:43:38 pm
I attempted to watch Anna Karenina tonight but failed after 25 minutes. It was beyond dire. Avoid at all costs is the best advice I can offer.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on March 28, 2013, 09:56:00 am
Went to see Trance last night. Felt like there was potential but it was too fractured for my liking, spent too much time doing weird trippy shit and not enough time explaining what was going on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 09, 2013, 07:46:47 pm
After being impressed by Gone Baby Gone, I watched Ben Assfleck's "The Town"

Was very good and enjoyable. Not setting the world on fire but well shot and engaging. I'm about to watch "That's my Boy" starring Adam Sandler, I'll report back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ianto9 on April 09, 2013, 09:56:39 pm
i loved beasts of the southern wild,showed it too my m8's who promptly said it was shit,nothing weird as folk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 09, 2013, 10:21:04 pm
That's my Boy was actually very good! Typical Adam Sandler comic stuff but made me lol which is rare and I would recommend it as a good chuckle. Its got Vanilla Ice in it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on April 10, 2013, 08:21:10 am
i loved beasts of the southern wild,showed it too my m8's who promptly said it was shit,nothing weird as folk

Yeah, I really enjoyed this too.

Also worth a mention (if it hasn't had one already?) is Rust and Bone. I won't say too much, other than I thought it was brilliant - watch it!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 10, 2013, 01:02:42 pm
Silver Linings Playbook (http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1045658/) - Really enjoyed this. De Niro is brilliant and Bradley Cooper surprisingly good playing the fucked up lead role. It's corny as fuck in many ways but who cares?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on April 10, 2013, 02:41:29 pm
Silver Linings Playbook (http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1045658/) - Really enjoyed this. De Niro is brilliant and Bradley Cooper surprisingly good playing the fucked up lead role. It's corny as fuck in many ways but who cares?

I've avoided this one becuase it looked corny and the last film that I saw that dealt with a heavy issue in corny manner (50/50) was a steaming curler. Is it bearable?   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on April 10, 2013, 03:12:02 pm
Im not usually a 'corny as fuck' kinda guy but found Silver linings playbook pretty bearable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 10, 2013, 03:28:31 pm
I actually thought the way that the serious issue (mental health) was dealt with was, for the most part, pretty good and certainly very accurate in places. This is no heavyweight piece of cinema but it's good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 10, 2013, 03:52:38 pm
Was going to add it to Lovefilm list before I forget, but noted it's been added as "high priority" by my dearest. No doubt that Bradley Cooper being it may have been a factor.

Watched the Adjustment Bureau the other night, liked the film all the way through; nice premise, good charcters, plot and acting but cheesy cop out ending.

Sanctum to watch tonight, some nice mindless James Cameron crap to wade through (not my choice either).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 10, 2013, 05:45:08 pm
Watched The Croods, not as good as 'How to train your dragon' (which is ace and by the same team) but still nicely done. Set designers may have watched Avatar a fair few times. Weirdly a couple of short climbing sequences quite nicely done.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 11, 2013, 03:12:18 pm
Silver Linings Playbook (http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1045658/) - Really enjoyed this. De Niro is brilliant and Bradley Cooper surprisingly good playing the fucked up lead role. It's corny as fuck in many ways but who cares?
SLP was my other half's nod to allowing a chick flick (which he will never usually watch) and we both really enjoyed it, it surprised me because I wouldn't have thought what is essentially a romantic comedy with dancing in it could possibly have appealed to the other half and actually he really enjoyed it.  It's a good film.  Saying that I liked 50/50 too so I am maybe not the best judge.

We watched Take Shelter (http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt1675192/) at the weekend; it's weird, and totally not what I was expecting but it's good and well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on April 11, 2013, 03:28:58 pm
Beasts of the Southern Wild is great. Like many films I enjoy, not really a popcorn film.

Trance. Not bad. Not massively memorable. It couldn't quite decide whether to be clever or entertaining.

In the house (Dans le Maison) - great film. A little creepy and, despite a slow pace, it was gripping and funny with an unpredictable ending. (Membership to the showroom is great, especially for students.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on April 11, 2013, 04:14:08 pm
Agree with Magpie and Jasper. I watched silver lining playbook when trying to sleep on a long a flight a moth or so a go.
Ended up watching the whole film and really enjoyed it.

I also liked 50/50 I bought the film cause I like the guy who played the kid Third rock from the sun and seth rogan is funny I did not know the premise of the film. I was expecting a bit of a gross out comedy / stoner film. But I enjoyed the film anyway
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on April 11, 2013, 06:08:59 pm
Watched The Croods, not as good as 'How to train your dragon' (which is ace and by the same team) but still nicely done.
How to train your dragon 2 is apparently in production and out next summer - for those with smalls that like the original the short - Gift of the nightfury" is rather good if you can pick it up for a couple of quid at tesco's or the like.

On a completely different note watched about half of Cell 211 the other day - must be getting old or something but whilst it is undoubtedly excellent in direction acting etc etc I couldn't bring myself to continue watching with the tragic direction it was heading in - pulled at the same heart strings (but in a much more violent way) as say Beast of the Southern Wild or Into the Wild - both of which I did sit through and did feel enlightened for the experience but wouldn't say I enjoyed....

That said I haven't had much luck with popcorn films either of late, after being pleasantly surprised by both Avengers Assemble and X-men First Class (as a comic book geek I'm often rather disappointed by the films - the Nolan Batman trilogy is given an exception as I am happily blind to everybody elses problems with them and think they are genious) Mrs T and I finally sat down to watch Wolverine - it's shit....  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 11, 2013, 07:46:35 pm
You big girls blouse T! ;)

Cell 211 is an amazing film. You're right though, it's pretty harsh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 15, 2013, 03:13:43 pm
Sanctum to watch tonight, some nice mindless James Cameron crap to wade through (not my choice either).

I was right, it's fucking terrible. Some pretty scenes, but I could have guessed the outcome in the first 10 minutes. How many cliches can you cram into one film? A remarkable amount. Also confirms cave diving looks like some shit I never want to get involved in and wouldn't even if I did love caving, or diving.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeh on April 19, 2013, 09:08:18 am
Saw Oblivion (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483013/) the other day. Classic Tom Cruise, as in there is a shitload of money involved in it so it looks great, but found it quite seriously lacking. Possibly too predictable? Definitely felt like it had unrealised potential.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on April 19, 2013, 03:16:54 pm
Sanctum to watch tonight, some nice mindless James Cameron crap to wade through (not my choice either).

I was right, it's fucking terrible. Some pretty scenes, but I could have guessed the outcome in the first 10 minutes. How many cliches can you cram into one film? A remarkable amount. Also confirms cave diving looks like some shit I never want to get involved in and wouldn't even if I did love caving, or diving.
I watched that a while ago, I concur it was very predictable and a bit rubbish.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on April 19, 2013, 03:40:22 pm
Watched Machete the other night - much fun in a trashy pastiche kind of way.
Some wonderfully bad lines and genuinely funny moments.
Hardly Oscar material, but a good Friday night & beer film.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 19, 2013, 04:49:14 pm
Saw the new Bourne thing (not mat Damon) the other day.. Thought it was alright.. Nice take on the franchise.. Worth tagging on love film etc but it won't change your life.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 16, 2013, 03:04:15 pm
The Ides of March

Went to see this last week. Serviceable entertainment, good performances, slick direction, yet unspectacular - it seemed to be missing punch at the end. Certainly a worthwhile watch though.

Just got round to watching this and agree. Just seemed to bimble along through a collection of cliched set pieces without really going anywhere. I expected a climactic event, but realised in hindsight that Gosling and Clooney "outstraighfacing" each other was meant to be the climax of the film. OK, but unltimately unfulfilling.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 16, 2013, 04:37:48 pm
I have been to see 2 films recently.

Number 1 - Love is All You Need.  Hmmm...  Went with the parents since I'm home for a few weeks and they were paying. The most memorable part of the night was the Brewdog Jackhammer afterwards. Mmmmmm hoppy goodness to wake up my tastebuds after a winter of French blandness.  The film? Light, fluffy and full of clichd characters, but quite a good performance from the leading lady and old Pierce wasn't too bad either. Watchable, but pretty lame.

Number 2 - Night train to Lisbon.  Great performance from Jeremy Irons, gently paced but highly engaging. Thoughtful, introspective and well directed. The lass and I both enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 16, 2013, 04:53:12 pm


Number 2 - Night train to Lisbon.  Great performance from Jeremy Irons, gently paced but highly engaging. Thoughtful, introspective and well directed. The lass and I both enjoyed it.

For some reason I decided to check out some reviews of this film. I have since learnt a new word: "Europudding" which apparently means "Mundane and totally mediocre...Usually lacking originality and style". Hmm...

I have also learnt that I appear to differ in opinion from the three reviewers. Oh well. Funnily enough all three reviews described it by the same term. Is this because it was as described, or a bad case of bandwagon jumping???
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: DubDom on May 22, 2013, 02:59:38 pm
http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/moviehouse-launches-production-arm/5056398.article (http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes/moviehouse-launches-production-arm/5056398.article)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on May 22, 2013, 04:18:19 pm
Saw Oblivion (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483013/) the other day. Classic Tom Cruise, as in there is a shitload of money involved in it so it looks great, but found it quite seriously lacking. Possibly too predictable? Definitely felt like it had unrealised potential.

I quite liked it, and I'm happy to forgive its short-comings. A mish-mash of ideas and plot devices we've all seen before (makes for a fun game of spot the echo), but fairly solid story telling and some stunning visuals. It's been a long time since the opening scene of a sci-fi made me think oooh, pretty rather than yawn, another big space-ship.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 23, 2013, 09:06:12 am
Me and the sprog watched The Pirates (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430626/) the other day.

Up to the usual high standards of Aardman Animation with plenty in it for kids and adults and the added bonus of Brian Blessed as The Pirate King. Great stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on May 23, 2013, 03:28:44 pm
It's been a long time since the opening scene of a sci-fi made me think oooh, pretty rather than yawn, another big space-ship.

Has it already been a long time since Prometheus came out?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 23, 2013, 04:04:56 pm
'How to train your dragon' (which is ace and by the same team)

This is now on weekly rotation on our house. The 2 shorts "gift of the night fury" and "legend of the boneknapper dragon" are worth seeking out too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on May 23, 2013, 05:07:50 pm
It's been a long time since the opening scene of a sci-fi made me think oooh, pretty rather than yawn, another big space-ship.

Has it already been a long time since Prometheus came out?

Opening scene was alien on a waterfall? Meh.

'How to train your dragon' (which is ace and by the same team)

This is now on weekly rotation on our house. The 2 shorts "gift of the night fury" and "legend of the boneknapper dragon" are worth seeking out too.

Another vote for that. Brilliant. There's a series too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on May 23, 2013, 07:45:29 pm
'How to train your dragon' (which is ace and by the same team)

This is now on weekly rotation on our house. The 2 shorts "gift of the night fury" and "legend of the boneknapper dragon" are worth seeking out too.
Yep, very good, but not quite as good as the books
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 23, 2013, 10:45:54 pm
He's 3.5 , not quite reading novels yet. But will get him on them as and when.

Didn't know there was a series, not surprising. Hopefully on DVD by Xmas. Nice one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hongkongstuey on June 15, 2013, 07:20:28 am
Agree with Magpie and Jasper. I watched silver lining playbook when trying to sleep on a long a flight a moth or so a go.
Ended up watching the whole film and really enjoyed it.

might have to give this one another go - started watching it on a flight a little while back but stopped about 30-40 mins in as i thought it was complete rubbish...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on June 15, 2013, 08:58:22 am
+1 for Silver Linings Playbook - nothing exceptional but entertaining and well done.  One of the few films I can actually remember having watched of late. I look at the "seen it" section of my blockbuster account and wonder whether I have early onset Alzheimers.

Other films that have actually persisted in my memory are:
 
Sightseers - Mike Leigh's Nuts in May crossed with In Bruge and the Wickerman. Like Carry On Camping acted out by psychopaths.

End of Watch - shakycam cop drama - cliched but had a smack of truth and captured my interest.  My crossword was abandoned.... and there is no higher praise than that!

Killing Them Softly - combination of grimy crime drama and State of the Nation address.  Good downbeat meatiness.

Killer Joe - as above but with the wider concerns replaced with unpleasantness.  Horribly compelling but hard to watch without feeling complicit in deeply distasteful misogyny.

Big disappointments were Seven Psychopaths - a waste of a great cast - not terrible I just expected so much more.  And, Les Miserable - too. much. singing!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 15, 2013, 11:12:24 am
Steel folk,
DocFest at Showroom (and all over) this weekend. Brilliant event.

We're off to see 'After Tiller +Q&A' in a wee bit - about late abortion doctors in america and the opposition they face. It's normally really interesting to hear what the filmmakers (and sometimes subjects) have to say about their films and to even pop off a question or two.
We're stopping off en route to watch half an hour or so of shorts on Howard Street (Hallam uni, opposite Showroom).

Loads of good shit on. Google and the World Brain is sold out sadly. http://sheffdocfest.com/events/films (http://sheffdocfest.com/events/films)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 16, 2013, 11:21:19 pm
Perks of Being a Wallflower. Not the cheese fest it could of been. Good cast, great soundtrack, nice acting. Chick friendly. One for your Lovefilm list.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on June 17, 2013, 07:02:49 am
The Impossible - Meh. Found it quite depressing rather than inspiring.

Gangster Squad - Very good. Josh Brolin is a bad ass!!

Flight - Far too long. Densel plays a great role as always but its way to strung outin the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 22, 2013, 11:02:14 am
Watched a great film on iPlayer last night.  Skeletons, about two exorcist type blokes who go around relieving troubled people from the skeletons in their closet.  One has been doing too much of the 'glowing' leading to difficulties.  They land up a house looking for a missing husband and things take a troubling turn.  A British independent flick that picked up some awards.  Really worthwhile and on iPlayer at the moment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on June 22, 2013, 11:32:27 am
Watched a great film on iPlayer last night.  Skeletons, about two exorcist type blokes who go around relieving troubled people from the skeletons in their closet.  One has been doing too much of the 'glowing' leading to difficulties.  They land up a house looking for a missing husband and things take a troubling turn.  A British independent flick that picked up some awards.  Really worthwhile and on iPlayer at the moment.

Second that, can't beat a good british flick. Sightseers was also utmost quality.

Got round to watching The Mist the other night, few years old now. Horror with things appearing in the mist. Good suspense and the ending was proper dark.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on June 24, 2013, 04:08:15 pm
I didn't really think that much of The Mist, the ending was brilliant though, it totally made the film for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 24, 2013, 04:13:57 pm
Got round to watching The Mist the other night, few years old now. Horror with things appearing in the mist.

Imaginitive title. Can't be as good as The Fog

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080749/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080749/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2)

Done to death, but watched Looper, pure class, spoiled only slightly by the silly facial prosthetics worn by JGL so that he looks more like Bruce Willis, but still doesn't anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: benpritch on June 24, 2013, 07:29:08 pm
Watched a great film on iPlayer last night.  Skeletons, about two exorcist type blokes who go around relieving troubled people from the skeletons in their closet.  One has been doing too much of the 'glowing' leading to difficulties.  They land up a house looking for a missing husband and things take a troubling turn.  A British independent flick that picked up some awards.  Really worthwhile and on iPlayer at the moment.

Hi FD, have you got a direct link, Iplayer search not turning up anything for skeletons. Maybe it expired on sunday. damn.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 24, 2013, 07:30:25 pm
Watched a great film on iPlayer last night.  Skeletons, about two exorcist type blokes who go around relieving troubled people from the skeletons in their closet.  One has been doing too much of the 'glowing' leading to difficulties.  They land up a house looking for a missing husband and things take a troubling turn.  A British independent flick that picked up some awards.  Really worthwhile and on iPlayer at the moment.

Hi FD, have you got a direct link, Iplayer search not turning up anything for skeletons. Maybe it expired on sunday. damn.

It expired, though I watched it before it did. Cheers for the shout.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crimp on June 24, 2013, 07:55:59 pm
Bit of a curveball.

Finally watched Fido. Strangely has Billy Connoly as said Fido. A domestic zombie in an alternate 1950s America after a zombie war.

Surprisingly good. Very funny, socio-political comment.


ps picked up the mist in charity shop. On my to watch pile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on June 24, 2013, 08:21:28 pm
Hi FD, have you got a direct link, Iplayer search not turning up anything for skeletons. Maybe it expired on sunday. damn.

Not currently available (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02yxz9s)  >:(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on July 05, 2013, 09:53:49 pm
Just watched Coriolanus (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/)
Now I am a sucker for the Bard but I thought it was excellent
The adaptation for the screen was subtle but effective
Stole a couple of tricks from Baz Luhrmann  - narrator as a tv presenter etc
Well it worked for Romeo and Juliet so why not I guess
Anyways 8/10 and well worth a look see
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on July 05, 2013, 10:02:20 pm
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Cloud Atlas. I quite enjoyed it, wasn't quite sure what I felt at the end but was shot and portrayed very well. Must read the book.

I watched This is 40 last night, a kind of follow up to Knocked Up. I laughed a lot, and enjoyed it but thought it was pretty long for a typical film of its genre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Zods Beard on July 10, 2013, 12:47:20 pm
Has anyone seen Upstream Colour, Shane 'Primer' Carruth's new one? I'm wondering how much mind bending my head can take in this heat.

One for the Malick fan's by the look of it..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 10, 2013, 01:01:34 pm
A really good drama from Australia Lantana (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259393/) .  I love Aussie filmmaking.  Very different from Europe and the US.  Very worthwhile....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 10, 2013, 01:02:20 pm
Did anyone watch Miragemen at the Sheff Docu Fest?  Can't wait to see it.  The book is fantastic...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 10, 2013, 01:17:13 pm
I love Aussie filmmaking.  Very different from Europe and the US.  Very worthwhile....

 :agree: Samson and Delilah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_and_Delilah_(2009_film)) is one that I enjoyed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on July 16, 2013, 04:29:58 pm
Watched "half nelson" over the weekend.  Absolutely amazing film about a crack-addicted junior high teaching played by ryan goslin.  Pretty hard going but avoids lots of the addiction and race cliches, really worth a watch and for added geek value there are lots of cameos by people from the wire
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2013, 05:17:55 pm
Saw World War Zeee... at the weekend. I quite liked it - some nice twists on your regular zombie fare and Brad actually did some acting... Not an over hollywood style ending either..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 16, 2013, 05:29:13 pm
and Brad actually did some acting...

As opposed to what he did in "The Assassination of Jesse James....", "Fight Club", "Moneyball", "Inglourious Basterds", "Killing Them Softly", "Babel" etc?  Harsh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2013, 06:07:13 pm
and Brad actually did some acting...

As opposed to what he did in "The Assassination of Jesse James....", "Fight Club", "Moneyball", "Inglourious Basterds", "Killing Them Softly", "Babel" etc?  Harsh.

Hmm.. fight club yes, Inglorious Basterds - I thought he just snarled and drawled through that... but I liked him in (I've forgotten its name) that Cohen bro's film where he's the thick gym instructor.. I prefer his roles where he's thick/comic - he does it quite well (and thats not meant to be facetious..)

Maybe I'm guilty of casting him in the same light as Keanau..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 16, 2013, 06:26:04 pm
I'd forgotten about the Coen film - Burn After Reading.  That he was memorable in such an average film is possibly the best proof of his skills.  Personally, when a film is really good or really bad, I find it tricky to disentangle whether or not I am rating/slating the performance or the film as a whole. 

I agree Brad Pitt does tend to coast through a lot of his roles on charisma though.  Still, there are a lot of much more lauded "serious" actors who have given pretty much the same performance in most of their films.   He's certainly a cut above Keanu.  More akin to Dicaprio - someone whose ability is under-rated because of his pretty-boy looks, despite putting in a decent shift in Djanjo Unchained, The Aviator, The Departed, Revolutionary Road, Romeo and Juliet etc. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2013, 06:31:33 pm
I guess given the genre and title of the film, I was not expecting it to be character heavy - I was expecting a CGI action fest with some Brad posturing thrown into the mix.

It had that of course, but some good performances too...

Maybe I've just watched too many Oceans films... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 16, 2013, 06:35:08 pm
I thought Brad really acted well in Inglorious Basterds... very hard to play a deep Southerner with all the characterisations and vocal inflections needed.  'We're huntin' Nyhazis'.... "Bonjourno.." etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 16, 2013, 06:57:22 pm
A role in a Tarantino film is an absolute gift for any actor who wants to do some charismatic scenery chewing.  Not enough for some though.  Will Smith said in an interview that he turned down the Jamie Foxx part in Django because Tarantino refused to rewrite it to make his character the uncontested lead (rather than sharing the spoils with Christoph Waltz).  When Tarantino refused to rewrite so that Will Smith got to shoot DiCaprio, he instead chose After Earth.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2013, 11:51:49 pm
I thought Brad really acted well in Inglorious Basterds... very hard to play a deep Southerner with all the characterisations and vocal inflections needed.  'We're huntin' Nyhazis'.... "Bonjourno.." etc.

I dunno - maybe I'm just down in IB as a Tarrantino hollywood circular wank fest.. It felt like two good scenes (the first mountain hut scene and the restaraunt/bar scene) strung together by weakly scripted self indulgent bollocks. I've watched it twice (cinema and DVD) and it still grates on me as really being a nothing of a film... Its so factually incorrect it could almost be a sci fi (if they were from planet XXX instead of natzees), and the characters were so over stereotyped it could have been a comedy. Allo allo anyone?

I really liked Django though..  and most of QT's other films (True Romance is my favourite - not sure why but it is)
but Inglorious Basterds is more Irritable Bowel to me..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on July 17, 2013, 07:04:49 am
(True Romance is my favourite - not sure why but it is)


Because Tarantino only wrote the script rather than directed it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 17, 2013, 07:44:32 am
I haven't seen a single Tarantino film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 17, 2013, 08:44:35 am
When Tarantino refused to rewrite so that Will Smith got to shoot DiCaprio

Not that you are giving away an plot spoilers or anything. Cheers.

You are missing out Andy. He's done some good films. Blatant plaigarism of just about everything but done with style.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 17, 2013, 12:07:23 pm
When Tarantino refused to rewrite so that Will Smith got to shoot DiCaprio

Not that you are giving away an plot spoilers or anything. Cheers.

Well, those who haven't seen it, now know that the character Will Smith would have played doesn't get to shoot Dicaprio... that leaves a hell of a lot of alternatives!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 17, 2013, 12:15:12 pm
Will Smith said in an interview that he turned down the Jamie Foxx part in Django because Tarantino refused to rewrite it to make his character the uncontested lead

2+2
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 17, 2013, 12:32:44 pm
Watched The Place Beyond The Pines (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/) at the weekend, it was weird, I'm not really sure if I liked it or not, or if I even got it. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 20, 2013, 09:44:01 am
IB is a turd of a film for the reasons above. Other QT films are pretty good fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 20, 2013, 10:42:36 am
Watched Amour last night.  Very moving and demanding of the viewer...  :'(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on July 20, 2013, 11:38:29 am
Watched The Place Beyond The Pines (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/) at the weekend, it was weird, I'm not really sure if I liked it or not, or if I even got it. :lol:
We are all far too used to neat little disneyesque hollywood films where all the correct emotions, ideas, responses and moral messages are pre-packaged and handed to you on a tray. What a load of fucking bullshit. Why should some response be the correct one, and who the fuck is hollywood to tell us what it is. I like films where it's less about 'getting' it and more about taking what you want, reading in your own interpretation and promoting interesting discussion and raising controversies with fellow film-goers. If it's comfortable and cellophane wrapped, then it's pointless and dull in equal measures.

Loved this film. Cheers for the reminder!
 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on July 22, 2013, 10:07:39 pm
I know a few of you may have seen this, but think it worth mentioning for anyone that missed it. The film is called Searching For Sugar Man, the story of an artist who's records flopped miserably back in the seventies and subsequently disappeared. The film is a documentary about his life and music, which to be quite honest is bloody brilliant. One of the best documentaries I've seen for a long time, not just because it opened my eyes to some great music but because it's been very well produced and honest.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on July 22, 2013, 10:19:51 pm
Watched "only god forgives" the night before last, wanted to be arty but just ended up wank, terrible Ryan gosling film.
Last night watched "welcome to the punch" which was infinitely better, more a watchable film than a good film but after the previous nights entertainment became magnificent.
Out of all QT's films I probably enjoyed Django the least, but still quite liked it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on July 23, 2013, 07:02:31 am
I know a few of you may have seen this, but think it worth mentioning for anyone that missed it. The film is called Searching For Sugar Man, the story of an artist ....

Forgot to mention the guy's name is Rodriguez  :slap:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2013, 08:56:37 am
I mentioned him here when the film first came out.

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=20503.0 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=20503.0)

As I said, he was huge in SA.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2013, 10:21:23 am
Sorry for straying slightly off topic, but I noticed this poster about on holidays.

(http://www.redlist-ultimate.be/images/films/Moi,_moche_et_mechant_2.jpg)

We though it translated directly to "Me, Myself and I", can anyone with better french confirm? And also, how the hell do they get to that from Despicable Me??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on July 23, 2013, 10:34:43 am
They often change names of films internationally to make them 'work' better in whatever language.

I don't know why they didn't use 'moi meprisable'. The title above translates roughly as ugly and wicked me. Presumably they preferred the overtones of that than of the more direct translation. (Perhaps kids don't know the word 'meprisable', but then 'despicable' isn't the most common bit of vocab either. Perhaps it's an 'old fashioned' word or something).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on July 23, 2013, 10:35:29 am
We though it translated directly to "Me, Myself and I", can anyone with better french confirm? And also, how the hell do they get to that from Despicable Me??

I'd say it's more Me, Bad and Naughty

Moche means ugly but when about people it can mean bad. Mechant strictly means nasty but used about kids it means naughty so i went with that (as it's a kids film).

Bad and Naughty Me doesn't seem that far from Despicable Me?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2013, 10:54:44 am
I guess not, makes sense thanks.

(also highlights how terrible my french is).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on July 23, 2013, 11:17:39 am
Saw Bad and Naughty Me (the english version) with the kids. Loads of minion action so was pretty funny for a kids film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on July 23, 2013, 11:18:54 am
I saw monsters uni the other week it was very good. As usual with this type of film some nice adult humour mixed in with the kids stuff
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2013, 11:28:18 am
Saw Bad and Naughty Me (the english version) with the kids. Loads of minion action so was pretty funny for a kids film.

Part the Second? I've only seen and liked the first, but heard second is good too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on July 23, 2013, 11:28:45 am
I watched The perks of being a Wallflower (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/) the other night, I loved it although I also found it a bit traumatic, it brought out my inner teen angst.  :'(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on July 23, 2013, 11:53:21 am
I watched The perks of being a Wallflower (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1659337/) the other night
I love that movie
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on July 23, 2013, 12:10:11 pm
SA Chris:

--- Quote from: rich d on Today at 10:17:39 ---Saw Bad and Naughty Me (the english version) with the kids. Loads of minion action so was pretty funny for a kids film.

--- End quote ---

Part the Second? I've only seen and liked the first, but heard second is good too.

Yep part the second, thought it was funnier than the first, more importantly the girls did too, they were in hysterics for large parts of it - got to say the set piece songs were some of the funniest things I've seen in the cinema for a while
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on July 26, 2013, 12:00:04 pm
I saw the worlds end last night. Enjoyed it but not worth running out to the cinema for. Its good DVD option.
Lots of in jokes from the other simon pegg films. There were lots thinks that made me laugh loudly in the cinema but its not shawn of the dead or hot fuzz. Its a worthwhile film on a par with paul.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on August 16, 2013, 07:32:37 am
I saw Kick Ass 2 last night.
Anyone who has read the comic book thread knows I am a huge fan of the kick ass series. So possibly rose tinted glasses but I loved it.
I was a bit worried they would ruin the book. Its sick, twisted and disturbed, I can confirm the the film is all these things. Its really funny some times in quite a twisted way.
The film did not drag either it constantly moved and the storyline flowed really well.

If you want to laugh at people in bad costumes fighting and a drug lord get his dick bitten off plus a lot more. See this film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 02, 2013, 11:13:18 am
The Angels Share (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/) funny & good film from Ken Loach (streaming on LoveFilm at the moment).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 02, 2013, 11:27:17 am
Saw Elysium a week or so ago.

I liked it. Judging by twitter Plattsy thought it so so, and Fatneck liked it as well.

Its not life changing, but its pretty good.

PRAWNS.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 02, 2013, 11:30:28 am
The Angels Share (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/) funny & good film from Ken Loach (streaming on LoveFilm at the moment).

 :agree:

Yeah I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread. It's decent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on September 02, 2013, 11:32:39 am
Dont know if it's been previously mentioned but 'End of Watch' is worth a punt. Two LAPD cops get into some gang related bother, mostly shot from a 1st person perspective without feeling claustrophobic and seemed refereshingly realistic (well, apart from the plot).

Saw Elysium a week or so ago.

psyched for that, district 9 was both a visual treat and a good mind mangle

PRAWNS.

fookin proons
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 02, 2013, 11:40:29 am
Elysium is good, strong style, slickly done, good atmosphere, good action.

Not as memorable as District 9 though, and it misses the obvious opportunities to delve further into both Elysium society and characters, and the larger scale of what Earth is now like, instead the singular character focus gets a bit longwinded. But still good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on September 03, 2013, 12:36:37 pm
Dont know if it's been previously mentioned but 'End of Watch' is worth a punt. Two LAPD cops get into some gang related bother, mostly shot from a 1st person perspective without feeling claustrophobic and seemed refereshingly realistic (well, apart from the plot).

I think I might have posted about it a while back, I thought it was brilliant, really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 03, 2013, 01:11:59 pm
The Angels Share (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/) funny & good film from Ken Loach (streaming on LoveFilm at the moment).

 :agree:

Yeah I think I mentioned this earlier in the thread. It's decent.

Good film, and at least I know now what the route name refers to!

Finally got round to watching the Search for Sugarman last night, amazing documentary, especially as I was one of those who grew up  listening to Rodriguez and sharing in the wonder of who this guy was.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on September 14, 2013, 07:31:04 am
Last night I saw rush.brilliant film ,niki laudi came across really good at the end.worth watching,in the cinema it sounded like you were in the exhaust.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Clart on September 18, 2013, 11:45:44 pm
The Angels Share (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924394/) funny & good film from Ken Loach (streaming on LoveFilm at the moment).

Got round to watching this, really enjoyed it. The opening scene at the train station with the tannoy is classic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 19, 2013, 10:35:27 am
Watched Oblivion the other night, beautifully made. Amazing story behind the set and lighting, clever sci-fi. Even if Mr Cruise normally annoys the hell out of you it's still worth a look. However recommendations:

- DO NOT watch the trailer, most of the plot twists are given away.
- DO NOT even start to pick holes in the plot. Don't even go there.  ;D

If you take it at face value as lovely to look at, sci-fi escapism it's great fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 19, 2013, 08:41:20 pm
Went to see 'in a world' the other night with miss moo it's a perfect date night movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on September 19, 2013, 09:53:35 pm
+1 for "in a world"

just not got the voice dammit
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on September 20, 2013, 11:37:52 am
Watched Oblivion the other night, beautifully made. Amazing story behind the set and lighting, clever sci-fi. Even if Mr Cruise normally annoys the hell out of you it's still worth a look. However recommendations:

- DO NOT watch the trailer, most of the plot twists are given away.
- DO NOT even start to pick holes in the plot. Don't even go there.  ;D

If you take it at face value as lovely to look at, sci-fi escapism it's great fun.
I thought it was utter gash. :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: whealiebob on September 20, 2013, 12:35:47 pm
Definitely not as bad as After Earth though!

Anyone watched World War Z? I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would although the 'solution' at the end was  :shit:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on September 20, 2013, 11:56:43 pm
Funny enough I have only recently watched The Hurt Locker, I too thought it was very good. Watched Oblivion, enjoyed it but nothing spectacular. Star Trek into Darkness was amazing, really well done. Watched Mud tonight, the young actors were great and overall I liked it.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 21, 2013, 11:30:48 am
Definitely not as bad as After Earth though!

Anyone watched World War Z? I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would although the 'solution' at the end was  :shit:

One of the best of its genre (for recent offerings) I thought... I loved the swarming effect!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 21, 2013, 08:24:33 pm
Watched Oblivion, enjoyed it but nothing spectacular. Star Trek into Darkness was amazing, really well done.
Just shows how much is personal taste. Watched Star Trek. Thought it was utter nonsense.  Nearly turned it off. Never been much of Trekky. Thought Oblivion was far superior and bizarrely more realistic even with its massive plot holes which shows you just how ridiculous Star Trek is.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on September 21, 2013, 11:02:04 pm
Last night I saw rush.brilliant film ,niki laudi came across really good at the end.worth watching,in the cinema it sounded like you were in the exhaust.

Mediocre at best for me. Pretty pictures, nice sounds, fuck all for content and depth of character. All rather cliched, formulaic and underwhelming. Fine as a  :popcorn: film  but I felt I could have used my time better
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on September 22, 2013, 12:04:09 am
This recommendation comes with the warning that I am fairly low brow in my film tastes. Watched Whitehouse Down last night, thought it was brilliant. As good as (well it is the same film really!) as the original Die Hard. Didn't get bored even though it's 2:17 so good VFM as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on September 22, 2013, 10:37:52 pm
Actually I forgot to say, good though the film was, the best part of the evening was the trailer for Bad Grandpa. The scene at the end of the trailer had us in stitches
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on September 23, 2013, 02:12:04 pm
Anyone watched World War Z? I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would although the 'solution' at the end was  :shit:
One of the best of its genre (for recent offerings) I thought... I loved the swarming effect!
I LOVED the swarming too and the way the zombies behaved in general, their reckless abandon was brilliant, I thought the film overall was ok not amazing but better than I expected and very positive on the zombie front.  Having read the book I was expecting to hate it but actually I thought it did an alright job, and seeing Glasgow in the opening scenes (after having wandered around the set when it was here) had good novelty value.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 24, 2013, 10:26:52 am
We watched The Place Beyond The Pines (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/) last night. Really good.

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are both excellent (as is Dane DeHaan who was in Chronicle) and as Mrs S said, every time Ray Liotta turns up in a film grinning you know things are going to get nasty.

Hard to write too much without spoiling it but it's definitely worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on September 24, 2013, 10:30:06 am
More evidence that you and I cannot ever go to the pictures together, Jasper.  :(  I thought Place Beyond the Pines was verging on Drive territory and didn't really like it.  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on September 24, 2013, 10:32:11 am
We watched The Place Beyond The Pines (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/) last night. Really good.

Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are both excellent (as is Dane DeHaan who was in Chronicle) and as Mrs S said, every time Ray Liotta turns up in a film grinning you know things are going to get nasty.

Hard to write too much without spoiling it but it's definitely worth a watch.

I really liked this. But then I also liked Drive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 24, 2013, 10:34:56 am
 :lol:

Yeah, not quite as good as Drive!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 29, 2013, 12:43:01 pm
Watched this last night too.  Really good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on September 29, 2013, 12:57:53 pm
Anyone watched World War Z? I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would although the 'solution' at the end was  :shit:
One of the best of its genre (for recent offerings) I thought... I loved the swarming effect!
I LOVED the swarming too and the way the zombies behaved in general, their reckless abandon was brilliant, I thought the film overall was ok not amazing but better than I expected and very positive on the zombie front.  Having read the book I was expecting to hate it but actually I thought it did an alright job, and seeing Glasgow in the opening scenes (after having wandered around the set when it was here) had good novelty value.
I'm guessing that George Square is less scary in world war z that it is on a normal evening.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on September 30, 2013, 10:09:05 am
obi-wan do you kiss your mother with that mouth? star trek ridiculous, whatever next
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 30, 2013, 11:10:51 am
Here's a roundup of the films I watched with terrible headphones on a tiny little washed out screen. (i.e on the plane).

Lincoln
Dead Man Down
[can't remember the third one...]

Now You See Me
Silver Linings Playbook
Great Gatsby

So. Lincoln - despite the fact I could barely see a thing, and not knowing much about American history, I thought it was good. I should really go and find out how historically accurate it was. Daniel Day Lewis did a top job with the lead role as usual and all in I thought it was nicely paced and well shot.

Dead Man Down   :shit:  Lower than average Colin Farrel Muck.

Now You See Me - Watchable, good effects but characters clichd and one dimensional. Enough twists and turns to give you a sore neck. Good in flight/date film but just don't expect too much from it.

Silver Linings Playbook Hmm, a difficult one. So, it explores the world of mental illness in an offbeat rom-com. It does it in a fairly light way (it's no heavy melodrama) but the plot is wholly predecitable...but I'm not sure if that matters? Characters: Bradley Cooper gets the job done but I wouldn't say amazingly, perhaps the character just annoyed me? Maybe I was jetlagged. Couldn't get my head around why he would wear a bin bag running if he wasn't still delusional?? Jennifer Lawrence - she plays it well, or maybe I just fancy her  :wub: but I thought she nailed her character. The mum was good, Robert Deniro as the Father was a little annoying - but once again that was maybe just the way he was directed rather than the actor. Maybe I just dislike superstitious delusional people  :shrug:

All in - quite engaging and watchable if maybe slightly awkward. Some laughs and warm moments.


Aaand finally The Great Gatsby. It all looked a little strange with the CGI but I think that was just a result of the tiny shitty screen. Was it better in the Cinema?  I have not read the book and did not know the story. It was quite long and slow, none of the characters had huge depth too them. I thought it was a mainly just glitz and glamour and that the main redeeming feature was the original plot. I presume the book is good? Might read it sometime.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 30, 2013, 12:11:29 pm
Watched Good Vibrations (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1920945/) last night. Biopic of Terri Hooley who set up and ran a record shop and label in Belfast at the height of the troubles.

Really well done with a great performance in the lead role, lots of really funny moments and also admirably depicted his total obsession with the lifestyle at the expense of everything else.

Also recently saw The Look of Love (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951216/) with Alan Partridge Steve Coogan as Paul Raymond, the pr0n / nude show baron who became Britain's richest man after buying up most of Soho.

Actually a bit harsh on Coogan as the inevitable Partridge moments are kept to a minimum and he's very good. Interesting and I enjoyed it but it doesn't delve too deep.

Oh and I watched the first Iron Man the other night (I know, I know but I'm not really into superhero films) and thought it was totally stupid but really enjoyed it which presumably is the whole point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on September 30, 2013, 05:14:04 pm
Quote
Oh and I watched the first Iron Man the other night (I know, I know but I'm not really into superhero films) and thought it was totally stupid but really enjoyed it which presumably is the whole point.

 :agree:

Watched this last night, was the perfect way to end the weekend. Totally stupid, over the top violence. Brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on October 01, 2013, 12:33:19 pm
I really liked Iron man 3, I thought it was much better than the second one.  We watched The Angels' Share at the weekend and I agree with the people who posted and said it was good, it's was a really enjoyable film and I loved how true to life the dialect was in most of it. :lol:

I'm guessing that George Square is less scary in world war z that it is on a normal evening.
Definitely.  ;D
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 12, 2013, 11:41:44 pm
Filth. Good. Not mega but worth the fee :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on October 13, 2013, 11:44:28 am
Blue Jasmine. The gf mocked me for picking a girly film...

It's pretty good, but the rave reviews raised my expectations a bit high.

Interestingly, the gf didn't sympathise with the main character. I did, by the end, and thus found it a bit cruel and hollow.

Not Woody's best, but better than some of his recent shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: petejh on October 13, 2013, 01:13:30 pm
Watched The Hunt last night http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt)

One of the best. Gut-wrenching and believable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 13, 2013, 01:39:01 pm
That looks really good Pete.  Hadn't heard of it until today.... Will seek out, hopefully at a Cinema.

Incidentally there's a great (somewhat negative) review of Kemode's book in the Guardian yesterday.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: petejh on October 13, 2013, 02:30:25 pm
Great piece that by Will Self, quite the visionary although I had to look-up 4 words to work out what he was seeing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on October 14, 2013, 08:38:14 am
I was looking for a film last night and didnt fancy any of the new releases and remembered this thread, checked out a couple of the latest recommendations and chose The place beyond the pines.  What a great little film, really enjoyed it.  Just wanted to say thanks for whoever recommended the film and whoever created the thread in the first place.   :great:  Next time I need a film I'll be back to choose another.  Well done guys! 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on October 14, 2013, 01:00:23 pm
Watched The Hunt last night http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt)

One of the best. Gut-wrenching and believable.

Have this on my Watchlist at the moment. Hopefully will get round to watching it one evening this week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on October 14, 2013, 02:36:38 pm
Caught up with the LoveFilm backlog recently

End of Watch Pretty good for what it was, interesting "documentary style" footage (although oddly this isn't always maintained and you have a mystery third cameraman quite a lot of the time, good characters, slightly throwaway plot, but wins overal with the 2 leads' bond.

I give it a year worth watching if only to see Rose Byne looking smokingly hot. Steven Merchant provides the biggest laughs, but he's not in it much, kind of off-beat rom-com. Good sunday night viewing.

X-men: First Class Meh. Passed the time. Not that I'm a violence junkie, but just felt too tame. When dealing with quite dark subjects (Nazis, genetic mutation etc.) just felt the kiddy level of violence doesn't quite pair up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 14, 2013, 03:41:40 pm
I watched Silver Linings Playbook on the weekend - passable enough but felt a bit too safe and formulaic to really grab me.

And de Niro looked as if he was coasting, as he does in most of his recent movies.

Do I expect too much from movies these days btw. Can't recall last time I saw a film and went "fuck me that was brilliant". Am I getting too old and jaded and hope for too much from a film? Seen maybe half a dozen in the last few years I've thought of as brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 14, 2013, 04:16:00 pm
Seen recently:

The Adjustment Bureau (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385826/) - On tv the other night, thought it was pretty good. Of the genre (messing with reality) Looper is worse and Source Code is much much better.

Despicable Me (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/) - Watched the first one with the sprog. Enjoyed it and he thought it was "one of the best films ever".

Killing Them Softly (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764234/) - Brad Pitt sent in to sort out the local criminal economy which has collapsed after a card game gets robbed. Set against the financial meltdown and 2008 US election it's nasty, dark, violent, funny and I really liked it. The parallel being drawn is obvious but it works.

Half Nelson (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468489/) - Ryan Gosling as a history techer in an inner city school who tries to keep it together while getting deeper and deeper into a crack habit. Could have got horribly sentimental and or moralistic but didn't. Decent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 14, 2013, 06:36:34 pm

I give it a year worth watching if only to see Rose Byne looking smokingly hot. Steven Merchant provides the biggest laughs, but he's not in it much, kind of off-beat rom-com. Good sunday night viewing.


Watched 'Shes out of my league' which similarly was must better than expected. I actually laughed out loud in parts. Also helped that Alice Eve is rather foxy.

No, Chris. A truly quality original movie is a rare thing now days.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 14, 2013, 07:47:19 pm
Great piece that by Will Self, quite the visionary although I had to look-up 4 words to work out what he was seeing.

I could read him all day...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 15, 2013, 11:47:41 am
Here's the link. Well worth a read:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on October 15, 2013, 12:46:49 pm
Great piece that by Will Self, quite the visionary although I had to look-up 4 words to work out what he was seeing.

I could read him all day...

You guys only had to look up 4 words?  Jeez high brow in this ere place, or wot?  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on October 15, 2013, 09:07:11 pm
Watched Mud tonight and I'm now thinking this place is better than rotten tomatoes.  Smashing little film before the match goes on.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 15, 2013, 09:42:42 pm
Here's the link. Well worth a read:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review)

And in parallel, referencing Self and Kermode, another great piece of Black Sky Thinking from the superb arts/music online 'zine The Quietus http://thequietus.com/articles/13597-simon-price-critic-will-self (http://thequietus.com/articles/13597-simon-price-critic-will-self)

The Quietus is a brilliant website y'all should visit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: weakdave on October 15, 2013, 10:06:13 pm
Watched Pain and gain last night. Based on a true story..... good film and funny too!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 16, 2013, 12:08:07 am
Can't recall last time I saw a film and went "fuck me that was brilliant". Am I getting too old and jaded and hope for too much from a film? Seen maybe half a dozen in the last few years I've thought of as brilliant.
Gravity is getting rave reviews, fingers crossed they are deserved. Out Nov8, one to catch in 3d on a big screen apparently.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 16, 2013, 09:24:53 am
Here's the link. Well worth a read:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review)

I have to say - I got 30% through reading this and gave up. It felt like some sort of circlewanking review of reviewers reviewing. I am probably missing something (like the last 70%!!) but it felt like Self was just as guilty/culpable of the criticisms that he levelled at Kermode - or was that the point in some sort of post modern way?

Shit, I feel like a school kid who's trying to bullshit their English Lit lesson having only read half of a book ;)

I'll get my coat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 16, 2013, 09:29:32 am
Can't recall last time I saw a film and went "fuck me that was brilliant". Am I getting too old and jaded and hope for too much from a film? Seen maybe half a dozen in the last few years I've thought of as brilliant.
Gravity is getting rave reviews, fingers crossed they are deserved. Out Nov8, one to catch in 3d on a big screen apparently.

Take the science with a big pinch of salt (http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/7/4811336/neil-degrasse-tyson-isnt-falling-for-gravity).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 16, 2013, 10:55:34 am
Here's the link. Well worth a read:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/09/hatchet-job-mark-kermode-review)

 or was that the point in some sort of post modern way?


Pretty much...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 16, 2013, 02:05:04 pm

Take the science with a big pinch of salt (http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/7/4811336/neil-degrasse-tyson-isnt-falling-for-gravity).

yeah but he still liked it... :popcorn:
Quote
My Tweets hardly ever convey opinion. Mostly perspectives on the world. But if you must know, I enjoyed #Gravity very much.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatdoc on October 16, 2013, 02:46:40 pm
No doubt already mentioned, as I've seen it on lovefilm, so must have Been out for ages....

But Sightseers is something rather special. It's a wonderful play of insanity, which has many " bloody hell, I didn't see that coming" moments. The violence is so high quality I even squirmed.

I think I might watch it again.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on October 16, 2013, 06:24:42 pm
saw 'Rush' on Monday night, cracking story based on the famous rivalry of F1 drivers James Hunt & Nikki Lauder.

Neither myself or the girlfriend are into cars much but we really enjoyed it, recommended (if only for the noise of those old F1 cars, sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on October 17, 2013, 07:53:01 am
am still catching up on the films I've missed and watched World War Z last night and thought it was entertaining, about a 7.5 out of 10.  Had sort of I am Legend overtones but enjoyed it and no I havent read the book.     
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 19, 2013, 01:43:17 pm
Watched the RZA's 'Man with the Iron Fists' last night.  Clearly a tribute to the Kung Fu movies he loves so it's as daft as a brush but still really entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 24, 2013, 03:11:58 pm
Saw 'Wee Man' on a certain on demand service yesterday...

Superb. Grisly but great acting, great story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 24, 2013, 03:19:28 pm
Sounds like a piss take to me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 28, 2013, 11:59:02 am
Recently watched:

Bernie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1704573/) - True story done partly in mocumentary style with Jack Black back on top form (most of his recent films have looked total dogshit). Really good.

This Is 40 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758830/) - Been wondering to bother with this for ages as I thought Knocked Up was pretty crap however, glad I did as it's much much better. Maybe just because of my/our age but a lot of the relationship issues rang painfully true (albeit x 1000 in their case!) but aside from this it's actually very funny too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on October 28, 2013, 05:14:14 pm
The selfish giant.

Cap'n Phyllis may be the best hollywood manages to churn out this year (it's good but should have been better), but I'd take this low-budget brit-flick over it any day.

Nah fock off yu pikey bastard
Title: Re: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 28, 2013, 06:38:11 pm
The selfish giant

Saw Kermode review this the other night and it looked good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on October 29, 2013, 09:13:05 am
The selfish giant.

Saw this last night in an almost empty cinema, it is absolutely amazing, the film of the year for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on October 29, 2013, 10:01:16 pm
Watched The Hunt last night http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/reviews?ref_=tt_ov_rt)

One of the best. Gut-wrenching and believable.

Have this on my Watchlist at the moment. Hopefully will get round to watching it one evening this week.

Finally got round to watching this last week. Really good film, great portrayal about how a few innocent yet foolish words can turn a whole community. Really felt for the lead character. Well worth a viewing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: EdGowSmith on October 29, 2013, 11:02:10 pm
Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil.

Now THAT is a funny film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 31, 2013, 11:56:19 pm
Another vote for Mud. Quality on all levels. Nice to see Matt Mc back on form, boy is he wasted on fricking romcoms.  :slap:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 01, 2013, 12:42:35 am
Forgot to mention his performance in Bernie. Excellent. Another great actor who's done a lot of shit films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on November 01, 2013, 05:40:52 am
Never really a huge fan of Jackass, but Bad Grandpa was on last night and I mananged to watch the first half of it. Excruciatingly funny. Johnny Knoxville as 80-odd year old old fella and his grandson put members of the public in awkward positions. If I was older, it would have reminded me a bit of Beadles about. Don't know how it ended though. As I have just woken up on the sofa. Sorry.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on November 05, 2013, 12:22:43 pm
Been watching quite a few foreign flicks recently, and the best for while has been Incendies (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1255953/). Simply a story of twin brother and sister handed an envelope each from their recently deceased mother, one saying Brother, one saying Father. The task is to find them, but neither knew who their father was, nor that they had a brother. The resulting tale is quite compelling and harrowingly unexpected.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 05, 2013, 10:59:03 pm
World War Z - great stuff. Taken on it's own merits as a zombie apocalypse semi-blockbuster loosely based on a rather good book, it just works. Varied, dramatic in places, and nicely done. Plenty of cliches and inconsistencies of course but the better scenes make up for it, Jerusalem spectacle, plane was pretty scarey, Israeli soldier was cool. Could have been a bit longer or even multi-part IMO as the background would have supported it.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 06, 2013, 04:52:31 am
World War Z - great stuff. Taken on it's own merits as a zombie apocalypse semi-blockbuster loosely based on a rather good book, it just works. Varied, dramatic in places, and nicely done. Plenty of cliches and inconsistencies of course but the better scenes make up for it, Jerusalem spectacle, plane was pretty scarey, Israeli soldier was cool. Could have been a bit longer or even multi-part IMO as the background would have supported it.

I understand there is a sequel coming... (I like it)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on November 06, 2013, 08:42:44 am
I quite liked World War Z. Felt a bit rushed through, and did  feel set up for a sequel at the end - not that this is a bad thing. I was in Glasgow when they took over George Square for the week - amazing how long films take to film for what are shortish sequences. The problem I have with zombie/apocalypse movies is that I now compare these to the walking dead TV series, and for me they don't stack up.
Now someone needs to make a film out of the crossed wish you were here (although I suspect 18 cert may not be enough).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on November 06, 2013, 08:59:37 am
Personally as much as I loved crossed if a fucked up comic got made into a film (or HBO series) I would prefer preacher or the boys to be made.

On comic book films I watch V for vendetta (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/) again last night as it was bonfire night. I had forgot how well that film was done almost had a tear in my eye at the end. No where near as detailed as the book but still a fantastic film. Some of the charctures are played unbelievably well espcially sinead Cusack even though only really a cameo role.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 06, 2013, 10:15:37 am
I understand there is a sequel coming... (I like it)

bet they wished they'd called this one world war X now, leaving room for naming the sequels Y, Z.
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 06, 2013, 10:16:59 am
I understand there is a sequel coming... (I like it)

bet they wished they'd called this one world war X now, leaving room for naming the sequels Y, Z.

Yeah! where did the 'Zeee' come from anyway? ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 07, 2013, 12:53:25 pm
I was in Glasgow when they took over George Square for the week - amazing how long films take to film for what are shortish sequences.
They cut the majority of the footage they shot in Glasgow out of the film, something to do with swapping director part way through filming or something?  I don't know the details but I watched them shooting other scenes and have friends who were extras and supposed to have small bit parts who filmed everything and then didn't make the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 07, 2013, 01:40:04 pm
That's right and is why the film was so expensive and took ages to get made.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on November 07, 2013, 02:04:59 pm
If you guys enjoy zombie movies then I recommend R.E.C http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038988/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038988/)

A bit of a supernatural twist on zombies. Though it's intended more as a scare/horror flick rather than a blockbuster zombie apocalypse. Number 2 was also good and follows on from the first. Number 3 is terrible and makes no sense so don't watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 08, 2013, 08:42:38 pm
Gravity - great stuff, really nicely done. Saw it in IMAX and 3D, definitely recommended, 3D is actually palatable to watch for a change as the film is an austere enough backdrop for it to work on. Wasn't sure what to make of it from the trailer but it's spot on - a sci-fi thriller that balances a narrow focus in a grand setting and a solid main character during gripping events. There's some sentimentality and implausability but anyone who goes in looking for inconsistencies doesn't deserve to watch films - the pacing and atmosphere are worth it alone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on November 12, 2013, 08:13:56 am
Been watching quite a few foreign flicks recently, and the best for while has been Incendies (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1255953/). Simply a story of twin brother and sister handed an envelope each from their recently deceased mother, one saying Brother, one saying Father. The task is to find them, but neither knew who their father was, nor that they had a brother. The resulting tale is quite compelling and harrowingly unexpected.

I watched Incendies the other night and agree, a great story.  Its so refreshing to watch a foreign language film and a film without Hollywoods involvment.  A bit like climbing outside having spent the winter on plastic.   :bounce:

Oblivion was a bit average.
 

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 12, 2013, 08:26:41 am
Rubber (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/) : as weird as you'd expect a film about a telekinetic psychopathic tyre to be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on November 12, 2013, 10:26:12 am
Watched a couple of enjoyable films at the weekend - Odd Thomas (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767354/) which was fun and unusual, starring Anton Yelchin who plays Chekov in the new Star Trek movies as a guy who sees dead people (and unusually pretty much everyone else in the film accepts it). Based on some books by Dean Koontz apparently, though I'd not heard of it before.

Secondly Man of Tai Chi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2016940/), which was a bit of guilty pleasure with Keanu Reeves playing his usual character (he also directed), and some good fighting from Tiger Hu Chen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: whealiebob on November 12, 2013, 01:02:34 pm
I'm glad it's not only me that has Man of Tai Chi as a guilty please. Yes, it's got Keanu being Keanu 'wooden' Reeves, but the fight scenes are great!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on November 13, 2013, 10:26:42 am
The Internship - not great but mildly amusing in parts.

Man of Steel - gash, 2+ hours of my life I will never get back.   :wavecry:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2013, 10:34:43 am
Life of Pi - first film I've watched on new telly that has really blown me away with the amazing 3D effects. Story is pretty much as per book; a great little yarn, but the cinematography is pretty awesome.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 13, 2013, 11:48:50 am
Life of Pi - first film I've watched on new telly....
Oooo shiny shiny, what did you go for? The silver lining to getting burglarized at the weekend is I get to shop for a new telly, my 2010 one was well out of date!  ;D Think it has to be 3D this time just because...maybe we need a new thread.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2013, 11:59:38 am
50" Panasonic with some letters after it. Reward to ourselves for working ass off refurbing house. We got a combined Panasonic hard drive / 3D blue ray player late last year, so going for Panasonic seemed to make sense. I thought 3D was a gymmick until now, but I'm converted. I've also been watching BBC wildlife progs in HD (Africa, Arabia and Birdflight) and been amazed by quality. We weren't that fussed about 3D until now TBH, just that 3D on bigger tellies seems to be a standard. It cost about the same as the 36" we bought in 2006!

Only minor annoyance is you can't get lovefilm instant to stream direct, but can get netflix (firstworldproblems!). Samsung equivalent streams lovefilm direct if you want that option (seems there have been respective deals done).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 13, 2013, 12:47:06 pm
Yeah we had a 42inch Panasonic, think I'm going for another but this time 3D. Samsung still has the edge on the software I think but most of the time we'll use the YouView box. I like the Panasonic build quality. The Lovefilm issue is the reason I went with a Sony blu-ray player (which has lovefilm streaming if we ever get around to using it!) unfortunately the Blu-Ray player isn't 3D so that'll need upgrading too (it didn't get taken  >:()

Are the BBC 3D progs from discs or iPlayer? Are any 3D progs broadcast for free?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2013, 12:53:29 pm
BBC progs in HD, not 3D. Recorded on to digibox from BBC HD (fill a lot of space on digibox!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on November 13, 2013, 02:02:05 pm
Rubber (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612774/) : as weird as you'd expect a film about a telekinetic psychopathic tyre to be.

Wow, you actually watched it. Is it worth a look then? I laughed at the trailer, but thought the movie would be awful.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GCW on November 16, 2013, 11:23:28 pm
Seen Gravity tonight. Stunning , but left me pretty underwhelmed and I'm not sure why.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on November 17, 2013, 12:00:04 am
Yeah, I was hoping for somethng meatier. It's pretty, but vacuous. Still enjoyed it though.




And it worked well in 3D, unlike most films which just seem darker, less watchable and more expensive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on November 17, 2013, 07:23:54 pm
On comic book films I watch V for vendetta (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/) again last night as it was bonfire night. I had forgot how well that film was done almost had a tear in my eye at the end. No where near as detailed as the book but still a fantastic film. Some of the charctures are played unbelievably well espcially sinead Cusack even though only really a cameo role.

I only know the film. Watched it again last night - a little late this year. I suppose I love language so I'm a sucker for V's monologues, but it really is damn good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 17, 2013, 07:28:29 pm
Watched Zero Dark Thirty last night.. really enjoyed it - how the tale of the chase of UBL evolved over the years after 9-11. It also (thankfully) had a not-too hollywoody gung ho Seal Team 7 bit at the end..
Well worth a watch..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on November 22, 2013, 07:31:16 am
I watched the Catching fire (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/?ref_=nv_sr_1) last night. I really enjoyed it. It was much darker and a lot more political than the first book. Really well shot and not too long. At no point did I find a lul in the film it was a constently gripping. I think I prefered it to the hunger games. If you enjoyed the hunger games definately go see it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 09, 2013, 10:24:57 am
Killing Them Softly (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764234/) - Brad Pitt sent in to sort out the local criminal economy which has collapsed after a card game gets robbed. Set against the financial meltdown and 2008 US election it's nasty, dark, violent, funny and I really liked it. The parallel being drawn is obvious but it works.


Watched on the weekend, really enjoyed it. Fairly basic plot but some great characters and dialogue, and a totally amazing slow motion scene.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on December 09, 2013, 11:04:59 am
Yeah, quite enjoyed Killing them Softly too.

Watched something quite enjoyably silly last night - Grabbers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1525366/) about an alien invasion on a small island off the coast of Ireland where the aliens drink blood but can't tolerate alcohol in the bloodstream (they really picked the wrong place to arrive).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 09, 2013, 11:39:11 am
I also watched Attack of the Herbals

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1948521/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1948521/)

Which is "so bad it's good" silly crap redeemed only by the fact that it's filmed in my current hometown of Newtonhill as well as scenes in Stonehaven, Portlethen and Johnshaven. A couple of mildly amusing scenes, but generally not worth it.

Also watched (most of) "Surf Nazis Must Die" which is so bad it's fucking waful, and up there iwth "In God's Hands" as one of the crappest surf movies ever made (although I've never seen "the prince and the surfer")
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on December 12, 2013, 08:49:24 pm
Not sure if been mentioned before but watched a French film called Untouchable the other night it was very very funny and a really good watch. Amazingly based on a true story too...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 12, 2013, 10:49:11 pm
Not sure if been mentioned before but watched a French film called Untouchable the other night it was very very funny and a really good watch. Amazingly based on a true story too...
If I didn't mention it it must have slipped my mind - great film!  I didn't "get" the title for ages until I googled it. The direct translation of The Untouchables is waay off the mark.  What it means, apparently - my French is definitely not up to these levels of nuance -  is that both of the guys are social outcasts. In fact, "The Outcasts" is almost closer.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on December 12, 2013, 11:37:41 pm
Not sure if been mentioned before but watched a French film called Untouchable the other night it was very very funny and a really good watch. Amazingly based on a true story too...
If I didn't mention it it must have slipped my mind - great film!  I didn't "get" the title for ages until I googled it. The direct translation of The Untouchables is waay off the mark.  What it means, apparently - my French is definitely not up to these levels of nuance -  is that both of the guys are social outcasts. In fact, "The Outcasts" is almost closer.

Well that makes more sense, i wasn't 100% sure of its meaning. Great article here:
 http://plus.lefigaro.fr/note/based-on-a-true-story-intouchables-draws-crowds-20111115-599678 (http://plus.lefigaro.fr/note/based-on-a-true-story-intouchables-draws-crowds-20111115-599678)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on December 29, 2013, 12:18:01 am
Not sure who recommended it originally, but Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is fucking awesome! Watched it finally tonight, literally laughing out loud. I'd massively recommend We're the Millers for a similar effect, both are total nonsense, brain disengaged type stuff but stupidly funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on December 29, 2013, 01:50:12 am
Prob' been mentioned before as I know there's a lot of Ghibli enthusiasts here but Mrs T and I finally go around to watching Castle in the sky last night, maybe not quiet as visually adventurous as later Ghibli but still beautiful,  funny and very engaging.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on December 31, 2013, 08:55:06 am
Hobbit 2 - took number one daughter to see it at the imax and thoroughly enjoyed it, much better than the first hobbit and the dragon was good, suspect it wont be as good on a small TV screen.  And yes, the purists might be upset as theres a few inaccuracies not in the book, but still, it was a good 8.5 or 9 out of 10. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 31, 2013, 09:51:34 am
Watched 'Man of Steel' (AKA superman) last night with MrsTT... Had some good moments and started well, but once the thought that Superman looked just like a roided up Andy Murray entered my head it was downhill :D It also did the seemingly obligatory CGI destruction of a city stuff towards the end *yawns* Theres plenty of worse films to stream/rent - but better ones as well...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on January 02, 2014, 08:28:33 am
Secret Life of Walter Mitty - hmmm an interesting one, went on new years day with the mrs and can honestly say its odd, and thats from a guy that likes odd usually.  Wait for the video or go if you've really nothing else to see/do.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 08, 2014, 11:57:08 am
I thought Man of Steel was gash.  The Andy Murray on steriods comment made me laugh because it's true. :)

Recently I saw 12 Years a Slave (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/?ref_=nv_sr_1) which is excellent and well worth a watch although it's hard going at times, it's an incredible story.

Elysium (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535108/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) was not what I was expecting at all after District 9 but I enjoyed it for what it was.

American Hustle (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/?ref_=nv_sr_1)  Jennifer Lawrence was the best thing about it, the film was alright but I wasn't blown away by it.

Gravity (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_1) in 3D. It would have been better without the 3D, I think, it didn't add anything much to the film and detracted from the look of the background in a lot of the wider shots which was a shame, the film was alright but I wasn't blown away by it, I did like how it was shot though and the fact they had sort of tried to stay true to how things actually would be in space, mostly I was left with an overwhelming anxiety about being in space though. :)

12 Years a Slave is the only one I would tell people to see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 13, 2014, 08:21:25 am
Mandela. Saw it at preview: great film. Just gritty enough with characters that matter. The timing doesn't hurt either.

Hobbit2: harmless clean fun. Better than the last one by far. Entertaining. Still obviously a couple of leagues below LOTR.

American hustle. Big surprise for me. Wasn't expecting much and found there was a lot to it. It starts off being rather American and swish but the characters deepen and it becomes a serious film with themes of human survival in the modern world, authenticity, and righteousness, while being great fun all the way. The missus concurs.

12 years without empathy, character development or a single unpredictable moment: I've re titled this film. It might make you feel all big and warm for going and caring about slavery but I wouldn't bother. It's not bad. It's perfectly watchable. Some good moments. But the whole thing lacks narrative, lacks characters and lacks decent editing.
Watch 'the butler' instead. Far better film! Highly recommended

 :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 13, 2014, 06:02:41 pm
Watched a load of films over Christmas (mostly non festive). Those that stood out were:

Sightseers (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2023690/) - Lots has been written about this already and I was expecting to be disappointed (I didn't really rate Down Terrace despite great reviews) but I wasn't. It's brilliant.

Bad Lieutenant - Port of Call (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1095217/) - Had never heard of this until I saw a review in the Radio Times. Nothing to do with the mental Harvey Keitel 1993 film, it's Nicholas Cage as a "hero" cop who's gradually falling into a pit of drug / gambling / sex addiction. As we all know, Cage is either brillint or bloody awful and i think this is one of his best performances. The ending is a bit wank but it's a cracking film.

Troll Hunter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/) - Remebered this from reviews on here (ta Fiend). Again I was a bit concerned that I'd hate it as I thought Blair Witch was shite but this is a vastly superior film. Funny, clever, engaging and I loved the trolls. Top stuff.

How To Train Your Dragon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769) - Having watched tons of kids animated films they often blur into one but this is great. Looking forward to the sequel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 13, 2014, 08:37:17 pm
sug-tj2.00.avi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r76H62tzrg#ws)

:D

Should watch it again really. A gem.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on January 13, 2014, 08:44:18 pm

:D

Should watch it again really. A gem.

Was on Film4 over the last couple of weeks so keep an eye on their scheduling, it'll likely crop up again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 13, 2014, 09:20:05 pm
Ta!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2014, 09:24:23 am
How To Train Your Dragon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769) - Having watched tons of kids animated films they often blur into one but this is great.

As someone said earlier, there's a TV series of it too, about 8  1/2 hour episodes, all the ones I've seen are good. It's on fairly often on CCBs.

Watched The Hurt Locker the other night, I don't think my pulse rate dropped for the entire film, gripping.

Also RED, good low maintenance fun, and Surrogates, which has a great premise, but also fairly low maintenance.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on January 14, 2014, 09:31:28 am


Troll Hunter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/) - Remebered this from reviews on here (ta Fiend). Again I was a bit concerned that I'd hate it as I thought Blair Witch was shite but this is a vastly superior film. Funny, clever, engaging and I loved the trolls. Top stuff.



Watched this last night after reading this - very different to what I expected. Laughed out loud, was nervous at times and the wet weather seemed to be easy to relate to of late. Good, very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 14, 2014, 11:01:34 am
Troll Hunter is brilliant, but unfortunately for the film a lot of what makes it great for me (the troll hunters mainly) is hard to show in the trailer, and as such I bet they lost a lot of potential watchers. I thought Cabin in the Woods had a similar issue, in that you couldn't show much in the trailer without ruining the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on January 14, 2014, 11:10:25 am


How To Train Your Dragon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892769) - Having watched tons of kids animated films they often blur into one but this is great. Looking forward to the sequel.

The books are better still. Well worth looking out at the library
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 14, 2014, 11:16:53 am
Enjoyed Adventureland (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091722/), shown over Christmas. Not as funny as Superbad but I'm a sucker for a teen/twenty's "growing up/coming of age" drama with a decent 80s/90s soundtrack. Makes me all reminiscent of the US upbringing I didn't get to have.  :'(

Also see Dazed and Confused (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106677/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4) on Film4 this friday.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on January 14, 2014, 12:17:23 pm
Went to see 12 Years A Slave on Saturday night.

Couple of thoughts about it.

It's compressed what probably is a very interesting memoir of 12 years into 2 hours of just the bits involving brutality and torture. As such, yes, it drills home how awful and brutal and dehumanizing slavery in the US was - but to be honest, I think I got that anyway. And certainly did after a short amount of time. I bet there are more interesting bits in the book than were shown on the film.

Second, I think nearly every film I've ever seen of black slavery in the US pitched the white slave owners as more or less psychotic. I guess the point is that being in a position of absolute power over others is deranging. I'm not sure though. I think some of the impact is lost by this, as it allows the viewer to think 'well, this could never happen again, the slave owners were psychos and maniacs and we wouldn't let people like that get away with it.' For me the point is lost that actually, most normal people, people like you and me and our neighbours, were culturally inured to slavery in the Southern states. It was just how things were. It didn't necessarily involve deliberate cruelty or brutality or perversion, it was part of everyday life. To me this didn't come across at all in 12 Years A Slave - they tried to do it a bit with Benedict Cumberbatch's character but he was presented as someone who would have acted otherwise but was trapped by debts and the system. So my feeling is that the point of a film like this should be that we must be vigilant in our own time for practices or behaviours that are degrading and dehumanizing but seem culturally acceptable, and not just the province of a few perverts or psychos. Because these are the things that history will condemn us for.

Bit rambling and pointless, but how I felt after the film. Thought it was pretty good, pretty harrowing, but certainly not a great film and not enjoyable to watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 14, 2014, 12:23:10 pm
Having a day in bed due to particularly quick to hit and nasty cold. Particularly annoying since it dumped 30cm of snow overnight grrr....

So far I've seen Zodiac, which I thought was pretty good. Nice pace, good acting nothing ground breaking but worth a watch.

Now I'm onto Sleeping Beauty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588398/) and I'll report back later...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2014, 01:05:42 pm
I think nearly every film I've ever seen of black slavery in the US pitched the white slave owners as more or less psychotic.

Didn't get that from Django Unchained :)

I'm sure that there were many people who had just one or two slaves, and treated them very fairly. Wouldn't make for a good Hollywood film though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on January 14, 2014, 01:13:40 pm


Now I'm onto Sleeping Beauty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588398/) and I'll report back later...

So, also laid up with flu, I thought I'd have a scan of Sleeping Beauty. Not at all related to the Disney movie from what I've seen so far...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on January 14, 2014, 01:51:10 pm
Enjoyed Adventureland (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091722/),
Had this on DVD for a year or two really good film.
I have liked all the main actors (jesse eisenberg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/)) I have seen.
Zombieland, Social network and most recently Now you see me (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1670345/?ref_=nm_knf_t3).
Which I thought was brilliant. Well written, acted and kept me gripped all the way through.
The story follows two sides of a story.
A group of street magicians who are grouped together by a mystery person. who as part of there first performance together they rob a back.
A detective who is trying to catch them in the act.

Its an action film and not at the same time

The cast is pretty impressive too. Michael cain, Morgan freeman, isla fisher, Mark Ruffolo, etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 17, 2014, 10:26:46 am
tried to watch Vikingdom whilst unable to sleep

worse than that - I tried to watch a 2D version of Vikingdom

it's so bad it's not even so bad it's good - possibly a cult classic in 3D when suitable designer drugs are developed

$15million could have been better spent

Thor's obviously lightweight plastic hammer is amazing

the 3 vikings introducing themselves to each other as Olaf, Sven and Erik did actually make me laugh

it's not as good as watching my 13yr old playing on Skyrim - Skyrim has better effects and acting

all the best bits must have been saved for the trailer

Vikingdom - Official Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfBW6xZNVB4#ws)

has Charlie Brooker commentated on this?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 17, 2014, 10:36:45 am
You should be playing Skyrim yourself :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 17, 2014, 10:40:44 am
Skyrim is too scary for me
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 17, 2014, 10:44:07 am
I have liked all the main actors (jesse eisenberg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/)) I have seen.

That reminded me, Mrs S and I also enjoyed To Rome with Love (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1859650/) which he was in. It's the usual Woody Allen comedy stuff about relationships with usual Woody Allen nonsense / mentalism. You either like his shit or you don't but I thought this was great and genuinely hilarious in places.

Oh and Penlope Cruz plays a high class hooker.  ;)



and most recently Now you see me (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1670345/?ref_=nm_knf_t3).
Which I thought was brilliant. Well written, acted and kept me gripped all the way through.
The story follows two sides of a story.
A group of street magicians who are grouped together by a mystery person. who as part of there first performance together they rob a back.
A detective who is trying to catch them in the act.

Its an action film and not at the same time

The cast is pretty impressive too. Michael cain, Morgan freeman, isla fisher, Mark Ruffolo, etc

This looks good, ta.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 17, 2014, 10:53:48 am
Talking fo Trollhunter (tenuous Scandanavian segue), did anyone watch Rare Exports over Xmas?

I only watched second half, but it seemed to be a part fantas,y part horror thing, guess it would appeal to older kids, it get a bit wierd in places.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 17, 2014, 11:17:53 am
Off to see Wolves of Wall St tonight.  I'll report back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 17, 2014, 11:45:06 am
Take a cushion - 3 hrs.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 17, 2014, 11:52:22 am
another good point in Vikingdom is the mountain scene - with ski/boarding tracks all over the slopes
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 17, 2014, 03:32:30 pm
Take a cushion - 3 hrs.

I'm going to the Curzon, comfy seats, wine, beer and cocktails.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 17, 2014, 04:07:23 pm
regardez moi
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 21, 2014, 11:52:13 am
Troll Hunter is brilliant

Finished watching this Sunday night - great fun film!

Started Time Traveller's Wife, but it's a bit shit so far, is it worth persevering, or bin it? I've not read the book.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 21, 2014, 01:39:43 pm
Turned American hustle off after half an hour, just shit. Kept thinking all these actors are good what's gone wrong here? Shit.
Elysium bit bad but bearable.
Started watching red 2 which should be shit but is actually quite enjoyable.
2 guns I thought was good. Simple.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on January 21, 2014, 03:06:40 pm
I also couldn't get into American Hustle. I felt like I was waiting for it to suddenly click and become good, but it never did.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 21, 2014, 06:13:26 pm
Wolf of Wall Street is very funny and entertaining.  A searing expose of the US financial system it is not.  Clearly everyone in America including Scorsese is in thrall to Wall St.  Really good though.

I thought American Hustle was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 21, 2014, 08:18:02 pm
Wolf of Wall Street is very funny and entertaining.  A searing expose of the US financial system it is not.  Clearly everyone in America including Scorsese is in thrall to Wall St.  Really good though.


Thought it looked like that, and nothing wrong with that. You watch a Scorsese film for great cinema rather than historical accuracy.

Goodfellas is still one of my favourite films ever but he got a load of stick for glorifying gangsters (despite none of then ending up "winning").

If you want an expose of the US financial system then Margin Call or Too Big To Fail are both very good imo:

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 22, 2014, 12:32:46 pm
Last Vegas - I really enjoyed it, it was funny and quite sweet in parts, better than I was expecting. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 26, 2014, 09:27:34 pm
Remember reading a bit back that someone didn't fancy rush since they knew nothing about f1 but thought it was a cracking film, I was the same. Just finished watching it, fantastic.
Don't know if I've already mentioned 42, baseball and the first black player, Harrison ford as team manager. Really good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 26, 2014, 10:12:51 pm
Started watching red 2 which should be shit but is actually quite enjoyable.

Did you smoke some good crack before that one?

Nat and I watched (half) of it in Bishop when given the option of that or some kids movie about planes, 10 minutes in I wanted the planes. Thankfully lightening struck near the town, caused a massive fire and knocked out power so I was spared the end. Also this meant T-stubs got a pair of 'Raincheck' tickets which I hope he used far more wisely than I.

American Hustle and Wolf of Wall St. are both high on my 'To see' list, the latter is currently on at the Showroom too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 26, 2014, 10:30:10 pm
Wolf of Wall Street is very funny and entertaining.  A searing expose of the US financial system it is not.  Clearly everyone in America including Scorsese is in thrall to Wall St.  Really good though.


Thought it looked like that, and nothing wrong with that. You watch a Scorsese film for great cinema rather than historical accuracy.

Goodfellas is still one of my favourite films ever but he got a load of stick for glorifying gangsters (despite none of then ending up "winning").

If you want an expose of the US financial system then Margin Call or Too Big To Fail are both very good imo:

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/ (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/)

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/ (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/)

It's funny you mention that, because I thought it was, in many ways, basically a remake of goodfellas, but with Wall St men as the bad guys (with a few stylisms stolen from Tarantino this time). I think it's actually very damning of the 'gangsters' on Wall St but only in that it's accusative towards certain rogue 'bad guys'. It doesn't often attempt to criticise the rest.
That said, those it does criticise are, for me, caricatures of the 'industry' as a whole and the film does a good job of carrying a serious message - but sadly perhaps it's only for those who want to hear it.
Very good film, very funny, very entertaining, lots of good scenes, some very memorable. I was largely entranced for the full 3 hours. Not quite sure if it's a new classic, perhaps slightly too facile for that, but certainly well worth the time either way. Take a drink!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on January 26, 2014, 11:11:09 pm
Also this meant T-stubs got a pair of 'Raincheck' tickets which I hope he used far more wisely than I.


Went to see Thor 2, no regrets here!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on January 27, 2014, 11:09:46 am

Had this on DVD for a year or two really good film.
I have liked all the main actors (jesse eisenberg (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/)) I have seen.
Zombieland, Social network and most recently Now you see me (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1670345/?ref_=nm_knf_t3).
If you like Jesse Eisenberg, have you seen Why Stop Now? It's quite an enjoyable film, although it didn't get great critic reviews, I enjoyed the amusing script, and he's very good in it I think.

Saw Ender's Game too recently, which I enjoyed, but it was a shame the trailer gave away the reveal (I suppose if you'd read the book you would know anyway, but it annoyed me).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 27, 2014, 11:26:31 am
Started Time Traveller's Wife, but it's a bit shit so far, is it worth persevering, or bin it? I've not read the book.

Should have quit, it's very poor. A good idea squandered.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 27, 2014, 12:03:31 pm
Saw Ender's Game too recently, which I enjoyed, but it was a shame the trailer gave away the reveal (I suppose if you'd read the book you would know anyway, but it annoyed me).
Have you read the book?  I loved it but I wasn't sure if it would translate well into film.

I saw Catching Fire at the weekend which I am sure is not really to many people heres taste but I liked it, a good adaptation of the book which is fairly high praise as I loved the series when I read them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on January 27, 2014, 12:22:29 pm
No, I hadn't read the book, so I was annoyed about being given the big reveal in the trailer. I think there'll be a lot of people having not read the book, so I'm not sure why they needed to put that in the trailer. Maybe there wasn't much interest in the film, and they were just trying to get people in...? I think it's quite well done for film sci-fi which I agree doesn't always work. The kid playing Ender is good, which really helps as he's so much the focus of the movie.

Didn't really enjoy Catching Fire, seemed to drag on a lot, not much actually happening. Didn't care what did happen. I think if it wasn't for Jennifer Lawrence, it'd be pretty unwatchable (even though she was intolerably annoying along with Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook, she is good as Katniss).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 30, 2014, 04:07:51 am
Been mentioned before on here, but really enjoyed Winters Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/) properly bleak stuff, perfect for the middle hours of a night shift...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on January 30, 2014, 12:49:29 pm
I thought she was amazing in Winter's Bone, I do have the biggest girl crush on her EVER though so I'd probably like her in anything.

Helpfully I can't actually remember what happens at the end of Ender's Game - it's the first in a trilogy that I read back to back so I have no idea where the first book finished and the next one started.

Edit: Scratch that!  I am thinking of The Maze Runner which is also being made into a film, I can't remember the end of Ender's Game so I won't watch the trailer and I'll get a surprise.  Sometimes having the memory of a sieve is not a bad thing. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on January 30, 2014, 12:57:44 pm
 Saw American Hustle in the cinema the other evening. Thought it was very slow and felt that I was waiting for something to happen which never did. As someone said all the actors are great and I especially liked Christian Bale but they couldn't save it. Nearly walked out halfway through and in retrospect should have!

Dave
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 30, 2014, 09:24:21 pm
I just checked the run times for Wolf of Wall St. and American Hustle, they're not short are they? Perhaps tomorrow night.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on January 31, 2014, 08:48:21 pm
Saw Inside Llweyn Davis at the Showroom today. I really enjoyed it through out, funny in parts and engaging for the duration of the film. It's not piss takingly long either.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 31, 2014, 11:19:23 pm
Just watched "Out of the Furnace" Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Forrest Whittaker, the utterly beautiful Zoe Soldana & Williem Dafoe.  Really grim, gritty and brilliant.  Right up my street.  The script could've been better but it was redeemed by the actors.  9/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 31, 2014, 11:27:35 pm
the utterly beautiful Zoe Soldana & Williem Dafoe.

Yeah I fancy him too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on February 01, 2014, 11:38:07 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned on here before but just watched Untouchable (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/) and thought it was excellent :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 03, 2014, 10:07:04 am
Untouchable is brilliant, I loved it.

Just watched "Out of the Furnace" Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Forrest Whittaker, the utterly beautiful Zoe Soldana & Williem Dafoe.  Really grim, gritty and brilliant.  Right up my street.  The script could've been better but it was redeemed by the actors.  9/10.
I really want to see that, the trailers look good.

I watched Ender's Game last night, I wasn't very impressed, maybe because I'd read the book too recently and was comparing it, it seemed a bit rushed and it was REALLY cheesy. The other half wasn't that keen either so it might just have been a bit rubbish rather than being anything to do with the book.  I suppose that's the issue with reading books and then watching the film, they have a lot to live up to and I felt like this film skipped loads of stuff that was fairly critical to the story.

We also watched Dallas Buyers Club which was really, really good. The subject matter was quite hard going in places and the actors are shockingly thin, they really look awful, but it's well worth a watch. I can see why it's up for / won so many awards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on February 03, 2014, 11:06:10 am
I had the odd occurance of watching a Matthew Mconaughey film that wasn't shit! (He did take his shirt of as he's contractually obliged too).

Mud - Quite a good coming-of-age/stand-by-me type film. Not earth-shattering, but actually good.

The Sweeney - Less so, an ok TV film.

Hummingbird - Jason Statham trying to act, mostly fails, but not horrendous
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 03, 2014, 11:47:13 am
Saw The Impossible over the weekend. Bit cheesy, but moving (mostly true apparently) story about a family in the Boxing Day Tsunami in Thailand. The filming of the tsunami itself and the aftermath are amazing and the scenes of devestation after it. Ewan MacGregor and Naomi Watts do an OK job of acting, but basically just have to look like crap for most of the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on February 04, 2014, 03:51:46 pm
Saw Inside Llweyn Davis at the Showroom today. I really enjoyed it through out, funny in parts and engaging for the duration of the film. It's not piss takingly long either.

Really, really good film with a lot more going on than the immediate plot. You get a sense of the protagonist, where he's from, stuff that's happened, without it being shown. You also get the Cohen world view (mine also) that life's meaningless shite, plus some good things. The loop the loop timeline's good too, and I love the setting. But then I'm close to being a Cohen bros fan.


I just checked the run times for Wolf of Wall St...


three hours of meaningless drug abuse and sex - made me miss the start...

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: petejh on February 04, 2014, 06:15:38 pm
Saw Inside Llweyn Davis at the Showroom today. I really enjoyed it through out, funny in parts and engaging for the duration of the film. It's not piss takingly long either.

Really, really good film with a lot more going on than the immediate plot. You get a sense of the protagonist, where he's from, stuff that's happened, without it being shown. You also get the Cohen world view (mine also) that life's meaningless shite, plus some good things. The loop the loop timeline's good too, and I love the setting. But then I'm close to being a Cohen bros fan.


Third this. Brilliant film, lots of depth, cats as metaphor, various 60s folk heroes, allusions to Homer's Odyssey. One I'd watch again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 04, 2014, 08:00:47 pm
Saw American Hustle in the cinema the other evening. Thought it was very slow and felt that I was waiting for something to happen which never did. As someone said all the actors are great and I especially liked Christian Bale but they couldn't save it. Nearly walked out halfway through and in retrospect should have!

Dave

Agreed. Strong acting but I was expecting a bit more. Amy Adams rescued it for me though  :wub:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on February 06, 2014, 08:40:06 am
I really enjoyed american hustle but can see why some will find it not to their taste.  For me, it sucked you in slowly and there was certainly a few times I wondered what the heck was going on but was glad I stuck with it.  If you go in and expect a typical hollywood film with action/guns and car chases youre in the wrong theatre but if you want a good film which is 'differently' directed then its quite a treat.  My only disappointment was the ending wasnt as good as I'd hoped, but I wont say more for spoilers sake. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on February 06, 2014, 08:46:15 am
All I expected was a good film and the what I got fell very short for me.

Watched bad lieutenant port of call last night which turned out to be very watchable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 06, 2014, 02:11:27 pm
Been mentioned before on here, but really enjoyed Winters Bone (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1399683/) properly bleak stuff, perfect for the middle hours of a night shift...

Dickon Hinchcliffe (ex-Tindersticks) wrote the soundtrack for Winters Bone and Out of the Furnace (and the really bleak second episode of Red Riding). If you have Spotify, it's great mood music to listen to whilst reading.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 06, 2014, 10:36:10 pm
If you go in and expect a typical hollywood film with action/guns and car chases youre in the wrong theatre

That's not what I was expecting at all, I was expecting more substance and I'd argue that if you found a movie to have a disappointing ending then it precludes it from being good!

Watched Rush last night, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It did go a bit cinematic-holywood at times but overall I thought it was good. With that, Senna, and the Rich Heap F1 documentary from a while back petrolheads have been mildly spoilt. Did the doc r: the Dakar rally air yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 06, 2014, 10:45:05 pm
'Good' is obviously very subjective. It's a bit like wine.

I wonder if you could make a list of 20 categories for people to mark out of 5 (i.e. how much X matters for a good film), so as to provide an understanding of their palate. Geeky thought I know.

I liked american hustle because I found the characters interesting and unexpectedly moving, because I enjoyed some of the scripting and cinematography and because it was only predictable in the right ways. Didn't like the ending, but didn't really care about that.
I've made no mention of the plot and content of the film. Sometimes those two just get in the way. Obviously, this sets my tastes well apart from many people, but then I do have some fairly esoteric tastes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 06, 2014, 11:43:26 pm
'Good' is obviously very subjective. It's a bit like wine.

:alky:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on February 07, 2014, 11:11:31 am
Watched Lone Survivor last night  :slap:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 07, 2014, 11:23:41 am

Watched Rush last night, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It did go a bit cinematic-holywood at times but overall I thought it was good.

I watched this the other week. For some reason I was expecting something a bit more heavyweight but for what it is, it's good and I enjoyed it. Daniel Brhl as Lauda makes it imo.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on February 07, 2014, 11:28:31 am
If you go in and expect a typical hollywood film with action/guns and car chases youre in the wrong theatre

I'd argue that if you found a movie to have a disappointing ending then it precludes it from being good!

You can argue all you like :P  its only my opinion and I am entitled to say it as we all are.... but to help you understand my meaning, the film is good, well acted, interesting direction and not very typical of Hollywood, the kind of 'different' you see in foreign language films, which was quite refreshing... sadly despite all this in its favour, the ending disappointed as it returns a bit to the Hollywood stereotype.  Didnt stop it being a good film at all. 
 :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on February 15, 2014, 01:01:45 pm
For anyone into album art and photography check out Inside Out, a docu-film on Anton Corbjin. Probably best known for working with the likes of U2 and Depeche Mode to name just two, both black white photography and videos, but also for making the film about Ian Curtis, Control.

Good documentary, very personal (a little uncomfortable for Anton at times) which makes for good honest viewing. Good contributions too from the likes of Metallica, Lou Reed, Martin Gore.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 16, 2014, 12:04:02 pm
Any opinions on Dallas Buyers Club?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on February 16, 2014, 07:21:19 pm
Watched it yesterday evening with a few friends on the small screen. It was rather well filmed and acted, and reasonably thought provoking. Quite a heavy watch though, rather far from cheerful or uplifting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 16, 2014, 07:42:45 pm
Saw "Love" on DVD last night. An odd film (low budget Sci fi) about a bloke marooned on the international space station - good - but had a bit of a 'huh?' ending if that makes sense.. Not going out of your way to watch - but 80 mins of engaging but odd entertainment...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1541874/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1541874/)

Interesting tale to the film - sponsored/made by the band who provided the sound track - and the ISS set was made in one of the band members back yard...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 16, 2014, 11:53:33 pm
Finally saw Watchmen the other night.

Having read the book as a lad I didn't think a film could do it justice. Happy to be proved wrong.

Surely the best adaptation of a comic book ever, or have I missed something better?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 17, 2014, 07:43:01 am
Finally saw Watchmen the other night.

Having read the book as a lad I didn't think a film could do it justice. Happy to be proved wrong.

Surely the best adaptation of a comic book ever, or have I missed something better?

Yup its great. I'm not into that comic book shizzle, but really liked Watchmen. Stylistic. Gritty. Good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 17, 2014, 09:04:27 am
Was it the full length version? Not seen that yet. The cinema version had the whole story in a story about the pirates cut out.

Watched Trance on Saturday night. Started off in usual Danny Boyle stye, slick, well filmed, well acted, nicely paced, but felt it all got bit muddled and messy towards the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on February 17, 2014, 10:55:23 am
Finally got to watch Filth over the weekend and it does live up to its name.  I'd give it 8 out of 10 as its good, darkly funny and very Trainspotting in places.  Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 17, 2014, 11:12:22 am
Any opinions on Dallas Buyers Club?
We also watched Dallas Buyers Club which was really, really good. The subject matter was quite hard going in places and the actors are shockingly thin, they really look awful, but it's well worth a watch. I can see why it's up for / won so many awards.
;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on February 22, 2014, 09:37:26 pm
Any opinions on Dallas Buyers Club?
We also watched Dallas Buyers Club which was really, really good. The subject matter was quite hard going in places and the actors are shockingly thin, they really look awful, but it's well worth a watch. I can see why it's up for / won so many awards.
;)

Yea. It's good. N stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 23, 2014, 11:27:41 am
Oscar for Mconaughey!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 23, 2014, 04:16:13 pm
Watched the first episode of that True Detective series with him and Woody Harrelson last night and he was excellent in that too.

He also looked painfully thin which I guess is cos it was filmed at a similar time to DBC.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on February 26, 2014, 03:36:37 pm
Watched the first episode of that True Detective series with him and Woody Harrelson last night and he was excellent in that too.

Am up to episode 5 on this now, and loving it!  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 26, 2014, 08:09:06 pm
got this to watch next I think. Anyone seen the blacklist? - woprth watching?
(sorry yes TV series here and not films I know  :off:)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on February 27, 2014, 11:15:06 am
I've got it Sky+ed but not started watching yet, it's supposed to be really good, I heard loads of good reviews, but obviously I can't comment yet.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on February 27, 2014, 11:38:11 pm
BTW, true detective is pretty dam good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 03, 2014, 08:34:08 am
Oscar for Mconaughey!!

Tick!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 03, 2014, 08:54:07 am
Watched recently...

Spike Island (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827579/) - Bunch of lads attempt to get to the famous Roses gig. Nothing new but entertaining and funny and with a decent soundtrack obviously.

Monsters University (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453405/) - Amusing enough to not be a pain in the arse to sit through when used to entertain several kids but not anywhere near as good as Monsters Inc or indeed.....

The Lego Movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/) - Saw this in 3D at the pictures on Saturday with the sprog. It's the best kids film I've ever seen, in fact it's probably unfair just to label it a kids film as (like the Toy Story films but more so) it works on lots of different levels. Superb. Glad Mrs S didn't come with us as I've a good excuse to watch it again when it comes out on DVD.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on March 03, 2014, 10:08:39 am
Watched Metro Manila http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1845838/?ref_=nv_sr_1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1845838/?ref_=nv_sr_1) at the weekend.

Really good, thought provoking film. Tense and atmospheric, and a scary insight into poverty in the Philippines. Would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind watching films with subtitles. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dr T on March 03, 2014, 11:00:51 am
Watched recently...

Monsters University (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453405/) - Amusing enough to not be a pain in the arse to sit through when used to entertain several kids but not anywhere near as good as Monsters Inc or indeed.....

The Lego Movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/) - Saw this in 3D at the pictures on Saturday with the sprog. It's the best kids film I've ever seen, in fact it's probably unfair just to label it a kids film as (like the Toy Story films but more so) it works on lots of different levels. Superb. Glad Mrs S didn't come with us as I've a good excuse to watch it again when it comes out on DVD.

agreed and agreed (not quite sure it's the best kid's movie ever but it's a contender)

also saw Mud yesterday - really rate it, a similar feel (due to setting more than anything else) to "beasts of the southern wild" - but much easier to watch
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 03, 2014, 11:32:26 am
Am I going to get flamed for saying I watched Alpha Papa this weekend, and was disappointed? Some very funny moments, but there were single episodes of the TV series where I laughed more.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: french erick on May 16, 2014, 10:56:46 pm
This thread refers to it pg 69 but...
3 years later, I finally watched Senna. Reminded me about being a kid. But I was inspired sportwise too. Amazing footage from the time!
Even managed a sesh after watching it (brownie point with the wife AND endurance point on homewall).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 16, 2014, 11:02:29 pm
This thread refers to it pg 69 but...
3 years later, I finally watched Senna. Reminded me about being a kid. But I was inspired sportwise too. Amazing footage from the time!
Even managed a sesh after watching it (brownie point with the wife AND endurance point on homewall).

Rush is good too.. very different type of F1 film  - but very good (I thought it might be wank but its not..)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 04, 2014, 10:40:01 am
Watched The Girl Next Door (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265208/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt) the other night hoping for a nice trashy high school teen-com, mildly disappointed to discover it was actually far better than it had any right to be. Actually quite watchable and funny in places. Great sound track, reasonably good story (bear with it). Even Mrs Obi enjoyed it.

Red2 was disappointing having lost most of the humour of the original which I quite enjoyed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on June 04, 2014, 01:04:07 pm
Watched recently...

Spike Island (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1827579/) - Bunch of lads attempt to get to the famous Roses gig. Nothing new but entertaining and funny and with a decent soundtrack obviously.

Saw this at Easter too. I wasn't expecting much as it didn't do well, but after initially fending off a cringe I really enjoyed it. Lots of faces from Shameless, similar vibe of not taking itself too seriously but great entertainment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on June 04, 2014, 01:45:21 pm
BTW, true detective is pretty dam good

Best thing on TV for ages.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 04, 2014, 07:20:08 pm
Only two series that I've watched this year are True Detective and The Trip To Italy (as per iPlayer thread). Both amazing.

Don't think I'll bother with anything else for a while as the bar's been set too high (and anyway, there's too much great sport on).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 05, 2014, 08:09:15 am
Having just done a round trip to Oz, I caught up with recent films during my flights.

American Hustle: Good - bit more serious/emotional than I thought it would be.

Anchorman2: Shit. Amusing in places but really just shit. Racist dinner scene just terrible on all sorts of levels.

Wolverine: The one where he's in Japan - not bad - though I was semi comatose.

Lego Movie: Awesome (everything is)

Dallas Buyers Club: Absolutely fantastic - brilliant. Funny, touching and sad.

Inside Llewyn Davies: I love Cohen Brothers films and this didnt disappoint. A bit of a meander but great.

Robocop: (the re-boot). Alright, but a bit disappointing - some good bits but could have done more with it.

Wolf of Wall Street: Great film - though a bit sad/mixed at the end (he got what he deserved really) - but a good 90's excess romp in places.

Also saw the Banff film festival world tour in Darwin - some good stuff there - notably a superb 45 min film about two Norwegians who lived off nothing all winter in a secleded beach in the arctic circle. And went surfing in the middle of winter. Also Alaister Lee's Leo Houlding Antarctica thing - which was one of the better films but a bit 'whoo - yeah' for my liking. That said it would have been shit if Leo hadn't been there the character that he is...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bigtuboflard on June 05, 2014, 08:57:08 am
+1 to American Hustle and Wolf of Wall Street, both very well put together films. Probably enjoyed American Hustle more simply based on the style of film and the era it was set in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 05, 2014, 08:59:05 am

+1 to American Hustle and Wolf of Wall Street, both very well put together films. Probably enjoyed American Hustle more simply based on the style of film and the era it was set in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Me too. AH left more of an impression.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on June 05, 2014, 09:51:40 am
Wolf of Wall Street was somewhat spoiled for me by being sat next to my mother in law. The seemingly endless waves of hookers, shagging and tits got a bit much.

I would say it was a Goodfellas "light" (though I haven't seen Goodfellas in years so I may be looking back with youthful and impressionable rose tinted glasses). My main issue with it was that I felt no sympathy/empathy for Jordan Belfort at any point (not a criticism of Di Caprio as he was excellent), he screws people over for the whole film and, despite a short and seemingly very comfy sojourn in prison, gets away with it. Him appearing in a cameo at the end kind of reinforced that.

Having said that, good dialogue, brilliantly shot, Jonah Hill was quality, Matthew McConaugheys brief appearance was dynamite and it didnt feel three hours long.

I thought American Hustle blew it away though, not just because of Amy Adams or Christian Bale with a gut and combover (the look I seem to be creeping towards).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on June 05, 2014, 09:57:04 am
The Counselor Good film but pretty grim (I hadnt realised it was wriiten by Cormac McCarthy). Strong cast, performances, plot and dialogue but ends up quite brutal.
On a side note, its incredible how different Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz look (in character) bearing in mind they are but a year apart!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Counselor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Counselor)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on June 06, 2014, 09:38:32 pm
got this to watch next I think. Anyone seen the blacklist? - woprth watching?
(sorry yes TV series here and not films I know  :off:)
anyone readng back, me and the misses have watched the first 2 episodes and we won't be watching any more.
(Again TV series here and not films I know  :off:)
Obviously GOT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is totes amazeballs and I've also been recomended Banshee (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017109/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) to start watching which looks quite good.
Will report back
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on June 06, 2014, 09:47:52 pm
got this to watch next I think. Anyone seen the blacklist? - woprth watching?
(sorry yes TV series here and not films I know  :off:)
anyone readng back, me and the misses have watched the first 2 episodes and we won't be watching any more.
(Again TV series here and not films I know  :off:)
Obviously GOT (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is totes amazeballs and I've also been recomended Banshee (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017109/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) to start watching which looks quite good.
Will report back

 :off: :rtfm:  :chair: http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,12396.350.html (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,12396.350.html)  :icon_welcome: (sorry, not had sex in a while)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hoseyb on June 08, 2014, 08:44:42 pm
a poor forecast and an afternoon pass (the Dad equivalent of not being grounded) Meant I got to see X men -Days of Future Past in 3D.

Total Geek out.  :bounce: not only allowing them to start covering the interesting stuff without the sideways cock ups of non Singer films but it was really like in side my head pretty true to the comics. cant wait to see what happens next, I expect if Logans still adamantium deficient, Apocalypse will  sort it before making him a Horseman...

 :oops: Slight over geek there.. :geek:

Ok, but my son is called Logan after all

A good one for comic fans
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 08, 2014, 09:42:29 pm
X-Men - Days Of Future Past : Really good, my favourite in the extensive series. Context is really strong for this, actually gives it some purpose to the superhero dicking around. Start of it is great, characters are pretty good throughout.

Godzilla : Quite okay, escalates nicely and some good spectacles. Crams a lot of different stuff in, it's not just "omg big monster" which is nice, but equally is a bit patchy. The human story / human hero is overdone and the far more interesting background to the monsters is underdone.

The Others : Very good, essentially The Orphanage Lite but that's fair praise indeed. Creepy set-up and creepier characters and unfolds nicely.

The Thing : (the latest remake) Not bad, quite stylishly done, an interesting blend between a sort of remake and and a prequel setting it up well for the 1980's Thing. However it lacks the character and memorability of that classic, and is not as freaky and tense as it should be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 25, 2014, 09:40:26 pm
Edge Of Tomorrow - fuck me this is good. Had high but wary hopes based on the trailer but it's better still - the whole Groundhog Day + Starship Troopers theme is inherently entertaining, but it's smart, well-paced, good characters and surprisingly funny. Definitely continues in the trend of well done sci-fi from a few years ago like District 9 and Source Code. Only regret is I didn't watch it earlier so I could catch it at the cinema again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 27, 2014, 12:04:13 am
Only regret is I didn't watch it earlier so I could catch it at the cinema again.
Actually, just went to see it again in IMAX 3D.....it is that good  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 27, 2014, 09:53:03 am
Wolf of Wall Street was somewhat spoiled for me by being sat next to my mother in law. The seemingly endless waves of hookers, shagging and tits got a bit much.

 :lol: I made a mental note not to tell my parents how good the film was.  Imagine taking someone on a first date....

(Have you changed your phone number or are you just ignoring my texts :( )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 15, 2014, 07:55:10 am
Best thing I've seen lately is Robot & Frank. Funny and heart warming comedy crime caper about a retired cat burglar who is down and suffering with alzeimers/dementia. Through the friendship of an assistance robot finds his lust for life.

Also really enjoyed Prisoners.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 15, 2014, 09:20:27 am
Best thing I've seen lately is Robot & Frank. Funny and heart warming comedy crime caper about a retired cat burglar who is down and suffering with alzeimers/dementia. Through the friendship of an assistance robot finds his lust for life.

Is it good? I saw the trailer and thought it looked terrible.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 16, 2014, 09:01:40 am
Wolf of Wall Street is very funny and entertaining.  A searing expose of the US financial system it is not.  Clearly everyone in America including Scorsese is in thrall to Wall St.  Really good though.


Thought it looked like that, and nothing wrong with that. You watch a Scorsese film for great cinema rather than historical accuracy.

Goodfellas is still one of my favourite films ever but he got a load of stick for glorifying gangsters (despite none of then ending up "winning").

If you want an expose of the US financial system then Margin Call or Too Big To Fail are both very good imo:

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/ (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/)

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/ (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1742683/)

It's funny you mention that, because I thought it was, in many ways, basically a remake of goodfellas, but with Wall St men as the bad guys (with a few stylisms stolen from Tarantino this time). I think it's actually very damning of the 'gangsters' on Wall St but only in that it's accusative towards certain rogue 'bad guys'. It doesn't often attempt to criticise the rest.
That said, those it does criticise are, for me, caricatures of the 'industry' as a whole and the film does a good job of carrying a serious message - but sadly perhaps it's only for those who want to hear it.
Very good film, very funny, very entertaining, lots of good scenes, some very memorable. I was largely entranced for the full 3 hours. Not quite sure if it's a new classic, perhaps slightly too facile for that, but certainly well worth the time either way. Take a drink!

Finally got round to watching this the other day and thought it was great (as did Mrs S). Agree that it is actually very damning on the characters involved but it does also occasionally point to the fact that they are technically small fry in comparison to what the big boys and the system as a whole is doing.

And yes, it is basically Goodfellas but with a different type of criminal....... which is no bad thing!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 16, 2014, 09:38:52 am
Best thing I've seen lately is Robot & Frank. Funny and heart warming comedy crime caper about a retired cat burglar who is down and suffering with alzeimers/dementia. Through the friendship of an assistance robot finds his lust for life.

Is it good? I saw the trailer and thought it looked terrible.
I thought it was good yep. My expectations were low which probably helped.

Others this year I've enjoyed are both Hunger Games films and Prisoners.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on July 16, 2014, 10:46:26 am
I watched a new Arnie film recently  :weakbench: - Sabotage (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742334/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6). Although I quite enjoyed it in a guilty pleasure kind of way, I thought the beginning set it up to be far more interesting than it turned out. I think I had hoped it would flip the usual mindless action flick into a bit of an intelligent police procedural type thing with some bonus Arnie action on the side....but it didn't (hope that's not too much of a spoiler, I don't imagine people are saving this one up for a special viewing!).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2014, 10:56:30 am
My most recent long haul flight viewings produced a rather small haul.. thanks to it being BA and with their pitch of 31 inches and the tiny contrastless screen being thrust to 6 inches from my face (due to the huge person in front reclining ALL the way the whole journey -eating was like trying to eat inside a small cardboard box). But I did manage to see:

Jack Ryan - special blah blah blah blah... well it was OK, and if it was on the TV and nothing else was on its alright.. but don't pay hard to watch it..

And I can't remember any of the rest. So they were shit.

There you go - if you go and see a load of films you can't remember 2 weeks later - then they were shit and you shouldnt have bothered viewing them. :)

PS - I watched the lego movie twice. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on July 16, 2014, 11:06:01 am
Just to warn anyone, don't watch 'The Monuments Men', complete tosh from start to end which was a real shame given the cast. A bad movie, not even in a bad-movie-but funny way like the Deathwish films.

www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771)

Watch 'Deathwish 3' instead, a laugh riot

(https://voidagger.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/vlcsnap-00010.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 16, 2014, 11:27:22 am
Just to warn anyone, don't watch 'The Monuments Men', complete tosh from start to end which was a real shame given the cast. A bad movie, not even in a bad-movie-but funny way like the Deathwish films.

www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771)

Shit - yeah that was one of the shit ones I'd forgotten about....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 17, 2014, 09:02:32 pm
Boyhood: this has to be one of the most exciting action films I've seen. Not really. A boy grows up, nothing of consequence happens, it lasts three hours.

I fucking loved this film. The only way it could have been better was if it had been even longer and slower.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 17, 2014, 09:48:58 pm
It's Linklater isn't it. Does look good and it's interesting that he's taken the Before Sunrise etc thing to another level and was actually doing that all the time while making other films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Boredboy on July 17, 2014, 10:10:51 pm
Just to warn anyone, don't watch 'The Monuments Men', complete tosh from start to end which was a real shame given the cast. A bad movie, not even in a bad-movie-but funny way like the Deathwish films.

www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2177771)

Watch 'Deathwish 3' instead, a laugh riot

(https://voidagger.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/vlcsnap-00010.jpg)

Strangely enough I just watched Death Wish 5 and enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on July 18, 2014, 12:27:09 pm
Best thing I've seen lately is Robot & Frank. Funny and heart warming comedy crime caper about a retired cat burglar who is down and suffering with alzeimers/dementia. Through the friendship of an assistance robot finds his lust for life.

Also really enjoyed Prisoners.
Watched this the other night and me and the misses thoroughly enjoyed it, even warmed my frozen heart. Excellent recomendation, thanks
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on July 20, 2014, 01:13:41 am
Just finished watching Shallow Grave on film 4, what a great film. Never seen it before.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chris20 on July 22, 2014, 08:34:30 pm
Watched The Guard last night on film4, I thought it was great film and very funny, worth catching if it's on again
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 23, 2014, 07:49:34 am
I enjoyed it, but I struggle not to get annoyed by Don Cheadle.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 23, 2014, 01:43:57 pm
Anyone seen the monkey film? Trailer looks great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on July 24, 2014, 09:06:50 am
FD if you mean the dawn of the rise of the planet of the apes of the film then yup. Initially I wasn't sure what I thought and it isn't without its annoyances but after a night's sleep I thought it was very good indeed. Make of that what you will.

Watched Nebraska last night. In black n white a story about an old guy determined to collect his $1M magazine subscription prize turns road trip with his son to the town he grew up in. Funny and heart warming too with similarities to Robot & Frank. Another really good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 24, 2014, 10:22:42 am
I thought he was talking about a remake of Monkey Magic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on July 24, 2014, 03:42:20 pm
SA Chris I know what you mean about don cheadle, or headless with predictive txt, I wouldn't say he spoils any film but if he wasn't in it it would be better
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on July 24, 2014, 03:43:56 pm
monkey was my favourite program once upon a time I don't know if I could watch a remake
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 24, 2014, 04:39:17 pm
headless with predictive text

Strangley appropriate.

He certainly spoils the Oceans films. Well, makes them shitter anyway.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 25, 2014, 12:46:13 pm
That's just the appalling Dick Van Dyke style cockernee accent though isn't it.

I don't think he's as annoying in other stuff where he speaks normally.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 25, 2014, 01:28:36 pm
Yeah I meant The Planet of the Apes.... Sounds good.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 25, 2014, 01:32:30 pm
And to think I got a slating for calling Drive Driver.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 25, 2014, 02:01:36 pm
It was my weak attempt at humour...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 25, 2014, 02:43:26 pm
Dallas Buyers Cub is as good as the reviews suggest.

I was thinking that Jared Leto should have won an Oscar as well as McConnaughey and then I realised he had.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on July 25, 2014, 03:49:37 pm
A remake would be sacrilegious

 Monkey Magic Opening + Closing Themes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zOFAD6e9Bk#)

However I still preferred Tales from the Water Margin  :ninja:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 25, 2014, 03:59:48 pm
Dallas Buyers Cub is as good as the reviews suggest.

It is brilliant... one of the few films I've seen this year that I've thought about a few times..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on July 30, 2014, 12:17:44 pm
leaked test footage for a Deadpool movie, it would be amazing if they made this!

Deadpool Test Footage in HD (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22eged)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andybfreeman on July 30, 2014, 11:49:25 pm
leaked test footage for a Deadpool movie, it would be amazing if they made this!

Deadpool Test Footage in HD (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22eged)

Still up on vimeo and looks incredible. I really hope this gets made and not screwed up

LEAKED DEADPOOL TEST FOOTAGE @SuperheroReport on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/101972457)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on August 04, 2014, 03:03:05 pm
It just dropped into my Twitter feed that "North of the Sun" has just come out:

http://steepedge.com/categories/surf-and-sailing/north-of-the-sun.html (http://steepedge.com/categories/surf-and-sailing/north-of-the-sun.html)

This is a really really great film about two friends (in Norway) who find a really cool surf spot just N of the arctic circle and decide to build a hut entirely from driftwood and beach stuff and stay there a winter - self sufficient styleee.... They're a really funny pair and the movie is half about their characters and half about the experience..

I bizarrely saw this at the Banf Film Festival 'tour' in the Deck Chair Cinema in Darwin, NT, AU... lovely film...

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BuMvt0RIQAACive.jpg:large)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 04, 2014, 03:26:07 pm
Still up on vimeo and looks incredible

D'oh!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on August 05, 2014, 01:20:54 pm
Guardians of the Galaxy was really quite good. Funny, good action, decent story, excellent soundtrack. If you liked Avengers or the new Star Trek movies then this will be right up your street.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on August 09, 2014, 09:53:11 am
Took the offspring to watch How To Train Your Dragon 2 last night, it was brilliant! Highly recommended for kids and adults.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on August 09, 2014, 07:07:59 pm
I'd agree Guardians of the Galaxy was entertaining with quite a few funny moments.  The back story was explained and then it was suspend disbelief and go!

I'd also say how to train your dragon was much better than is expected.  The story was quite deep, well, for a kids cartoon movie. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on August 09, 2014, 10:09:43 pm
Took the offspring to watch How To Train Your Dragon 2 last night, it was brilliant! Highly recommended for kids and adults.

How old are the offspring? M jnr (11) and I saw the trailer and decided unanimously not to bother. Should we reconsider?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on August 09, 2014, 10:22:15 pm
Mine are both seven, they didn't bat an eyelid and thoroughly enjoyed it. They've seen the first one and were very keen to see the second one also.

I came downstairs one morning to find they had both got up early and were watching Ghostbusters together, and they loved it! Spent the rest of the day running around arguing who was going to be the key master and who was the gate keeper!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on August 09, 2014, 10:47:29 pm
spent the rest of the day running around arguing who was going to be the key master and who was the gate keeper!

I bet you breathed a sigh of relief they weren't arguing over being the best Slimer!

Heads up for fans of old-skool kung fu, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is on Film4 tonight at 23:25 hrs.  Not seen it yet myself, but by reputation, it's a rarely screened "Drunken Master" era genre classic.

Just realised looking at this thread that I have not watched a film on anything other than free TV for years.  I used to have a Blockbuster DVD by post account that was good for around a dozen new releases a month for 12.  Since Blockbuster went bankrupt I've been loath to pay the 5 per film of Virgin On-demand.  Frankly I prefer to buy TV season sets of the likes of Men Men, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad these days.  Generally better quality (I like long-form story telling... 13 hrs to unwind a novelistic narrative arc), a better fit with my schedule and mood (1 hr or a massive binge... whatever suits), and better value.  Currently toasting a successful day at Kilnsey with a cask strength Glengoyne and a binge of the three episodes of House of Cards - Kevin Spacey in top reptilian form at 12 for the entire series 1. 

Still, despite my self-justification, I feel I'm missing out.  Just 4-5 a film for something that generally disappoints is a bit of a hurdle to enjoyment or taking a punt.  Are there any alternatives that don't involve piracy or watching via your computer (mine is a work one - and our IT policy is getting ever more stringent)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ducko on August 09, 2014, 10:54:11 pm
Guardians of the galaxy was mega, we'll worth a watch. As is how to train your dragon 2 get on it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on August 09, 2014, 11:17:23 pm
Still, despite my self-justification, I feel I'm missing out.  Just 4-5 a film for something that generally disappoints is a bit of a hurdle to enjoyment or taking a punt.  Are there any alternatives that don't involve piracy or watching via your computer (mine is a work one - and our IT policy is getting ever more stringent)?

Might be worth a look at Amazon / Lovefilm? Not sure what packages they offer for new members, but I pay a smidge under 8 for both online (which I know doesn't suit you) and dvd rental a month. The rental is limited only by how quickly I can watch a film and return it. A combination of rental and online viewing and its approx a quid a film. May be worth a butchers, and seem to offer more than Netflix.

Back on topic, watched A Perfect Getaway last night - pile of tosh!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on August 12, 2014, 01:36:01 pm
finally FINALLY got round to watching Dallas Buyers Club last night, great film.   :great:  Sean Penn used to be my anti Hollywood hero, Mathew McConaughey is stepping up to the challenge nicely, good in Mud and good in this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 18, 2014, 10:49:19 am
Still, despite my self-justification, I feel I'm missing out.  Just 4-5 a film for something that generally disappoints is a bit of a hurdle to enjoyment or taking a punt.  Are there any alternatives that don't involve piracy or watching via your computer (mine is a work one - and our IT policy is getting ever more stringent)?

Might be worth a look at Amazon / Lovefilm? Not sure what packages they offer for new members, but I pay a smidge under 8 for both online (which I know doesn't suit you) and dvd rental a month. The rental is limited only by how quickly I can watch a film and return it. A combination of rental and online viewing and its approx a quid a film. May be worth a butchers, and seem to offer more than Netflix.


Watching a series on Lovefilm needs patience, the disks you are after are rarely available. We used it for films a lot, and got a lot of newish stuff through pretty quickly. Do a month free trial (once the weather gets worse / clocks change?) and see how it goes?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on August 26, 2014, 10:53:03 am
Argh, I watched Divergent at the weekend. From the way it was marketed, I was not expecting it to be quite so clearly not for adults. It was like a super cheesy teen thing, where I kept wanting to insert sarcastic dialogue between the mega cheesy lines they were delivering in dead serious style. I really don't like this recent thing of marketing teen movies to adults via sneaky trailers.  :chair:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on August 26, 2014, 11:30:13 am
finally FINALLY got round to watching Dallas Buyers Club last night, great film.   :great:  Sean Penn used to be my anti Hollywood hero, Mathew McConaughey is stepping up to the challenge nicely, good in Mud and good in this.

Yeah, great film. Check out the true Detective Series if you haven't seen it. Mathew McConaughey + Woody Harrelson + top cinematography + great soundtrack. Really good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on August 26, 2014, 12:43:09 pm
I watched Divergent at the weekend .. It was like a super cheesy teen thing
Was the film any good the TV adverts made the film look extremely crap but the trailers at the cinema made it look quite interesting.
The premise seemed similar to equilibrium.
Was film/story any good if you can get past the teen cheesy part?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on August 26, 2014, 01:35:45 pm
Mmm I must have seen the cinematic trailers then, as I was lured in. I think it would be quite hard to ignore/look past the teen angstyness of it :sick:. It's not dark and brutal and rooted in classic sci-fi concepts like Equilibrium (which wasn't the best film in the world, but was way better than this), even though the premise seemed like it would be. There's quite a big focus on the relationship between our heroine and the 'main bloke', and nowhere near enough on the ideas behind the society or what's actually happening, nor enough action to distract from it. I guess I would watch it eventually anyway, but I certainly wouldn't make an effort to see it. Maybe if I'd been pre-warned that it was going to be a tweeny film, it wouldn't have seemed so bad.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on August 26, 2014, 01:44:18 pm
okay will put it on the if in supermaket 3 bin and nothing else on maybe pile.

Like you say its an interesting concept the government mind control issue. I enjoyed the story of equilibrium but even though the film was not great. I also like the V for vendetta back story which was more covered in the book than film. But if it was not even seen as the main point on this film I probably won't bother with divergent.

Thanks saved me buying it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on August 26, 2014, 03:12:15 pm

Thanks saved me buying it.

OK, don't hold it against me when you eventually see it, and love it though haha.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 26, 2014, 04:49:46 pm
Calvary starring Brendan Gleeson.  I think this was produced and directed by the same team as The Guard.  This is just as good but darker.  Gleeson is superb as a priest carrying the world and the church on his shoulders.  I was quite moved...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on August 26, 2014, 04:56:20 pm
Argh, I watched Divergent at the weekend. From the way it was marketed, I was not expecting it to be quite so clearly not for adults.
The clue is that it's the film version of the first book in a YA series. ;)  I really enjoyed it, but probably more due to loving the book and because the film stuck pretty closely to them, a lot of it was just how I pictures in my head when I was reading (with the exception of the bad casting of the leading 'man') so I think it was that I enjoyed more than the film as a stand alone.

Also watched Locke last night which I thought was great, I thought I'd hate it based on how it was described to me - Tom Hardy in a car, on the phone as his life falls apart - but I found it really interesting and a bit different and it really held my attention, I was a bit gutted when it finished.  It's hard to say much more without giving stuff away but it's well worth a watch, I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on August 26, 2014, 11:02:28 pm
Calvary starring Brendan Gleeson.  I think this was produced and directed by the same team as The Guard.  This is just as good but darker.  Gleeson is superb as a priest carrying the world and the church on his shoulders.  I was quite moved...

It's the second in John Michael McDonagh's glorified suicide trilogy, The Guard being the first. I believe Brenden Gleeson plays an unlikeable paraplegic in the final installment.

Really enjoyed it but Laurs found it a bit too dark.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 26, 2014, 11:11:32 pm
Good knowledge Nick... I was held by it throughout and really quite shaken/moved/down afterwards.  Great filmmaking.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on August 27, 2014, 10:30:21 am
The clue is that it's the film version of the first book in a YA series. ;) 

Ah, well I was unaware of the book until afterwards, but children's' books are off my radar.  ::)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 27, 2014, 10:59:11 am
We watched American Movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181288/) the other night as I randomly had it on the Sky planner for some reason. It's excellent. Very funny and quite moving.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 08, 2014, 04:15:49 pm
I went to see night moves one evening last week.

 I was all ready for a tense indie thriller but recieved the one of the worst films I have ever seen, it wasn't even so bad that it was good. It was just bad on many many different levels.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ferret on September 09, 2014, 07:38:25 am
Might be a bit behind the times with the Brit flicks now I live across the pond, but if it hasn't already been mentioned "Starred Up" is a must watch.
British cinema at is best, I can't remember the last time I saw a film this powerful. Hats off to all involved.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on September 09, 2014, 08:57:12 pm
These are all excellent and worth a watch.
Noah
Transcendence
Godzilla (2013)
Blue Ruin

Also watched Under the skin. If you like your films weird (and I usually do) and full visual metaphors about Scarlett Johansson playing an alien harvesting single Glaswegian men then this is for you. I think I'll need to watch it again in a futile attempt to understand what the hell is going on or not as the case maybe. This movie I think will polarise people. I'm leaning towards it being shit but will decide when I get around to watching it again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on September 15, 2014, 05:20:35 pm
Just watched The Giver - not sure what to make of it. Well made, shot in B&W for a good part of it and feel like I should learn something from it but not sure what. Wasn't a wasted couple of hours for sure but think it was maybe a family film with a moral tale to tell, Sci-fi Hans Christian Anderson? Quite surreal in parts. Certainly played on the emotions towards the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 03, 2014, 10:22:50 pm
20,000 Days on Earth - Brilliant whether you're a Nick Cave fan or not.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on October 04, 2014, 11:02:38 am
20,000 Days on Earth - Brilliant whether you're a Nick Cave fan or not.

Keen to see this, have it reserved ready for its release on DVD on the 20th.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on October 04, 2014, 11:10:10 am
A Most Wanted Man - Enjoyable but the ending left me a little underwhelmed. Good to see the late Seymour Hoffman though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 04, 2014, 10:41:49 pm
Recorded The Guard the other night. Really enjoyable. Gleeson is great in it. http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/ (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1540133/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 05, 2014, 12:31:17 am
Gone Girl. Really good. Another great film starring the massively underrated Ben Affleck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 08, 2014, 07:46:53 pm
I watched the Desendants the other night. I thought it was brilliant and well deserving of the best writing oscar. It is one of those films which could have easily strayed into the overly twee territory of Juno but it doesn't and is well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 08, 2014, 08:09:17 pm
Watched X-Men Days Of Future Past today wanting some superhero escapism.

Had the odd good bit (the really fast guy was brilliant) but the plot was appallingly obvious and over sentimental and it also just seemed like a reworking of the ideas in Terminator.

Not very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 08, 2014, 08:43:17 pm
You can tell the nights are drawing in.  "Flight" was good (even with UKBs least favourite actor in a supporting role).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on October 08, 2014, 09:47:45 pm
Watched Edge of Tomorrow on Sunday, despite starring Tom Cruise, and essentially being a sci fi Groundhog Day (as Fiend mentioned earlier) it was thoroughly entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 08, 2014, 10:50:21 pm
Oh yeah :punk:

XMen Days Of Future Past I thought was the best in the series, I'm not a comic fan and have no particular love affair with the films, but I just thought it had the most purpose to all the superheroing around, good context and good characters :shrug:

Saw Lucy recently. It was okay, started well but could have been a lot better, gone into the characters trauma more and made more of the background conflict. Very much a poor man's Limitless directed by a teenager for an MTV slot  :chair:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 09, 2014, 09:22:23 am
I watched Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, the other night after it being on the digibox for about a year. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Albert Finney are very good, rest of cast average. Good premise, and a good storyline, but it kind of peters out, as though they weren't sure how to end it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 09, 2014, 12:35:26 pm
Ha good, I couldn't be bothered to stick it out to the end. Weird when you like the actors and the story is good but still the film does nothing for you
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 09, 2014, 04:36:00 pm
Watched Edge of Tomorrow on Sunday, despite starring Tom Cruise, and essentially being a sci fi Groundhog Day (as Fiend mentioned earlier) it was thoroughly entertaining.
I agree, just watched it.

Sci Fi Groundhog Day having already been done brilliantly in Source Code I was still suspicious (especially with Tom Cruise starring) but as the orc botherer said it was more Starship Troopers style. Really good.

Nice one Fiend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 09, 2014, 04:43:37 pm


You can tell the nights are drawing in.

My excuse is that I've been confined to the sofa for the past two days.

Watched Filth earlier too. Would be better if you've not read the book but they've made a good job of it.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on October 10, 2014, 01:52:15 pm
Watched The Machine the other night. Really enjoyed it, although it's a low budget british sci-fi film, which kind of sounds unpromising (surely you need expensive effects for sci-fi to be convincing  :-\), I thought it worked really well, and found it very atmospheric and absorbing.

Here's a review that doesn't give much away - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/machine-film-review-686196 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/machine-film-review-686196)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on October 10, 2014, 03:47:14 pm
Avoid 'I give it a year'. Terrible on every level.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 12, 2014, 10:18:41 pm
Evil - that sounds alright!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on October 12, 2014, 10:23:39 pm
Oldboy - interesting starting premise which could be developed into a decent film, instead part way through it turns into a complete turd of a film. I'd suggest you watch the first half hour or so them make up your own ending. Shit squared.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 12, 2014, 10:54:55 pm
I take it you mean the remake rather than the totally brilliant original?

Just googled it as didn't realise they'd done a Hollywood version and I couldn't believe you'd be talking about the film I'd seen....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on October 12, 2014, 11:04:36 pm
Is the original good?
I'm talking about the 2013 effort which is dross.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rossydoodle61 on October 12, 2014, 11:56:45 pm
The original is indeed brilliant and original. I've never heard anyone say a bad word against it.

I've never seen the Hollywood remake as it could never live up to the source.

Watch it, but hopefully seeing the remake won't have tainted it for you, as I expect the storyline is roughly the same.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 13, 2014, 08:01:38 am
What he said. Hopefully it's not been spoiled for you!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on October 13, 2014, 12:06:24 pm
Evil - that sounds alright!

Yeah, it was much better than the Oldboy remake I also watched recently. Urgh.  :sick: The original trilogy of Korean movies including Oldboy are all excellent, but I did think Oldboy was the best of the three.

Started on Blood Ties (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1747958/) last night, which seems well written and acted, quite slow moving, but not suffering for that. Has a French writer/director (although it's an American film) which maybe helps with the tone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 13, 2014, 12:29:11 pm
Watched Stoker (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1682180/) last night which has nothing to do with vampires but is a pretty cool, tense psychological thriller. Worth a look.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 13, 2014, 01:46:34 pm
Enjoyed Super 8 the other night... A little like an ET re-make in parts - but well put together...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on October 13, 2014, 02:30:03 pm
A Walk Among the Tombstones, ok but not worth the price of a cinema ticket.
Watched Noah on download, interesting enough to be worth 3.49 for the pair of us, some of it stretched credibility but on the whole it was believable!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on October 13, 2014, 04:09:40 pm
Started on Blood Ties (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1747958/) last night, which seems well written and acted, quite slow moving, but not suffering for that. Has a French writer/director (although it's an American film) which maybe helps with the tone.

It's a Hollywood remake of Les Liens du Sang, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/.) The director of the re-make played the cop in the original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Evil on October 13, 2014, 04:17:23 pm
It's a Hollywood remake of Les Liens du Sang, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/.) The director of the re-make played the cop in the original.

Ah good to know. Have you seen the original? Good/better?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 13, 2014, 07:43:57 pm
Clash Of The Titans - almost marginally entertaining complete garbage that would possibly be good if you were a pre-teen (it's basically a live acted cartoon) or mentally deficient. The medusa was pretty cool though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on October 13, 2014, 08:10:42 pm
It's a Hollywood remake of Les Liens du Sang, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942379/.) The director of the re-make played the cop in the original.

Ah good to know. Have you seen the original? Good/better?

I've not seen the re-make and the reviews didn't exactly convince me. I don't get time to watch many films so they have to come highly recommended for me to actually see them!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: butters on October 13, 2014, 09:17:47 pm
Have I missed out or did no one else see Sin City II? Unfortunately I had the misfortune to see it in 3d (first and last time for that awful experience) so I think it was a good film but given I was struggling not to go insane/throw up for the entire movie I'm not 100% sure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 19, 2014, 09:58:37 am
Good call butters, seems to have totally gone under the radar. 3D though - why??

Incidentally everyone should have watched Gravity in 3D, it worked brilliantly in that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on October 23, 2014, 09:49:20 am
Saw Reel Rock 9 last night in Bristol. Really really good film if anyone gets the chance. It's basically the history of climbing in Yosemite. Interviews with everyone of note who is still alive and also fittingly very funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 23, 2014, 10:27:28 am
You mean Valley Uprising? Part of the RR Tour.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on October 23, 2014, 10:29:26 am
A slightly longer version...

 I really enjoyed Valley Uprising and would recommend it to anyone interested in climbing history or thinking of a trip to Yosemite. Its terrific to see the familiar place on the big screen. Most of it is streets ahead of your average climbing film. 

It tells a story of climbers and climbing in Yosemite Valley. It is emphatically not the story of climbing in Yosemite and some of it is as accurate as Braveheart or other Hollywood representations of history. The tale is told in three acts and some of the faults of the film I sensed were due to an over-enthusiasm to create a triptych with Dean Potter and Alex Honnold as the modern-day equivalents of Warren Harding and Royal Robbins in their attitudes to climbing and authority. 

The golden age section is mostly made up of digitally animated stills and talking heads. This could have been dry but the (simplified, necessarily) tale - Royal Robbins versus Warren Harding, Roundhead versus Cavalier - it so compelling, and the film-making so well-done that it is riveting viewing. Constrained by their limited material, the film makers use digital effects and snappy cutting to keep the story moving. The editing is sometimes cruel to Robbins but he is dignified and self-aware in his interviews, a true great. The vintage TV footage of Harding and Dean Caldwell (no relation to Tommy) and the media storm surrounding the Dawn Wall is a hoot. Hats off to whoever tracked down this material.

The second part chronicles the rise and fall of the Stonemasters, from dropping acid with Bridwell to punch-ups in the Camp 4 parking lot via the looting of the downed drugs plane. Familiar stories but well told. More talking heads, animated stills (did we really wear shorts like that?) and priceless archive footage: watching Bachar advertising shavers was well worth the entry fee alone!

The third section titled Stone Monkeys had by far the most cinematic material and was by far the weakest, North Red Face Bull advertorial in style. Much of the climbing footage is familiar. We are told modern Valley climbing started with Dean Potters arrival in 1995. This is utter crap. Potter is a minor player: no significant new routes and his soloing and speed-climbing feats swiftly surpassed. He and the other Monkeys appear to possess an overweening sense of entitlement. I just want to be free he keeps repeating, spinning his outlaw fantasies whilst being sponsored by Patagonia. You sense he would only be content if he had Yosemite Valley entirely to himself (and a 15 person film crew). Honnold, in contrast, just quietly gets on with his climbing, accepting the compromises inevitable from sharing The Valley with 4 million others.

The premise of the film is that Valley climbers are modern-day outlaws. This is self-mythologising crap.  Ironically, the best Yosemite climber from each of the three generations featured in the film (Robbins, Hill and Honnold) emphatically dont fit this narrative. Iimportant stories which don't fit are ignored: Jim Ericson freeing Half Dome in 76, Skinner and Piana freeing the Salathe in 88, The Hubers tearing the place up in the 90s, Tommy Caldwell more recently (Caldwell is interviewed but we get minimal footage of him climbing and none of his back story). Instead we get photogenic but peripheral slack-lining and base jumping. At one point one of the monkeys (Leo Holding?) says 'most climbers BASE jump'. Well, outside the bubble, they don't and, tellingly, none of the highest achievers do much.

I was really looking forward to this film and, in the main, it more than met my high expectations.  I slightly wished I'd left at the interval.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on October 23, 2014, 10:40:49 am
Thanks for the comprohensive review Duncan, interesting stuff. I'd love to know how they animate the pictures like that. . . .  probably seven shades of ball-ache but makes life out of a narration-over-picture scenario.


In less eloquent terms:

Saw Gone Girl the other night - fucking weird.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on October 23, 2014, 10:25:19 pm
Well Duncan that was indeed pretty much the jist of the film. I couldnt face punching any more sentences on my mobile! Its weird how the recent stuff had the best footage but the worst story - rangers chasing dirt bag climbers through the boulders in between bouts of slacklining, climbing and base jumping. Felt like they were trying a bit too hard to have their place in Yosemites climbing history.
It was weird them missing out the Hubers and some other notable people. Despite this though the film was really well put together and was a lot better than most other climbing filcks. The material they had to use certainly helped this due to the characters and stories that litter the history of climbing in the valley. I'd really like to see it again at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 24, 2014, 01:31:57 am
Great review Duncan. Thanks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on October 24, 2014, 08:48:17 am
Saw '71 last night.

I would expect that this will be seen as a controversial film as, for many who lived through The Troubles, there will be much that is close to the bone and touching on still-fresh wounds. The basic plot is a British army soldier finding himself out of his depth, alone behind "enemy lines" in Belfast. The most poignant line in the film is where the regiment's CO tells them they are "not leaving this country" before they are deployed. This sticks with you throughout all that you see in the film and is a jolt to anyone whose knowledge of The Troubles is rusty at best ( :guilty:) or who wasn't alive when it was at its height (also  :guilty:).

The context aside, as a suspenseful action film, I found it absolutely excellent. From where it "kicks off" it was tense throughout. Well paced and just the right length - edge of the seat stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on November 09, 2014, 10:23:02 am
Cheers Duncan, great review.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ghisino on November 09, 2014, 08:56:56 pm
Ironically, the best Yosemite climber from each of the three generations featured in the film (Robbins, Hill and Honnold) emphatically dont fit this narrative.

i didn't find it shocking or out of context though.

i saw it as a "being the best vs having the most fun" dichotomy.
Possibly the first time such rather classic theme is featured in an american climbing movie? (usually they're simply about being the best, period)
Also an explanation why many highly important moments and figures of yos valley's history were skipped: they did not fit the main theme, nor the "parallel lives" construction.
(Just to make another parallel : Plutarch vs Sender films  :lol:)

I also think that the word count for "next" and "level" must be at its lowest for american climbing flicks of the last 15 years, which is another really positive thing about the movie.

as far as the last thirs is concerned, imho it mostly lacked some aging. In 20 or 30 years, someone will be able to narrate that chapter as well as the other two.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 10, 2014, 03:41:33 pm
Probably a bit OTT but this review has made me want to see Interstellar (and avoid reading more reviews/spoilers) even more...
http://qr.ae/mI6C3 (http://qr.ae/mI6C3)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 10, 2014, 09:19:49 pm
My nephew (13) is coming to stay for his first visit to London this weekend.  I have tickets for us at the 5:15 screening at the BfI IMAX on Friday in 15perf 70mm (I had no idea there are 49 reels of film and it weighs 600lbs) so I'm hoping he's going to enjoy it as much as I did the Spielberg's and Lucas films when I was a kid.   :popcorn:  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shark on November 10, 2014, 11:12:37 pm
important stories which don't fit are ignored: Jim Ericson freeing Half Dome in 76, Skinner and Piana freeing the Salathe in 88, The Hubers tearing the place up in the 90s, Tommy Caldwell more recently (Caldwell is interviewed but we get minimal footage of him climbing and none of his back story).

Any mention of Pete Croft soloing Astroman? huge news in 1987

Good write up Duncan
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 11, 2014, 02:22:54 pm
Be interested to see your thoughts on Interstellar as my Mum and her husband went to see it at the weekend and both thought it was rubbish.

We often disagree on films though.....

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 11, 2014, 03:09:04 pm
Probably a bit OTT but this review has made me want to see Interstellar (and avoid reading more reviews/spoilers) even more...
http://qr.ae/mI6C3 (http://qr.ae/mI6C3)

That review sets alarms off from the outset. Be wary of anyone using the word 'important' straight after they've had their socks blown off by a very loud continuous drone.

"It's important for the human race"

Nasa need a big movie to accidentally kick start their funding. Obama has a private view right? Lets hope his plans aren't blocked in the senate, or he isn't sitting too far to the side because he'll miss all the dialogue*.

*I got a refund. If you go to see interstellar, don't sit anything other than dead centre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 11, 2014, 11:40:18 pm
Nebraska is brilliant.  Road trip, family stuff, poignant.

A Most Wanted Man. Really good.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman is great in spite of his curious German/Irish accent.

I'll report back on Interstellar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Milford Cubicle on November 11, 2014, 11:50:47 pm
The lives of others, top film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on November 12, 2014, 12:05:26 pm
Watched Philomena recently - surprisingly good film. Coogan not at all Patridge-y, Dench was VERY good. Poignant/shocking but also very funny. Good stuff.

In a fit of amnesia, decided to re-watch Prometheus. Utter shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 16, 2014, 11:04:32 pm
Watched the imitation Game this weekend; really enjoyed it. I thought that it managed to be poignant and human, without descending to the level of saccharine trivia, or being unremittingly dark. Definitely worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on November 17, 2014, 09:51:21 am
Probably a bit OTT but this review has made me want to see Interstellar (and avoid reading more reviews/spoilers) even more...
http://qr.ae/mI6C3 (http://qr.ae/mI6C3)

That review sets alarms off from the outset. Be wary of anyone using the word 'important' straight after they've had their socks blown off by a very loud continuous drone.

"It's important for the human race"

Nasa need a big movie to accidentally kick start their funding. Obama has a private view right? Lets hope his plans aren't blocked in the senate, or he isn't sitting too far to the side because he'll miss all the dialogue*.

*I got a refund. If you go to see interstellar, don't sit anything other than dead centre.

Saw Interstellar last week, I'm a big Nolan fan, but this was very underwhelming. I would save your cash for the re-release of 2001 at the end of the month.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on November 17, 2014, 03:18:34 pm

[/quote]

Saw Interstellar last week, I'm a big Nolan fan, but this was very underwhelming. I would save your cash for the re-release of 2001 at the end of the month.
[/quote]

(http://www.independent.co.uk/migration_catalog/article5149126.ece/alternates/w620/nolans-album.jpeg) never really rated their stuff to be honest, each to their own though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: LB on November 17, 2014, 03:43:52 pm
Thanks for the comprohensive review Duncan, interesting stuff. I'd love to know how they animate the pictures like that. . . .  probably seven shades of ball-ache but makes life out of a narration-over-picture scenario.

Late reply but, I think I saw the same technique used in "American: The Bill Hicks" story, a documentary from about 4 years ago.

It was really good actually. Worth searching out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 17, 2014, 05:25:15 pm
Probably a bit OTT but this review has made me want to see Interstellar (and avoid reading more reviews/spoilers) even more...
http://qr.ae/mI6C3 (http://qr.ae/mI6C3)

That review sets alarms off from the outset. Be wary of anyone using the word 'important' straight after they've had their socks blown off by a very loud continuous drone.

"It's important for the human race"

Nasa need a big movie to accidentally kick start their funding. Obama has a private view right? Lets hope his plans aren't blocked in the senate, or he isn't sitting too far to the side because he'll miss all the dialogue*.

*I got a refund. If you go to see interstellar, don't sit anything other than dead centre.

Saw Interstellar last week, I'm a big Nolan fan, but this was very underwhelming. I would save your cash for the re-release of 2001 at the end of the month.

I enjoyed it.  Saw it at the big IMAX which might've helped.  Thought it was a great homage to the big sci-fi movies of the seventies 2001, Silent Running, Polaris etc.  Some big ideas brought to life and not overly long.  Four out of five.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrconners on November 17, 2014, 07:21:43 pm
(http://psy317sookmian.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/the-castle-movie.jpg)


Funny,  a bit cheesy but a heartwarming story.
Its very good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2014, 11:40:44 am
Interstellar.

Just wonderful, the whole thing was a real experience (even in a small theatre without Imax). The combination of a very human story and a sci-fi epic was as good as it gets. One of the best films ever and I'm shocked how low it's been rated.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on November 21, 2014, 12:46:19 pm
The Imitation Game

Thoroughly enjoyed this due to the excellent acting by Benedict C(an't spell his surname). Alan Turing obviously had a tough time post-war. I have to say I was unaware of the way homosexual people were treated in this era (chemically it would seem!!!).

(as an aside, Keira Knightley looks good, even in a cardigan).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on November 21, 2014, 02:35:34 pm
Interstellar.

Just wonderful, the whole thing was a real experience (even in a small theatre without Imax). The combination of a very human story and a sci-fi epic was as good as it gets. One of the best films ever and I'm shocked how low it's been rated.

I enjoyed it too. Visually impressive, well acted, some nice ideas. Thought the ending was a stretch too far into the fantastical, which was a shame given how much care was taken to set up a believable future world. A bit predictable too. Overall, I really liked it, but for me it fell short of being as good as it could have been.

Not sure what you mean about about low ratings - gets 9.0 on IMDB, which is about as high as they get.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/)

This is interesting - Kermode's comparison of Interstellar and Contact
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/posts/Interstellar-Contact (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/markkermode/posts/Interstellar-Contact)

 -- SPOILER  --
Also, you just can't mess around with time travel story devices unless they are very carefully employed. They rarely hold up once you start thinking about them. ...And there were loads of other plot holes in the last 15min, which was a shame.
-- /SPOILER --


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2014, 06:07:27 pm
73% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Obviously there are some possible nitpicks and the usual science objections (which generally means the objector shouldn't have been allowed to watch a sci-fi film in the first place), which means I'd rate it 95% rather than 100%, but those nitpicks whilst they might spoil a lesser film are vastly overwhelmed by everything Interstellar does right.

I thought the near-ending was quite inspired by Flatland.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dr_botnik on November 21, 2014, 07:03:01 pm
Gotta give my vote to Gone Girl, Trent Reznor on the score was a good pick, really built the tension. Combined with David Fincher directing this was awesome. A bit like "Seven" but in a domestic situation. Obsessive relationships, domestic abuse, kept me interested throughout. Had that Ben Affleck in it that i normally hate with a passion, but he really pulled it off. Probably because his character is meant to be one of those nice guys that you actually really hate. Genius casting in this respect, like when they put Mark Wahlberg in The Departed.

Worth going to see on the big screen i reckon. one of the few films this year ive been to and really felt it was worth the treck in t town for.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 12:32:29 am
Just back from interstellar ... Thought it was great - as did MrsTT
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on November 22, 2014, 12:53:46 am
Just back from interstellar ... Thought it was great - as did MrsTT
really?

I thought it was Nolan ' s worst film by a distance, and poor in comparison with Nightcrawler.   looked great on imax though.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 22, 2014, 01:38:47 am
73% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Obviously there are some possible nitpicks and the usual science objections (which generally means the objector shouldn't have been allowed to watch a sci-fi film in the first place)

I just got back from Interstellar too and while I enjoyed it I have to take issue with your above statement.

SPOILER Sci fi films are best IMO when the physics is believable, it seems odd that they would make such a big thing about relativity and portray some of the effects, but then leave out that getting anywhere near a black hole would mean you were crushed to fuck. It was a very enjoyable film if I don't think about it too much, which for me is what stops it being a great film /SPOILER
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 08:14:48 am

SPOILER ALTER (whole post really)

Just back from interstellar ... Thought it was great - as did MrsTT
really?

I thought it was Nolan ' s worst film by a distance, and poor in comparison with Nightcrawler.   looked great on imax though.

Yup - I quite deliberately avoided this thread - all reviews and trailers for the film. So I just sat back and lapped it up....

Re science and Hollywood.. I thought the film doffed it's cap to the science a few times.. But it's Hollywood - and 95%?of an audience won't know any different if it's right or wrong as long as it's plausible sounding.. People don't make a blockbuster for the 5% sadly..

I liked the idea of whether or not there was some higher being organising stuff for us - or if it was just us in the future - or both. I felt that was left quite nicely vague and dangling. Don't forget the first time you see 2001 there are quite a few 'huh?' Moments - that take a few viewings to pop into some sort of sense.. Holly woods probably a more conservative place nowadays...

I also liked the semi anti science dystopian future where scientists engineers etc.. Are looked down on. All on a world slowly killing itself. Sadly believable (that's the point I guess)..

Final science rambling... It's really easy to think that our PRESENT understanding of the universe is FACT. But mostly it's not... The science is the most likely / tested / believed outcome.. Holes (not black! ;) ) are being driven through the Big Bang Theory at the moment (according to the last bunch of physicists I had a few beers with) - so let's not get too upset with a film (a story) that misrepresents the science (another story in many ways)...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on November 22, 2014, 08:23:17 am
my major problem was not the incoherence of the plot (and boy is it incoherent) ,  what bothered me most was the lack of character development,  it was all so cursory the only characters I cared about were the two robot things.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 08:27:26 am
Ha! The robots were strangely compelling characters for angular slabs :) I thought they developed Coopers character well enough - but yes I can see that for most of the others...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 22, 2014, 08:58:16 am

SPOILER ALTER (whole post really)



Final science rambling... It's really easy to think that our PRESENT understanding of the universe is FACT. But mostly it's not... The science is the most likely / tested / believed outcome.. Holes (not black! ;) ) are being driven through the Big Bang Theory at the moment (according to the last bunch of physicists I had a few beers with) - so let's not get too upset with a film (a story) that misrepresents the science (another story in many ways)...

MOAR SPOILER DON'T READ IT!

I don't think it quite works where you have a film digging quite deep (for Hollywood) into physics but then you just ignore large parts of the same theory that you are basing your storyline on.

Unless theory about black holes is incorrect (they come from the same theory as relativity, obviously a mainstay of the film) a planet which was close enough to experience the associated distortion of spacetime would be on a decaying orbit towards the black hole and therefore not be a great place to look at setting up earth 2.0!

And the idea that aliens/god/future society hide a specially created 3d construction of 5d space inside the singularity within a black hole which is the only way to communicate with the past inside a bookshelf is all a bit M Night Shylaman!

Perfectly happy to turn my brain off and enjoy films, this one sort of asks you to think and not think at the same time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 22, 2014, 09:11:45 am
 :wave:
Ha! The robots were strangely compelling characters for angular slabs :)

Very Silent Running I thought...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 09:20:58 am
Actually some of the best robots in a scifi for ages imho... Was expecting them to 'do a Hal' at some point - I guess the producers kept them suitably workmanlike rather than making them cute and merchandisable!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 09:22:04 am

:wave:
Ha! The robots were strangely compelling characters for angular slabs :)

Very Silent Running I thought...

I am a film (amongst other things) Luddite.. I suspect there were many parts borrowed from other films (as for many Sci fi's I guess)...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 22, 2014, 09:42:21 am
I thought the whole film was an elegy to film (not digital) - very meta.  :smartass:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 22, 2014, 10:07:37 am
What Tomtom said and thank fuck he did because I really don't want to get into a massive back and forth about this. TP must have been watching a completely different film. I thought the human side was so well done, I actually had a lump in my throat at a few points. That's only ever happened in two films in the last.....15 years or so?? The wife leaving and the ending of The Road, and the train journey across the water in Spirited Away.


The only thing I will reiterate is that the pre-ending is taken from Flatland - higher dimensional / future beings may be able to interact with us "breaking" some aspects of our spacetime, but only in limited ways due to the constraints of our spacetime and how we can perceive it. In this case it seems to be gravity that can be broken in spacetime, thus the HD/FBs can use that manipulation within a black hole (where IIRC gravity is usually a problem), but Cooper can't perceive what they are doing - exactly the same with how Murp perceived what Cooper was doing (limited communication from higher dimensions to lower). Also the HD/FBs already showed they acted outside spacetime with the wormhole.

The robots were cool. Did I mention that was well as the characters, the story, the blend of down-to-earth life and sci-fi epic, the relationships, the progression, the set-up, etc etc, I thought the little snippets of humour were spot-on and very natural??


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on November 22, 2014, 11:28:46 am
I guess good films often divide opinion! Having now watched it I was safe to read Kermode's review and, as usual, he hit the nail on the head.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 11:40:04 am

I guess good films often divide opinion! Having now watched it I was safe to read Kermode's review and, as usual, he hit the nail on the head.

Yup. I'd go with that - having seen the film I can now read the review :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2014, 09:43:47 pm
Sci fi buffs watch BBC2 now.. Tomorrows Worlds... History ifs pence fiction...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 23, 2014, 12:03:51 pm
Sci fi buffs watch BBC2 now.. Tomorrows Worlds... History ifs pence fiction...

Sorry was typed on phone.

Watched this last night - new series on BBC2 "Tomorrows worlds. The History of science fiction" - should be in iPlayer. Interesting (not bowled over interesting but good) look at how Sci-fi developed. Talking to some of the directors/stars etc.. involved.. It moves about quite alot - (it is over 4 progrms so will probably re-visit some) but well worth a watch for the sci fi buff...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tim palmer on November 23, 2014, 04:53:16 pm
TP must have been watching a completely different film. I thought the human side was so well done, I actually had a lump in my throat at a few points.


Just because the film shows you something which is upsetting doesn't mean the characters are well constructed, the father daughter relationship was a lazy route one method of getting an emotional response out of the audience. 
The plot was totally predictable up until the final passage which was utterly risible
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 23, 2014, 05:48:02 pm
Watched edge of tomorrow on plane, excellent
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 23, 2014, 06:58:14 pm
 :2thumbsup:  :punk:

WAS my film of the year before Interstellar. I think I enjoyed them both equally, personally.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on November 23, 2014, 10:10:33 pm

The plot was totally predictable up until the final passage which was utterly risible

The more time passes since I watched the film, the more I agree with this. The ending is shocking.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on November 23, 2014, 10:44:54 pm
I quite liked the first two thirds of Interstellar, the last third definitely lowered it from an amazing film to just quite a good one, far too much pseudo science, and reliance of graphics that will almost definitely age terribly in a year or two.

I also caught Imitation Game which I thought was well acted through out, although I felt it was rather embarassing to put a few lines of script on the end explaining quite a brilliant mind killed himself at a young age due to persecution from the government and society at large as though it was unimportant, or that a pardon many a year after his death somehow made this okay.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 24, 2014, 11:50:35 am
Searching For Sugarman

Really enjoyed this documentary. Pretty simple stuff,  fascinating story well told.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on November 24, 2014, 12:08:13 pm
Searching For Sugarman

Really enjoyed this documentary. Pretty simple stuff,  fascinating story well told.

Great isn't it, one of the best.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 24, 2014, 12:27:50 pm
Certainly an interesting story, and one quite close to my heart

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=20503.0 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php?topic=20503.0)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on November 24, 2014, 01:36:54 pm
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Watched this over the weekend. Really good, especially if you like Wes Anderson, but could be a bit too wanky for some. One of his best in my opinion.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 24, 2014, 11:26:35 pm
The Hunger Games Mockingjay

Saw this at the weekend, when decided i wasn't quite in the mood for a winter's sleep.
Thought it was great despite low expectations and not having seen the other 2 films, or read any of it. Entertaining media satire, with a girl who shoots down bombers with explosiding arrows, what more could you want?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on November 24, 2014, 11:54:40 pm
Just got back from wathching 'what we do in the shadows', me and the misses thought it was great. too lazy to post links etc.. look it up
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on November 26, 2014, 05:25:26 pm
Watched Predestination the other evening, with Ethan Hawke. Nice film actually, a very different twist to the time travel conundrum than Interstellar and certainly wasn't a waste of a couple of hours.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on November 29, 2014, 08:18:45 pm
I thought Interstellar was quality. Spectacle combined with human emotion, doesn't matter to me that some of the science is speculative. No one makes blockbusters as bold and thought provoking as Nolan IMO.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 29, 2014, 10:26:25 pm
Not in the cinema but just watched and loved 'We Are the Best' about three 13 year old girls forming a punk band in Stockholm in 1982. Actually just a great film about friendship and it totally cut the mustard with my ultra-feminist 16 yr old daughter.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 30, 2014, 01:09:10 pm
Expect everyone has seen the Star Wars trailer (I'm actually quite optimistic now) but what if George Lucas was directing the new film.......

https://www.youtube.com/embed/v93Jh6JNBng (https://www.youtube.com/embed/v93Jh6JNBng)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on November 30, 2014, 01:12:01 pm
Yes thank fuck he's not!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 30, 2014, 01:23:43 pm
No jaja binks? :(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 30, 2014, 02:45:34 pm
I'm a sucker for Liam Neeson in Taken and Taken2 so watched "Non-Stop" last night.  A completely ridiculous plane hijack tale.  It's really daft but great.

Jasper - that Star Wars Lucas piss-take is brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on November 30, 2014, 06:44:28 pm
On a similar note we watched 3000 Miles To Graceland the other night:

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0233142/

Completely ridiculous but very entertaining.

Cheers FD, need some more mindless entertainment so that'll do nicely!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 30, 2014, 06:52:58 pm
3000 miles is great, will get that non-stop. I don't want to watch taken 3 but I know I will, he's so good.
A new Star Wars can get to fuck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on November 30, 2014, 08:23:43 pm
Saw the new lightsaber and thought 'yeah, far too easy to cut your own bollocks off with that thing'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 05, 2014, 09:58:11 pm
Dawn of the planet of the apes etc...

Log.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 08, 2014, 09:35:32 am
Smokin' Aces was on TV the other night. Star studded cast, shit studded plot. Shame, was OK in places and could have been quite good, but basically a mess.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on December 08, 2014, 12:26:21 pm
I thought Interstellar was quality. Spectacle combined with human emotion, doesn't matter to me that some of the science is speculative. No one makes blockbusters as bold and thought provoking as Nolan IMO.
I watched it last week and generally enjoyed it. The mixed reviews had done a good job of lowering my expectations and I wasn't disappointed. Some of it you have to just 'go with' but it didn't spoil it for me. It had elements of both Oblivion and Prometheus to it.

I really rate Matthew Mcconaughey, so glad he's moved on from the terrible rom coms which was all he was doing a few years back.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on December 17, 2014, 12:17:58 pm
The Imitation Game, good film. The Hawking one next I think
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 17, 2014, 05:47:40 pm
Imitation game looks good. Saw a trailer for the Hawkin one and it nearly made me vomit in a soft focus Cambridge affectation...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 17, 2014, 05:48:13 pm
But let me know if it's any good ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on December 17, 2014, 09:20:50 pm
Don't worry I offset these with stuff like The Raid 2 and Ip Man just to restore order  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 17, 2014, 09:22:16 pm
:) Raid is superb..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2014, 09:21:07 am
It always reminds me of "The Long Big Punch Up" sketch from the Fast Show.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on December 18, 2014, 10:11:44 am
Anyone seen the Hobbit yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on December 18, 2014, 10:31:19 am
The second one was such a travesty I'm not planning to bother with the third.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 18, 2014, 10:31:34 am
Anyone seen the Hobbit yet?

I thought it was a bit short...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on December 18, 2014, 11:15:56 am
Boom boom tish
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hstmoore on December 18, 2014, 12:41:40 pm
Watched Nightcrawler last night.

It's about a guy in LA who is looking for a job/purpose and stumbles upon the morally dubious world of filming horrific accidents/crimes which happen over night, and then selling those films to news companies.

The whole film is centred on this guy (Jake Gyllenhall [sp?]) and the focus is on his character as well as the morally dubious nature of his activites and how far he is willing to push them.

All of the acting, particularly that of the lead, is great, and the whole thing felt very atmospheric and stylish. The story constantly develops and keep you interested.

Probably the best film I've seen this year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 18, 2014, 01:43:01 pm
I'd second that I though night crawler was the best film I've seen for ages, it was so good that it left my girlfriend slightly disturbed for a few days.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on December 20, 2014, 10:24:15 am
I finally got to watch Zero Dark Thirty which, whilst not as good as my high expectations of it, was actually really enjoyed by my wife. So, lads, don't be afraid of warterboarding your other half until she agrees to watch it with you, as I had to, she'll thank you later. Making the central character a strong female helped, I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 03, 2015, 06:51:21 pm
Birdman - Ace. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 03, 2015, 10:12:45 pm
Good, gonna watch that next.

The theory of everything - very good, obviously shocked at the end when he parachutes in and kills all the bad guys!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: James Malloch on January 03, 2015, 10:26:15 pm
Got recommended The Secret Life of Walter Mitty this week.

Was a decent watch if you're after something not very taxing on the brain.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on January 03, 2015, 10:47:05 pm
Gomorra was an excellent recommendation. Absolutely brutal!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 04, 2015, 12:54:16 pm
The guy who wrote it (still in hiding living under a new identity) did a TV series that's just as good, if not better.  It's on Sky if you have it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on January 04, 2015, 01:28:47 pm
I did actually mean the TV series but I posted in the wrong thread. I might check out the documentary now though.

Has there been any mention of a second series?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 04, 2015, 01:38:45 pm
Aha... Well the film is great too :-)

I read somewhere that there is second series in production.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 04, 2015, 04:06:50 pm
Her is good too...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 04, 2015, 04:18:58 pm
Aha... Well the film is great too :-)

I read somewhere that there is second series in production.
It better be as I've been suffering withdrawals after we watched the whole thing in about three nights.

The film is excellent and equally grim.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 11, 2015, 11:36:22 am
Under the Skin might be amazing but also possibly rubbish. Not sure yet, still thinking about it. Whatever it's the strangest film I've seen in a while. Beautifully shot. Cleverly made (don't read up on it too much if you are going to see it)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 11, 2015, 05:07:09 pm
Tempted by that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 11, 2015, 06:09:33 pm
On my watch list...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on January 12, 2015, 11:27:14 am
Streamed The Interview this evening with son #1 after son #2 had gone to bed. Leaving aside all the controversy (plus the distracting detail for me that the outdoor scenes were almost all filmed in very recognisable areas a few km south of Squamish), I didn't think it was that great. Stylistically it drifts awkwardly between pure slapstick comedy and very-slightly-serious satire, not really nailing either.

I'd sort of agree, it didn't really know if it was Austin Powers or James Bond.  It fell in a bit of a hole in-between the two.   

Its not unwatchable but it isn't a must see.  Oh and the swearing was a bit OTT. 

As for the politics, I'm glad it is out in the public domain.  I don't think it changed or helped shape an opinion on North Korea.  Neither good nor bad.  The press is a storm in a teacup.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on January 12, 2015, 04:22:20 pm
Birdman - Ace.

Very much so.

But then I particularly like films about people in rooms in New York talking to each other, provided romance isn't the main focus. A worthy genre. (On which basis Birdman had a couple too many ingredients. See also that last Cohen bros film, which I think was when I last posted on this thread.) 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on January 14, 2015, 09:36:25 am
I saw Birdman last night and at times wasn't sure if I was enjoying it or not. There's so much going on that I found it a bit disorientating. It seemed better in retrospect, but it won't be everyone's cup of tea. Edward Norton is outstanding.

We went to the new Curzon cinema in Sheffield that opened last Friday. I hope the city can support something like this - 12 a ticket, plus expensive city centre parking (9 for 3 hours in the NCP) and average bottled lager for 4. Nice decor.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on January 14, 2015, 10:14:56 am
Under the Skin might be amazing but also possibly rubbish. Not sure yet, still thinking about it. Whatever it's the strangest film I've seen in a while. Beautifully shot. Cleverly made (don't read up on it too much if you are going to see it)

Watched this far too late on monday night and couldn't stop watching, really really weird. Did I enjoy it? I don't know but i'll be watching it again. Never viewing this anything other than sober.

A very different film. The bit with the **** ******* and the **** *****, that was mental.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 14, 2015, 12:53:34 pm
Did I enjoy it? I don't know but i'll be watching it again.
:lol: I feel the same, quite a bit of  :wub: with a big proportion of  :shrug:

A very different film. The bit with the **** ******* and the **** *****, that was mental.
Too cryptic for me, PM me, you could be referring to half the film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: hstmoore on January 14, 2015, 03:47:38 pm
- 12 a ticket, plus expensive city centre parking (9 for 3 hours in the NCP) and average bottled lager for 4. Nice decor.

Just bought two tickets for tonight at Curzon Sheffield. They don't do orange Wednesdays so that's 18 for two student tickets. Would've been 5.90 for both tickets at Showroom  :jaw:. Won't be going to Curzon again.

On the plus side, got seats E4 and E5, so that bodes well for the weekend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 14, 2015, 04:11:17 pm
We went to the new Curzon cinema in Sheffield that opened last Friday. I hope the city can support something like this - 12 a ticket, plus expensive city centre parking (9 for 3 hours in the NCP) and average bottled lager for 4. Nice decor.

Oof... I am continually diappointed by the multiplexes.... here in Manc, the AMC in town is 'only' 7.50 - but dirty, ripped seats, overpriced shite food... The Cineworld in Parrswood is similarly priced, shit and with the added bonus of more scrotes...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on January 14, 2015, 04:19:56 pm
Where's this Curzon place? what do you get for your 12 apart from a lighter wallet and a sore arse cheeks? I can get that down Attercliffe.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on January 14, 2015, 04:25:51 pm
Where's this Curzon place? what do you get for your 12 apart from a lighter wallet and a sore arse cheeks? I can get that down Attercliffe.

http://www.curzoncinemas.com/cinemas/sheffield/ (http://www.curzoncinemas.com/cinemas/sheffield/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on January 14, 2015, 04:40:28 pm
ta, i'll stick with the showroom
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on January 14, 2015, 08:27:35 pm
Over the New Year I watched The Hobbit at The Plaza (http://skipton.nm-cinemas.co.uk/) in Skipton. Enjoyed the experience of a 1920 picture house (sat in the Dress Stalls) more than the film itself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 14, 2015, 08:29:25 pm
The Curzon have a fantastic 'on demand' catalogue of art house flicks online.  It's my favourite cinema in London and there's a petition to stop the Soho one getting redeveloped.

As for Birdman, it's the (cleverly worked) continuous tracking shot throughout that I found disorientating.  Cinematically very impressive of course but I think we're used to at least a few scene cuts to take a breath and mentally figure out where we are.  At one point about forty minutes in I was thinking "this is still one long shot," and had half my attention on my watch watching for a cut-scene change 'til I figured out that it wasn't going to happen.  Still a great movie from a great filmmaker...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 15, 2015, 11:14:52 am
Battleship - shite. But entertaining shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on January 15, 2015, 12:18:22 pm

As for Birdman, it's the (cleverly worked) continuous tracking shot throughout that I found disorientating. 

Yes, agreed, but also the sound. Those drums! I'm a bit deaf and struggled to hear the dialogue at times over the sound of the drumming. But it was pretty cool later on in the film when the camera pokes into that practice room and you see the guy at work.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on January 15, 2015, 12:44:23 pm
Taken 3,pretty watchable, what you'd expect really.  First one is still the best by far.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on January 15, 2015, 10:43:17 pm
Don't ever be tempted to watch a film called Getaway, got Ethan Hawke in it.

It's bad, and I do mean bad  :shit:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 17, 2015, 11:48:19 pm
Amen to that..... it's fantastic the way that it evolves.  The early episodes had me thinking it would be a slightly twee fish-out-of-water / odd couple sitcom.  But it darkens and deepens in a wonderful manner: the good-man-forced-to-do-bad-things becomes a bad, albeit complicated, man ("I am the one who knocks!"); whilst Jesse goes from goofy comic sidekick to the (flawed) moral centre.   Breaking Bad and Mad Men, for me are, the two great post-Wire dramas. 

Agree as well that right now, even the more disposable boxset dramas are more appetising than films at the moment.  That is not necessarily a knock on the quality of contemporary film making, more that 2hrs for a film just seems an awful long time to pay attention when I'm tired from work (too much internet browsing has killed my attention span); 50min episodes, even when watched in batches of two or three, just seem more digestible. Good value too - a full season of 13 or so episodes for around 15 to keep, compared to 4-5 for a film for two nights.  Currently enjoying season two of House of Cards - silly but it's a chance to see Kevin Spacy chewing the scenery with relish.  Next up, season 6 of Mad Men (and I think I've got a few seasons of Sons of Anarchy - a bit of a guilty pleasure - to catch up on too)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 17, 2015, 11:57:33 pm
Bad Grandpa (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3063516/) is highly wrong but I haven't laughed so hard in ages. The kid in it is amazing. Don't be put off by the 'Jackass presents...' I was never a fan of the show, but thought this was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 18, 2015, 11:46:06 am
Slightly off-topic: I don't usually watch any TV but Netflix offered a free month at Christmas so I got the chance to binge-watch all of Breaking Bad over about three weeks. I thought it totally lived up to the hype. If anyone hasn't seen it - unlikely I know - I'd recommend it over most of the films I have seen over the last decade or two.

Game of Thrones next then... First series is a little Sean Beany meh, but thereafter.... I really didnt think it was up my street - but it was....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on January 18, 2015, 12:09:55 pm
... or The Walking Dead. Bit of a downer the 2nd season, but after that it keeps getting better and better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on January 18, 2015, 05:10:09 pm
Breaking Bad was brilliant especially seasons 4 and 5. Sons of Anarchy is good too, sucking me in at the mo.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 18, 2015, 05:32:08 pm
Watched Mediterraneo on DVD last night for the second time.  It's a really warm, funny ant-war film from the early nineties about a bunch of Italian soldiers who get marooned on a Greek Island during the Second World War.  Cut off from the outside world they integrate into the local community and along the way question the stupidity of war.  It's great.

On a series tip, then I can second votes for Game of Thrones & SOA.  I'd also add Braquo (French cop thriller) and Gomorrah which we've talked about already.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 205Chris on January 19, 2015, 08:40:34 pm
On a series tip, then I can second votes for Game of Thrones & SOA.  I'd also add Braquo (French cop thriller) and Gomorrah which we've talked about already.

After Game of Thrones & Homeland I was on the lookout for a new series to start.

I've watched the first three episodes of Braquo now and it's the best thing I've seen in ages.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 19, 2015, 08:52:50 pm

On a series tip, then I can second votes for Game of Thrones & SOA.  I'd also add Braquo (French cop thriller) and Gomorrah which we've talked about already.

After Game of Thrones & Homeland I was on the lookout for a new series to start.

I've watched the first three episodes of Braquo now and it's the best thing I've seen in ages.

Good tip. Is a Netflix style thing or dvd?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 205Chris on January 19, 2015, 08:56:13 pm
After Game of Thrones & Homeland I was on the lookout for a new series to start.
I've watched the first three episodes of Braquo now and it's the best thing I've seen in ages.

Good tip. Is a Netflix style thing or dvd?

I picked it up off itunes. It is in French but you quickly look past this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 19, 2015, 10:04:15 pm
On a series tip, then I can second votes for Game of Thrones & SOA.  I'd also add Braquo (French cop thriller) and Gomorrah which we've talked about already.

After Game of Thrones & Homeland I was on the lookout for a new series to start.

I've watched the first three episodes of Braquo now and it's the best thing I've seen in ages.

Finally! someone watches it. :wall: it's flippin' great.  (My French GF laughed at your comment BTW  :))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 19, 2015, 10:09:09 pm
Nice one Chris...  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on January 20, 2015, 02:32:50 pm
Back on topic, i had a look through the thread 'cause i was interested to read other people's opinions, but didn't make it in here yet, so i may as well start it up.

I was curious about all the online infighting and so i watched American Sniper last night. I'd say if you are not American and have more than 2 functioning brain cells don't bother watching it.

It's just a series of scenes with no context or development which clumsily tries to follow a bunch of the mandatory story-threads and totally failing to hook you into any of them. Boorishly done and feeling rushed, and with the subtlety of a pneumatic jackhammer. It really felt like a simplistic 'film' trying to pick and chose elements from other films while leaving behind the garnishing, and though watchable, it isn't anything like interesting or absorbing. When you are checking your e-mails and facebook a number of times through the film you know they didn't quite get it right.

It is being touted as a 'companion' movie for The Hurt Locker but it lacks all that is good in it. How it racked 6 Oscar nominations is beyond me, although Cooper does manage to make a good job out of a shitty script.

On the 'political' side of it, it is a cringeworthy eye-rolling uber-patriotic piece of propaganda grade film-making, reminiscent of that film towards the end on Inglorious Basterds...  :sick:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 20, 2015, 03:04:54 pm

On the 'political' side of it, it is a cringeworthy eye-rolling uber-patriotic piece of propaganda grade film-making, reminiscent of that film towards the end on Inglorious Basterds...  :sick:

US Military Propaganda could just about be a new genre these days... 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 23, 2015, 04:24:06 pm
Under the Skin might be amazing but also possibly rubbish. Not sure yet, still thinking about it. Whatever it's the strangest film I've seen in a while. Beautifully shot. Cleverly made (don't read up on it too much if you are going to see it)

Watched this far too late on monday night and couldn't stop watching, really really weird. Did I enjoy it? I don't know but i'll be watching it again. Never viewing this anything other than sober.

A very different film. The bit with the **** ******* and the **** *****, that was mental.

Watched this from my sickbed this afternoon.  Really great, especially if you don't read anything about it beforehand (I hadn't read much). 

Some Spoilers follow hence the drop down.

NSFW  :
The scene on the beach was really unsettling and upsetting... Just awful.  I loved the fact that her motorcycling partner looked almost identical to Dave in his spacesuit in 2001.. There's a lot going on so will definitely watch again.  Watching it with a fever whilst sick and a bit spaces out was an experience.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 23, 2015, 04:39:13 pm
I know its been mentioned before here - but we started watching House of Cards.. only done two episodes so far...

Absolutely superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 23, 2015, 04:50:50 pm
I know its been mentioned before here - but we started watching House of Cards.. only done two episodes so far...

Absolutely superb.

British or American version?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 23, 2015, 05:12:04 pm
American.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 23, 2015, 05:21:33 pm
I know its been mentioned before here - but we started watching House of Cards.. only done two episodes so far...

Absolutely superb.
You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 23, 2015, 05:34:46 pm
I'm half-way through the second series - good stuff; although, when Kevin Spacey's doing his slightly reptilian, scenery chewing thing, I could watch him reading from the Yellow Pages.

This wiki's pretty good for reminding you who's who, and just why they're stabbing thingummy in the back:

http://house-of-cards.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page (http://house-of-cards.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 23, 2015, 06:01:17 pm
It's beautifully filmed too..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 23, 2015, 08:00:29 pm
Still a bit  :sick: so had a nap, lots of tea then watched the HD version of Cammel and Roeg's "Performance" from 1970. Saw this ages ago on a crap VHS but it's miles better in its fully restored glory.  Fox, Jagger and 'Arry Flowers.. It's brilliant, quite disturbing. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on January 23, 2015, 08:14:38 pm
Finished not awful but certainly not fantastic exam - attempt to head back to library via coffee shop, have coffee, realise I can't be fucked with revision for a few hours, head to The Showroom.

I wound up catching A Most Violent Year, which I thought was pretty fantastic in my sleep deprived, not quite with reality state. Kind of classic gangster film in parts, with Oscar Isaac looking a hell of a lot like Michael Corleone in a few scenes, but otherwise about a man torn between doing the right thing and doing what might be right for his business. Went in having not watched trailers or read any reviews, walked out thinking it was well shot and worth a watch / recommendation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 23, 2015, 09:28:22 pm
I sknow its been mentioned before here - but we started watching House of Cards.. only done two episodes so far...

Absolutely superb.
You may think that, I couldn't possibly comment.  ;)

The new season appears shortly.

Currently watching season2 of Forbrydelsen, and actually enjoying it more than the first. First was more towards fear-suspense, while this is more toward political intrigue. Both seasons are excellent. Watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 24, 2015, 09:22:22 pm
Saw Whiplash tonight at our local cinema.  Gives an insight into what it takes to play music at the highest level and why mastery of an instrument with feeling is somewhat incompatible with the school system.  It will appeal to climbers, lots of blood, sweat and tears coupled with incomprehension and misunderstanding over the pursuit of something transcendental but impossible to describe to family and friends.  Recommended, although Tom, sorry mate, it's a film about a jazz drummer...

Off to see Inherent Vice next Friday.  The first Pynchon novel to be adapted for the big screen and it looks good.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on January 24, 2015, 10:03:26 pm
I liked it too. I think it might appeal more to climbers than jazz fans.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cofe on January 26, 2015, 11:40:13 am
I went to the premiere of my friend Jon's new film at BFI Southbank on Saturday night. It was showing as part of the London Comedy Film Festival. In fact, it won the only award the festival gives out, which is a bit cool.

Anyway, it's called Superbob, and stars Brett Goldstein (stand-up comic, known for Derek and Drifters), Catherine Tate and a bunch of other people. It's a Brit indie film, made on a tiny budget. It's proper funny and I laughed my cock off. They're hoping to have distribution sorted soon, so hopefully it'll be coming to a cinema near you. Go see it if you get chance.

Teaser:

SuperBob teaser #1 on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/114011700)

xx
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 26, 2015, 02:45:28 pm
I went to the premiere of my friend Jon's new film at BFI Southbank on Saturday night. It was showing as part of the London Comedy Film Festival. In fact, it won the only award the festival gives out, which is a bit cool.

Anyway, it's called Superbob, and stars Brett Goldstein (stand-up comic, known for Derek and Drifters), Catherine Tate and a bunch of other people. It's a Brit indie film, made on a tiny budget. It's proper funny and I laughed my cock off. They're hoping to have distribution sorted soon, so hopefully it'll be coming to a cinema near you. Go see it if you get chance.
Looks great, did the 'tiny' budget include smashing up some cars or did they chase some ambulances for a bit?

Is the original 'short' they did online anywhere?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 26, 2015, 07:04:52 pm
Looks great Cofe...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on January 26, 2015, 07:45:06 pm
Just watched White Settlers with Polyanna McIntosh as a great female lead. Not one for horror films to be honest but this was gripping, tense and kept me interested. A young couple sell up and move to Scotland in the middle of nowhere, a great fixer-upper - the rest of the movie is mostly shot at night. Not a bad week British movie at all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cha1n on January 28, 2015, 08:02:15 pm
Watched The Imitation Game last night. It was definitely watchable but not as good as a beautiful mind or good will hunting to name a few other mathematician themed films.

I little annoyed as it had potential to be much better with its cast and story line.

I've been waiting so long to watch a good film lately, I'd say the closest was Gone Girl and Nightcrawler wasn't bad either. Keep the suggestions coming!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 31, 2015, 03:17:33 pm
I'm a sucker for Liam Neeson in Taken and Taken2 so watched "Non-Stop" last night.  A completely ridiculous plane hijack tale.  It's really daft but great.



Watched this last night. Top notch daftness!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on February 02, 2015, 05:12:49 pm
Inherent Vice? I like a good stoner noir, liked Boogie Nights and even liked the book though I'm not into Pynchon; 5* in the Guardian and it's off to the Everyman...

I'd give it a low three stars. It strikes me as a very straight rendition of the book, which in turn is as straight as Pynchon's ever got (not very straight.) A mix of hippie LA, when counter culture hadn't obviously passed high water, Vietnam, vs straight America. Nixon in the mix. I should have liked it more that I did, but I guess it tonks merrily enough along. Haven't heard so many people speaking as though trying not to exhale since I lived on Harcourt Rd. However, my wife would like the two and a half hours of her life back as she hadn't a clue what was going on (two hours would be fairer, as she was having a lovely kip for at least half an hour).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 02, 2015, 06:22:02 pm
I'm a sucker for Liam Neeson in Taken and Taken2 so watched "Non-Stop" last night.  A completely ridiculous plane hijack tale.  It's really daft but great.



Watched this last night. Top notch daftness!

Excellent - I'll book this in for next time MrsTT is out with the ladies...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark20 on February 02, 2015, 06:41:08 pm
I've been waiting so long to watch a good film lately, I'd say the closest was Gone Girl and Nightcrawler wasn't bad either. Keep the suggestions coming!
Watched Gone Girl the other night, despite it sounding a bit dull and long I was hooked. Very good, one of the better films I've seen recently. If you like a good kidnapping film then Prisoners is worth a watch, dark and gripping
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 02, 2015, 07:49:05 pm
Inherent Vice? I like a good stoner noir, liked Boogie Nights and even liked the book though I'm not into Pynchon; 5* in the Guardian and it's off to the Everyman...

I'd give it a low three stars. It strikes me as a very straight rendition of the book, which in turn is as straight as Pynchon's ever got (not very straight.) A mix of hippie LA, when counter culture hadn't obviously passed high water, Vietnam, vs straight America. Nixon in the mix. I should have liked it more that I did, but I guess it tonks merrily enough along. Haven't heard so many people speaking as though trying not to exhale since I lived on Harcourt Rd. However, my wife would like the two and a half hours of her life back as she hadn't a clue what was going on (two hours would be fairer, as she was having a lovely kip for at least half an hour).

I thought similar and I'm a big Pynchon fan.  It's really funny iand has some great scenes and characters however it's just too complicated and all over the pace plot wise.  If he'd simplified the story a bit and tried to be less faithful to the book it would have made a better film IMHO.  My GF had the same experience as Mrs Johnx2 and I suspect others who haven't read the book will also.  Shame as it's a great performance from the cast and really well shot capturing that early 70s era perfectly.  Three Stars.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on February 02, 2015, 10:01:21 pm
I saw that mark20 enjoyed prisoners, I wanted to enjoy it since I liked the actors but I turned it off after an hr and didn't give it another thought  :(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cha1n on February 04, 2015, 10:23:33 am
Watched Interstellar last night. It was OK but nothing of note, the twist with Matt Damon was probably the best bit but that was a very short part of the film. It seems that people are giving out high votes on IMDB for nothing nowadays... Stayed up until 1am watching it and now I'm tired in work. :(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: DubDom on February 04, 2015, 10:29:39 am
Did Anyone see Fury? is it worth a watch?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 04, 2015, 10:35:35 am
Watched Wild the other day. Really enjoyed it. Similar to the The Walk. True story of a woman coming to terms with grief and addiction by going for a bloody long walk.

Prisoners is worth another go Dense. I can see why you turned it off. It does get better in the second half.

Others to consider.
Short Term 12
The Raid (and probably The Raid 2 but I haven't seen that yet)
Dead Mans Shoes (not so recent but very good)
Blue Jasmine
Stoker
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on February 04, 2015, 10:55:44 am
Watched Kingsman (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802144/?ref_=nv_sr_1) over the weekend. Good fun, ott gore and fast paced, slightly silly action.

Also wanted to big up Community (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1439629/?ref_=nv_sr_2) (available on Netflix I think) watched the first three seasons and it's absolutely fantastic. Bought the first season as a Christmas gifts for several relatives and they've all come back asking to borrow season 2. Well worth a watch! 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on February 04, 2015, 11:07:02 am
watched Wolf Of Wall Street last night, pile of poo.  sure there were a few funny bits and some T&A but it lacked credible story and 3 hours?  C'mon guys.  Shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on February 04, 2015, 12:06:12 pm
Did Anyone see Fury? is it worth a watch?

Saw it the other day. Worth a watch but don't expect to come out questioning your moral foundations. Similar vibe to Saving Private Ryan but not as good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: haydn jones on February 04, 2015, 02:02:17 pm
Watched Interstellar last night. It was OK but nothing of note, the twist with Matt Damon was probably the best bit but that was a very short part of the film. It seems that people are giving out high votes on IMDB for nothing nowadays... Stayed up until 1am watching it and now I'm tired in work. :(
Same thought it was just average.  Finally found a decent copy last night too. :p
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dexter on February 04, 2015, 02:23:41 pm
watched Wolf Of Wall Street last night, pile of poo.  sure there were a few funny bits and some T&A but it lacked credible story and 3 hours?  C'mon guys.  Shite.

Isn't it based on a true story?

On another note watched ex machina the other day, thought it was pretty good although the science in it was not particularly accurate (what film is), but it wasn't to significant to detract from the movie.
All in all I'd say maybe 4 stars.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on February 04, 2015, 02:54:28 pm
Quote from: Dexter
watched ex machina the other day

Quite psyched to see this, cheers!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 04, 2015, 03:16:49 pm
Did Anyone see Fury? is it worth a watch?

If you want to be bombarded for 2 hours and come out with a thousand yard stare and feeling a little shell shocked, then aye. If you want more than 10 minutes of "story" in the middle, then....no!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cha1n on February 09, 2015, 11:35:42 pm
Just finished watching Whiplash. It was decent.

Didn't mess about too much with story lines and gets straight in there. Strangely enough it makes me want to start training for climbing...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on February 10, 2015, 05:13:56 pm
Lord I thought ex machina, fury, and whiplash all looked absolutely terrible
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on February 11, 2015, 06:15:15 am
watched Wolf Of Wall Street last night, pile of poo.  sure there were a few funny bits and some T&A but it lacked credible story and 3 hours?  C'mon guys.  Shite.

Agreed - I was quite keen to watch it and I didn't enjoy it at all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 11, 2015, 08:57:39 am
On another note watched ex machina the other day, thought it was pretty good although the science in it was not particularly accurate (what film is), but it wasn't to significant to detract from the movie.
All in all I'd say maybe 4 stars.

A decent story is always more crucial than accurate science to an enjoyable film surely? I thought Ex Machina was good, though really more of a horror movie structurally than a scifi. I thought it was effectively malevolent and dramatic, and not much of what i expected. If the 4 stars was out of 5 I'd probably agree, maybe 3.8!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stubbs on February 11, 2015, 10:17:05 am
Just a heads up that Zero Dark Thirty has been added to Netflix.  I didn't see it at the time, and thought it is well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 01, 2015, 11:22:55 pm
Who was it who recommended Predestination on here? Or was it even on here? Hmmm.

Anyway, I liked it. I have a bad habit of just sitting back and enjoying films rather than trying to work out all the complexities and plot twists, so obviously it confused the fuck out of me, but I kinda get most of it and it was intriguing and nicely done and not really what, nor how, I expected.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on March 02, 2015, 12:24:52 am
Who was it who recommended Predestination on here? Or was it even on here? Hmmm.

Anyway, I liked it. I have a bad habit of just sitting back and enjoying films rather than trying to work out all the complexities and plot twists, so obviously it confused the fuck out of me, but I kinda get most of it and it was intriguing and nicely done and not really what, nor how, I expected.
That'd be me I think - definitely worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on March 02, 2015, 07:48:32 am
Gone girl- I didn't know films could get so bad, I wanted to turn it off the whole time. The plots decent, I even thought Ben Affleck was ok in it. But the actress? Wtf? Awful. 2 mediocre actors would have made this a much better film. Awful.
Then I watched Silver linings playbook, which I expected to hate but really enjoyed
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on March 02, 2015, 10:26:04 am
The wife went to see 50 shades of grey last night and when she got home didn't insist I tie her up and anally fist her so I assume it's shit...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on March 02, 2015, 10:30:57 am
Gone girl- I didn't know films could get so bad, I wanted to turn it off the whole time. The plots decent, I even thought Ben Affleck was ok in it. But the actress? Wtf? Awful. 2 mediocre actors would have made this a much better film. Awful.


Watched this last night . Just seemed like a normal marriage to me?  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 02, 2015, 11:03:13 am
Thought that about certain aspects from book.

Watched The Road on Saturday night. Holy shit, one depressing movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on March 16, 2015, 01:32:26 pm
Gone girl- I didn't know films could get so bad, I wanted to turn it off the whole time. The plots decent, I even thought Ben Affleck was ok in it. But the actress? Wtf? Awful. 2 mediocre actors would have made this a much better film. Awful.


Watched this last night . Just seemed like a normal marriage to me?  :shrug:

Did the same, watched it last night, the premise of the tale sounded interesting and the story could have been a real Hitchcock idea but the the direction was just step by step, it had zero atmosphere, no tension, wooden acting and just played out the story.  It could have been a lot more, it was just average.  Shame.  5/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on March 21, 2015, 05:43:47 pm
Watched 'Monsters - Dark Continent'. Ignore the slight sci-fi alien invasion backdrop, it's a US at war movie set in a middle eastern country and like most these days, it's a gritty if somewhat grim telling of one Private's tale. It's much more than a guns and bloodshed story and by the end of it, I felt quite numb - coping strategy kicking in I guess.
One scene where the soldiers share food with locals was pretty surreal given the events that lead them to being there - full marks to the director for conveying the utter madness.

Some brilliant acting too at times.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Kingy on March 29, 2015, 10:01:07 am
Just seen Focus with Will Smith and Margot Robbie, a pretty good insight in the world of professional pick pocketing and gambling. Slightly long winded in places but definitely keeps you hooked for the duration, worth seeing. Seems like Will Smith has been around forever
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 29, 2015, 10:24:11 am
Two from me - both on quite a dark tip...

The latest Hunger Games - mocking jay Part 1A.001 beta etc...
Its pretty good.. the prev HG films have been fairly good mainstream fare - a little schmaltzy but with sufficient future dystopian gloom to keep my interest from drifting towards the smartphone whilst viewing.. This one is quite dark. Which I like. Nothing good really happens - and cynically you could say its just a set up towards the final episode, but there are sufficient plot twists and stuff to keep it going. Its a bit slow for the first half - but persist viewer it gets better and darker. In places it wants to be 1984 - but it ain't - but they try.... Look, I wouldn't bust out the bunting, but it might be worth three sheets to rent in pay per view etc...

The Raid 2...
Man this film is grim in places... Its got far more plot and (ahem really?) depth than The Raid (1) - and this makes it a bit more of an effort to watch (FFS I EVEN HAD TO READ THE SUBTITLES!).. but the fighting scenes are great (and plentiful) and those who like gore, sticky endings, knives used in rather grim violent and probably creative ways will enjoy. There were a few cover my view with a hand until the squishy/slashy noise had gone moments.

FINALLY.. and its not really a film, but... House of Cards S3 has not disappointed so far (we're a handful of episodes from the end so no spoilers please) but Prof. Spacey - nay Sir Spacey - is at times just as nasty evil and lizard like (within the blink of an eye) as he was in the first series, if not better...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on March 29, 2015, 10:47:37 am
Saw Philomena the other night. Really good film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 29, 2015, 11:14:24 am
This reminds me - I had a massive film binge on my recent flights to Malaysia and back. Let's see if I can remember them all... nope, had to look up the film list on the Emirates website.

Kill the Messenger

I really liked this one, mainly because it's an interesting/worrying story. Acting was reasonable, pace good. Not an astonishing film, but decent. It's based on the true story of Gary Webb, a reported who uncovers some murky CIA secrets.

Foxcatcher

Another film based on a true story, this time of the slightly strange relationship between two US olympic wrestlers and John du Pont, the rich Heir to the Du Pont Dynasty, and wannabe medal winning coach. The lead actor's emotionless portrayal of Mark Schultz annoyed me a bit (could never quite work out what he was meant to be thinking) but on the whole I thought it was worth a watch, once again because there's nowt stranger than non-fiction.
 
Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhal at his weirdly best. Ever since Donnie Darko I've preferred him in very strange roles, he just nails them and makes you believe he's a total psycho. In this he plays an up and coming news film journo/cameraman. Dark, strange, brutal. Fast paced, edgy. Great stuff.

Interstallar

Better than I expected. Some folks on here were not that excited, but I thought it was fine. Nothing astonishing, but I liked how it delved into the unexplainable world of higher dimensions. Not as great a role by Mat McC as some of his other recent stuff.

The Imitation Game
Really good. I'm a sucker for a true story and this one was pretty good again. Quite light and easy going, no world class acting but nothing bad, just easy to sit and absorb the story.

The Judge

Haha. :lol:  Right, I actually got on ok with this, despite it having all the clichs known to man and Robert Downey Jr. churning out another one of his standard performances. Seems to get mediocre reviews. Could be worse, could be a lot better. I think this was film no 7 of of my journeys so I was a bit zombified by that point.

'71

Set in the troubles of Northern Ireland. I don'e know enough about that time to comment on the accuracy of the portrayals, but the lead lad played a good role in the this tense, fast, action thriller. Not a pleasant watch, but very tense and engaging. Once again, makes you think about who are the good guys and who are the bad. Very refreshing compared to usual Hollywood portrayal of goodies and baddies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 29, 2015, 11:34:11 am

Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhal at his weirdly best. Ever since Donnie Darko I've preferred him in very strange roles, he just nails them and makes you believe he's a total psycho. In this he plays an up and coming news film journo/cameraman. Dark, strange, brutal. Fast paced, edgy. Great stuff.


Interesting - I got about half way through this on a flight back from Tenerife when an old dear two rows back decided to faint. Cue mid flight medical scenes - woman lying in aisle, feet in air, 'are there any medical doctors on board' announcements etc... and I never got to finish the film before my rental expired. Anyway, mid flight emergencies aside (she was fine by the way and skipped off the plane..) I enjoyed the first 30-40 min, but was starting to get a bit bored (I'd got to the bit about 5 min after he'd progressed to a shiny red car) and the intereaction with the news producer all seemed a bit odd... TBH I have not been keen to watch the rest - should I? I generally like this type of film (Drive, DD etc..)

Basically did the 2nd half improve?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 29, 2015, 12:33:33 pm
It was a bit flat for some time after he got the red car, but it does descend further into darkness and the end sequence is great. I would say it's worth persevering.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 29, 2015, 12:55:12 pm
It was a bit flat for some time after he got the red car, but it does descend further into darkness and the end sequence is great. I would say it's worth persevering.

8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ducko on March 29, 2015, 05:59:52 pm
Didn't really rate it, not a bad film but for me it's sums up as: he's weird, yeah he's pretty weird, yep he's definitely weird.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: magpie on March 30, 2015, 12:25:34 pm
I quite liked it but it was definitely a bit weird, it reminded me of Drive but with a little bit more going on / point to the story.  It's probably worth watching to the end, I'd say.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 30, 2015, 07:16:02 pm
Watched The Drop with Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini last night. Very good gritty noir from Denis Lehane (Gone Baby Gone, Mystic River etc).  Worthwhile..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 11, 2015, 11:14:32 am
Saw John Wick last night - fucking awesome
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on April 11, 2015, 02:24:33 pm
Can't remember if I mentioned it but watched both John wick and the drop last wk, both really good films. Obviously remove brain for keanu. Also saw the homesman which was decent and what we do in the shadows, flight of the concordes guys as 4 vampires living together. Good if you like fotc, worst film you'll ever see if you don't
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on April 13, 2015, 10:14:52 am
The Hunger Games Mockingjay
the subliminal message being beamed to boy teenagers that is OK to be trapped in unrequited love affairs with girls Who Cannot Make Up Their Minds.
The books do cover this part of the story a lot better than the films have. However the books are much more pshcological than can be portrayed in a film.
There is a lot of subliminal messaging, sub text and sensory manipulation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 13, 2015, 04:46:32 pm
Watched 'Her' the other night. Like other work by Jonze, beautiful to look at and contains lots of clever ideas (love the lift), but similar to 'Where the wild things are' found it strangely lacking emotion, didn't really connect with any of the characters. And not even because one is a computer.

Also caught 'No strings attached' on TV, fully expected another below average rom-com la 'Friends with benefits' but with Reitman at the helm, it's actually quite watchable. The fact it features Natalie Portman didn't do it any harm  :wub:

One for the 'Shit isn't that...' thread, in 'Her' Joaquin Phoenix looks the spit of a youthful Kevin Kline from his 'Fish Called Wanda' days.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 13, 2015, 04:58:07 pm
Selma.

Really enjoyed it, lead actor made a good job of playing Martin Luther King.

Definitely worth a watch. Gripping and powerful.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 14, 2015, 02:33:33 pm
I just watched Chris Rocks Top Five. Its really really funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on April 29, 2015, 09:43:31 am
Not bad for a short film made for 50...

RUssian Roulette (https://www.reelhouse.org/v/russian-roulette/russian-roulette)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on April 29, 2015, 02:11:43 pm
enjoyed that
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 19, 2015, 11:19:07 pm
Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson just gets better and better. Superb on every level.
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 20, 2015, 12:49:54 am
So fresh from a Heathrow > Singapore film catch up session...

American sniper. It's not bad. It has a few sick back USA moments - but is interesting on more than just the shooting people level..

Ex Machina. Good film. Creepy and interesting in the right amounts. It's not blade runner but it's not bad.

Fury. Brad pit et al in a Tank. Better than I thought it would be and perfect flight fodder.

Finally watched all of night crawler - and yes - I should have watched it all first time. The second half is great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on May 22, 2015, 03:02:24 pm
Went to see Mad Max on Wednesday, it was complete nonsense. It just consists of a two hour car chase interspersed with fight/battle scenes and massive explosions. Best. Film. Ever

We saw it in 3D and I regret that as there's so much going but you are forced to focus on what's in the fore ground. The 2D trailers look miles better
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on May 22, 2015, 03:28:34 pm
Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson just gets better and better. Superb on every level.
http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/

You can pause that film anywhere and it makes a really nice photo. The camera movements and attention to detail is stunning.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 22, 2015, 09:23:41 pm
Watched some daft films on the trip to Indonesia on the plane.

Taken3 - I love these films and this ones just another great entertaining "I'm going to find and then I'm going to kill you" bumper fun fest in the same vein as the other two.  It's got Forrest Whittaker in it and I love him 8)

John Wick - Another silly  but very entertaining revenge movie.  Keanu Reaves is John Wick, a retired hit man, his wife's passed away and left him a puppy.  Lilly Allen's brother, a Russian Gangster steals his car and causes John Wick to seek vengeance in a bloody black comedy.  Daft as a brush but fun.





Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on May 23, 2015, 12:44:34 pm
I also saw mad max on Wednesday, at the IMAX. I left thinking I needed 2 hours of my life back. Absolute dogshit
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 24, 2015, 12:06:20 am
A Most Violent Year - Wow! absolutely fantastic. Best film I've seen in ages.  Go rent/watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 28, 2015, 08:51:17 am
So hot off my return Australia flight a couple more films to review:

Taken 3: Agree with FD - good value action romp. I thought this was probably the least cringeworthy of the franchise - and it sort of almost had a plot twist in it!

Chappie: I liked this. The endings a bit daft - but I liked the characters - the dystopia and (apart from the very end) hung together pretty well. Lots of really funny small touches (candy colour coded guns, hilaraious tats on the main bad guy etc..).

Snowpeircer. An unusual one this from a Korean director based on a french graphic novel.. So - to combat global warming, the worlds govts release an agent into the atmosphere to cool things, and it triggers a new ice age. The only survivors of the world are marooned on a high speed train travelling on an around the world track that never stops - supporting all life on board. OK, there are some minor holes in the feasibility of this plot line to over come - but if you ignore this, the film becomes a take on the class system, rich vs poor - and revolution against the bourgeoise... Because at the back of the train are the scum (who snuck on board), at the front is the leader and between them the wealthy partying classes, who rule over those at the back mercilessly. Plot follows - scum at back rise up to take over those at the front etc.. When this was explained to me by a friend before watching, I thought it would be bollocks - but its actually a really good film. Lots of nice dystopian touches - and if you can suspend a chunk of reality when you press play its a great sci fi...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on May 28, 2015, 09:06:44 am
Was never a Marvel comics fan, but am something of a Joss Whedon fan. And the father of a soon-to-be-teenage boy. As such it fell to me to watch the Marvel Avengers films, 'cos Frau M was clearly having no part of it.

Found the first one completely uninteresting apart from Scarlett Johansson  (:wub:), disappointingly lacking in W Joss Whedon style witty dialogue & repartee.

The second one, Age of Ultron, was much, much better to the point that I actually enjoyed watching it, rather than just having a sense of satisfaction at having done my fatherly duty.

(My dad had no concept whatsoever of children's films. It can't have been the initial release of Lawrence of Arabia that he took me to see, because I was a toddler at the time, but it certainly wasn't much later. Same for Zulu)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 29, 2015, 01:40:56 pm


Found the first one completely uninteresting apart from Scarlett Johansson  (:wub:), disappointingly lacking in W Joss Whedon style witty dialogue & repartee.


Is she any good in this? Used have a thing for her but find her acting soo unbelievably dull these days that she's just a bore.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on May 29, 2015, 02:12:45 pm
I am quite interested in how she has been portrayed in this not enough to justify 10 to watch the film (will wait for the dvd)
I understand Joss Whedon got loads of stick for not being able to portray a strong female role. They have clearly never seen buffy, firefly/serenity or doll house ...

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32591260 bbc report he leave twitter
Quote
Many called him sexist and misogynistic and said he had done a "hatchet job" on Black Widow, also known as Natasha Romanoff.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32591260 His response

http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/joss-whedon-says-militant-feminists-didn-t-drive-him-from-twitter-1.3062196
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on May 29, 2015, 02:52:30 pm


Found the first one completely uninteresting apart from Scarlett Johansson  (:wub:), disappointingly lacking in W Joss Whedon style witty dialogue & repartee.


Is she any good in this? Used have a thing for her but find her acting soo unbelievably dull these days that she's just a bore.

Tbh I wasn't really paying attention. I was in the room while my son was watching the DVD. She looks nice.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 30, 2015, 11:41:50 am
Re Nightcrawler, we watched it last weekend. I thought it was great. Mrs S wasn't impressed.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on June 01, 2015, 08:24:43 pm
not worth starting a new thread for -

I enjoyed the 2 old BBC TV series Gormenghast and Neverwhere

any suggestions of something similar?

(apart from listening to Eccentronic Research Council)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on June 06, 2015, 08:44:24 pm
I also saw mad max on Wednesday, at the IMAX. I left thinking I needed 2 hours of my life back. Absolute dogshit
Yup, good fun film, early bits were a bit like "haven't I seen enough of this in the trailer", but it got more captivating throughout, pretty damn cool overall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on June 06, 2015, 09:30:14 pm
I've actually watched some films recently.

The Great Beauty by Paolo Sorrentino (winner of best foreign language film Oscar, 2013) - magnificent, enthralling, bewildering meditation on ageing, loss and the city of Rome. The very definition of (high) art house film-making.

71 British squaddies gets trapped behind 'enemy' lines in early 70s Belfast - grim, tense and compelling.

Two very different films, I recommend them both.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on June 07, 2015, 09:58:36 am
http://youtu.be/bS5P_LAqiVg

 :P
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on June 07, 2015, 12:41:32 pm
Got hold of a copy of Going Clear an HBO doc about Scientology. It really has to be seen to be believed. I knew it was a bit of a mental organisation (claiming to be a religion) but the reality of the situation is something else...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on June 07, 2015, 04:08:15 pm
Watched Danny Collins yesterday, good film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 07, 2015, 04:19:37 pm
A Dangerous Method off Sky Movies.  Jung (Fassbender) and Freud (Mortensen) and their patients (Knightly & Cassell) in a "based upon a true story" of  the early days of psychoanalysis by Cronenburg.  Lots of talking and great acting.  Worthwhile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 12, 2015, 11:39:54 pm
Ordinary People. Robert Redfords directorial debut that pipped Raging Bull to the Best Picture Oscar in 1980.  An emotional & moving family drama with Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore as parents grappling with each other and their surviving son following his brother's death. It has Judd Hersch (Alex from Taxi) in it as the shrink for extra goodness. Have the tissues handy  :'( (It's on Amazon streaming)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on June 15, 2015, 10:32:51 am
...saw Listen up Phillip, 6 on googleplay/virgin.

I like films where the plot is "people in rooms in New York talk". This is one of those, and I liked it. Dry comedy about arsehole authors in which you root for no one (except for Peggy, obviously.)   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on June 15, 2015, 10:59:06 am
Saw Jurassic World on Friday - in 2D thankfully, I'd expect it to be a bit mental in 3D. Felt much like I was watching a remake of the first film, thus a little/lot predictable. Cheesy, well made and fun for a couple of hours. The cinema is bloody expensive these days tho...

Ex Machina was thought provoking I felt - really enjoyed this, maybe because I didn't have high expectations. Set around an android undergoing the Turing test. Surprised no one has watched this yet and reported back as evryone I know who's seen it has enjoyed it.

Also watched Exile (can you tell I'm injured at the moment?) and that was odd. I guess a satirical take on closed cults in the States but it was uncomfortable at times, rubbish in parts with a definite B-film feel and at times I wanted to turn off. Stuck with it to the end as I really found myself wanting to know what happened even though I cared nothing for any of the characters apart from a young female, and maybe that was down to her not being too odd. Gory in parts. Yeah, odd.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on June 15, 2015, 11:57:34 am

I'm sure it's been mentioned but, Whiplash.

Platoon meets the world of aspiring Jazz musiisians, JK Simmons is awesome.

"Not my Tempo"

"Are you rushing, or are you dragging?"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: iain on June 15, 2015, 12:22:16 pm
The Great Beauty by Paolo Sorrentino (winner of best foreign language film Oscar, 2013) - magnificent, enthralling, bewildering meditation on ageing, loss and the city of Rome. The very definition of (high) art house film-making.
Second this, kept coming back to mind days after.
Il Divo, also Sorrentino, is compelling even though we didn't have a clue who Giulio Andreotti was when we started.

Saw Tree of Life recently, not sure if we actually thought it was good, a bit too much confusion (what's the last sequence all about?), but it is beautifully filmed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 15, 2015, 03:29:20 pm
Ex Machina was thought provoking I felt - really enjoyed this, maybe because I didn't have high expectations. Set around an android undergoing the Turing test. Surprised no one has watched this yet and reported back as evryone I know who's seen it has enjoyed it.

It's been mentioned a few times in passing below....
Still on my 'to watch' list but frustratingly one of the ones where Lovefilm have fallen out with the distributors, so it's 'currently unavailable'.  :wall:


On another note watched ex machina the other day, thought it was pretty good although the science in it was not particularly accurate (what film is), but it wasn't to significant to detract from the movie.
All in all I'd say maybe 4 stars.

A decent story is always more crucial than accurate science to an enjoyable film surely? I thought Ex Machina was good, though really more of a horror movie structurally than a scifi. I thought it was effectively malevolent and dramatic, and not much of what i expected. If the 4 stars was out of 5 I'd probably agree, maybe 3.8!

So fresh from a Heathrow > Singapore film catch up session...
....
Ex Machina. Good film. Creepy and interesting in the right amounts. It's not blade runner but it's not bad.
....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 15, 2015, 09:15:31 pm
Moonrise Kingdom on Film4 now. An older one by Wes Anderson. Not as good as GBH but still worth seeing. Catch it on +1.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on June 16, 2015, 09:09:48 am

I'm sure it's been mentioned but, Whiplash.

Platoon meets the world of aspiring Jazz musiisians, JK Simmons is awesome.

"Not my Tempo"

"Are you rushing, or are you dragging?"

Seconded - watched it on a plane and thought it was incredible.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 27, 2015, 10:06:40 am
Went to see Jurassic World in3D last night... 11 a fkucing ticket!!

Anyway. The film is shit. Watchable shit (I only looked at my watch twice) and decent on the big screen where they had some vibrothing going on so you could feel the floor shaking as the big dinosaurs were approaching (which was good). Expect it won't translate well into the smaller screen.

Slightly frustrating film - as the plot has potential - just that the characters are all poorly developed/weak - so it's just not that interesting...

3D is odd.. Makes some scenes look like they're all toys..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 27, 2015, 10:09:10 am
Went to see Jurassic World in3D last night... 11 a fkucing ticket!!

Anyway. The film is shit. Watchable shit (I only looked at my watch twice) and decent on the big screen where they had some vibrothing going on so you could feel the floor shaking as the big dinosaurs were approaching (which was good). Expect it won't translate well into the smaller screen.

Slightly frustrating film - as the plot has potential - just that the characters are all poorly developed/weak - so it's just not that interesting...

3D is odd.. Makes some scenes look like they're all toys..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on June 28, 2015, 03:09:19 pm
I watched it in 2D Tom - I wasn't sure my brain could handle the extra. I thought it felt like a rehash of the first film, certainly watchable but not engaging.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on June 29, 2015, 11:24:05 am
I watched it in 2D Tom - I wasn't sure my brain could handle the extra. I thought it felt like a rehash of the first film, certainly watchable but not engaging.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

I agree with this. I watched it (2D) and vaguely enjoyed it, but it was a silly sort of 'monster movie' really. Weak compared to the original Jurassic Park, which I think is a decent action/thriller with a clever premise.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Grubes on June 29, 2015, 01:44:21 pm
Watched the minions movie. Laughed all the way through it but came out and thought it was crap. Its funny but not a classic. wait for the dvd
Also some quite adult themes and would be very scary for younger children in places.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 29, 2015, 04:19:43 pm
I watched it in 2D Tom - I wasn't sure my brain could handle the extra. I thought it felt like a rehash of the first film, certainly watchable but not engaging.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

I agree with this. I watched it (2D) and vaguely enjoyed it, but it was a silly sort of 'monster movie' really. Weak compared to the original Jurassic Park, which I think is a decent action/thriller with a clever premise.

Yeah - I think the latest one was a bit of a missed opportunity - as there were some themes they could have explored that would have made it more interesting - esp around the morality of big business and the need for the modern consumer to be continually pleased. It touched on many of these - but never went anywhere. The characters were all a bit weak too- somethings going wrong when one of the velociraptors has more character development than some of the cast :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on June 30, 2015, 12:01:36 am
Watched the minions movie. Laughed all the way through it but came out and thought it was crap. Its funny but not a classic. wait for the dvd
Also some quite adult themes and would be very scary for younger children in places.

I took my two to see it on Saturday. Felt pretty much the same as you. Laughed a lot during it, but didn't think it was as good as Despicable Me. Oh and my two (seven and eight) weren't bothered by the adult humour/themes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on July 02, 2015, 01:44:46 pm
I watched Rush last night and thought it was brilliant. I don't know anything about/ watch F1 and was quite gripped throughout. Also being completely unaware of who Niki Lauda and James Hunt were meant there were no spoilers. The resemblance between the actors and real characters is remarkable! Also lots of pretty ladies  :wub:

+1 for Whiplash Absolutely amazing. Best film I've seen in a long time. The hospital scene in Rush and the post crash drum playing in Whiplash show the sheer determination these people have to do what it takes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 09, 2015, 08:43:04 pm
The Prof and others have already covered Boyhood so I won't go into details but it's absolutely brilliant.  An amazing film and achievement from all involved.  Well worth renting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on July 09, 2015, 09:37:06 pm
Just got back in from watching Slow West - standard western fare really, but really well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ending. Would recommend people catching it as I don't think it's likely to be being shown on the larger screen for much longer. It'd still be well worth a watch in your home too though I reckon.

Finally watched Mad Max last weekend too, which was a cracking late evening watching, seeing in 2D definitely seemed like the best bet too, I'd halfway forgotten that films just look brighter without those glasses wrapped around my face.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on July 10, 2015, 09:07:58 am
Foxcatcher

Wrestling movie (kind of bigger themes than just men in spandex hugging each other) about John du Pont (of DuPont fame) and the Shultz brothers.

First off, if you dont know the story, dont google it.

Secondly, the acting is great. Steve Carell (Im not a fan usually) is unrecognisable and brings a really edgy and disturbed feel to his character. Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo both put in incredible physical performances, the awkward simian movement when not wrestling and the balletic training sessions are ace.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 12, 2015, 07:57:16 am
A few years ago, when I lived in the UAE, an Iranian film, A Separation.....excellent film........ but tightly-edited and doesn't drag at all. Also a really great window into modern Iran.

And for UK ukb'ers it's on Film4 this week - on Wednesday 22nd July at 01:25 hrs
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 26, 2015, 12:32:54 pm
Force Majeure Scandanavian hit at Cannes.  A family take a short break skiing and on day two are confronted but unharmed by a massive Avalanche.  The trauma exposes  cracks in their relationships that propagate over the rest of the week.  Really great and quite funny in places.  Well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on July 30, 2015, 10:51:33 am
Saw Eden last night and enjoyed it though it's not for everyone. Chugs along well enough. No plot to speak of bar girlfriends come and go. And it goes on a bit. Daft Punk can act, unlike all the americans in it (you can see the funding trail). The frenchies look very french and the tunes are good. Absolutely no need to explain the melancholy/euphoria thing.

The moment when daft punk play their first track could have easily gone kids from fame...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 27, 2015, 06:07:17 pm
Watched this the other night.......

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3416742/

Very funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on August 27, 2015, 08:45:04 pm
Force Majeure Scandanavian hit at Cannes.  A family take a short break skiing and on day two are confronted but unharmed by a massive Avalanche.  The trauma exposes  cracks in their relationships that propagate over the rest of the week.  Really great and quite funny in places.  Well worth a watch.

Yep, alao enjoyed this. As mentioned above, Slow West was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on August 27, 2015, 09:52:28 pm
Seen a few lately but Age of Aveline stood out - just a great movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 13, 2015, 09:21:39 pm
Muscle Shoal

I'll premise this by saying I'm not that big on early rock & roll (not as in I don;t like it, more that I'm not that clued up on the history). SO I've no idea how well known the story is.

Anyway, aside from the strange an unnecessary inclusion of Bono, this was a well made, interesting and enlightening retrospective into the early days of US rock n roll based around the city of Muscle Shoals, FAMNE studios and Rick Hall the producer. Aretha Franklyin, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger all star, nwa d old footage.

Great stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on September 13, 2015, 09:29:16 pm
It's great. Particularly the backing singer who screams rape, murder
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on September 13, 2015, 09:41:03 pm
Seen a few lately but Age of Aveline stood out - just a great movie.

I've got to say, I watched this film after reading this and it was utter tripe!!! I'd heard Harrisson Ford was in it and waiting for him to turn up was the only reason I didn't turn it of inside the first 30 mins. Granted he does improve proceeding but it wasn't very good on the whole.

In other film news, I saw Deep Web a film about the Silk Road which was mind bending. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night was also brilliant if you like an Iranian vampire film with some sort of David Lynch, James Dean and early Jim Jarmusch vibe to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andyd on September 14, 2015, 08:30:39 am
Muscle Shoal

This is Storyville, right?
If so, I remember it being excellent. I've yet to watch a Storyville that isn't captivating. Set is for series record on BBC 4 or wait for it on Netflix
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on September 14, 2015, 07:40:13 pm
Recent watches:
Antman - usual Marvel fare, bit of a shame really as there are hints of goodness in the script leftover from Wright, instead it's part that, chunk 'witty' one liners.

Diary of a teenage girl - bit of an odd one, watchable, though potentially aimed at a teen audience. I've a feeling the 18 certificate due to strong sex has hindered how well it's done as a film, which is a bit of a shame as it's far more realistic of teenage life than any teenage film that springs to mind.

Me, Earl and the Dying Girl - rather funny, well shot, a few hilarious pastiches to some classics of cinema, but also quite heartfelt. The closest I've come to crying since I was 13 in fact, which was strange. However, I've heard other people tell me they hated it, so obviously other opinions are available.

The man from U.N.C.L.E - stylish espionage type fare, with dollops of action interspersed between some good play between characters. Not one you need to take your brain in to appreciate, but certainly an enjoyable watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 25, 2015, 08:57:45 pm
Give it a month or two then watch it again. It'll make loads more sense then.

I watched it in the cinema with a fucked back - then online a few months later and it all came together.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on September 25, 2015, 09:05:46 pm
You probably watched Into Stella on redtube the second time around tom tom that's why it made more sense
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on September 30, 2015, 01:11:46 pm
Legend - mrs was keen to see a Krays film and its her first trip to the pictures in ages I didn't argue.  She loved it and I thought it stylish / Americanised gangster film but very watchable.  The only issue I had was seeing Tom Hardy become Alan Partridge for Reggie Kray. A bit meh but ok. 7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 04, 2015, 12:05:57 am
Macbeth : Magnificent.  What an incredible film.  Absolutely fantastic in every way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on October 04, 2015, 11:45:49 am
Legend - eh, dragged a little bit for my liking, and as ti_pin_man said, very stylised and Americanised, almost to the point of making Hardy's characters caricatures. It was still watchable, but I think it could have been handled a fair bit better.

The Martian - really enjoyed this, comparable to many space based films in recent years, though without the ridiculous time travel, are they dead aren't they dead, alternate dimension bits. Doesn't require a lot of thought to watch, which was perfect after a fairly awful day at work.

Macbeth - exceptionally pretty scenery, brilliantly acted, and left me feeling fairly drained, though not in a bad way. Still not certain I would actively watch it again though, other than potentially as a reference for a child studying it at school given its sticking to the play's manuscript (word for word if my memory of school life serves me correctly)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on October 04, 2015, 09:05:36 pm
Mad max fury road- the best summary is to say bring back Mel Gibson and I say that under duress.  It was visually pretty amazing but the story was even thinner than a thin thing.  So, no real change from the earlier movies bar the fact it was actually thin and transparent.  The best bit was the rock star guitarist in the chase mob. Now that was class.

Visually stunning but meh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 09, 2015, 02:12:25 pm
Sicario tonight.... Will report back.   :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 20, 2015, 08:14:09 am
Saw The Martian last night. Superb. Best film I've seen in a long time (few years). Really enjoyed it (esp as mrsTT had fed me some duff beta about the end)...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Gallant on October 20, 2015, 07:49:38 pm
The Lobster - weirdly dark comedy with a lot of deadpan delivery. Difficult to explain, and the trailer is slightly confusing, but would definitely recommend people catch it at some point!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 20, 2015, 08:19:12 pm
Sicario is brilliant.  One of the best I've seen this year. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 22, 2015, 08:00:59 pm
That's not hard to beat though I don't think. Whenever I've been to the pictures this year I've seen the adverts and thought no, no, no, maybe but probably not, no. Worst year for films for some time I reckon.
Strangely I found myself on a flight on Monday and against my better judgement, and lack of anything else, I watched terminator genysis. I had no intention of watching this film after what they'd done to the others but I enjoyed every minute of it! Arnie was superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 22, 2015, 08:08:27 pm
The Martian sounds like it might be a bit too upbeat for you Dense ;)

Films on planes are an odd commodity.. I often want to watch something that doesn't require much though at all - I've watched the Lego movie about 4 times in long haul flights when in that 8-12 hour in strange state...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 22, 2015, 08:27:37 pm
I'm not going to watch a film called the Martian. It just sounds shit  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 22, 2015, 08:33:31 pm

I'm not going to watch a film called the Martian. It just sounds shit  ;)
yeah - I mean Terminator Genisys just sounds so much..... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 23, 2015, 08:25:17 am
But it does sound better. If I see a book called "Ronald" I'm not going to make a beeline to read it since no apparent effort has gone into the title. However if a books called "Ronald the last of the inca's" then my curiosity might be aroused.
We know where the terminator has come from. We know what genesis means, even with its nu skool spelling, put the 2 together and you know what you're getting. Oh and it's got arnie in it  :tease: wtf is the Martian!
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 23, 2015, 08:53:35 am
The Martian is a rom com about a guy who gets depressed as his cat won't let him stroke it, so he goes on a long introspective road trip accross the vast withering plains of Hackney to try and find his inner soul. Of particular note is the animated dream sequence where a maroon whale spouts cerise bile over a dyson vacuum cleaner factory in Swindon.

What's not to like?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 23, 2015, 09:10:24 am
Since you put it like that...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 23, 2015, 09:19:11 am

Since you put it like that...

More seriously .. It's about some snakes on a plane...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 23, 2015, 02:40:08 pm
Films on planes are an odd commodity.. I often want to watch something that doesn't require much though at all - I've watched the Lego movie about 4 times in long haul flights when in that 8-12 hour in strange state...

I think you are doing yourself down there. I watched the Lego Movie with the Sharks this summer, and had to request plot explanations at regular intervals from the kids.

You may have been subconsciously ignoring it - as the social subtext revolves around evil corporations taking over the world ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 24, 2015, 09:01:19 pm
wtf is the Martian!
It's a rather good book that the film is based on, you butt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on October 25, 2015, 12:03:45 am
Sicario is brilliant.  One of the best I've seen this year.

Had a cursory glance at the description of this film, saw the 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, went to the cinema.

Can't say I found it all that great. I mean, I can't fault the production too much - tense, exciting etc. Call me cynical, but it just felt like another pentagon sponsored american war propaganda flick.

I asked my girlfriend what she thought. She's far less cynical than me and she said: 
Quote
It just felt like they were just trying to justify "breaking the rules" as long as it suited A Merica.


I.e. "yeah, we know we do shitty stuff (rendition, blowing up MSF hospitals, drone attacks etc.) but it's ok, it's all for the good of the US of A hoohaa!"

I think I just need to stop watching american war/FBI/CIA nonsense.  >:(


On a more upbeat note (while not an upbeat film) if you want some weird ass, dark, gripping fight-club goes Korean, dystopian, violent horror film. Can definitely recommend Oldboy (2003) which is on Netflix. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TheTwig on October 25, 2015, 12:32:02 am
I watched the remake of oldboy and thought it was pretty good, I was surprised to see it scored so badly on IMDB but then again I haven't seen the original. That is one f*cked up plot though dawg, who the hell writes this stuff  :???:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pako on October 25, 2015, 05:00:16 am
I watched the remake of oldboy and thought it was pretty good, I was surprised to see it scored so badly on IMDB but then again I haven't seen the original. That is one f*cked up plot though dawg, who the hell writes this stuff  :???:

Well IMDB is never to be trusted, I mean their highest rated movie is Shawshank Redemption. You should watch the original Oldboy if you haven't already, its a great movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 26, 2015, 10:21:32 am
You should watch the original Oldboy if you haven't already, its a great movie.

 :agree:

That is one f*cked up plot though dawg, who the hell writes this stuff  :???:

Oldboy is the second part of a trilogy by the director Chan-wook Park on the theme of 'revenge', the other two being Sympathy for Lady Vengence  and Sympathy for Mr Vengence neither of which are as good as Oldboy in my opinion.  Some of the quotes from him that are listed on IMDB might give some small insight...

Quote
I don't feel enjoyment watching films that evoke passivity. If you need that kind of comfort, I don't understand why you wouldn't go to a spa.

Basically, I'm throwing out the question 'When is such violence justified?' To get that question to touch the audience physically and directly - that's what my goal is. In the experience of watching my film, I don't want the viewer to stop at the mental or the intellectual. I want them to feel my work physically. And because that is one of my goals, the title 'exploitative' will probably follow me around for a while.

In our lives, we have good things and bad things, happiness and pain. Life is full of pain and happiness and that's what I wanted to show.

Living without hate for people is almost impossible. There is nothing wrong with fantasizing about revenge. You can have that feeling. You just shouldn't act on it.

I have principles and rules. I deal very carefully with acts of violence and make sure that audiences understand how much suffering these acts cause.

Some of his other films are very good, I particularly liked I'm a Cyborg, But thats Ok.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on October 26, 2015, 10:45:04 am
Any you thugs seen the new Bond offering?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 26, 2015, 06:10:56 pm
The Guardian must have been reading this thread Dense

http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/oct/26/middle-aged-flop-the-films-no-one-wanted-to-see (http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/oct/26/middle-aged-flop-the-films-no-one-wanted-to-see)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on October 26, 2015, 06:27:17 pm
They could do a lot worse  ;)

but seriously i don't think i heard about any of those films on the list, who does their marketing?

hopefully Bond tomorrow
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 26, 2015, 06:31:46 pm
Me neither... There's an awful lot of dross that's get made.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 26, 2015, 09:20:39 pm
The Martian was really good. Captured the book and the character - and the humour - well, albeit skipping some of the Mars bits and emphasising the Earth bits, which I think was necessary to make it a more palatable, pacy film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 27, 2015, 09:37:42 am
Managed a double whammy of Harrelson stinkers last week; Seven Psycopaths and Zombieland. Both promising to start, but ultimately turds.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on October 27, 2015, 10:13:42 am
That is one f*cked up plot though dawg, who the hell writes this stuff  :???:

Oldboy is the second part of a trilogy by the director Chan-wook Park

http://www.film4.com/reviews/2013/stoker
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 27, 2015, 10:51:46 am
They could do a lot worse  ;)

but seriously i don't think i heard about any of those films on the list, who does their marketing?

hopefully Bond tomorrow

Honestly - why would anyone want to go and see a film called Spectre... sounds like an animated kids film (woooo ghosties wooooo) ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on October 29, 2015, 12:57:04 pm
Saw the Shane Meadows doc about the Stone Roses getting back together called Made of Stone.  It's from a couple of yrs back I thought it was great.  Nice clip here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4PBU_N5x4ls
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 29, 2015, 01:27:03 pm
I really enjoyed that too. Amazing how they could get together after being apart for so long and nail some of the songs perfectly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on October 29, 2015, 02:34:49 pm
Yep, deffo. The rehearsal footage was the best thing for me, they seem to work better in a small setting. The stadium footage at the end left me a bit cold.

And what a drummer...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mini on October 30, 2015, 08:23:01 am
Really enjoyed watching Tim's Vermeer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3089388/) earlier this week. A documentary film about an inventor with a passing interest in Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and how he managed to create artwork that surpased that of his era. An entralling story of how Tim (a none painter) went about creating his own Vermeer. I never thought watching paint dry would be so fascinating.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 30, 2015, 09:11:31 am
I saw Spectre last night. It does what it should very well. I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 02, 2015, 07:07:14 am
Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs - just saw it with my wife in an otherwise totally empty cinema. I enjoyed it on several levels but I can see why it is not doing well: the focus on Jobs' roller-coaster career in the 80s and 90s must be confusing for people only familiar with Apple's more recent glorious iThing era. And it's pretty much continuous dialogue, with few other distractions, like a Richard Linklater film.

That makes it sound far more interesting than the iThing era...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bigtuboflard on November 02, 2015, 07:52:28 am
Watched Fruitvale Station over the weekend, excellent film though not exactly easy viewing. Particularly timely given all the recent attention in the U.S. to gun control and police use of firearms.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on November 02, 2015, 09:19:13 am
I saw Spectre last night. It does what it should very well. I enjoyed it.

Cheers, will be off to see it this week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on November 02, 2015, 09:42:22 am
Two food films that worked for me lately: Chef (US indie style feelgood thing) and Barbecue (French chamber piece, group of friends getting older, probably needs a meetier script but nicely done). Other kinds of films are available.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on November 07, 2015, 09:58:30 pm
The Martian was really good.

+1  :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

Best film I've seen in ages.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 07, 2015, 11:22:49 pm
On the way back from Spectre. Very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 07, 2015, 11:56:36 pm
On the way back from Spectre. Very good.

I thought so too; great movie. Excellent car chase on the river.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 08, 2015, 12:10:35 am
Victoria (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt4226388/).

A very impressive concept well executed. The whole thing is filmed in a single continuous take (2 1/4 hour thriller!) which makes it incredibly immersive. Well worth a watch.

Only problem I had was the disbelief wasn't quite suspended. I'll leave it at that to prevent spoilers!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 08, 2015, 09:46:29 am
I take it they used the same technique as Birdman - very clever sweeping "cuts" from one scene to the next, to make it appear very convincingly to be a single take?


Edited to say....but it's NOT like that -it is actually filmed in one take. Chapeau.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 08, 2015, 10:30:47 am
The opening sequence (5-10 min?) of Spectre is one shot - and all the better for it.. As you both mention it draws the audience in much more.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 08, 2015, 11:05:22 am
Ah - forgot to say saw Spectre at the Imax last night - which was OK (achy neck and too loud - bah,,)

BUT.. they showed the Star Wars film trailer - and that looked fooking amazing on the mahoosive screen!!
Can't wait (and whilst i like the franchise (sic) I'm not a fan/obsessive/geek (about that anyway...))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on November 08, 2015, 09:06:32 pm
Strange you should say that about Star Wars I thought it looked log. Though I am of the opinion that there's only 3 Star Wars films.
Black mass (?) looked quite intriguing, trailer wasn't long enough to get a handle on it.
I thought Spectre was a bit disappointing tbh, I'll prob watch again to verify. Was very disappointed with christoph waltz.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 10, 2015, 06:12:29 pm
Ex Machina

Didn't get a chance to the see this at the cinema - but well worth a watch at home. As other have said - creepy, freeky, thought provoking. Really "enjoyed" it.

What are we getting ourselves into?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 14, 2015, 10:51:19 am
Aye, much better to leave it the wise power that be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on November 14, 2015, 10:52:58 am
The Martian was really good.

+1  :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

Best film I've seen in ages.
+2

Not the best film I've seen in ages, but I throughly enjoyed it.

That the backdrop for the entire film is Wadi Rum was a bit distracting. Whenever I lost thread of the dialogue I started to pick out lines in the background.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on November 14, 2015, 12:05:15 pm
20000 Days on Earth was good.  It's like a day in the life of Nick Cave with a healthy slice  of artistic licence thrown in.  Loved him talking about him approach to songwriting,  I'm not a huge fan of his music but that didn't seem to detract from it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 14, 2015, 05:48:37 pm

The Great Beauty by Paolo Sorrentino (winner of best foreign language film Oscar, 2013) - magnificent, enthralling, bewildering meditation on ageing, loss and the city of Rome. The very definition of (high) art house film-making.


This is currently on Netflix and is very good. Cheers for the heads up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on November 15, 2015, 11:05:23 pm
Not sure if it's already been mentioned but St Vincent is well worth a watch. Bill Murray is superb as usual. Slightly schmaltzy in parts but not enough to spoil it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on November 16, 2015, 10:58:07 am
watched the Hugh Jackman - Prisoners over the weekend, mostly from the recommendations on here.  Really interesting story and if you are a parent you'll connect to this film.  Really thought provoking.  At times it reminded me of History of Violence.  I would also confirm the acting didn't really give me any empathy to the Hugh and Jake characters, not sure if this was the direction or acting but either way the story carried the film. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 03, 2015, 03:18:44 pm

That's not hard to beat though I don't think. Whenever I've been to the pictures this year I've seen the adverts and thought no, no, no, maybe but probably not, no. Worst year for films for some time I reckon.
Strangely I found myself on a flight on Monday and against my better judgement, and lack of anything else, I watched terminator genysis. I had no intention of watching this film after what they'd done to the others but I enjoyed every minute of it! Arnie was superb.

On Denses recommendation I watched terminator Genesis last night. I was rather disappointed it didn't feature a cyborg modelled on Phil Collins - but actually thought it was alright. A couple of not too signposted plot swivels kept things interesting and Arnie was back to his best. It seems playing unemotional binary characters with no depth suits him. Who'da thunk it eh?

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 03, 2015, 07:14:32 pm
I'm with the Dense-Tomtom film guru circle on that one. Really quite a decent remake. Plenty of nods to the originals but stands up fine as a (slightly haphazard and shallow) action film in it's own right, and yes Arnie was on good form, the way the put his aging character in was neat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 36chambers on December 03, 2015, 11:09:53 pm
Not much of a review on my part, but I've just finished watching the new terminator and in contrast to the Fiend-Dense-Tomtom club, I thought it was terrible.




(+1 for Prisoners)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 04, 2015, 07:51:10 am
Not much of a review on my part, but I've just finished watching the new terminator and in contrast to the Fiend-Dense-Tomtom club, I thought it was terrible.
(+1 for Prisoners)
Sorry... but blame Dense... ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on December 04, 2015, 10:12:44 am
Watched the Spielberg/Hanks film 'Bridge of Spies' over the weekend

I was expecting an overdone Americanised 'Tinker,Tailor..' but it was actually very good. Mark Rylance in particular was captivating as the Russian spy Rudolf Abel. You leave feeling good about the plot but as someone with only vague memories of the wall coming down the setting in Post-war Berlin was enlightening in it's grimness, more so than actually visiting the places.

Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on December 04, 2015, 10:47:15 am
I also enjoyed Bridge of Spies. I thought it was going to be a bit of a plodding type film but Hanks and Rylance made it a good watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 13, 2015, 12:37:19 am
Watched the Spielberg/Hanks film 'Bridge of Spies' over the weekend
...
Recommended.

Just saw this tonight. I totally agree, a fantastic movie; I usually dislike movies directed by Speilberg (on the grounds on appalling sentimentality and tedious obsession with absent fathers) or featuring Tom Hanks (on the grounds that he's annoying) but I really liked this, it manages to be dramatic, entertaining and feature some great shots (I liked the opening mirror / self portrait one especially). One duff note was the people grinning at Hanks on the metro at the end, someone should have made him cut that bit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 14, 2015, 10:50:08 am
I've usually regarded Hanks as highly annoying and overrated, but though he was excellent in The Road to Perdition, so prepared to give it a shot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 14, 2015, 11:33:23 am

I've usually regarded Hanks as highly annoying and overrated, but though he was excellent in The Road to Perdition, so prepared to give it a shot.

I find his voice and face irritating. Other than that no problem...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cjsheps on December 14, 2015, 12:11:18 pm
Straight Outta Compton - brilliant film. At times, a proper "feel-good" movie, and surprisingly deep at others. You'll enjoy it more if you a bit about the rap scene at the time, and NWA members' trajectories after the group. A lot of stuff was skimmed over, but you can only fit so much into 2 hours.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 16, 2015, 10:29:13 am
Star Wars Spoiler Alert:

NSFW  :
(https://i.imgur.com/ujQ6Vzf.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 16, 2015, 10:42:52 am
 ::) ;D ::) :lol: ::)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Jim on December 17, 2015, 05:47:34 pm
I'm with the Dense-Tomtom film guru circle on that one. Really quite a decent remake. Plenty of nods to the originals but stands up fine as a (slightly haphazard and shallow) action film in it's own right, and yes Arnie was on good form, the way the put his aging character in was neat.
I also watched this the other night and concur with Fiend's summary. A good one to watch when the misses is out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 19, 2015, 05:58:30 pm
A Serbian Film (cut/censored version).

Now this is something unusual for me, I started watching it for the shock value and finished watching because it was fairly intriguing.

Note: I inadvertently watched the cut version (for UK release maybe?), and a few of the most notorious scenes were heavily cut i.e. the baby rape scene, the beheading while raping a woman scene, and the face-fucking a woman with her teeth pulled out scene - all much tamer than the normal release. As such it really wasn't all that graphic and grotesque, although I guess I didn't get the full effect of it. HOWEVER I would say the cut version actually makes a better film, as it works better with an omnipresent atmosphere of perversion and dread rather than relying on and thus being overshadowed by a few moments of shock value.

And it is actually a pretty decent and pretty well made film. The pacing is good, the sense of "WTF am I getting into" from the main character comes across well, the contrast between his semi-gentle "vintage pr0n star" style and the modern and blandly cruel Eastern bloc group he gets tangled with is done neatly with a good soundtrack. The way it escalates to the end kept me watching, and some of the subtle moments are downright menacing.

However I do feel the concept was rather weaker than the execution. The "villain" didn't have much depth and the....circle he belong to was rather vague, not in a "ominously mysterious" way but in a seemingly shallow way. There could have been a stronger point - but hopefully not overly-moralistic - point about the depths pr0n can sink to and how far it can be detatched from eroticism, and people's motives in that environment, but it didn't really happen (obviously I know there is a political message / analogy to Serbia conflict there but that seems less crucial to me?).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on December 19, 2015, 07:16:29 pm
Wtf fiend!?  :o

There'll be hell to pay when Doylo finds out who leaked his next climbing film script!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 19, 2015, 08:23:46 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-H0uIH5HHQ


Seriously Fiend, WTF?

How can you watch that and start rooting around for deep meaning?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 19, 2015, 08:29:14 pm
:shrug: I was bored and prepared to turn it off pretty quickly (whenever I have - extremely rarely - dabbled in any modern shocker / torture pr0n / whatever films they have utterly disinterested me) and get back to watching gaming streams / EPIC TV / toy soldier painting tutorials at any moment, but I didn't. If you read about the film (it was a bit notorious on release) the director/producer/whoever does talk about the "deep meaning" about the serbian conflicts and politics, not personally something I took from the film though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 01, 2016, 11:40:29 am
Ex Machina

Didn't get a chance to the see this at the cinema - but well worth a watch at home. As other have said - creepy, freaky, minimal psychological thriller meets low-key philosphical sci-fi. Really "enjoyed" it. Reminded me of some of the spookier books I've been reading in the last year.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on January 02, 2016, 01:16:18 pm
A series more than a film  :sorry: but wacthes more like a long movie than a series as the episodes aren't really self-contained...

Watched Jessica Jones during the holiday period. A seriously good watch and a very diferent take on the superhero universe. Wouldn't even know how to describe it, and after reading what people write about it i'd say i'm not the only one with that problem. It's just... different. And good. Very good.

Watch it if you like dark psychological character driven shows about antiheros with a plot to match and nods to the classic Marvel comics. Don't watch it if you like Disney style hero shows with happy endings :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on January 02, 2016, 05:49:33 pm
Star Wars: watched the 3 originals the kids loved the Ewoks and yoda- says it all really. Thought the reboot was better than all the others. But it's still a kids film and a decent adventure romp.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 02, 2016, 07:39:22 pm

The new Star Wars thing

3D version. Thumbs up from son #1 (age 15) and son #2 (age 7). I thought it was fun also. Plot development seemed much looser than in the previous films but ... whatever.

The Force Awakens is supposed to be the first of three sequel films but since Disney has restructured itself in the last few years to be all about film franchises (http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21684138-disney-making-fortune-and-safeguarding-its-future-buying-childhood-piece-piece) I guess there will be a whole load more until they have totally exhausted every possible re-working of the dark side/ light side theme.

Took my two (10 and 7) because my partner and her two weren't interested (though she booked it for me as a birthday treat and it was better than having to explain everything six times in a whisper at every scene change).

My daughter (10) has seen all the movies on DVD and was a bit "meh" about it (she's an avid Dr Who/Terry Pratchet fan and thinks Star Wars  is a bit "low brow" (yes, she's like that)).

They were blown away.

And I really enjoyed it.

It seemed much more in keeping with the original films and blessedly short of the crap humour injected into the prequels.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 03, 2016, 12:10:31 am
With timely serendipity, I just watched "Interstellar" with Mrs OMM.

8 minutes 29 seconds...

Before I first had to hit pause and explain.

She's smart, scored 141 on last years standard IQ test (we did it for a laugh); just absolutely no grasp of abstract concepts.

Musical, accomplised pianist, whiplash wit, but put her I front of a sculpture and she's just going to ask "why?"


No. She didn't get it.

Thought she was going to belt me, when I started talking about identical twins, one travelling near the speed of light and the other standing still...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on January 12, 2016, 10:14:40 pm
Tonight I tried to watch agent 47, turned it off after 15 mins since it was worse than it had a right to be. I then tried to watch Black Mass, turned it off after 10 mins. So I settled on A fistful of dollars. I didn't turn it off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on January 12, 2016, 10:38:47 pm
I watched The Danish Girl, not my thing but if you like that sort of thing (i.e. a worthy film were fuck all happens) it's probably quite good as I didn't hate it.

I also watched John Wicke, that is my kind of thing and it was quite good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TheTwig on January 13, 2016, 12:00:39 am
Movie spree..

End of Watch - Brilliant IMHO. Good chemistry between Gyllenhall & Pena.
The Martian - Love love love it. 'I'm going to science the shit out of this planet' will be one of the great movie quotes of all time :) Good acting by Damon and the scenery/environment was really good.
Spectre - Meh, flashy stunts, brilliant extended starting sequence, rest of the film was dire IMHO. The super-super-bad guy spent so long giving Bond chances to kill him it kind of ruined the film. 6.5/10
Sicario - 7.5/10 - Emily blunt comes across as totally useless and incompetent (which is tied in to the plot) but this isn't believable, given her job. The scene on the bridge is the best of the movie. Del Toro is amazing
The Intern - feelgood Hollywood garbage. I actually enjoyed it though
Star Wars - Good film, nice fights, nice effects etc. The plot felt recycled and seemed like there were too many inadequately/awkwardly presented things. Still, it is star wars! Overall the negatives didn't detract much from the awesomeness of the film. Apparently the novelization does a better job of explaining plot background.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 23, 2016, 12:13:35 am
Black Mass - Gritty, gangster noir with a really good performance from Johnny Depp.  The supporting actors are fantastic.  I really liked it.

Star Wars - Fun and nostalgic but essentially a re-run of the first film.  I enjoyed every minute mind.

The Revenant - Savage and bleak.  A bit like Cormac Mcarthy's "Blood Meridian" turned into a film.  Leo is turning into a proper old-school hollywood actor as he ages a bit.  Brilliant in the first half and then very good for the rest.  You could argue it's just a standard revenge movie but the setting, the pacing and amazing soundtrack really cap it off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: monkey boy on January 23, 2016, 08:23:07 am
Not films but I have been enjoying the new channel 4 station, Walter Presents. Loads of what seem like pretty good quality foreign tv series. Deutschland 83, Heartless, 10 are all pretty entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on January 23, 2016, 09:24:58 am
This week I watched 'Line across the sky', the Caldwell-Honnold Fitzroy traverse film, which is great, and 'Meru' about Conrad Anker's ascent of Meru Shark's fin. Meru is incredible, a big step above most climbing films, although a bit too long to watch without the bath water turning cold around you.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 23, 2016, 10:47:45 am
Re-watched Looper last night. Still great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on January 23, 2016, 10:39:18 pm
Tonight I watched a film called The Visit, on the recommendation of my other half. This is without doubt, one of the worst films I have ever seen. And to make matters worse, we paid to watch the fucker!

Don't make the same mistake, DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 24, 2016, 10:06:28 pm
The Assassin

Really didn't enjoy this much, and its generally the sort of thing I like. The beauty of the cinamatography and locations don't make up for the butt numbing tedium of the (lack of) a decent narrative, any coherent characterization, or any dramatic intensity.  To really ice it off, the background noise (at the Showroom in Sheffield) probably would have made star wars inaudible.

Ah, i feel (about 0.5%) better about wasting money on this vacuous experience now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: psychomansam on January 24, 2016, 11:01:08 pm
The Assassin

Really didn't enjoy this much, and its generally the sort of thing I like. The beauty of the cinamatography and locations don't make up for the butt numbing tedium of the (lack of) a decent narrative, any coherent characterization, or any dramatic intensity.  To really ice it off, the background noise (at the Showroom in Sheffield) probably would have made star wars inaudible.

Ah, i feel (about 0.5%) better about wasting money on this vacuous experience now.

What was the background noise? Have they started the refurbishment?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 24, 2016, 11:07:37 pm
The Assassin

Really didn't enjoy this much, and its generally the sort of thing I like. The beauty of the cinamatography and locations don't make up for the butt numbing tedium of the (lack of) a decent narrative, any coherent characterization, or any dramatic intensity.  To really ice it off, the background noise (at the Showroom in Sheffield) probably would have made star wars inaudible.

Ah, i feel (about 0.5%) better about wasting money on this vacuous experience now.

What was the background noise? Have they started the refurbishment?

Much worse than drilling and hammering, it was a new age church group singing hallelulias for more than an hour over a slammin drum beat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 25, 2016, 09:31:31 am
Re-watched Looper last night. Still great.

I did too, i love it, one of my favourite films of late. but the prosthetic make up on Joseph Gordon Levitt still bugs me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on January 27, 2016, 03:50:24 pm
Just finished watching Metro Manila :'(

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 16, 2016, 04:06:50 pm
Deadpool - Dullpool more like. Some funny crude moments, some boring silly moments, some generic semi-serious superhero moments, all a bit patchily put together.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mumra on February 16, 2016, 04:29:23 pm
Black mass--- not for me. I'd either watched the story told or shot in a better way. Disappointed as I was really looking forward to it

Looper (the series)-----Kill me now! However I've watched 6 episodes so far. What does that say?! I'm vacuous :popcorn:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on February 18, 2016, 11:14:55 am
A bit late but recently watched:

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: A great cast but it never got going for me. When it all started kicking off towards the end I didn't care much what happened as hadn't been following with much interest.

The Martian: Really good! Was getting a bit nervous for him when he blasted out of space. Made me think how reluctant I'd be to leave each thing behind. The base, the car etc. Try leaving or die I guess. Made me laugh when Sean Bean talks about the council of Elrond.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dave on February 18, 2016, 11:25:25 am
Any of you cunts in that London or Edinburgh managed to see Hatefull Eight on 70mm let? My sister saw it in Edinburgh and rated it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 18, 2016, 12:57:08 pm
It's on at the Odeon in Cuntish Town.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 18, 2016, 01:10:15 pm
A Bigger Splash - A really tense drama.  I've been less anxious watching thrillers.  Enjoyed it but was quite exhausted afterwards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 18, 2016, 02:49:13 pm
I watched Trumbo a couple of days ago. An interesting story (about which I knew too little) that is well done. Bryan Cranston is excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on February 18, 2016, 04:59:14 pm
Sicario - it was ok but nowhere near as good as the critics had made out. I couldn't work out who I was supposed to be rooting for, not in conflicted sort of way, more in a 'I couldn't give a toss about any of them' kind of way. There was a good set piece on the bridge but the rest of it was a bit meh with none of the charcterdevelopmentmaking sense.

Lone Survivor - why do so many films these days start with the final scene? I know it's based on a true story so most would probably know the story (I didn't) but it adds nothing to the film, there was no reason. Mind you the title itself is a bit of a give away. Otherwise it was well done but not that engaging. Like the final scenes of Rambo First Blood Part II. I know that should be a good thing but I'd have been disappointed if I'd gone to the cinema to watch it.

On an entirely different note (and too late to be of any use now) but Professor Brainestawm on TV over Christmas was brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 19, 2016, 09:17:05 pm
Been on a bit of cinema binge at the moment.  Went to see Spotlight last night. Another good movie.  Michael Keaton is great in it.  It's strange how normalised that news of abuse in the Catholic Church has become and the film peels that away to leave a sense of outrage.

As for the trailers. High Rise (the adaptation of JG Ballard's novel) looks flippin' brilliant and gloriously bonkers &  Triple 9 looks mental.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 21, 2016, 03:10:14 pm
Since I have taken control of the remote (first time in years), I've been working my way through Sky on Demand's Sci-fi section. It pains me to say, that Cruise's "Edge of tomorrow" is actually quite good. Disney's "Tomorrowland" is a great romp in the style of "Witch Mountain" (for those old enough to remember).
But, a movie I had heard nothing about, turned out to be the best. Not the most original plot and a Dune, Harry Potter, Matrix, X-Files mash-up with overtones of Riddick, for sure. A great watch though.



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Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bigd942 on February 21, 2016, 03:49:40 pm
When you mention Dune I really liked Joborowskys Dune and on a similar theme Future Shock: The Story of 2000AD. Watched Star Wars the Silver Screen Edition lastnight, good watch, looks very sketchy, can under stand why Lucas wanted to go back and polish it a bit.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935156/

http://futureshock2000ad.com/

http://thestarwarstrilogy.com/starwars/post/2016/01/15/Team-Negative-One-completes-35mm-Restoration-of-Star-Wars
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 21, 2016, 04:10:53 pm
Another vote for Jodorowski's Dune.  It's on AmazonPrime if anyone's interested.  Really worthwhile.  Imagine Dali as Baron Harkonen!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 21, 2016, 10:27:13 pm
Just seen Deadpool this evening; 2 hours of utter puerility, nob gags, cartoon violence and stupid in-jokes.
I absolutely loved it every minute of it; I can't remember laughing out loud so often in any movie. The absolute antithesis of worthiness, it knows it and doesn't pretend to be anything else.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: geoffg on February 21, 2016, 10:33:20 pm
Yeah. Like the Viz version of Marvel comics.
Can't go wrong
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 22, 2016, 08:51:10 am
Since I have taken control of the remote (first time in years), I've been working my way through Sky on Demand's Sci-fi section. It pains me to say, that Cruise's "Edge of tomorrow" is actually quite good. Disney's "Tomorrowland" is a great romp in the style of "Witch Mountain" (for those old enough to remember).
But, a movie I had heard nothing about, turned out to be the best. Not the most original plot and a Dune, Harry Potter, Matrix, X-Files mash-up with overtones of Riddick, for sure. A great watch though.

Am I being slow? Which one are you referring to?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: adam w on February 22, 2016, 09:13:17 am
I must be slow too because I can't tell. Unless the film's called But. Then again I'm flying on flu medicine at the moment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 22, 2016, 09:49:32 am

Since I have taken control of the remote (first time in years), I've been working my way through Sky on Demand's Sci-fi section. It pains me to say, that Cruise's "Edge of tomorrow" is actually quite good. Disney's "Tomorrowland" is a great romp in the style of "Witch Mountain" (for those old enough to remember).
But, a movie I had heard nothing about, turned out to be the best. Not the most original plot and a Dune, Harry Potter, Matrix, X-Files mash-up with overtones of Riddick, for sure. A great watch though.

Am I being slow? Which one are you referring to?
No, drug induced imbecility on my my part. Jupiter Ascending was the film.


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Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 22, 2016, 10:35:23 am
Looks like a big lump of cheese wrapped in several layers of cliche.

Just my bag.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on February 22, 2016, 11:33:36 am
I was pleasantly surprised by Jupiter Ascending

that and Interstellar 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on February 22, 2016, 06:20:40 pm
The Martian - Love love love it.

Seconded. Watched this this weekend and absolutely loved it, far more than I thought I would. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 22, 2016, 07:34:17 pm
Edge Of Tomorrow was ace! Really did what the trailer promised, I had to go see it twice.

Wasn't convinced by reports of Jupiter Ascending but might try it now.

IF deadpool had actually been two hours of puerile nob jokes, I might have found it entertaining. It was hardly Wolverine meets The Inbetweeners.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 01, 2016, 10:51:47 am
Crimson Peak: Mostly good, but doesn't quite hit the mark. 2/3 a good blend of period drama and ghost thriller, and the ghosts are properly fucking freaky. All going nice, but loses the plot towards the end with a very simple resolution and some pantomine settings and violence. If it had explored dark romance and the siblings tormented motivations more, it could have been a great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on March 13, 2016, 04:08:15 pm

Wasn't convinced by reports of Jupiter Ascending but might try it now.


It's awful. It is to sci-fi what burnt porridge is to breakfast.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 14, 2016, 08:29:30 am
The Martian - Love love love it.

Seconded. Watched this this weekend and absolutely loved it, far more than I thought I would. :thumbsup:

Likewise. A great yarn.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 36chambers on March 14, 2016, 04:09:30 pm
Spontaneously decided to watch Bone Tomahawk last week (as it was playing at the Hype Park Picture House and I just wanted an excuse to check out the venue).

Knew nothing about the film but it looked like a gritty western which I've a penchant for. Without trying to give anything away; it's well shot, it's slow, it's almost boring, it's does tension quite well and it's one of the few films that has shocked and left me with a feeling of unease. Like a shit old rollercoaster that was strangely enjoyable because you thought you would actually die.

Anyway, I'm not very good at reviews or discussing feelings.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 14, 2016, 06:03:32 pm
We watched Slow West last week some time. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3205376/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_10

Quite a nice, light take on a Western. Kind of humerous, but certainly not laugh a minute comedy. More of a "wry smile" type of thing. Plot keeps you going, acting fine if not mind blowing.

Nice and short, so good for an evening/after dinner watch and it's on netflix.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on March 14, 2016, 06:37:35 pm
Hail Caesar! Enjoyable, entertaining (matthew maconanonaghy and scarlet johansen big dance/aquatic nos particularly), episodic, slight, wee bit disappointing if I'm honest, and I probably count as a Cohen Bros fan. (I would say stuff about the Revenant but can't think of anything nice. )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on March 14, 2016, 08:55:02 pm
Hail Caesar! Enjoyable, entertaining (matthew maconanonaghy and scarlet johansen big dance/aquatic nos particularly)

Do you mean Channing Tatum? Mcconaughey isn't in it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on March 14, 2016, 09:19:13 pm
Init.  I could also learn to spell Coen  :wall:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 19, 2016, 12:22:43 pm
High Rise - I'm a Ballard fan and enjoyed this adaptation.  It's pretty bonkers and full-on.  Brilliant casting, especially Dan Renton Skinner (AKA Angelos Epithimou & Bosh in house of fools) as Simmons.  The credits roll to The Fall's "Industrial Estate" which caps things off nicely.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on March 19, 2016, 10:30:25 pm
Watched dead pool tonight after looking forward to it then not fancying it at all, bit bizarre but an enjoyable hour and 3/4.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 20, 2016, 12:07:21 am
High Rise - I'm a Ballard fan and enjoyed this adaptation.

I love Ballard's writing; I'm keen to see this. Baffles me how noone has made a movie out of the drowned world (although I've never looked it up on imbd, maybe they have?)
 

.... looks like it might be? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2740074/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: monkoffunk on March 20, 2016, 08:46:33 am
I watched 'what we do in the shadows' recently after recommendation from my sister. Comedy about vampires sharing a flat in New Zealand. If you enjoyed flight of the conchords you'll love it, but I'd probably give it a go anyway! Hilarious, was even better second time round.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: haydn jones on March 20, 2016, 08:53:36 am
I second what we do in the shadows. Right up my street that comedy. Available on netflix too
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on March 21, 2016, 08:47:25 am
Saw Deadpool on Saturday. Proper funny, especially the teabag gag...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mumra on March 21, 2016, 06:59:37 pm
Martian was not as shit as I'd expected. 7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 13, 2016, 09:03:50 am
Went to go and see Dheepan yesterday, I'd highly recommend it: thoughtful and human movie about immigrant experience.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 17, 2016, 10:09:18 am
May have been mentioned a while back but caught 'Force Majeure' on Lovefilm last night. Great film. Funny, interesting premise, beautiful to look at, well acted. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 17, 2016, 10:15:10 am
Watched 'Steve Jobs' last night - Danny Boyles take on the life of the Apple person...

An interesting film - quite cleverly made - could have been a play, with the film comprising of three scenes. Each 'scene' or act, I guess, was set in the immediate run up to one of his major launch events with the tension of a baying crowd building up, and Jobs rather manically dealing with the problems in his professional and personal life before he heads on stage. It feels a bit 'intense' at times ~ but thats probably the point!

Enjoyable.

No car chases, no monster robots or aliens, no sex scenes, blood or gore. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dunnyg on April 17, 2016, 05:54:37 pm
After a filmathon due to long haul flight, i was impressed by the revenant out of the 10+ films watched. Interesting picture of the old life out west thing, not too cheery mind...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 21, 2016, 03:02:35 pm
I went to the premiere of my friend Jon's new film at BFI Southbank on Saturday night. It was showing as part of the London Comedy Film Festival. In fact, it won the only award the festival gives out, which is a bit cool.

Anyway, it's called Superbob, and stars Brett Goldstein (stand-up comic, known for Derek and Drifters), Catherine Tate and a bunch of other people. It's a Brit indie film, made on a tiny budget. It's proper funny and I laughed my cock off. They're hoping to have distribution sorted soon, so hopefully it'll be coming to a cinema near you. Go see it if you get chance.

Teaser:

SuperBob teaser #1 on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/114011700)

xx

Finally was able to catch this on DVD, after it sadly didn't seem to get a wide distribution deal. Not sure why not as it's great fun. Well made, nothing in it shouts 'low budget'. It's very funny. Could well be a cult classic. Now on Lovefilm and probably other places also. The DVD extras are worth a watch also.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on May 10, 2016, 03:59:41 pm
Watched Look Who's Back (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4176826/?ref_=fn_al_tt_6) the other and found it quite amusing, yet at the same time making a very important point.

Quote
Adolf Hitler wakes up in the 21st century. He quickly gains media attention , but whereas Germany finds him hilarious and charming, Hitler makes some serious observations about society.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 10, 2016, 04:22:51 pm
For the first time in history Fiend and Slackline inadvertently agree on something!

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,3825.1125.html

Quote
Hitler is somehow teleported from 1945 to 2011 and struggles to come to terms with the modern and disarmingly peaceful world who treat him as a performing art novelty. An entertaining and provocative concept although it errrs more towards pantomine arrogance in his perspective rather than frustrated evil.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 19, 2016, 09:39:46 am
Recently watched and enjoyed:

Amal  a really nice 2008 film about an Indian rickshaw driver. On Netflix.

Everybody Wants Some!! Richard Linklater's new film - if you liked Dazed and Confused, you'll like this. It's a bit lighter, but also a bit funnier. Not laugh a minute, more rye smile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 19, 2016, 09:41:43 am

Amal  a really nice 2008 film about an Indian rickshaw driver. On Netflix.


Another misread!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 19, 2016, 09:54:54 am
Get yer mind out the gutter!

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cha1n on May 24, 2016, 09:14:19 pm
I thought the Experimenter was quite good; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3726704/

I think they could have done things to make it better but I didn't know a lot about the psychological experimentation that went on back then, so found it interesting because of that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on May 24, 2016, 09:38:39 pm
Don't know if it's been mentioned but sounds along the lines of what chains just mentioned "the killing room" was quite good
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on June 09, 2016, 09:55:12 am
I finally saw The Revenant. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has grown up on the Taiga. Even willing, the disbelief is impossible to suspend. Everyone in the film would be dead ten times over from hypothermia before reaching any form of civilisation. As a smaller critique: the revenge motif felt totally pointless and degrading.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 11, 2016, 11:43:29 pm
Victoria (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt4226388) is an amazing piece of film making. Well made watchable thriller that builds to an impressive climax. Great acting. Really believable. Would be a good movie if filmed normally. The fact it is shot with a single almost flawless 134 minute take is incredible.  :o
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TheTwig on June 12, 2016, 12:11:18 am
I finally saw The Revenant. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has grown up on the Taiga. Even willing, the disbelief is impossible to suspend. Everyone in the film would be dead ten times over from hypothermia before reaching any form of civilisation. As a smaller critique: the revenge motif felt totally pointless and degrading.

That was literally the only part of the film that I didn't like. He would have died of cold basically instantly! Am I right in thinking that in the (true) original story, not only did 'the revenant' NOT seek revenge on the guy that nearly killed him, but the location was in a warmer clime? (i.e not -30c every night or whatever).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 12, 2016, 02:19:37 am
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Glass
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 12, 2016, 05:21:46 pm
I finally saw The Revenant. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has grown up on the Taiga. Even willing, the disbelief is impossible to suspend. Everyone in the film would be dead ten times over from hypothermia before reaching any form of civilisation. As a smaller critique: the revenge motif felt totally pointless and degrading.

That was literally the only part of the film that I didn't like. He would have died of cold basically instantly! Am I right in thinking that in the (true) original story, not only did 'the revenant' NOT seek revenge on the guy that nearly killed him, but the location was in a warmer clime? (i.e not -30c every night or whatever).

The original story was about a lad getting lost on his way back from a nightclub in Rotherham... ;)

but don't let hollywood get facts in the way of a good story....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on June 12, 2016, 06:17:42 pm
So basically like the bible except it was retold immediately and not 300 years later
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 12, 2016, 06:47:22 pm
So basically like the bible except it was retold immediately and not 300 years later

Naa, thats Terminator Salvation...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: DubDom on July 01, 2016, 10:39:33 pm
Bit highfalutin for some perhaps but....
http://www.tarkovsky.co.uk (http://www.tarkovsky.co.uk)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: a dense loner on July 13, 2016, 09:18:56 pm
It's quite a strange thing to say but Patrick Swayze and Canoe Reeves couldn't be bettered! Fantastic film. There are some remakes out there which you just know are going to be terrible, they have to be! I've not been able to bring myself to watch the new one.

I was looking forward to the new Bourne, not that this is a remake, until I saw an advert for it earlier. Just him careering down the road with dozens of cars being flung everywhere! I just thought fuck off you're not a transformers movie!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 22, 2016, 07:07:48 am
From this weekends transatlantic viewing...

Deadpool: Superb - loved it. Daft, funny, entertaining. Great pisstake on the Marvel franchises...

Money Monster: Clooney & Julia Roberts in TV studio siege drama. Really good - might sound unlikely, but well worth a watch.

Nice Guys: 'Buddy cop movie' should have put me off. Well, it was alright but... meh...

The Hateful 8: Superb - fell asleep for 30 min of it, but another pointless meandering potter from Tarantino in a cowboy setting - but what a WONDERFUL pointless meandering...

Legend: Krays film - thought it might be a Guy Ritchie 'alright mate, bang bang' film - but it wasnt. Missed last 30 min (plane landing) but thought it was pretty good. About the characters more than the myth...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 22, 2016, 08:35:19 am
Legend: Krays film - thought it might be a Guy Ritchie 'alright mate, bang bang' film - but it wasnt. Missed last 30 min (plane landing) but thought it was pretty good. About the characters more than the myth...

How did it measure up to the old Kemp brothers version?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099951/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 22, 2016, 08:41:24 am
Legend: Krays film - thought it might be a Guy Ritchie 'alright mate, bang bang' film - but it wasnt. Missed last 30 min (plane landing) but thought it was pretty good. About the characters more than the myth...

How did it measure up to the old Kemp brothers version?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099951/

Not seen it Chris - but this newer one one good enough to make me disappointed when I missed the end...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on September 22, 2016, 08:54:16 am
I really enjoyed the Krays film, and that's as someone with no real interest in the story beforehand
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 22, 2016, 08:57:40 am
They are fictional characters btw, these are the true life people the stories are based on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jmnspyj-eY

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 27, 2016, 08:25:51 am
the girl with all the gifts

I went to see this yesterday, afterwards I was seized by a powerful urge to walk into see finding dory.... it makes 28 days later look like the little princess. A hugely effective piece of movie making but not for the squeamish. The shots of the Telecom tower are incredible, and some of the acting is excellent. Definitely worth seeing in the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on September 27, 2016, 04:37:48 pm
The Bicycle Thieves currently on BBC iplayer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07xnlxj)

A lovely, sad, tale beautifully told (no zombies, explosions or 3D).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ti_pin_man on September 28, 2016, 11:58:03 am
The Bicycle Thieves currently on BBC iplayer (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07xnlxj)

A lovely, sad, tale beautifully told (no zombies, explosions or 3D).

+1 lovely film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on September 28, 2016, 12:22:08 pm
The Big Short

Funny and engaging

Highly entertaining story of those who 'shorted' the housing market in the lead up to the global economic crash. I enjoyed the characters though Brad Pitt's seemed rather satellite. Very complicated stuff but had strange 'explainers' sequences throughout which were quite funny. Not sure of the fact checking but as a movie I've watched it again already. Recommended (currently on Netflix)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on September 28, 2016, 01:56:07 pm

 I enjoyed the characters though Brad Pitt's seemed rather satellite.

Excuse my stupidity, but what does that mean?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 28, 2016, 02:05:13 pm
I'm guessing but satellites are "out there" [orbiting the earth], implying the character wasn't very realistic.  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 28, 2016, 02:15:42 pm
Or else, the Pitt's character is removed from the film in some way, i.e. just orbiting around it without having much to do with it. Perhaps: "WTF is that character doing in this story?".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 28, 2016, 02:18:16 pm
Or else, the Pitt's character is removed from the film in some way, i.e. just orbiting around it without having much to do with it. Perhaps: "WTF is that character doing in this story?".

+1 on that interpretation. Not seen film to confirm though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 28, 2016, 02:19:26 pm
Similes often obfuscate the meaning that is trying to be conveyed and are pretty pointless I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on September 28, 2016, 02:26:16 pm
peripheral
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 36chambers on September 28, 2016, 02:51:37 pm
I think he was referring to his big ears.

Good film regardless.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 28, 2016, 02:52:45 pm
I saw the first half of the 'Everest' film - which seemed pretty decent. Of course its the second half where the shit hits the fan and the story gets controversial (Kraukner vs Boukreev etc..) - anyway....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on September 28, 2016, 03:19:55 pm
Similes often obfuscate the meaning that is trying to be conveyed and are pretty pointless I think.

It was a metaphor, not a simile.

If you think adding new layers of meaning is a pointless activity, then yes, figurative language is pointless.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 28, 2016, 03:21:43 pm
Similes often obfuscate the meaning that is trying to be conveyed and are pretty pointless I think.

It was a metaphor, not a simile.

If you think adding new layers of meaning is a pointless activity, then yes, figurative language is pointless.

Is that like saying something like something? So a metaphor for a metaphor is something like something like?
Yours allegoriously,
TT
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on September 28, 2016, 03:24:22 pm
Anyway, back on topic.

Hell Or Highwater.

Texan bank robbers. Men in cowboy hats. Jeff Bridges. Open vistas. Guns, morals and money.

Fantastic, beautifully shot, well cast. Loving nods to old westerns.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 28, 2016, 03:36:42 pm
Is that on Netflix/in the cinema or something? Sounds amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on September 28, 2016, 03:41:51 pm
Cinema. Saw it a couple of weeks ago but I'm pretty sure it's still on.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on September 28, 2016, 04:01:33 pm
Similes often obfuscate the meaning that is trying to be conveyed and are pretty pointless I think.

It was a metaphor, not a simile.

If you think adding new layers of meaning is a pointless activity, then yes, figurative language is pointless.

Apologies.

It still obfuscated the meaning to the extent that Duncan, myself and others had to guess what was being meant.  We've clear, precise and expressive languages to communicate with so I see no need nor benefit in masking meaning behind figurative language and much prefer literal, especially in this medium of forums.

Non-technical literature is a different matter.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on September 28, 2016, 04:10:05 pm
Or else, the Pitt's character is removed from the film in some way, i.e. just orbiting around it without having much to do with it. Perhaps: "WTF is that character doing in this story?".

+1 on that interpretation. Not seen film to confirm though.

My guess is autocorrect gone wrong
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 28, 2016, 04:14:57 pm
You reckon "satellite" is auto corrected "shite"? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 01, 2016, 05:11:54 pm
Miles Ahead.  I'm a fan so really enjoyed this.  Don Cheadle's Davis is uncanny. A doppelgnger. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on October 01, 2016, 05:50:27 pm
peripheral

This is the word I meant.

Slackers - I admire your desire for simple language, straight from the Orwellian school
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on October 01, 2016, 08:02:48 pm
Just got back from watching Kubo and the two strings. Stunning animation, haunting emotional story, the best 'kids' film I've seen in a very long time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 01, 2016, 09:05:37 pm


peripheral
This is the word I meant.
*fist pump*
Get in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 02, 2016, 10:32:08 am
Just got back from watching Kubo and the two strings. Stunning animation, haunting emotional story, the best 'kids' film I've seen in a very long time. IP
sweet, I'm pretty keen to see this, good antidote to girl with all the gifts?!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on October 02, 2016, 11:01:59 am
Just got back from watching Kubo and the two strings. Stunning animation, haunting emotional story, the best 'kids' film I've seen in a very long time.

Just watched the trailer, looks great!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: James Malloch on October 24, 2016, 06:56:06 pm
I, Daniel Blake.

Brilliant film. It's something everyone should watch.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 27, 2016, 10:04:42 am
Watched Sicario the other day, although many of the reviews were glowing, I thought it was a little confused about whether it wanted to be an action film, or  a sombre comment on the failure of the us to control the drugs trade and immigration from Mexico. I don't mind a film not confirming to genre, but Sicario didn't quite do either effectively for me. 6/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: standard on October 27, 2016, 11:00:26 am
The Big Short on netflix.
Brilliant performances.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 27, 2016, 11:05:25 am
Got round to Pacific Rim - giant robots fight giant monsters, what's not to like. With added Luther. Leave brain behind and enjoy.

And the name begs for a pr0n remake.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 27, 2016, 04:38:40 pm
Got round to Pacific Rim - giant robots fight giant monsters, what's not to like. With added Luther. Leave brain behind and enjoy.

And the name begs for a pr0n remake.

Yeah it is very much what you'd expect.. but alright for a leave brain at the door.

For Sicarro, I thought the point of it was to be both a tense action and 'it's all shit' doom and gloom film... I quite liked it. MrsTT didn't though - despite her being a Blunt (Emily not James) enthusiast...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 27, 2016, 04:48:47 pm
Got round to Pacific Rim - giant robots fight giant monsters, what's not to like. With added Luther. Leave brain behind and enjoy.

That film is utter toss!

10 Cloverfield Lane was disappointing too with its change in genre 15 minutes before the (poor) ending!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 27, 2016, 06:50:03 pm
Got round to Pacific Rim - giant robots fight giant monsters, what's not to like. With added Luther. Leave brain behind and enjoy.

That film is utter toss!!

Snob. I thought it was brilliant. You just don't know how to appreciate giant nuclear alien lizards Paul.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on October 27, 2016, 08:35:05 pm
Got round to Pacific Rim - giant robots fight giant monsters, what's not to like. With added Luther. Leave brain behind and enjoy.

And the name begs for a pr0n remake.

I thought it was brain free fun. A bit like Godzilla should have been but  wasn't.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 27, 2016, 10:58:45 pm
I saw it in the cinema. It was the whiney male lead that was the final nail in the coffin for me!

So far this trip I've enjoyed the new Star Trek (light hearted scifi) and The Infiltrator (not overly complex but some good acting).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 28, 2016, 10:39:07 am

That film is utter toss!


In headline news Paul B adds something else to his list that he doesn't like.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 29, 2016, 09:45:45 am
Dr Strange went to see this yesterday. I was a bit disappointed, having read a couple of glowing reviews. It's not awful; just slightly underwhelming. A bit like a sort of more wizard-y, less sci-fi version of the matrix. Enjoyable, but pretty forgettable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 05, 2016, 04:07:28 pm
Finally watched Ex-Machina yesterday and loved it.  Oscar Isaac is such a great actor.  Also enjoyed Fassbender's portrayal of Steve Jobs yesterday evening. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 06, 2016, 06:23:53 pm
Just watched the new Star Wars film again this afternoon and it was much better than when I saw it at the cinema last December.  I was a bit ambivalent last year but loved it today.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on November 06, 2016, 07:06:28 pm
A good weekend of film watching then! I need to watch Star Wars again, enjoyed it first time round, but think a second viewing will be worth it. You seen trailers for next one yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 07, 2016, 11:31:50 pm
I watched The Accountant last night; highly enjoyable superior silly action movie. Ignore the almost universally poor reviews, the plot isn't exactly watertight and it may not present the most realistic impression of an autistic disorder, but it's a fun action movie, what do you expect? Well, running around with big guns mainly, with the odd smart bit of dialogue. It has these.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 08, 2016, 08:53:11 am
Finally watched Ex-Machina yesterday and loved it.  Oscar Isaac is such a great actor.  Also enjoyed Fassbender's portrayal of Steve Jobs yesterday evening.


I watched Ex-Machina the other week, thought it was great - really weird vibe to the whole thing, almost The Shining-esque.







Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 19, 2016, 06:28:01 pm
Just went to see arrival , absolutely 10/10. An incredible film of aesthetic beauty, sophisticated enough yet with enough action and drama to make it constantly compelling.

Well worth seeing in the cinema too, I doubt if the cinematography would have the same impact on a smaller screen. Mark Kermode wrote an excellent review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/13/arrival-review-poetic-vision-contact-aliens
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 19, 2016, 06:38:23 pm
I REALLY want to see this - thanks for the kick up the arse.  I'll go this week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on November 19, 2016, 06:40:34 pm
Whilst stylistically it looks/sounds great, I didn't think it quite got there and was a bit dull overall. 7/10 for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 19, 2016, 06:59:50 pm
MrsTT went to see this - with TTjnr (mum and baby screening @home in Manchester).....

She thought it was alright but a bit slow and boring (her words)... she's a sci fi fan too. Not sure whether havonggn a 4 month baby gurgling on her lap removed from the experience but there you go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 21, 2016, 02:09:28 pm
Just watched the new Star Wars film again this afternoon and it was much better than when I saw it at the cinema last December.  I was a bit ambivalent last year but loved it today.

Kids just started watching them after the Lego Star Wars DVD for about 4 months (which are ace btw).

Had a right dilemma what order to let them watch them in, but finally plugged for (rightly or wrongly) going from 1 to 7, but unlikely to get through them all before Rogue 1 is released (plus they are a bit young for The Force Awakens).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on November 21, 2016, 02:20:48 pm
Had a right dilemma what order to let them watch them in, but finally plugged for (rightly or wrongly) going from 1 to 7, but unlikely to get through them all before Rogue 1 is released (plus they are a bit young for The Force Awakens).

Are you aiming to watch them in the chronological order of the stories? Rogue 1 is the first anthology film and is set between episodes 3 and 4 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One) and isn't the VIII instalment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 21, 2016, 02:32:29 pm
OK, we're double screwed then. going to be a stretch of parenting letting a 4 year old watch PG 12.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: johnx2 on November 22, 2016, 04:34:08 pm
Got round to watching Everybody Wants Some the other night. Reviews were a bit lukewarm as in not as good as Dazed and Confused, which is great and to which it's a sort of semi sequel with different characters. Anyway, I enjoyed it. Tonks along nicely looking at a college baseball team over a few days as new team members arrive. Focuses pretty much purely on the jocks rubbing along in a fairly simple time. Jesus I'd go and live there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 36chambers on November 22, 2016, 04:53:12 pm
GF dragged me to go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them yesterday. As someone who thinks Harry Potter is hogwash, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2016, 07:13:48 pm
GF dragged me to go see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them yesterday. As someone who thinks Harry Potter is hogwash, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

That's nearly as compelling as Denses recommendation for Terminator 19. ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 22, 2016, 07:44:13 pm
Not sure if anyone has mentioned Spring Breakers?

I discovered it on some random best films of the millennium so far, and i would agree with that, despite lesser reviews from the more popular sites.

It's directed by Harmony Korine, it's totally love or hate, it has James Franco playing a part that no-one in his position / in their right mind would ever usually accept, amazing camera work, blazing colours, music.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Catcheemonkey on November 22, 2016, 08:03:57 pm
amazing camera work, blazing colours, music.

It's worth watching, even if just for the weird Britney Spears sing along scene - which is amazing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 22, 2016, 08:44:20 pm
Voila...

video[/] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD8hbg67u5c&autoplay=0)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Doylo on November 22, 2016, 10:34:05 pm
Arrival. Reminded me of a Christopher Nolan film- thought provoking for a blockbuster. Very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 22, 2016, 11:00:30 pm
Just watched Ides of March. Not sure what to think of it. In some way I think it might have been better with no-name actors as the themes, plot etc. were interesting but I think that it could have been delivered better? 

Definitely enjoyed it, but it could probably have been quite a lot better, maybe?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 23, 2016, 10:46:29 am
I thought it was OK, but expected a bit more of it, and ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on November 25, 2016, 07:28:04 am
Fantastic Beasts!

Fantastic! I'm a big Harry Potter fan, so was probably always going to like this film, but I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. It was excellent, and Eddie Redmayne was superb. It is certainly worthy of its 12 rating, some bits are quite jumpy and dark. Kind of a grown ups Harry Potter maybe? Properly absorbing though, JK Rowling has a wonderfully creative mind.

There were quite a few references to Harry Potter too, I got most of them (geek) but my Mrs missed a lot!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on November 25, 2016, 02:23:33 pm
For those who like Japanese anime films in the Studio Ghibli line, I thoroughly recommend Your Name.

This is probably the film I've enjoyed most in the last year or two. I was totally gripped and transported into the world of the film. Beautiful animation and a beautiful, strange and imaginative storyline. I'd describe it as a cross between Freaky Friday, Donnie Darko and Ghost!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on December 02, 2016, 03:35:30 pm
Not a frequent poster on here, due to my penchant for brainless superheroes movies, but I've recently watched Solaris and Stalker by Tarkowskij and WOW!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 05, 2016, 04:28:50 pm
I seem to remember bigtuboflard met up with him in the Alps and said he's quite a tidy skiier still.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 05, 2016, 04:36:43 pm
He always was, apparently; I did just as Habrich described... Eddie only just missed a place on the downhill team, or some such.


All posts either sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek or mildly mocking-in-a-friendly-way unless otherwise stated. I always forget to put those smiley things...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 05, 2016, 04:55:21 pm
I seem to remember bigtuboflard met up with him in the Alps and said he's quite a tidy skiier still.

Eddie Edwards is his father (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,6509.msg510617.html#msg510617).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 06, 2016, 09:28:22 am
I thought the same.

"Read carefully" Slackers.

Anyway, BTOL can confirm I'm sure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 06, 2016, 10:54:46 am
Bridge of Spies.

This one is a tricky one. Generally good acting,  well shot,  slow burner pace. I enjoyed watching it.

Spoilers.

The thing that bothered me was this a flawed historical piece that continued to promote anti-russian/communist sentiment (the portrayal of dark,  gloomy East Germany,  torture if prisoners (which apparently didn't happen according the The American who was portrayed in the film )  that shows that American takes the moral high ground? (plucky lawyer fights for foreign spy despite his country hating him,  to uphold the constitution and rule of law even when foreign affairs demand bending of such )

Or.

Is it a pointed finger at America (Guantanamo etc.) saying that no matter what worldwide affairs (war,  espionage etc.)  we shouldn't resort to truth and bending of laws.

Whatever the intentions were,  I do feel this will be accepted by many as an accurate portrayal of history,  which  it's not.

Or maybe people just go to watch a bit of entertainment eh?

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 06, 2016, 11:42:53 am
On a Hanks note, Road to Perdition is on tomorrow, worth watching if you've not seen it

http://www.moviemix.co.uk/programs/road-perdition

and can tolerate the amount of adverts and SD quality on Movie Mix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 14, 2016, 08:50:01 pm
Just went to see arrival , absolutely 10/10. An incredible film of aesthetic beauty, sophisticated enough yet with enough action and drama to make it constantly compelling.


Late to watching this, but bloody brilliant, quoting the above for truth :). Everything works well, characters, story, and particularly the realistic unfolding of earlier events. Some elegant and iconic images too.

FOTY by a long way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 15, 2016, 09:00:26 am

FOTY by a long way.

But but but you haven't seen Rogue 1 yet! Unless you were out at midnight last night.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on December 15, 2016, 10:33:32 am
I watched Cardboard Boxer the other day. Best film I've seen in ages, though make sure you're in an emotionally stable state before you start watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 15, 2016, 01:11:41 pm
Saw a film called Wild at the Leeds film festival this year. Really good if you want to see a wolf performing vigorous cunnilingus on a woman, the same woman doing a big poo on her boss' desk, her boss ejaculating onto her belly etc.

It was actually a half decent film. Average. I don't think the wolf carpet munching (is that phrase OK or is it misogynistic, I don't know) would have actually happened, as presumably it's illegal. But as I watched the other bits I was thinking, "they could have got her to hide a piping bag full of poo substitute and filmed her from behind squeezing it out onto the desk", or, it would have just been so much easier to film her pooing onto a desk.
Or, they could have got the actor to hold a pipette and squeeze out some semen substitute, whilst making it look like a realistic splattering, and convincingly looking like he was masturbating at the same time. Or, they could have got him to ejaculate on her belly.
I have no idea what I was watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 15, 2016, 02:22:38 pm
Was this a pron film festival?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on December 15, 2016, 02:25:42 pm
Saw a film called Wild at the Leeds film festival this year. Really good if you want to see a wolf performing vigorous cunnilingus on a woman, the same woman doing a big poo on her boss' desk, her boss ejaculating onto her belly etc.
Don't remember any of that when I watched Wild with Reece Witherspoon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_(2014_film)), must have been a directors cut.   ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 15, 2016, 09:36:41 pm
Herzog's Lo and Behold.   Brilliant documentary on the internet and technology.  Really worthwhile.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 15, 2016, 11:43:09 pm
Saw a film called Wild at the Leeds film festival this year. Really good if you want to see a wolf performing vigorous cunnilingus on a woman, the same woman doing a big poo on her boss' desk, her boss ejaculating onto her belly etc.

It was actually a half decent film. Average. I don't think the wolf carpet munching (is that phrase OK or is it misogynistic, I don't know) would have actually happened, as presumably it's illegal. But as I watched the other bits I was thinking, "they could have got her to hide a piping bag full of poo substitute and filmed her from behind squeezing it out onto the desk", or, it would have just been so much easier to film her pooing onto a desk.
Or, they could have got the actor to hold a pipette and squeeze out some semen substitute, whilst making it look like a realistic splattering, and convincingly looking like he was masturbating at the same time. Or, they could have got him to ejaculate on her belly.
I have no idea what I was watching.

I thought you were making it up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf5ZO5LGk48
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 15, 2016, 11:57:47 pm
Saw Rouge One tonight. Very familiar terrain.

+ As good looking as Force Awakening, maybe even more so
+ Decent setup: what would star wars be like without the fantasy elements? (With reassuringly big plot-holes, to tie in with SW 1-7)
+ Donnie Yen was awesome as deranged religious fanatic/martial artist, Ben Mendelsohn was good

The rest of the cast was not up to Force Awakening standards
The first part, where they collect the crew was not good at all

Quite OK, three stars out of five or so.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on December 16, 2016, 06:49:18 am
Fantastic Beasts!

I'm at that sad stage where I'd still like to go and seen some films my son would have liked when he was younger - e.g. this one - but at thirteen things like that aren't cool enough for him any more. He's aviation obsessed and just wants to go an watch Sully twice a week for as long as it's still running.

Will need to borrow a smaller child from somebody. (Ideally if I could find one that also won't burn me off at the bouldering wall)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slackline on December 16, 2016, 09:16:02 am
Out in cinemas today this looks stunning, I might actually go to the cinema to see this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=les9FycU8p8

Short on making it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-vjf2kTlr8
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 16, 2016, 09:27:27 am
Saw Rouge One tonight. Very familiar terrain.

+ As good looking as Force Awakening, maybe even more so
+ Decent setup: what would star wars be like without the fantasy elements? (With reassuringly big plot-holes, to tie in with SW 1-7)
+ Donnie Yen was awesome as deranged religious fanatic/martial artist, Ben Mendelsohn was good

The rest of the cast was not up to Force Awakening standards
The first part, where they collect the crew was not good at all

Quite OK, three stars out of five or so.

Saw this last night, loved it. Agreed re the plot holes, but whatever, its SW. First half could have been edited down a bit, second was great. Disagree the rest of the cast weren't up to FA, thought it was a much better film overall. Looks brilliant, agreed even better than FA, lots of fun cameos and ties in well to ANH.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 16, 2016, 12:46:57 pm
Peter Cushing was not very good in Rouge One for one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 16, 2016, 01:02:38 pm
Herzog's Lo and Behold.   Brilliant documentary on the internet and technology.  Really worthwhile.

There's a new Herzog documentary on Netflix - Into the Inferno.

He met a British volcanologist (Clive Oppenheimer) making a previous film, and they get together to visit various volcanos and talk to the people living near them. It's not at all what I was expecting, especially the section filmed in North Korea. It's a really great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on December 16, 2016, 01:07:49 pm
Herzog's Lo and Behold.   Brilliant documentary on the internet and technology.  Really worthwhile.

There's a new Herzog documentary on Netflix - Into the Inferno.

He met a British volcanologist (Clive Oppenheimer) making a previous film, and they get together to visit various volcanos and talk to the people living near them. It's not at all what I was expecting, especially the section filmed in North Korea. It's a really great film.

nice, cheers for the heads up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on December 16, 2016, 02:48:48 pm
Watched Jason Bourne on iTunes. Cack on every level, it's the sort of thing I should enjoy as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 16, 2016, 10:42:54 pm
Herzog's Lo and Behold.   Brilliant documentary on the internet and technology.  Really worthwhile.

There's a new Herzog documentary on Netflix - Into the Inferno.

He met a British volcanologist (Clive Oppenheimer) making a previous film, and they get together to visit various volcanos and talk to the people living near them. It's not at all what I was expecting, especially the section filmed in North Korea. It's a really great film.

nice, cheers for the heads up.

Sounds great... (I don't have Netflix)...

Teaboy - I quite enjoyed JB even though it was just another JB film.  The London sequence was filmed where I work so that made it a bit more interesting.  The return of the amazingly wooden Julia Styles was fun too..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 19, 2016, 05:03:38 pm
I always read JB as James Bond - guess the comment applies as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 19, 2016, 06:20:13 pm
On here I generally read it as Adam Long
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 20, 2016, 12:06:28 am
yet again I find myself unable to finish watching something because the violence and (more importantly) cruelty are too much for me - even though I can see it is a good film - this time it was Django Unchained

is this an age thing? (me, not the film)

I'm not sure I could watch Reservoir Dogs again, thinking about it

is this something that others have experienced?

I guess it has something to do with the refinement of cinematic techniques, but maybe also increased empathy with age
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 20, 2016, 03:06:50 am
I get it, I'm just not interested if its a dominant theme. Of course, some times violence is plausible and even necessary to a plot line. But if its the violence driving the plot, rather than the other way round, then no.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 20, 2016, 05:48:45 am
Don't watch Kill Bill 1&2 then...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 11, 2017, 11:33:06 am
Whiplash is on Netflix. Very very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 11, 2017, 02:16:43 pm
Really enjoyed Rogue One, as did Kyle (first father and son SW cinema experience!). Not sure he followed the entire plot (especially jumping between planets at the beginning) but was happy to be swept along by the action. Good entry point to the saga too, can follow up with the original trilogy now, and finish up with TFA in time for the next installment next year.

One of top 3 SW films?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on January 18, 2017, 02:34:23 pm
We went to see Arrival yesterday. Probably last chance before the theaters stop screening it. Best film I've seen in a long, long time (granted, the only other films I've seen this year was the abysmal The Revenant and the somewhat mediocre Rogue One). An absolutely beautiful filmt that in the best tradition of speculative fiction uses fantastic elements to explore what it is to be human here and now, in ways that is very difficult for non-genre to do. It certainly made me interested in reading Chiang's Story of Your Life

 :off:

Car chases bores me to no end. They never create any tension. Case in point: have you ever read a car-chase in a book? No, of course not: that would be stupid. As stupid as showing one on film in fact.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 18, 2017, 09:13:17 pm
Yay for another Arrival appreciation.

What about The Blues Brothers' car chase though??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tk421a on January 18, 2017, 09:18:12 pm
+1 on Arrival, really enjoyed. Have read Story of My Life since, good read.

La La Land was excellent... It's a musical drama romance comedy...the cinematography is probably the best I've seen in a while, most points you could pause the film, print the screen and it would just be a great photo. I completely understand how it wiped the floor at the Golden Globes. Same director as Whiplash, enjoyed La La Land more than Whiplash.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 18, 2017, 10:20:15 pm

Car chases bores me to no end. They never create any tension. Case in point: have you ever read a car-chase in a book? No, of course not: that would be stupid. As stupid as showing one on film in fact.

There is a brilliant car chase in Ian Fleming's Moonraker...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on January 18, 2017, 11:08:13 pm
Well I'll have to concede the point then. Curious as to what is it that makes the car chase work. (If you could quote or give me the chapter heading... I'm unlikely to read an entire Fleming novel.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 19, 2017, 08:41:00 am

What about The Blues Brothers' car chase though??

As good as it gets IMO.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 19, 2017, 08:49:56 am
I will endeavour to dig it out. It reminds me - there is something similar in The Day of the Jackal. I think talented thriller writers can make pretty much anything exciting... 

On that note, I watched The Girl on the Train the other day. Despite the book's undeniable popularity, I found it the most tedious recent film with the word Girl in the title. Totally indifferent and unmoved by the whole thing.

808, on the other hand, was superb. Easily the best music documentary I've seen in ages...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 29, 2017, 08:10:56 pm
Went to see Manchester by the Sea this afternoon.  Very moving and quite harrowing in places.   Casey Affleck is brilliant as usual.  If I could pick one fault it's maybe a little too long but I don't know what bits the director would have cut.  Well worth watching.

We watched Enemy of the State last night. An 90's movie with Will Smith and Gene Hackman playing homage to his role in one of my favourites "The Conversation".  An enjoyable conspiracy romp.

W went to see La La Land on Friday and has been raving about it since.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on January 30, 2017, 10:55:18 am
Went to see Manchester by the Sea this afternoon.  Very moving and quite harrowing in places.   Casey Affleck is brilliant as usual.  If I could pick one fault it's maybe a little too long but I don't know what bits the director would have cut.  Well worth watching.
It's on my 'to watch' list but the sexual harassment issues around Casey Affleck and the way they appear brushed under the carpet still bug me a little.

W went to see La La Land on Friday and has been raving about it since.
This has been on the 'to watch' list evry since I saw it was being made, if it's half as good as Whiplash.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on January 30, 2017, 11:03:27 am
Saw Trainspotting 2 the other night. It was surprisingly good, mainly because it felt like it avoided the sequel trap of trying to copy the first film. Plenty of references to the first film but it felt like the characters  had changed enough that the film could cover some new ground.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on January 30, 2017, 12:02:42 pm
...
We watched Enemy of the State last night. An 90's movie with Will Smith and Gene Hackman playing homage to his role in one of my favourites "The Conversation".  An enjoyable conspiracy romp.
...

Yes, surprisingly enjoyable film (Enemy of the State, i.e.).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 30, 2017, 02:59:08 pm
Enjoyed two very different music based films, Whiplash and Sing Street, both now on Netflix.

Also caught the animated Kubo and the two strings (https://www.kubothemovie.com/) after a Kermode recommendation. Great film, a joy to watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 30, 2017, 03:19:42 pm
Car chases bores me to no end. They never create any tension. Case in point: have you ever read a car-chase in a book? No, of course not: that would be stupid. As stupid as showing one on film in fact.


Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on January 30, 2017, 03:20:16 pm
La La Land: worst Benetton advert ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 30, 2017, 03:26:18 pm
Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!

Ronin!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on January 30, 2017, 03:32:36 pm
Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!

Ronin!

Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

The film itself has to watchable in the first place. So not gone in 60 seconds with is awful.

The Bourne ones are good, particularly the chase with the black G Wagon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 30, 2017, 03:35:16 pm
Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!

Ronin!


Was just going to post that. Superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 30, 2017, 03:39:04 pm
Bond in the 2CV...
The Hitcher.
Mad Max (the original first one).

And how could you forget Smokey and the Bandit 1,2 and 3 ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 30, 2017, 04:26:20 pm
Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!

Ronin!

Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

The film itself has to watchable in the first place. So not gone in 60 seconds with is awful.

The Bourne ones are good, particularly the chase with the black G Wagon.


The car chase-y bit of Casino Royale was pretty good, and I thought that was the best of the series from the modern (i.e. post Moore) Bond era.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 30, 2017, 06:03:43 pm
The Italian Job. The film is basically a car chase.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Sidehaas on January 30, 2017, 06:09:31 pm
damage [...]

Car chases bores me to no end. They never create any tension. Case in point: have you ever read a car-chase in a book? No, of course not: that would be stupid. As stupid as showing one on film in fact.
[/quote]

Possibly stretching the definition of car chase, but the recent Mad Max was awesome.

As a kid I had a soft spot for the white car in The Spy Who Loved Me.

I also love the Revenant though, so maybe our tastes are different :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on January 30, 2017, 07:35:52 pm
Another vote for Ronin! Classic!

Oh, and it pains me to say this, but I watched Bridget Jones' Baby last night.

And I enjoyed it! :sorry: :oops: :guilty:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 31, 2017, 07:32:54 pm
Galpinos - I didn't know all that stuff about Affleck.  He certainly seems to be carrying some demons...
Title: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 31, 2017, 08:21:30 pm
yet again I find myself unable to finish watching something because the violence and (more importantly) cruelty are too much for me - even though I can see it is a good film - this time it was Django Unchained

is this an age thing? (me, not the film)

I'm not sure I could watch Reservoir Dogs again, thinking about it

is this something that others have experienced?

I guess it has something to do with the refinement of cinematic techniques, but maybe also increased empathy with age

I watched that "Captain America, Civil war", the other day. It was just a light hearted, pass a wet afternoon impulse watch, but the plot line struck a chord. I'd found action movies much less appealing recently, but (in an otherwise typical Marvel jaunt) the characters' angst at the collateral damage of their "heroics" seemed strangely poignant. Quite nice to see acknowledgement by the writers that violence has consequence.


All posts either sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek or mildly mocking-in-a-friendly-way unless otherwise stated. I always forget to put those smiley things...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark20 on February 02, 2017, 09:28:32 pm
Hunt for the Wilderpeople now on Netflix, which is good because I missed this at the cinema last year. Great light-hearted comedy from New Zealand.
If 'What We Do In She Shadows' from the same writer is still on there it's also well worth a watch (probably better IMO)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 02, 2017, 11:06:23 pm
Got taken to see La La Land the other day and it was woeful. Barely anything to commend it. A thoroughly average film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: James Malloch on February 03, 2017, 08:31:27 am
Saw Trainspotting 2 the other night. It was surprisingly good, mainly because it felt like it avoided the sequel trap of trying to copy the first film. Plenty of references to the first film but it felt like the characters  had changed enough that the film could cover some new ground.

Saw this a few days ago myself. Haven't read the books so not sure how it compares plot wise, but I really enjoyed it. Don't think it tried to do too much and was fairly independent from the first film. Would definitely recommend. Preferred the soundtrack from the first though - can't beat it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 03, 2017, 09:21:48 am
Got taken to see La La Land the other day and it was woeful. Barely anything to commend it. A thoroughly average film.

MrsTT was dutifully unimpressed - and (a) she likes musicals and (b) is a film buff.

Recon I dodged a bullet by passing on the opportunity...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 03, 2017, 09:54:49 am
Ronin!
Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

Ronin!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on February 03, 2017, 09:57:42 am
Got taken to see La La Land the other day and it was woeful. Barely anything to commend it. A thoroughly average film.

Really! Gutted. After Whiplash I was very excited but a bit concerned by the lavish praise it had received. Reckon I'll still see it......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 03, 2017, 10:25:39 am
Ronin!
Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

Ronin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m-ofGDLNlM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxxH0lZSYgU
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 03, 2017, 11:50:03 am
If 'What We Do In She Shadows' from the same writer is still on there it's also well worth a watch (probably better IMO)

I though this was a great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on February 03, 2017, 01:16:00 pm
Car chases bores me to no end. They never create any tension. Case in point: have you ever read a car-chase in a book? No, of course not: that would be stupid. As stupid as showing one on film in fact.


Come on. The Bourne Identity. Gone In 60 Seconds. Bad Boys!

OK, any film that has Romain Thievin doing the car stunt (Bourne identity, Ronin, Taxi etc) will at least have competent driving, which make the car chases slightly less boring.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on February 03, 2017, 02:11:45 pm
Ronin!
Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

Ronin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m-ofGDLNlM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxxH0lZSYgU

Looks good, I hadn't seen it since it came out. a few points arise:

Great choice of car the 6.3 in Brown.
As i remember thinking at the time there is no way that cooking spec 406 would keep up with an M5. McElhone must be a shit driver.

My dad had a 4.2 S8 on test for a week when they came out. I thought it was amazing. He took it back after three days because he said he would lose his licence if he kept it and just got another diesel E class. Gutted. His colleague got one instead. About a year later for some reason my dad ended up borrowing the S8 anyway for a couple of weeks. Early on a sunday morning on the M180 my mum was pulled over doing 115 in it. She played dumb, said it was an office car that she'd never driven before, had no idea how fast she was going though she admitted to being in a hurry because she was late for a yoga teachers seminar. (True). The two young shavers completely let her off!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on February 03, 2017, 02:55:49 pm
OK, any film that has Romain Thievin doing the car stunt (Bourne identity, Ronin, Taxi etc) will at least have competent driving, which make the car chases slightly less boring.

born in font too according to wikipedia
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 03, 2017, 02:56:33 pm

Looks good, I hadn't seen it since it came out. a few points arise:

Great choice of car the 6.3 in Brown.
As i remember thinking at the time there is no way that cooking spec 406 would keep up with an M5. McElhone must be a shit driver.

My dad had a 4.2 S8 on test for a week when they came out. I thought it was amazing. He took it back after three days because he said he would lose his licence if he kept it and just got another diesel E class. Gutted. His colleague got one instead. About a year later for some reason my dad ended up borrowing the S8 anyway for a couple of weeks. Early on a sunday morning on the M180 my mum was pulled over doing 115 in it. She played dumb, said it was an office car that she'd never driven before, had no idea how fast she was going though she admitted to being in a hurry because she was late for a yoga teachers seminar. (True). The two young shavers completely let her off!

I had a 2l 405 as a hire car to abuse one weekend. They are / were superb handling cars... DeNiro's 'trying to drive fast' acting face cracks me up in that chase...

I also nearly bought an S8 about 12 years ago... was offered to me for very little - 4.2 Quattro, All the bells and whistles.. (did they have an aluminium shell?) I ended up with an AX GT instead....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 03, 2017, 06:07:33 pm
Ronin!
Ya'll just naming ones you can think of. Are any the case where you think, that is memorable and made the film better?

Ronin!

"WHAT COLOUR IS THE BOAT HOUSE IN HEREFORD?"
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 04, 2017, 11:04:17 am
Those BA screens are terrible!  Especially after having flown regularly with Emirates.

Went to see T2: Trainspotting at the packed, newly renovated Glasgow Film theatre (beer in hand  :beer2: ) and it was great. Lots of little nods to current affairs, to the old film, humour, tension - a great piece of film making even if Euan McGregor's acting was a little underwhelming and the cast's rough Scottish accents from the first film had softened and gentrified over the intervening years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 06, 2017, 11:28:16 pm
Yay for another Arrival appreciation.

What about The Blues Brothers' car chase though??
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170206/8377b332ebf5b47bc863ade04227e767.jpg)

On movie mix right now

Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on February 17, 2017, 05:44:15 pm
Quote
Yay for another Arrival appreciation.

I watched Arrival last night mainly out of the endorsement it gets here. Really enjoyed the first half, and then it just got, let's say silly...

I had this really strange feeling when watching it and after that i couldn't quite place. I was like 'well that didn't make any sense' while at the same time i was sure i understood the movie's plot. So i went online to read the boards and stuff about the movie, which only confirmed that i did get it, which just made the conflict in my head worse, and then i saw the light in a post in IMDB

NSFW  :
So, just because someone can read "circles" they can see the future? Wait...what?

How can learning a language "rewire" a human brain in such a way it bends the rules of time.

That's like saying that learning fish language gives you the ability to breathe underwater.

And that nails it. I have no problems just accepting the fi in sci-fi without questions no matter how outlandish or unlikely it is, but in this film i think it just didn't work and tipped the scales from clever to silly, and only gave more weight to the other holes in the movie which i would otherwise ignore, so all in all, while it was ok, i didn't think it was such a good movie and lags well behind other 'clever' movies out there which it tries to be.

Or maybe that's just me  :unsure:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 17, 2017, 06:28:49 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with that. I didn't want to spoil the fun, but I thought that, despite some fantastic acting and beautiful execution, the story wasn't anywhere near as meticulously thought through in comparison to, say, Interstellar.

I'm still blown away that the ultra low budget Primer has a complex plot along similarly abstruse lines, with multiple nested timelines, and was figured out entirely by one writer / director with virtually no experience, yet it resolves perfectly. Assuming you concentrate very hard for the first three viewings, anyway.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Nocturnal Animals? I thought it was a pretty fine piece of work though Aaron Taylor-Johnson's acting has been overrated in most of the reviews I've read. Perhaps my expectations re the portrayal of psychotic hillbillies are set too high...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 17, 2017, 06:32:10 pm
Watched Deepwater Horizon the other night and thought it was pretty decent. Managed to carry a reasonably strong anti corp message despite it being a fully fledged Hollywood blockbuster. Worth a rental.

MrsTT saw the fence yesterday - and whilst good, she found it sad and pretty heavy going. She left with 30 min to go (the film started late and she had a train to catch - but said she was relieved to get out...). Makenof that what you will!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on February 17, 2017, 07:33:35 pm

Glad it wasn't just me

Quote
Assuming you concentrate very hard for the first three viewings, anyway.

Errr. thanks for the warning. Think i'll give it a pass though... Ha, ha

ETA: Just checked that movie out and it does look good. I'll be giving it a try at some point
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 17, 2017, 07:53:16 pm
You should. $7000 budget. Mind blowing

Darren Aronofsky's Pi was an overblown Hollywood affair in comparison. (At $70,000?)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 17, 2017, 10:04:29 pm
Primer - I enjoyed it after a fashion but it left me with a feeling that I was either stupid and unworthy of its brilliance, or it was just an interesting tale but poorly told.  Frankly, in retrospect, I suspect if a film needs three viewings to make sense, it isn't "clever", it's incoherent.  Incidentally, an interesting timetravel film I enjoyed is "Timecrimes" - a Spanish effort.

Re $7000 budgets - that was also the cost of Roberto Rodriguez's first film "El Mariachi" (he later remade it on a big budget as Desperado with Antonio Banderas).  If I recall correctly, he filmed it using a video camera he got as a wedding present and funded it with money earnt as a drug trials subject.... and decades later he was making Spy Kids (admittedly with From Dusk Till Dawn in the interim - a film I am always happy to watch, despite thinking it's pretty bad).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 17, 2017, 10:11:02 pm
Watched a couple of flicks on a short trip to the US with work this week.

Hell or High Water - Brilliant.... really great.  Has a proper classic '70's golden age of cinema feel about it. 4.5 or 5 out of 5.  Will definitely watch again on HD at home.

Equity - Senior hedge fund manager seeks to raise cash for a .com IPO and things go a bit pear shaped.  A good film... 3/5 maybe a bit more. Would watch again.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 17, 2017, 10:15:48 pm
.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 17, 2017, 11:05:29 pm
Primer - I enjoyed it after a fashion but it left me with a feeling that I was either stupid and unworthy of its brilliance, or it was just an interesting tale but poorly told.  Frankly, in retrospect, I suspect if a film needs three viewings to make sense, it isn't "clever", it's incoherent.  Incidentally, an interesting timetravel film I enjoyed is "Timecrimes" - a Spanish effort.

In Primer's defence, I think it makes you work for it. There are plenty of twisty films you watch and think differently the second time you watch them, but the majority are those are of the "omg, why didn't I spot that" one twist wonder ilk, like the sixth sense. Primer is much harder to fully figure out, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

It was shot on film which I think was by far the biggest cost. I think it was virtually all first take.

Hold on, are you saying Spy Kids is superior to From Dusk Till Dawn?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 17, 2017, 11:31:54 pm
In Primer's defence, I think it makes you work for it. There are plenty of twisty films you watch and think differently the second time you watch them, but the majority are those are of the "omg, why didn't I spot that" one twist wonder ilk, like the sixth sense. Primer is much harder to fully figure out, but I don't think that's a bad thing.


I agree that it's not necessarily bad, but I do feel that "it'll grow on you" / "it's complex" is often used to excuse sloppy plotting / justify spending money on a poor purchase. The best works might have plots whereby different layers / inter-relationships are revealed on repeat reading / viewing (Proust etc.) but they are also immediately satisfying and beautiful.  A book / film that just leaves a sense of bewilderment is sometimes flawed rather than the viewer being at fault - I like Primer, I just think it would have been better if clearer.

Quote
Hold  on, are you saying Spy Kids is superior to From Dusk Till Dawn?

No, the complete oppposite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cjsheps on February 18, 2017, 08:35:20 am
La La Land

This one was a very nice surprise. I'm not a fan of "happy" films, musicals, or films based entirely around the pursuing of some relationship (Scott Pilgrim excluded). My expectations weren't high.

Weirdly, it starts off as a typical musical, but halfway through the mood completely changes. The message shifts from "chase your dreams!" to "at what cost?". In this new light, the first half appeared almost ironic.

SPOILER:

NSFW  :
In particular, the last ten minutes made the film for me. It's so human that the girl should abandon her fairytale ending and accept that she's been taken down a different path. That was heart-wrenching.

Wouldn't watch it again, but I'm glad I saw it once.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on February 20, 2017, 12:03:22 pm
On the opposite side of the thread, but maybe still on the subject.
Yesterday I've managed to summon all my patience to watch what is probably the worst film that's ever been filmed. Surely the worst one that I've ever watched.
A film that makes Van Damme and Seagal's movies worth an Oscar.
A film whose dialogues make"Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker." sound like poetry.
A film whose special effects make any Ed Wood's animation a technical mastery.
A film whose plot make "Fury Road" hard to understand and contrieved.
It's title is:
"40 days and nights - final apocalypse".
It's produced by the mighty The Asylum (sic...) company, proud makers of the "Sharknado" series and other gems.
The level of amateurishess - or just Mala Fides - is appalling.
Waves filmed on a beach and pasted on mountains; dark, rainy skies outside and full sunlight from windows inside; carachters at sea in a storm with dry hair and clothing; rain that never touches the ground; a helicopter at the mercy of a storm, that miraculously stays still when the heroin steps on from a rock...

The full monty. If you resist, watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 28, 2017, 11:53:15 am
We watched Moonlight on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the Oscars debacle. Exactly the kind of film making I love (just like the books I love too, in fact): rooted in the everyday, full of detail, resisting sensationalism or neat endings/messages. Beautiful to watch as well. A worthy winner.

Manchester by the Sea has similar qualities and is similarly good but the accusations against Affleck leave me feeling pretty queasy.

Also so Loving, about a biracial marriage in late 50s Virginia. Based on a true story that is a solid piece of straightforward "History-by-Hollywood," but again they've resisted over dramatising/sentimentalzing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on March 14, 2017, 09:42:53 pm
 I'm a bit behind as it's 5 years old, but saw Drive last night...one of those films you regret it ending as so good  :)
Went straight into my top ten films ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 17, 2017, 09:59:47 am
I'm a bit behind as it's 5 years old, but saw Drive last night...one of those films you regret it ending as so good  :)
Went straight into my top ten films ever.

Agreed. I think it'd be somewhere 6-10 for me.

Ghost in the Shell
Saw this yesterday evening. The original is probably one of my top ten as well, but this remake was great. The moaning Hollywood 'whitewash' argument is total carping for the sake of it. Major being Japanese was in no way intrinsic to the original story, and, for god's sake, the climactic scene (minor spoiler)... Features a girl fighting a gigantic robot spider with huge laser cannons on its head. It's hardly hyper realistic. If you want to see Scarlet Johansen, in a skinsuit, in this scene, definitely go to see it. Good basic cyber punk entertainment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: the_dom on April 17, 2017, 02:49:31 pm
We watched Moonlight on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the Oscars debacle. Exactly the kind of film making I love (just like the books I love too, in fact): rooted in the everyday, full of detail, resisting sensationalism or neat endings/messages. Beautiful to watch as well. A worthy winner.


Agreed, I thought this was stunning.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on April 21, 2017, 10:52:30 am
Watched Ghost in the Shell last night.... best new film I've seen since Rouge One.
Brilliant story, cinematography, cast, costumes, effects, scenes etc etc
One to add to the DVD/Blu-ray collection fo sho
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 21, 2017, 11:15:23 am
best new film I've seen since Rouge One.

Moulin?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on April 21, 2017, 11:27:15 am
haha
Well, Red One is the leader of red squadron!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on May 05, 2017, 09:18:59 pm
finally got round to watching Primer

ace

I have obtained this film several times over the years, but ended up not watching it for all sorts of dumb reasons - I recently managed to get a bit of time to my self when I was reasonably alert - well worth it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 05, 2017, 11:56:13 pm
Saw Guardians of the Galaxy the other day (vol 2) that is. It's basically a whole lot of utter crap. But oddly enjoyable crap. The 3D effects are worth it; possibly wouldn't be worth seeing in standard. A good future Christmas movie to pass out in front of, full of turkey and booze. Much like a more traditional Monopoly game on Christmas day, it lasts too long, and doesn't require much thought.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on May 06, 2017, 07:38:21 am
I watched 'Son of Saul' recently which left a big impact on me, filmed in such a way as to box you in on the protagonist's viewpoint only, you only realise atrocities through noise and peripheral vision. Not an enjoyable film but very very good.

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3808342/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on May 06, 2017, 01:26:57 pm


Saw Guardians of the Galaxy the other day (vol 2) that is. It's basically a whole lot of utter crap. But oddly enjoyable crap.

First 5 minutes brilliant. The rest utter tosh.

Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 06, 2017, 01:44:29 pm


Saw Guardians of the Galaxy the other day (vol 2) that is. It's basically a whole lot of utter crap. But oddly enjoyable crap.

First 5 minutes brilliant. The rest utter tosh.

Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

Strange opinion Ian: in what sense was one big space monster battle with some 13 year old humour any different from the others? Seen one you've seen them all perhaps?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on May 06, 2017, 02:32:26 pm
Maybe that's a little harsh bit for some reason I was expecting great things.

Then it goes and opens with a showstopper and expectation rises but it never reached such heights again.

Didn't see it in 3D so missed out on the SFX.

If I'd been watching at home it wouldn't have been long before I was messing with my phone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on May 06, 2017, 03:15:25 pm
I went to the cinema last night to see it. I quite enjoyed it if I'm honest. Not quite as good as first one but some laugh out loud bits and decent action. 7/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 07, 2017, 10:40:44 am
Maybe that's a little harsh bit for some reason I was expecting great things.

Then it goes and opens with a showstopper and expectation rises but it never reached such heights again.

Didn't see it in 3D so missed out on the SFX.

If I'd been watching at home it wouldn't have been long before I was messing with my phone.

Yeah OK, we thought pretty much the same then! My expectations were basically nil. The 3d was genuinely amazing. But overall pretty mediocre, but that's good if you expected utter shit. Keenly awaiting Alien, and Blade Runner. Really hoping Scott doesn't screw them up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 07, 2017, 10:41:52 am
I went to the cinema last night to see it. I quite enjoyed it if I'm honest. Not quite as good as first one but some laugh out loud bits and decent action. 7/10
Yup. It might have helped that I knew nothing about it, and hadn't seen number 1.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 07, 2017, 12:06:31 pm
Saw rogue1 on DVD last night. First 'new' film I've watched since TTjnr was born (largely due to me and MrsTT rarely having 2-3 hours spare.

Superb. Best one of the new Star Wars I've seen - the franchise seems so much better when not laden down with all the old characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 07, 2017, 12:21:57 pm
Yeah I did the same a couple of weeks back and loved it.  Much, much better than any of the other prequels.  I really like Ben Mendleson too... he's great as the baddie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 07, 2017, 12:38:02 pm
We watched a brilliant documentary last night, "I am Not Your Negro," on the author James Baldwin. It seems to start out as an exploration of Baldwin's relationship with Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X, but becomes in the end a much more far reaching meditation on race in America. Baldwin gets the writing credit so I assume all the words are his, either spoken by an actor of by Baldwin in old interviews and debates. I'm not making this sound very exciting, but what is thrilling is Baldwin's intelligence, the subtlety and complexity of his thought. Most powerful for me was how he laid out race's corrosive impact on all, black and white. I don't think any other film has shown me as much about America.

After we watched it my wife posted a brief note on Facebook, which immediately got trolled by a very WASP cousin of hers, who seemed determined to unwittingly prove Baldwin's point about white America's refusal to countenance its racism. He was reduced to claiming that he off the hook because he'd once watch "Hoop Dreams." In some ways it was like the perfect coda to the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 07, 2017, 11:18:53 pm
We watched a brilliant documentary last night, "I am Not Your Negro," on the author James Baldwin. It seems to start out as an exploration of Baldwin's relationship with Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X, but becomes in the end a much more far reaching meditation on race in America. Baldwin gets the writing credit so I assume all the words are his, either spoken by an actor of by Baldwin in old interviews and debates. I'm not making this sound very exciting, but what is thrilling is Baldwin's intelligence, the subtlety and complexity of his thought. Most powerful for me was how he laid out race's corrosive impact on all, black and white. I don't think any other film has shown me as much about America.

After we watched it my wife posted a brief note on Facebook, which immediately got trolled by a very WASP cousin of hers, who seemed determined to unwittingly prove Baldwin's point about white America's refusal to countenance its racism. He was reduced to claiming that he off the hook because he'd once watch "Hoop Dreams." In some ways it was like the perfect coda to the film.

Nice review Andy, I've wanted to see this for a while but not got round to it yet. Apparently SL Jackson's narration is good as well. I've just read the excellent Golden Door by AA Gill, also a brilliant work on the nature of the American people and nation, from a very different perspective.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 07, 2017, 11:43:30 pm
Watch it Toby, its superb. I need to watch it again, its too much to take in in one sitting. Here's a great review from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/movies/review-i-am-not-your-negro-review-james-baldwin.html?_r=1

Key quote that explains the thesis much better than I can: "He understood the deep, contradictory patterns of our history, and articulated, with a passion and clarity that few others have matched, the psychological dimensions of racial conflict: the suppression of black humanity under slavery and Jim Crow and the insistence on it in African-American politics and art; the dialectic of guilt and rage, forgiveness and denial that distorts relations between black and white citizens in the North as well as the South; the lengths that white people will go to wash themselves clean of their complicity in oppression."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 08, 2017, 10:49:03 am
Yeah I did the same a couple of weeks back and loved it.  Much, much better than any of the other prequels.  I really like Ben Mendleson too... he's great as the baddie.

Agree, he's brilliant. Watch him in Animal Kingdom if you haven't seen it.

Forest Whittaker was terrible though.

Just watched Fury last week on 5 Star or something. Film about tank crew in final days of WW2. Got Brad Pitt in it, but he's actually excellent and the film is very intense in places. Really enjoyed it, I think it's on again this week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on May 08, 2017, 02:00:45 pm
Saw "Lady Macbeth" this weekend. Set in the north east in Victorian times, it's the story of a young girl, Katherine, who gets married off to Alexander, an older man who is the son of a local mine-owner. Alex confines her to the austere, cold house where she's brutalised by the family and watched over by her maid Anna. Eventually Katherine begins an affair with a farmhand and all manner of violence and betrayals begin.

Katherine's transformation from victim to perpetrator is definitely not comfortable English period drama but something quite a bit darker (it's based on a Russian short story). It's beautifully shot, mostly indoors but a few atmospheric moorland moments, quite lush and slow, definitely worth seeing in the cinema. Occasionally it was a little obvious what was coming next, but the final scenes were good enough that I didn't care.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 13, 2017, 09:26:05 am
Watched Shame last night after it appeared on Netflix. Was looking forward to this after I missed it at the film festival a few years ago (it received top billing).

Very disappointing. All the ingredients of a good film went in except the plot. Nothing really happened! Or maybe something did happen but it was of no particular consequence? Or we didn't care enough about the characters to be bothered about the events that were happening to them?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 13, 2017, 09:35:20 am
Speaking of Netflix - already beginning to salivate (in a film kind of way) about the upcoming new instalments of House of Cards...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on May 13, 2017, 10:25:20 am
Looking forward to it but like all Netflix series I've watched it seems in danger of being stretched that little bit too far.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 13, 2017, 01:25:04 pm
>Agree, he's brilliant. Watch him in Animal Kingdom if you haven't seen it.

Yup, it's an amazing film and he's just fantastic in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 13, 2017, 02:39:58 pm
I watched 'Son of Saul' recently which left a big impact on me, filmed in such a way as to box you in on the protagonist's viewpoint only, you only realise atrocities through noise and peripheral vision. Not an enjoyable film but very very good.

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3808342/

That one's been on my list "to watch" for a while. Last night I was flicking through my list and couldn't remember why I added it, not recognising the name. Now it's moved up the list, cheers!

Watched Victoria last night. Unbelievable mix fo theatre and film, being done in one single, 2 hour take!  This gives it a very honest, natural feel. We both fault there were a couple of unlikely characterisations, but not enough to detract. Some surprisingly good acting and well shot scenes. On Netlfix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on July 02, 2017, 12:14:15 am
Baby Driver, complete tosh but superbly done. Hats off to the editors in particular. There are a lot of car chases. I don't watch this kind of film often enough to know if how they rate by modern standards but it was all good fun. Great soundtrack, crucial to the film in more ways than one. I was overjoyed to hear Baby Let Me Take You, one of the sexiest songs ever written. The debt to Tarantino, Pulp Fiction in particular, is transparent. The director comes from my part of the world and we have mutual friends. Good to see a Somerset lad doing well!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on July 02, 2017, 09:56:24 am
Yeah good film, loses touch with reality a bit much towards the end but cleverly done, superior romp, pacey. Think it owes a bit of a debt to Vanishing Point too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 02, 2017, 05:59:47 pm
John Wick 2 don't bother... I really enjoyed the first one.  This is a retread and simply a first-person-shooter game set to film.  Only saving grace is Lovejoy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 09, 2017, 10:27:41 am
Dog eat Dog dir. Paul Schrader.  Hmmmm... this could have been brilliant.  An adaptation of Eddie Bunker's novel starring Defoe and Cage.  It's a bit of a mixed bag with too much of the aforementioned unnecessary violence. The opening scene for example was off putting and didn't add much to the film other than introducing Defoe's Mad Dog character.  Three ex-cons get handed a big job that could see them off into retirement.  It all goes pear shaped and they don't.  Nicholas Cage and William Defoe are great.  The whole package a bit underwhelming and disjointed (and too violent for my tastes).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 19, 2017, 11:14:04 am
Rather randomly, I watched "Train to Busan" on Amazon Prime earlier in the week...

Its an apocalypse/zombie film centred on a train (not my usual fare I'll admit) and its a fairly linear plot line - but has some really nice ideas and is very well acted and produced. The stage (platform - groan) of being set on a train makes for some interesting ideas.

Don't let the screenshot on the trailer, or the fact its Korean and subtitled put you off.. well worth a view...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWuHv2-Abk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on July 19, 2017, 08:46:59 pm
  Only saving grace is Lovejoy.

speaking of which - I enjoyed American Gods

not a film, but it it did feature Lovejoy being pretty damn groovy

I was disappointed with only 8 episodes - bring on the next series
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on July 28, 2017, 10:59:42 am
Just gotten off a long haul flight from Rocklands, where I watched these.

The Boss Baby Pretty standard animation fare, probably a good one to go and see with the kids.

Life A bit disappointing, probably because it felt close to being really good but was let down by the details (e.g. they're on the ISS, discovering extra-terrestrial life and talk to ground control ~twice during the entire film). I feel like there's been a glut of pretty decent space films over the last few years, so maybe it just compares poorly with those and might rate as better than average otherwise?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 28, 2017, 01:09:33 pm
Kids watching SING on a daily basis, know most of the songs now. I've played them the full original version of most songs, although some censoring is required notably Humpty Song and Nicki Minaj's Anaconda
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 30, 2017, 09:13:51 pm
Just watched Dunkirk.  Go see it if you can. At a big cinema or an IMax.  Five stars... It's absolutely brilliant.  Epic filmmaking.  Hans Zimmer's score proper set me off  :'(  :'( :'(
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on September 07, 2017, 11:47:42 pm
Guardians of The Galaxy 2

rather good

worth watching the first one first - not for any major plot needs, but to get you connected with the characters
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on September 08, 2017, 07:13:06 am
They're both great, and yes I agree that watching first one beforehand will certainly help.

I had a film based day yesterday due to man flu. Watched Doctor Strange, really liked it after initial reservations about Cucumbersnatch being main character. Also rewatched Captain America Winter Soldior, and forgot how good it was. Next up was Walk Hard: The Duey Cox Story. Totally daft comedy that lots won't like, but it made me chuckle.

Lastly, watched Fantastic Beasts again. Superb!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on September 08, 2017, 07:55:36 am
Currently laid up with a wabby knee. I watched The Abominable Doctor Phibes yesterday afternoon. Classic 70's camp nonsense, very enjoyable 'Sunday afternoon' style film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on October 06, 2017, 02:59:23 pm
Saw Blade Runner 2049 the other day. Very bleak. Stylish. 7/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 06, 2017, 03:25:51 pm
Yeah, fancy a bit of that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 06, 2017, 07:50:00 pm
Off to see 2049 on Sunday, haven't been this psyched for a film for a while. Will be most upset if it's as underwhelming as alien.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 06, 2017, 08:18:50 pm
Me and W watched a great French movie last Friday.  The Measure of a Man.  Beautiful and sad. It's been compared to I Daniel Blake which I've not seen so can't comment.  I was quite moved and it's stuck with me all week. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 07, 2017, 07:49:11 pm
Currently watching Crocodile Dundee 2, straight after the first one.

Can't beat the classics.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on October 07, 2017, 10:14:58 pm
blade runner today ,amazing.
loved it. the original is one of my favourite films
maybe the original had a little more about it as it was visually groundbreaking.

all I can say if you like sci fi, go and watch it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on October 07, 2017, 10:46:18 pm
Saw 2049 today too. Found it worth watching, but not a groundbreaking classic like the original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on October 09, 2017, 10:39:40 am
Having a teenage son is great. You can have post-cinema arguments about things like what are the two greatest scenes in science fiction movie history - Mos Eisley and the Tears in Rain speech, natch - and the coincidence (?) that Harrison Ford is in both of them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 09, 2017, 03:01:08 pm
2049 was fucking awesome.


It's not the original, obviously, but still.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 09, 2017, 06:06:22 pm
Having a teenage son is great. You can have post-cinema arguments about things like what are the two greatest scenes in science fiction movie history - Mos Eisley and the Tears in Rain speech, natch - and the coincidence (?) that Harrison Ford is in both of them.

Don't need to be a teenager. Already having "who shot first" debate.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 09, 2017, 09:14:43 pm
Just watched Dunkirk.  Go see it if you can. At a big cinema or an IMax.  Five stars... It's absolutely brilliant.  Epic filmmaking.  Hans Zimmer's score proper set me off  :'(  :'( :'(

Totally agree with you. Dunkirk is probably one of the best war filmsever made. Amazing. Needs to be seen on a big screen. Conversely I found blade runner a big disappointing. Visually stunning but overlong over complicated and the plot was appallingly disjointed. Harrison ford was the real star of it, I far preferred the original movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on October 10, 2017, 07:51:11 am
Another thumbs up for 2049 from me. Watched it in imax 3d, highly recommended as some of the cityscapes are mind blowing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 15, 2017, 10:35:38 am
Went to see The Party at the cinema last night for W's birthday.  Nice to watch short film for a change - they seem to just keep getting longer and longer.  This one is 70 minutes and is about a very middle class group of friends having a dinner party.  It's a farce and a wry, funny one at that.  I laughed out loud a lot and even clapped at the end.  Watched it at The Gate in Notting Hill an independent cinema with Victorian plasterwork - a lovely place.  I suspect the entire audience (including me and W) could have easily been characters in the film which made it even more uncomfortably funny.

Last weekend we watched 20th century women on amazon.  A heartwarming coming of age movie about an older single mum raising her young son in 70's/80's California with the help of her lodgers, an arty punk, a teenag girl and an older hippy.  I really liked it.

Alien Covenant was OK apart from the last 45 minutes action-movie stuff which also ruined Prometheus.  Overall disapointing..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 15, 2017, 08:46:06 pm
Alien Covenant was OK apart from the last 45 minutes action-movie stuff which also ruined Prometheus.  Overall disapointing..

obviously a fantastic sci-fi short story idea - could have been awesome if more time was spent on the story, characters, world, tech (inc background) and left much of the action off screen - only using modern movie tech for the really important points
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 15, 2017, 11:38:24 pm
Yup - same with Prometheus.  Both movies could have been brilliant, existential sci-fi mind benders but all the action horror stuff just got in the way. There's so much great material to work with.  Imagine a quiet, long paced encounter with the Engineers in prehistoric times  in Prometheus or more interactions with the entire planet of people in the latest one.  A missed opportunity.

Oh and Fassbender is amazing as David & whatever the new one is called.  More dialogue and less fighting please...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 16, 2017, 12:02:13 pm
Fassbender is amazing

Edited. Seems to nail everything he does.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on October 23, 2017, 09:01:11 am
Went to see The Death of Stalin. It's pitched as a comedy but personally I didn't get much out of it. For me I think it cuts a little close to the truth and there's a lot of reminders of the millions of people who died under Stalin.

Spoliers

NSFW  :
For example, there's a scene just after Stalin dies and Beria, the head of the secret police, is trying to take control. He makes a call and says "Stalin is dead, swap his list for our list, release the other prisoners." Then it cuts to one of his NKVD officers going down a lineup and executing people, only to get a tap on the shoulder at a seemingly random point saying that orders have changed.

More black than comedy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 30, 2017, 12:24:51 pm
If 'What We Do In She Shadows' from the same writer is still on there it's also well worth a watch (probably better IMO)

I though this was a great film.

Was on BBC last night, so hopefully on iPlayer. Well worth it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 30, 2017, 12:39:33 pm
Saw Blade Runner 2049 the other day. Very bleak. Stylish. 7/10.

Gritty, visually stunning, suspenseful but ultimately, overly slow for me ( at 164 mins).

I watched it in 3D which usually wouldn't have been my preference but it worked well with the drone shots.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2017, 10:18:22 am
ultimately, overly slow for me ( at 164 mins).


Isn't it just! The plot totally disappears up its own behind half way through, I thought it was a shame as it's such a stunning spectacle. Could have been a lot shorter, and would have been better for it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2017, 08:32:23 pm
Just went to see Murder on the Orient Express, good fun, forgettable and a bit silly but I enjoyed it. Branagh is highly entertaining. Some nice camera work as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 09, 2017, 02:00:16 pm
the death of Stalin : absolutely unmissable. Hilarious. See it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 23, 2017, 06:46:13 pm
Has The Lobster been mentioned? Watched it earlier as I've not seen anything by Yorgos Lanthimos before and I'd heard good things about the new one - The Killing of a Sacred Dear.

Quite amazing, bizarre and unsettling. Ended up in quite a unusual state of mind at the end. Powerful, funny and very weird.

Also, and weird too but in a different way, Theatre of Blood. Made in 73, and on YouTube (not great quality). Some brilliant old school British character actors, crazy plot, outlandish deaths. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on November 24, 2017, 08:04:14 am
The Killing of a Sacred Dear.

Quite amazing, bizarre and unsettling.

TKoaSD also quite amazing, bizarre and unsettling with the same style of delivery. One that definitely stays with you for a while.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 24, 2017, 04:40:20 pm
Deer surely. Unless it's someone close to you..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 24, 2017, 05:31:58 pm
Sorry - a slip of the thumb...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on December 02, 2017, 11:40:55 am
I cant be the only Marvel geek on here, Shirley.

The trailer for the next Avengers film, Infinity War, has me very excited. And Im very much looking forward to seeing Black Panther too when it comes out, February I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 07, 2017, 09:17:26 am
Thor Ragnorok

Saw this yesterday. Standard Marvel high camp, spaceships, silly gags and medieval weaponry. Excellent entertainment if you are in the mood for that sort of thing, which I was.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on December 07, 2017, 09:25:30 am
I thought the use of The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin for the fight on the bridge was a stroke of genius. Thor is one of the best movies this year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 08, 2017, 08:36:12 pm
I thought the use of The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin for the fight on the bridge was a stroke of genius. Thor is one of the best movies this year.


Yeah thought it was really funny, and quite liked the soundtrack. The cast list is amazing, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett... Wierd combination. Not quite as 'grown up' as death of Stalin and obviously very different, but just as entertaining in a different way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 08, 2017, 08:42:18 pm
Jim and Andy - story behind the scenes of Jim Carey going deep into character while playing Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon. Netflix. Very interesting to see another, thoughtful, side to Jim.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 11, 2017, 07:15:52 am
Not a new one, but just watched The Hurt Locker this weekend. Incredible movie, tense and involving. See it if you haven't.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Muenchener on December 11, 2017, 02:18:21 pm
Since the lad is a huge fan of Sherlock, I thought Benedict Cumberbatch playing his own great-great-great-great (etc) uncle in Richard III might be a good bet for introducing him to Shakespeare. Which it was.

Now he says he want to see Hamlet. So, ukb Kultured Krew, what is the best teenager-accessible film version?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 17, 2017, 10:46:27 pm
Kenneth Branagh's one filmed in Blenheim palace is pretty good. I liked it anyway, and I've seen it more than  3 times on stage. If you can take him to a really good production that's even better.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 17, 2017, 10:50:23 pm
Just went to see star wars this evening. Absolutely brilliant. Best light saber fights in any of them,it has some pretty funny bits, and Mark Hamill is even pretty decent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on December 18, 2017, 07:32:52 am
I gotta say, I've never left the cinema feeling so underwhelmed - Stars Wars for me was too long, poor character development and I ended up not caring if anybody survived. Apart from Skywalker, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the part was acted. It was all a big too cheesy for me and the joke scenes felt a little forced.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 18, 2017, 08:46:22 am
I was perhaps overexcited about this, especially because of some of the early reviews and comments from people whod seen it in previews. I was totally underwhelmed too. Creaky 70s sitcom humour, hardly any questions answered, good characters wasted, weak characters overplayed. Agree that Mark Hamill was good, and Carrie Fisher (for the few seconds she was on screen) but the rest were pretty average. And the island natives were the most ridiculous pastiches of Mr Toad as the Washerwoman. I thought that was rather crass.

Samira Ahmed (of Radio 4 Front Row) wrote a piece about it which I read the day after seeing it, and I pretty much agree with all of it. Contains spoilers, natch. http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/i-sense-a-disturbance-everything-thats-missing-from-the-last-jedi-some-spoilers-so-see-it-first/ (http://www.samiraahmed.co.uk/i-sense-a-disturbance-everything-thats-missing-from-the-last-jedi-some-spoilers-so-see-it-first/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SamT on December 18, 2017, 09:55:32 am

I wouldn't stop anyone going to see it, but yer, bits of it were lacking. The attempts at slapstick humour really missed the mark for me to the point of spoiling some of the good/tense action scenes.  Some quite major plot lines seemed to just wither and die, to the extent that they could have just been left out completely leaving the film at a more normal length.

Perhaps I'm turning into a grumpy old fart, but by christ I wish cinemas would just knock the sound down from 11 down to say 8.  Kids are meant to have better hearing than adults and it was waaayyy too loud to the point of spoiling the experience.  [/humbug]
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 27, 2017, 02:42:40 pm
The Adjustment Bureau

Watched this last night, knew nothing about it beforehand, other than that it's based on a Phillip K Dick short story. I thought it was a really tightly edited, nicely concise movie. A touch cheesy in parts, but in a way that I liked. Damon is good in the lead role. Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 27, 2017, 02:59:33 pm
Just went to see star wars this evening. Absolutely brilliant. Best light saber fights in any of them,it has some pretty funny bits, and Mark Hamill is even pretty decent.

I agree. It was by far the best movie I saw this year (I saw two: Blade Runner & The last Jedi   ::) ), and for me the favourite Star Wars movie so far (I've seen them all, except Attack of the clones and Revenge of the Sith).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 28, 2017, 07:53:30 am

Perhaps I'm turning into a grumpy old fart, but by christ I wish cinemas would just knock the sound down from 11 down to say 8.  Kids are meant to have better hearing than adults and it was waaayyy too loud to the point of spoiling the experience.  [/humbug]

My son struggles with loud noises, so we usually go to the autism friendly screening; sound is down a bit, but still loud enough, house lights dimmed righ5 down but not off, and no adverts or trailers, just straight into film. And cinema is usually about 10% full. Going to see last Jedi on Sunday mornin* showing
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 29, 2017, 06:11:35 pm
Just went to see star wars this evening. Absolutely brilliant. Best light saber fights in any of them,it has some pretty funny bits, and Mark Hamill is even pretty decent.

I agree. It was by far the best movie I saw this year (I saw two: Blade Runner & The last Jedi   ::) ), and for me the favourite Star Wars movie so far (I've seen them all, except Attack of the clones and Revenge of the Sith).

At last! Another person who likes it ;-) I'm not saying it's a total classic or anything, but it's very entertaining
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 29, 2017, 06:41:40 pm
I thought Star Wars was OK. Not amazing, not utter shite. Somewhere in the middle. I didn't mind the humour.

There are quite a few WTF bits that I didn't like though. One minor one of these is the laser beams that travelled through space in an arc. Why is that happening to light. In zero g?

More major faults:

NSFW  spoilers:
What's that bit in the cave on the island all about? So the dark side is down there or something? And she goes down there and there's just a weird mirror thing and she does some finger clicking. What? Presumably this must have some real significance to the plot because it's a few minutes of on-screen time and could so easily have been left in the cutting room.

NSFW  spoliers:
The only bit of the film which I can say is outright BAD is that bit. You know the bit I'm talking about. Leia in space. In reviews online people seem to be complaining that Leia has Jedi powers which seem to spring from nowhere. I don't particularly care about that. What I care about is why the gases in her blood haven't expanded and left her enormously bloated and why the moisture in her mouth isn't boiling. And then she get's to the blown up bridge and presumably hammers on the door and shouts (into the vacuum of space) "OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR". And somehow she gets on board the ship without doing it's inhabitants any harm, even though there's no air lock.

That last spoiler is just unforgivable for me. It wholly destroys the suspended disbelief of the cinema. The scene doesn't need to be in the film, so why make it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 30, 2017, 11:29:08 am
I didn't see the original Star Wars films when I was an impressionable child (there was no way my mother would let me see anything with War in the title), so they never were anything else than enjoyable sword-and-sorcery romps full of plot-holes, bad acting and things that can only be explained by magic; maybe that's why I am able to enjoy the reboots as they are much the same except with better actors.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on December 30, 2017, 12:05:36 pm
Since the lad is a huge fan of Sherlock, I thought Benedict Cumberbatch playing his own great-great-great-great (etc) uncle in Richard III might be a good bet for introducing him to Shakespeare. Which it was.

Now he says he want to see Hamlet. So, ukb Kultured Krew, what is the best teenager-accessible film version?

My better half watched the Mel Gibson (!) version for her English Literature degree, and rated it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 30, 2017, 01:25:15 pm
I liked Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, but I must have been in my mid 20s by then, and I suspect I saw the abridged version.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 11, 2018, 10:44:03 am
Molly's Game was watchable, forgettable entertainment. Jessica Chastain puts in a brilliant performance, and is extremely good looking, which helps. I wouldn't race out to see it, but if you feel like a pleasant couple of hours of not thinking too much, its worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 11, 2018, 03:18:26 pm
I loved Star Wars. Thought it one of the best if not the best.

Though bear in mind it was the first time Id been to the flicks in 2 years....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 14, 2018, 03:15:10 pm
darkest hour thought this was pretty disappointing. Great performance from Gary Oldman, but really flat uninvolving narrative. 6.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 14, 2018, 03:54:22 pm
Bugger... was planning to go and see that.  Will go and watch the Bale Western instead I think
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on January 15, 2018, 03:41:50 pm
Went to see Three Billboards yadda yadda yadda yesterday and thought it was excellent! Proper darkly hilarious - recommended!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 16, 2018, 04:13:30 pm
I loved Star Wars. Thought it one of the best if not the best.

I though it was OK, some really good set pieces, but some really weak bits, some lame plot development and some really weak bits that could have been cut out completely. Son loved it though, sat enrapt for the whole thing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 23, 2018, 10:19:37 am
Good Time - I thought this was fantastic. Directed by the Safdie brothers, who I knew nothing about. Am now on a mission to see their other stuff (Daddy Longlegs, Heaven Knows What, etc). Rough, visceral, bleak NY crime story that I wasnt sure Id have the appetite for, but ended up being incredibly compelling. Robert Pattinson needs to do more films like this.

Its on Netflix.

As is Tresspass Against Us, which was weak, cliched and a total waste of the talents of the numerous big names involved. To be avoided.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 24, 2018, 01:17:10 am
OK, Long haul flight film watching opportunity review time from TomTom... (part 1)

1. Dunkirk. Excellent. A great film with no real story line (apart from the evolving chaos of Dunkirk) but a beautifully and horrifically filmed intertwining of characters. Really good.
2. Hacksaw Ridge. A crap film with a superb (real) story line. Watchable - because the true story about the main character is interesting and compelling - but general Hollywood schmaltz turned up to 11. If you watch it  - watch the credits where they have interview clips from the real characters..
3. The Mountain Between Us. I have no idea why I watched this (Idris Elba & Kate W trapped up a mountain after a plane crash) but it was actually pretty good. I mean I wouldnt pay to go and see it, but it pleasantly ocupied a couple of hours over Siberia...

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 27, 2018, 01:41:08 pm
TobyD - Me and W went to see Darkest Hour last night after all & really enjoyed it.  Oldman is very convincing as Churchill which is some feat of acting.  I'd give it another point at least  :) 7.5..

Chris - Ben Mendelson's brilliant in it as George V.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 28, 2018, 08:59:33 pm
Caught Manchester by the Sea free on Prime cos it got loads of good reviews. Decent acting etc but blimey it's depressing as fuck. Don't keep hoping for a schmaltzy happy ending cos you ain't gonna get one. Not a comedy.  :popcorn: :wavecry:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on January 28, 2018, 09:55:12 pm
In a similar vein I started to watch Moonlight on Amazon Prime but switched off halfway through. The central premise, such as it is, was a bit unlikely. Couldn't see what the fuss was about.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 28, 2018, 10:53:27 pm
In a similar vein I started to watch Moonlight on Amazon Prime but switched off halfway through. The central premise, such as it is, was a bit unlikely. Couldn't see what the fuss was about.

What was unlikely? I don't understand. Its a film that takes its time to unfold, switching it off halfway really doesn't do it justice. And yes, Manchester by the Sea is bleak but that doesn't mean it can't be a good film.

Saw Darkest Hour lest night (actually out at the cinema for once) and concur with FD: very worthwhile. I realised how little I knew about a really critical period. And I thought there was considerable drama and tension. I liked that Oldman didn't just do a Churchill impression, the voice and everything, but actually acted, trying and show a real, fully rounded person.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on January 28, 2018, 11:31:11 pm
Cocos not bleak, quite the opposite
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/coco-latino-themed-movie-gets-it-right-n822921
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 29, 2018, 08:18:45 am
Long haul flight film review part II (the return journey..)

Battle of the sexes. Excellent. 70's tennis/equality/love story - Great film - well worth seeing. Nearly didn't bother watching it, but glad I did.

Patriot Day. This should be wank (hollywood re-enactment of 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and manhunt) but its well told and the characters are all engaging. I really quite enjoyed it.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 29, 2018, 09:05:45 am
I really enjoyed Manchester by the Sea because it didn't have a nice happy tied up with a bow ending. It was very life like and the scene where they bump into each other in the street is one of the most amazing scenes I've seen. Just so raw and believable.

Moonlight is worth a watch all the way to the end.

Saw 3 Billboards last night and I really enjoyed it. Great acting throughout by everyone and a really interesting story touching on many different things. I can't really find a fault.

Looking forward to Darkest Hour and the I,Tonya trailer looked good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 29, 2018, 06:29:00 pm
I really enjoyed Manchester by the Sea because it didn't have a nice happy tied up with a bow ending. It was very life like and the scene where they bump into each other in the street is one of the most amazing scenes I've seen. Just so raw and believable..
I agree that was a fine scene and probably the best of the film. I didn't say it was a bad film, and on reflection I think I enjoyed it overall, certainly didn't feel the need to switch it off. Think my main point is you have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 29, 2018, 07:53:42 pm
Yeah.  Me and W went to see Manchester by the Sea at the cinema on a damp dark miserable lunchtime last year.  I think its a fantastic film.  So much packed in with so little going on.

Mind you, the Casey Affleck revelations are not good...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 29, 2018, 09:35:45 pm
Battle of the sexes. Excellent. 70's tennis/equality/love story

Now, that's is a niche compound genre.  Time to dig out my mislaid script for a steam-punk horror comedy set in the world of psychiatry.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 29, 2018, 10:45:03 pm
Freefire - Umm, lots of people shoot at each other...in the 1970s. Passed the time of a turbo session. Free on Prime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 30, 2018, 08:34:00 am
Nearly forgot (thats what a 15 hour flight does to you...)

I also unexpectedly really enjoyed "Logan Lucky" which I'd never heard of... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5439796/

A heist film set in redneck Virginia... Channing Tatum actually does some acting (rather than just posing/flexing in front of the lens) and Daniel Craig as a slightly creepy southern accented vault cracker... Oh - and the bad sith dude from Starwars (lots of curly hair and big lips - don't know his name) as a one armed bar man. Funny - and a decent plot...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 31, 2018, 10:34:51 am
For anyone who has seen both....

Coco or 3 Billboards? Which is better?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 04, 2018, 11:02:38 pm
Just went to see Coco late afternoon today.

Pretty dark subject matter for animation. It's a bit like Spirited Away, but sadly Disney doesn't come close to Studio Ghibli for amazing animated films in my opinion. Saying that some of the animation in Coco is incredible, and it's a really entertaining totally unchallenging hour and a half of entertainment. 7.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: user deactivated on February 16, 2018, 07:37:29 pm
Have you guys seen 'a dark song'? Be interested to hear what you think, I really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 18, 2018, 11:16:12 am
The shape of water

Saw this yesterday at the Showroom. Absolutely brilliant movie almost better for the fact that 20 minutes in I thought it was going to be terrible. Stick with it, it's a funny, charming wierd story. It has some similarities to Pan's Labyrinth, I saw that a long time ago so I'd be hard pressed to say which was better, this is definitely worth the price of a cinema ticket though.   8.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 18, 2018, 01:28:21 pm
Watched Black Panther yesterday (it opened this weekend in the US). I enjoyed it a lot as a piece of entertainment, though I don't normally watch this genre at all and so don't really have any yard sticks to judge it by. But to watch it in 2018 with a white nationalist administration and president in the White House, with white supremacy super emboldened, was fascinating. It was more overtly political - about blackness and about the relationship between Africa and African-Americans - than I expected. For the US as a whole and for African-Americans in particular its hard to exaggerate the importance of this film as a cultural event. The city we live in doesn't have a particularly large black community but there were many, many African-Americans in the theatre, which was great to see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 28, 2018, 02:24:39 pm
The only film I wanted to see in the cinema in the near future.....won't be coming to the cinema: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/01/annihilation-paramount-netflix/551810/ absolute shit on a shitty stick. This is terrible for filmmaking overall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 28, 2018, 02:31:38 pm
That's a real shame, I read the Area X books last year off the back of seeing the trailer for this (hadn't heard of them before), and was really looking to see how they brought it to the big screen. The reviews seem to be good, but not good enough to get bums on seats in the States it seems.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on March 03, 2018, 01:00:54 pm
Watched a brilliant film last night, The Florida Project. Set in low-rent motels surrounding Orlando, populated by people just about surviving, by the skin of their teeth. It seems to be mostly plotless as follows the aimless wanderings of a bunch of six year old friends. But almost unnoticed a story arc develops. Beautiful to watch and also often very funny it is also distressing, given the poverty and dysfunction. The actors are almost all complete unknowns and the children are quite brilliant, the direction must have been something else to get these performances out of them. Willem Dafoe gives a great understated performance. Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ-NH1rRT4
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on March 07, 2018, 11:32:27 pm
Id imagine its been recommended before (possibly by me) but if not, I cant speak highly enough of Baby Driver. I went t the cinema to see it, but its just come onto Sky. Brilliant, clever film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on March 18, 2018, 09:54:26 pm
I saw it at Kandal FFand really enjoyed it, in fact I thought it was brilliant. He's someone I knew a little about but there's so much to his life that the film rattled along at a pretty fair pace.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on March 18, 2018, 10:35:45 pm
Ah yes, I had almost forgotten that. So much crammed into one life/film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 30, 2018, 07:49:08 am
An old one but currently on Netflix, inglorious bastards . I really enjoyed this; a self indulgent piece of film making, but sufficiently entertaining to carry it off.  7.5/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 30, 2018, 12:55:21 pm
I love Inglorious Basterds.  Tarantinos best film IMHO. Might watch it this weekend now Ive been reminded.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 30, 2018, 01:49:53 pm
Reminds me (kind of - Brad Pitt / War link).

Watched Fury recently, with Brad Pitt as commander of Sherman tank (fnarr). Thought it was really good, some incredibly intense battle scenes, although the ending felt a bit improbable. Recommended if you like that sort of thing. I'd give it a strong 7 too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on March 30, 2018, 07:58:12 pm
Reminds me (kind of - Brad Pitt / War link).

Watched Fury recently, with Brad Pitt as commander of Sherman tank (fnarr). Thought it was really good, some incredibly intense battle scenes, although the ending felt a bit improbable. Recommended if you like that sort of thing. I'd give it a strong 7 too.

You're going to think I'm a massive cocktm but I thought Fury was gash!  There was about 15 minutes in the middle that was fairly well scripted and acted, but the rest was just an an aimless onslaught with no real story, point or interest.

Maybe we saw some heavily redacted version as we were in China?  :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 30, 2018, 09:25:56 pm
Watched a brilliant film last night, The Florida Project.

We watched this last weekend.  Its absolutely brilliant.  Just like you describe it.  Very worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: gme on March 30, 2018, 11:09:41 pm
Rainy bank holiday prompted trip to see Isle of Dogs with the kids.
Thoroughly enjoyed by all of us. Bit of cliched japanaise stuff but all in all a great few hours.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 31, 2018, 11:24:10 am
I usually give horror movies a wide berth but decided to give A Dark Song a go yesterday afternoon.  A troubled woman seeks help from a practicing occultist to perform a ritual to speak to her deceased son.  They hole up in an isolated house whilst he (Steve Oram from Sightseers) performs the difficult and dangerous ritual of Abramelim the mage with her which takes several months with several twists and turns along the way.  It's creepy, weird and really good. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 01, 2018, 06:45:41 pm
I know it's old news now, but just saw
3 billboards... Brilliant. Funny and human. 9/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 02, 2018, 09:46:02 am
Reminds me (kind of - Brad Pitt / War link).

Watched Fury recently, with Brad Pitt as commander of Sherman tank (fnarr). Thought it was really good, some incredibly intense battle scenes, although the ending felt a bit improbable. Recommended if you like that sort of thing. I'd give it a strong 7 too.

You're going to think I'm a massive cocktm but I thought Fury was gash!  There was about 15 minutes in the middle that was fairly well scripted and acted, but the rest was just an an aimless onslaught with no real story, point or interest.

Don't know, maybe just gives you another opportunity to disagree with something else I say.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 03, 2018, 07:47:41 am
 Bit harsh!

Anyhoos, we did actually see it when we were in China, and the storyline kept feeling like it was missing something, so we did actually wonder how edited it was.

We both came out feeling like we'd actually just survived a battle. The noise and scenes were definitely evocative, just didn't really like it. Probably more personal taste than anything.

Either way, you're wrong so there!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on April 03, 2018, 11:14:34 am
Watched a brilliant film last night, The Florida Project.

We watched this last weekend.  Its absolutely brilliant.  Just like you describe it.  Very worth watching.

Glad you enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: user deactivated on April 03, 2018, 06:36:02 pm
I usually give horror movies a wide berth but decided to give A Dark Song a go yesterday afternoon.  A troubled woman seeks help from a practicing occultist to perform a ritual to speak to her deceased son.  They hole up in an isolated house whilst he (Steve Oram from Sightseers) performs the difficult and dangerous ritual of Abramelim the mage with her which takes several months with several twists and turns along the way.  It's creepy, weird and really good.

Its a good one! I cant think of much else like it? I just started rewatching dead mans shoes on 4OD another great brit flick
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 03, 2018, 06:41:45 pm
I just started rewatching dead mans shoes on 4OD another great brit flick

"I'm not threatening you mate. It's beyond fucking words."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 09, 2018, 08:06:10 am
Isle of Dogs saw this at the weekend. I really liked it. Political satire and amusing dogs. Bryan Cranston is great in it. I'd love to be able to see him in Network: just won an award for it I see. IOD: 8/10
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on April 10, 2018, 09:34:45 am
Saw Isle of Dogs last night with the lad. Not really a younger kids movie though he still liked it and proudly translated for his cloth-eared Dad. The Japaneserie was lovingly done and didn't feel too much like appropriation though the American who saves the day felt like a miss-step. I hadn't realised how much a satire of political populism it was, nor quite how much it nodded to Kurosawa, and really enjoyed these aspects. 

The visuals were tremendous and completely distinctive. We'd been to an exhibition of the sets over the weekend so were primed to the style.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/795/26488366357_7e3c6feffa_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GmFNtF)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on April 10, 2018, 11:50:04 pm
Watched The Shape of Water last night - pretty weird but also pretty good! Not sure exactly what genre it would be classed as but the basic gist is a mute cleaner falling in love with some sort of strange fish-man in a US govt research facility set sometime around WW2. Definitely left-field but worth a watch for sure
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 12, 2018, 10:25:18 am
I agree with both Duncans! Those were two highly enjoyable movies.

There doesn't seem to be much out of interest right now which I haven't seen; anyone seen Ready Player One?   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 15, 2018, 09:07:14 pm
Rampage

All the precis you need is: giant mutant indestructible animals wreak havoc. Giant flying wolf eats helicopters. Giant crocodile eats skyscrapers.

Artistic merit 0/10
Enjoyment factor 10/10

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on April 15, 2018, 09:40:16 pm
It sounds like it;s based on a C64 game I loved when I was around 10 y.o; Pacific Rim with added nostalgia: cannot resist!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: adam w on April 16, 2018, 11:02:13 am

There doesn't seem to be much out of interest right now which I haven't seen; anyone seen Ready Player One?

Saw this on Friday with my sons, 9 and 10. Eldest had read the book and really enjoyed the film but said it wasn't as good as the book. Youngest loved it as well. I spent most of the time feeling slighty dizzy due to the 3d effects. Loads of pop references for those of us born in the seventies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark20 on April 16, 2018, 11:07:21 am
Similar to Adam W, I found some of the scenes really fast and flashy, made me feel a bit dizzy. The whole thing felt quite rushed, even though I'm told it misses out a load of stuff from the book. I still quite enjoyed it though
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on April 28, 2018, 10:49:46 am
I'm late to the party but I saw The Revenant on Netflix. I admire the pluck to film in some obviously challenging locations (how did the get all the kit and lighting to that melting river without disturbing the snow; is that a CGI avalanche or did they trigger it?) and of DiC to take a role with so little else except gritting teeth, groaning and grimacing. However, ultimately it looks to me like a lesson in how important good dialogue and interactions between characters is to driving a plot forward. I think it started really strongly but really tailed off towards the end. A film where so much could have been improved by leaving a heap of film on the cutting room floor.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on April 28, 2018, 12:00:30 pm
Savage film. It's an experience watching, isn't it? I can't say I enjoyed it but that's not to say I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 29, 2018, 08:41:55 am
Jiro Dreams of Sushi

I thought this was a decent watch. (currently on Netflix). It is not, as you might assume from the title a dull piece of sub Masterchef food pr0n, but a strange, moody portrait of one of the most driven human beings you are ever likely to see. It's almost like a portrait of an elite athlete in his unceasing dedication to his craft. Jiro's relationship with his family is particularly fascinating / horrifying / unique depending on your view of his utter singlemindedness.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on May 29, 2018, 09:05:28 am
Jiro dreams of Sushi is really great for the reasons you mention. Alas it is not possible to book a table at his restaurant unless you have a Japanese address.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 16, 2018, 10:18:03 pm
Just seen A Ciambre

Initially found the shaky Steadicam a bit frustrating but got really into it. Definitely worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 27, 2018, 11:40:45 pm
Oblivion on Netflix at the moment. Ok because it's on Netflix... It looks cool, but hasn't got a lot to it really. Great piece of cheesy dialogue at the end:
Giant robot triangle: I am your God, I created you Jack.
Cruise (Jack) to giant robot triangle: Fuck you Sally.

Not exactly Shakespeare is it, but it made me chuckle! 

5.5/10 gets plus points for the cool killer drones which are a rip off of ed209 in RoboCop, the HKs in Terminator... And any number of other movies
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on August 26, 2018, 01:54:56 pm
I don't think Hulu is the UK but maybe there'll be some other form of distribution for this great documentary, nominally about skating but really about so much more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Vm_Awe3bw

Review article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/minding-the-gap-is-an-extraordinary-feat-of-filmmaking/567790/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 06, 2018, 07:06:21 pm
Blindspotting

Most powerful piece of cinema I've seen in ages. Manages to be funny, tense, violent and human. That will hopefully make sense when you've seen it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 06, 2018, 07:25:32 pm
Just a quick one....

Do not go and see Venom!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 06, 2018, 09:27:32 pm
Never would have guessed that  ::) :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 10, 2018, 04:13:24 pm
Solo - A Star Wars Movie - worth saving for a decent size screen, or crap enough that watching a plane won't detract anything from it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 10, 2018, 09:23:11 pm
Solo was brilliant. I really enjoyed it.

The Last Jedi on the other hand.....  :shit:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on October 12, 2018, 12:32:47 pm
Solo - A Star Wars Movie - worth saving for a decent size screen, or crap enough that watching a plane won't detract anything from it.

Is this a question or a cryptic review, I can't tell?

The fact that there was a Star Wars movie out totally passed me by, but I loved Rogue One. Do I need to see this?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on October 12, 2018, 09:54:23 pm
Yes Will, you should definitely watch it. I thought Rouge One was also brilliant, the Last Jedi is utter tripe though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on October 14, 2018, 09:54:50 pm
Goldstone. Was on BBC 4 over the weekend and now on iplayer. Absolutely brilliant. Australian outback drama/thriller. Get it watched.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on October 31, 2018, 06:58:26 am
The other half and I just bought a year pass for our local independent cinema, GFT. With it came a year's membership to MUBI - if you like independent, low budget, interesting (if not always 5*) films, you know, the types that do the rounds of of film festivals never to be seen again, certainly not on Netflix....well, now's your chance!

It's a curated, time limited service. Films only stay on for 30 days. Each film tells you how many days left you have to see it.

We just watched Dans La Maison, a humorous french film about a young lad interested in writing and voyeurism. Not perfect, some stand out character glitches but funny, thought provoking and eminently watchable,
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 31, 2018, 10:48:07 am
Plane watches;

Deadpool 2 - more of the goods from the first, possibly not quite as funny, but still low maintenance fun and definitely worth watching.

American Animals interesting mix of talking heads and story about college students pulling off a robbery. Really enjoyed this, recommended.

Isle of Dogs just brilliant. Typical Wes Anderson quirkiness, great story and brilliant animation (like that of the recent fantastic Mr Fox) Highly recommend it.

Blockers low maintence story about parents trying to stop kids having sex on prom night. Funny bits, lots of crap bits, not really worth it unless on a transatlantic flight with nothing else.

Tag another mindless film about men who have been mates since childhood who still play tag one month a year. See above.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 02, 2018, 11:38:35 pm
Plane watches;

Deadpool 2 - more of the goods from the first, possibly not quite as funny, but still low maintenance fun and definitely worth watching.

Isle of Dogs just brilliant. Typical Wes Anderson quirkiness, great story and brilliant animation (like that of the recent fantastic Mr Fox) Highly recommend it.


Iod is great isn't it. I rewatched Deadpool one recently, im looking forward to seeing 2 at some point. That movie definitely hits my sense of humour...


On a different topic, did anyone else see blindspotting? It is really the best thing I think I've seen this year.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on November 03, 2018, 10:41:04 am
Goldstone. Was on BBC 4 over the weekend and now on iplayer. Absolutely brilliant. Australian outback drama/thriller. Get it watched.
Mrs S and me watched this last night, loved it, thanks for the heads up!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 05, 2018, 09:41:34 am

I rewatched Deadpool one recently, im looking forward to seeing 2 at some point. That movie definitely hits my sense of humour...


I like that loads of parents ignored age rating, thought it was just another superhero movie and took young kids to see it....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on November 12, 2018, 01:58:43 pm
Goldstone. Was on BBC 4 over the weekend and now on iplayer. Absolutely brilliant. Australian outback drama/thriller. Get it watched.
Watched this the same week as Wind River, also worth a look. They share a lot of common ground - outsider cop, indigenous people, The Company, big empty landscapes. Understated, ponderous Nick Cave soundtrack to Wind River.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 12, 2018, 10:28:29 pm
The Guilty

I went to see this as I was intrigued how a movie which features a man talking on a phone in one room for an hour and a half could get such resoundingly positive reviews.
It is worth every one of them, brilliant. The simple yet extremely effective shots, and incredible performance from the actor.

It's in cinemas now, and it is something you would need to see in a cinema I think. The intensity would not work at home on a TV.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on November 12, 2018, 11:10:31 pm
La Novia (the bride)

Excellent film adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorcas play Bodas De Sangre (Blood Wedding).

Lust, passion, shame, betrayal and revenge in rural 30s Spain. Based on a true story where the bride ran away with her real love - on her wedding night.

Poetic, beautifully shot and gripping.

Free screening on Weds night, 6-8pm at the Instituto Cervantes, opposite the Hilton on Deansgate, Manchester.

https://cultura.cervantes.es/manchester/en/la-novia/120639

Edit- in Spanish
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 13, 2018, 10:52:46 am
Bohemian Rhapsody? Yay or nay?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 13, 2018, 11:27:25 am
Go to see this instead!

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/28/the-guilty-review-gustav-moller-telephone-thriller
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 24, 2018, 11:16:53 pm
Shoplifters

A great movie though I didn't like it quite as much as many of the critics, that said the cinematography is beautiful and the story touching. I felt as though quite a lot was lost in translation but nevertheless, excellent. 4.5/5 *
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on November 25, 2018, 11:29:24 am
The Beat That My Heart Skipped

Saw this French film from 2005 on dvd last week and it was really really good. Gangsterish film crossed with classical piano! It really worked though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2018, 11:34:41 am
Widows

Saw this last week with MrsTT. Bear in mind I go to the cinema once a year now we have child....

Really really good - Steve McQueen directed. Great performances. Sort of loosely based on the ideas of the Lynda LePlante series (widows of bank robbers do their own thang) it was really really good. Great characters and character development. Really good plot with no obvious signposting and some neat twists. No background music (that I remember) that is something I increasingly like to see in films. Well worth a view.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on November 25, 2018, 11:59:09 am
Shoplifters

A great movie though I didn't like it quite as much as many of the critics, that said the cinematography is beautiful and the story touching. I felt as though quite a lot was lost in translation but nevertheless, excellent. 4.5/5 *

Managed to get rid of the lad for the night (irony!) and saw this with the other half. Really enjoyed it but I do like this sort of thing. The Japanese title is literally "shoplifting family" and it's mostly about what a family is. Don't expect Guy Richie!  At a few points it helped to have some familiarity with Japanese culture and news. There were a couple of points which felt slightly implausible but my Japanese other half though entirely realistic when we talked about it after. Hard to be specific without giving the plot away but, as an example, there have been a few stories of children dying in hot cars after being left whilst their parents play Pachinko.

4.5 stars is about right, I note Peter Bradshaw gave it 4 first time he saw it and 5 the second time and I can see it rewarding another viewing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 25, 2018, 11:23:41 pm
Widows

Saw this last week with MrsTT. Bear in mind I go to the cinema once a year now we have child....

Really really good  ... Well worth a view.

I've been to the cinema twice this weekend.... Saw this this afternoon after a works session, I totally agree with you TT, very entertaining.

Great to hear you enjoyed Shoplifters as well Duncan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: bubbles on November 26, 2018, 09:02:48 am
Bohemian Rhapsody? Yay or nay?

I saw this the other day. Great if you like Queen and want an excuse to watch a few Queen songs get belted out. I suspect the truth has received a pretty liberal airbrushing. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 09, 2018, 08:56:36 pm
mortal engines

Saw this this weekend. Like a cross between star wars, lord of the rings and Mad Max. I absolutely loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 10, 2018, 10:25:05 am
Read the review on the weekend, sounds good. suitable for 9 year old son as well? 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SamT on December 10, 2018, 11:44:31 am
My lads (11 and 12) have read all the books and loved them. Really looking forward to going to see the movie now!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 10, 2018, 11:59:17 am
Might try and persuade him, although he has his mind set on Bumblebee movie first.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 10, 2018, 12:31:25 pm
Read the review on the weekend, sounds good. suitable for 9 year old son as well?

I would have thought so. The terminator a like character could be a little scary, it's quite violent in a very cartoony way. If he's okay with Indiana Jones / Star Wars type stuff he'd be happy
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on December 10, 2018, 04:11:57 pm
mortal engines

Saw this this weekend. Like a cross between star wars, lord of the rings and Mad Max. I absolutely loved it.

Didn't even know this was being made into a film. I loved the books as a kid.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 11, 2018, 01:20:42 pm
mortal engines

Saw this this weekend. Like a cross between star wars, lord of the rings and Mad Max. I absolutely loved it.

Didn't even know this was being made into a film. I loved the books as a kid.

I've not read the books, but thought it was great, really worth seeing on a big screen. I'm sure they'll film the rest of them unless it's a total box office flop, which it doesn't deserve to be
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on December 12, 2018, 01:41:57 pm
I watched 'Assassination Nation' was slightly losing me in the second act but the third won me over.

Maybe not for everyone and I'm not entirely sure how to describe it without sounding like a pretentious film tosser so here goes... Some people would call it a horror but that isn't right, it's a bloodbath for sure but in the rather over the top cartoonish way. Not a lousy jump scare. More than anything it's a commentary on modern social media trends, especially the tendency for hysterical 'mass outrage' from people vastly detached from the facts and how the mob mentality jumps from scandal to scandal. Words that people will throw around while talking about it: Hyper stylised, vivid colour palette and imagery, 'avenging Angels', satirical black-comedy.

I'd encourage people to check it out and interested to hear opinions back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 28, 2019, 11:14:25 pm
the mule
Extremely entertaining, supremely unchallenging. Like the bastard love child of last of the summer wine and breaking bad. ( I partly stole this comparison from a review, but thought it extremely apt)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on January 29, 2019, 12:04:03 am
The Favourite

Queen Anns reign rewritten as a lesbian love triangle. May be a bit of historical licence but I found it  funny, tense and though a biit odd at moments the twisting plot was very entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 29, 2019, 04:47:06 pm
Might try and persuade him, although he has his mind set on Bumblebee movie first.

Which was actually quite good low maintenance fun. Robots beating the crap out of each other pleased my son (9) the sentimental bits pleased my daughter (6) and I enjoyed both, plus the 80s soundtrack.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 29, 2019, 11:32:55 pm
Vice

Entertaining but often confused film making. Some brilliant performances / impressions. Gets too caught up in its own stylistic devices and doesn't pay enough attention to a strong narrative drive. Worth seeing though, for all that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on January 30, 2019, 08:03:29 am
We watched A Quiet Place t'other night.

I'd recommend watching it with the lights off and surround sound cranked up a bit. Was a good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 10, 2019, 10:47:53 am
The Favourite
Queen Anns reign rewritten as a lesbian love triangle. May be a bit of historical licence but I found it  funny, tense and though a biit odd at moments the twisting plot was very entertaining.

I really didn't like this. I thought it had funny moments but that the writing was awful, most of the acting very stilted and forced, and whatever sort of curved / fish-eye type lens they used throughout it  was really annoying.
The ducks were funny though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 11, 2019, 01:06:07 pm
All is True

Went to see this yesterday. Enjoyable thespian fluff. The acting is good. Moderately amusing in parts. Nothing special but very likeable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 17, 2019, 08:40:17 pm
A Private War

10/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 19, 2019, 07:24:18 am
A Private War
10/10.

To flesh it out slightly; it isn't actually a perfect film, but it certainly has impact. It will make you even more angry about the f*** wit decisions made by people like Trump in off hand tweets that exacerbate or prolong situations like Syria.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 19, 2019, 09:48:13 am
I watched BlacKkKlansman on Sunday night. I think I must have missed something as all the ratings/reviews seem to be glowing and was finding it hard to bother finishing?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7349662/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 19, 2019, 04:06:26 pm
I watched BlacKkKlansman on Sunday night. I think I must have missed something as all the ratings/reviews seem to be glowing and was finding it hard to bother finishing?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7349662/

I think its a fantastic film: sharp, smart, and funny. Maybe it carries more weight watching over here?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 19, 2019, 06:29:57 pm
Mandy

Fuck me, what a film. Directed by Panos Cosmatos (who directed the equally bizarre Beyond the Black Rainbow, and son of George Cosmatos, of Tombstone /  First Blood part 2 fame).

A perfectly cast Nicholas Cage, if anything, appears to be underacting, but mainly because everything else is so amplified, including the colours, film grain, and score (by Johann Johansson, shortly before he died).

Not the sort of thing you enjoy. More like an induced hallucinatory experience that youre not sure youre going to emerge from unscathed. Highly recommended...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 12:59:25 pm
Green Book as best film is a terrible, terrible choice.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 25, 2019, 01:21:47 pm
Green Book as best film is a terrible, terrible choice.

Spike Lee did a great interview with a BBC journalist afterwards and said "are you British? I'll give you a British answer: it wasn't my cup of tea" (about Green Book whilst clearly very peeved that Blackkksman didn't win)

I haven't seen it but it sounds pretty trite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 01:32:46 pm
I haven't seen it but it sounds pretty trite.

Its a bog standard road trip/buddy movie but its racial politics are terrible. Giving it best film over Blackkklansman or Black Panther seems like an insult. It would have been better to give it Bohemian Rhapsody or A Star is Born.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 25, 2019, 01:51:51 pm
Me and W watched Black KKKlansman last night - was laughing and very angry at the same time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 02:27:27 pm
Have you seen "Sorry to Bother You" Ben?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 25, 2019, 03:54:03 pm
I haven't seen it but it sounds pretty trite.

Its a bog standard road trip/buddy movie but its racial politics are terrible. Giving it best film over Blackkklansman or Black Panther seems like an insult. It would have been better to give it Bohemian Rhapsody or A Star is Born.
I really enjoyed GB. Can you expand on where in the film the racial politics are terrible?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 04:08:08 pm
There are a lot of layers to it, but it could be summed up as white saviour syndrome.

Edited to add that I'm very much writing from a US perspective.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 25, 2019, 04:30:26 pm
Think I'll watch it again and see. I agree there's layers to it but I didn't feel it was one sided. Kind of saved each other.
Edit. Maybe not saved but changed....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 25, 2019, 04:46:03 pm
Deleted post...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 25, 2019, 06:00:48 pm
Have you seen "Sorry to Bother You" Ben?

Thanks for the tip Andy - Id never heard of it but just looked it up and it sounds great. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 06:10:44 pm
Have you seen "Sorry to Bother You" Ben?

Thanks for the tip Andy - Id never heard of it but just looked it up and it sounds great.

Its really good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on February 25, 2019, 06:29:02 pm
On the one hand - Green Book looks like 2019's Driving Miss Daisy. Wasn't the South racist? Oooh, someone said the n word, how shocking. But looky, people can overcome their differences. And aren't we great in Hollywood that WE are tolerant and progressive. Back slaps all round. Driving Miss Daisy 2: this time, the racists behind the wheel.

On the other hand -  I don't think Green Book pretends to answer every question about race - it's a lovely  film about a specific story. Really it's about the stupidity of unthinking inherited structural racism, and how enormously positive it can be (for the protagonist) to let it go. Can a movie that underlines the unfairness of segregation in all its forms be that un-woke?

And on the other - Yes maybe the white dude saving the black guy premise is a bit unfortunate but the white dude kind of also gets 'saved' by the black guy so...

(On a side note, something I haven't seen mentioned much about the film is that, as well as race, there is a lot in there about the C word. Class.)

Actually I had all these conflicting sets of feelings after watching the film but despite some reservations, really enjoyed it. It's a great buddy movie that is superbly well acted by both leads and made me smile far more often than wince. In the end, people will see it (or not) and make up their own minds.

I get that some are unhappy about Green Book winning because it wasnt progressive enough. I'd argue any complaint should be that it probably wasnt actually the best picture but then what do I know? For right or wrong, a "Best Picture" award doesn't have to go to the movie with the most politically accurate analysis of the state of humanity today. It's an entertainment, after all. Awards are basically opinions ultimately.

For me, the best film I saw last year was Leave No Trace. If you're a fan of understated human drama-type films (and generally I'm not), give it it whirl.

While ostensibly it is the story of an army vet and his daughter living on their wits in the wilderness and what happens to them -  beautifully told and acted - it's also about the relationship between parents and children, and how those relationships need to change as children grow up and how painful and difficult that can be. It's better than I make it out to be; a film review I will never be!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 25, 2019, 06:49:33 pm
Did you copy that first bit from this Guardian comment, and hoped no-one would notice, or did you write this comment too so it's all your own work? https://discussion.theguardian.com/comment-permalink/126244480
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: user deactivated on February 25, 2019, 07:05:21 pm
Christ I bet you were buzzin when you noticed the potential in that discovery mate. I can almost feel the smug glow of self satisfaction....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on February 25, 2019, 07:06:48 pm
Did you copy that first bit from this Guardian comment, and hoped no-one would notice, or did you write this comment too so it's all your own work? https://discussion.theguardian.com/comment-permalink/126244480
Gah! Actually I meant to put quotes round all the different viewpoints as they pretty much summed up my thoughts. I'd almost finished my first attempt (with quotation marks) when I deleted it by mistake. Hurried a second attempt and just forgot. They are all from different things I've read. No attempt at originality of thought on this at all!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 25, 2019, 07:29:39 pm
Ah cool yeah the forum is not the most forgiving for quoting stuff! I was just reading those comments this morning and for some reason that one stuck in my head, hence the query!

Looking forward to watching Green Book, Black KKKlansman and Sorry to Bother You,  Lakeith Stanfield is awesome in Atlanta.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 25, 2019, 10:35:08 pm
For me, the best film I saw last year was Leave No Trace.
I really enjoyed Leave No Trace and was surprised it wasn't nominated for something.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 25, 2019, 10:44:38 pm
For me, the best film I saw last year was Leave No Trace.
I really enjoyed Leave No Trace and was surprised it wasn't nominated for something.

Ditto.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 03, 2019, 10:17:58 am
A nice little piece on one of the finest movies ever made:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/01/alien-review-ridley-scott-lethally-contemporary-masterpiece
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 03, 2019, 12:12:13 pm
Hunter Killer - It's as daft as a brush but I love submarine films and thoroughly enjoyed this one. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 10, 2019, 11:03:19 pm
The Kindergarten Teacher

Unusual and unsettling. Has a really classic movie air about it somehow. Well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 11, 2019, 03:48:26 pm
Brotherhood

Next film after KIDulthood and Adulthood, which I thought ere pretty good, and an enjoyable if sometimes hard to watch.

This is hard to watch for a different reason - it's shit. Crap characters, feeble plot, crap acting. Best bit is trying to decide if one of the characters is actually Stormzy trying to act, or just someone who looks like him.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on March 11, 2019, 09:16:29 pm
For me, the best film I saw last year was Leave No Trace.
I really enjoyed Leave No Trace and was surprised it wasn't nominated for something.

Ditto.

What these people said. What a great film missed entirely by all the awards. Was film of the year for me...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on March 18, 2019, 01:33:13 pm
Should anyone be thinking of watching "Triple Frontier" on  Netflix on the back of the Oscar Issacs/J C Chandor/A most Violent Year combo............ don't.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on March 18, 2019, 02:24:44 pm
Should anyone be thinking of watching "Triple Frontier" on  Netflix on the back of the Oscar Issacs/J C Chandor/A most Violent Year combo............ don't.

Agree, the biggest good cast/bad script imbalance Ive seen in a long time! Starts quite promisingly but goes downhill very rapidly then gets totally stupid.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 25, 2019, 09:04:35 am
I got my geek on last night, and went to the midnight screening of Avengers Endgame.

 :popcorn: :jaw: :great:

If you like epic blockbustery type of affairs, youre in for a treat. Ive been a Marvel fan since I was a boy. These new films from 2008 onwards have progressively built and built. The end result is absolutely ace. I got in at 3.30am, and now I feel and look like Ive been off my head at a rave!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 25, 2019, 09:24:27 am
My son is just starting to get into them, where is a good place to start so we can watch a few before seeing this at the cinema??

Are the plots in the individual films linked to the main Avengers movies storyline? or is it a standalone story "arc" (as they like to say).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 25, 2019, 09:37:22 am
Youre in for a treat then Chris!

The easiest answer is just to watch them all......but there are 22 films totalling something like 49/50 hours. So that would take some watching. The sneaky devils have slowly been building up to this latest film. So every one before it had some element shown that features in Endgame.

Some can avoided, Like the Hulk film/s as they are both crap. But, its hard to say what to eliminate from the others as I mentioned they all tie in eventually.....

Im just off to see an insurance broker (wish me luck) so cant spare much time. I will try and report back later on (on your question, not how the meeting went).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 25, 2019, 09:57:25 am
Im off to the cinema shortly - so excited!

Chris - Im in the same dilemma with my daughter. Shes watched Ragnarok / Black Panther and a couple of others. I would assume Infinity War is the bare minimum, but to understand that you need to have seen Guardians of the Galaxy, Civil War, etc, and I get the impression that Ant Man and the Wasp relates to Endgame too. If you have time, prob a good idea to see the Iron Man films as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on April 25, 2019, 10:58:10 am
It's hard to make a judgement of what is required watching, as there are a lot of references to the previous films, but not sure how much not having watched them would take away from the spectacle of the infinity war movies.  There's certainly not a lot of explaining of who people are, or what has happened previously, but I think the movie would be entertaining without the background.

As a minimum if you really want to get some decent background:
- Avengers
- Winter Soldier
- Avengers Age of Ultron
- Guardians or the Galaxy 1
- Civil War
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Thor Ragnarok
- Infinity War (Obviously)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on April 25, 2019, 11:28:53 am
It's hard to make a judgement of what is required watching

BBC had a stab at doing this a few days ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/entertainment-arts-47623536
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 25, 2019, 11:46:53 am
It's hard to make a judgement of what is required watching, as there are a lot of references to the previous films, but not sure how much not having watched them would take away from the spectacle of the infinity war movies.  There's certainly not a lot of explaining of who people are, or what has happened previously, but I think the movie would be entertaining without the background.

As a minimum if you really want to get some decent background:
- Avengers
- Winter Soldier
- Avengers Age of Ultron
- Guardians or the Galaxy 1
- Civil War
- Black Panther
- Doctor Strange
- Thor Ragnarok
- Infinity War (Obviously)

That's a lot of watching! I think we've just covered Iron Man 1& 2 so far, and first Thor! Might have to wait and miss the cinema release. Still working our way through backlog of Transformers movies! Starting with Bumblebee, it kind of worked out OK.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Tyson on April 25, 2019, 12:24:46 pm
Might be easier to chip away at backlog first! I must admit Im a proper sad loser, who goes to see all the new Marvel films on their release date. Went to Infinity War last year at midnight screening too. Ruins the next day, but well worth it. I love seeing them on the big screen (3D also) but equally enjoy watching them at home. By the time youve sat and watched the full back catalogue, Endgame will probably be out to watch at home anyway!

I went to see Antman and the Wasp on its first night. And I had the entire cinema to myself. Very strange......
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 25, 2019, 02:27:47 pm
Could have been stranger if a giant rabbit called Frank was sitting next to you.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on May 05, 2019, 04:37:08 pm
Having been to see Avengers Endgame yesterday, thoughts as below (some minor overall plot spoilers).

NSFW  :
Basically, don't waste your time seeing it in the cinema. They'd have been much better off just leaving it with Infinity War, as this one is essentially a re-run of that film but without the superb twist at the end.

The storyline is mundane and predictable (time travel, find infinity stones, everyone who died before comes back, Thanos nearly wins, then he doesn't, and the obvious characters die), the set pieces are no different to any of the earlier films and the whole thing is an exercise in "we've done all this before". In fact, we literally have done much of it before. It feels like they've just tried to get the audience to replay the emotions they went through the first time, in the hope of stirring some underlying attachment. It doesn't work in my opinion.

There are some amusing moments (fat Thor the most obvious), and the action is exciting enough until you realise just how long you've been sat there watching it. I felt myself dozing off at times, it was genuinely that boring.

I'm not saying it's a bad film, it's just derivative and stale. In short, save your money and wait for it to come on Now TV or whatever and then have it on in the background whilst you're doing something else.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 06, 2019, 03:38:13 pm
I was pleasantly surprised by the production quality, cast, and plot of Wandering Earth on Netflix.  As
Chinese cinema goes it is actually pretty good and doesnt suffer unduly for being dubbed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 06, 2019, 10:54:38 pm
For anyone who isn't quite as interested in marvel movies I'd highly recommend woman at war. If I was a real critic I'd probably say it was whimsical nordic eco drama or something, but I'd have said it is a bit like an Icelandic Cohen brothers movie.  Having seen this I'm tempted to get a hunting bow to deal with drones at crags.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nibile on May 08, 2019, 08:00:16 am
Great thread this one.
I rarely contribute, just because I simply forget to, but yesterday we watched "Gardens of Stone" and after all the years it's still an amazing film with a unique perspective on war.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on May 13, 2019, 04:06:50 pm
Have you seen "Sorry to Bother You" Ben?

Thanks for the tip Andy - Id never heard of it but just looked it up and it sounds great.

Its really good.

Just saw it and it's fantastic. Now out on iTunes etc..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 27, 2019, 02:57:56 pm
Still not watched it - but have just added it to the watchlist.  The Skateboarding film Andy mentioned is now on iPlayer so I'll give that a whirl tonight.

Me and W watched 'Cold War' last weekend and I was blown away.  It's amazing, beautiful and moving.  Been thinking about it all week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 27, 2019, 03:19:03 pm
The Skateboarding film Andy mentioned is now on iPlayer so I'll give that a whirl tonight.

Minding the Gap? Do let us know what you think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on July 27, 2019, 06:40:54 pm
I've not ticked off enough films to qualify for an Endgame viewing I'm afraid! Watched a fair few. I was pit off by Black Panther as well which I thought was very average...

Watched Will You Ever Forgive Me. Richard E Grant and a female actor I can't remember who is great. REG is essentially playing an old Withnell which could be terrible bit he's also great.

Also rewatched Big Night a 90s film largely featuring some incredible Italian food which is also highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 27, 2019, 11:00:13 pm
IRichard E Grant and a female actor I can't remember who is great.

Melissa McCarthy. They are both great in this film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 27, 2019, 11:42:36 pm
Currently on Netflix and iPlayer, the big short almost certainly mentioned before, but its well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 28, 2019, 10:53:05 am
The Skateboarding film Andy mentioned is now on iPlayer so I'll give that a whirl tonight.

Minding the Gap? Do let us know what you think.

Blimey.  Did not expect that at all.  A great film. Very moving and difficult to watch at times.  Thanks for the tip-off. 

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on July 28, 2019, 11:25:21 am
The Skateboarding film Andy mentioned is now on iPlayer so I'll give that a whirl tonight.

Minding the Gap? Do let us know what you think.

Blimey.  Did not expect that at all.  A great film. Very moving and difficult to watch at times.  Thanks for the tip-off.

+1 Great tip - and I had to stop half way through as it wasnt the right kind of film for how I was feeling....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on July 28, 2019, 12:24:11 pm
Last breath. Really enjoyed this but maybe it was because I work in same kind of environment, and can relate to it. Had a few guys offshore fighting back the tears.

Ps its on Netflix at moment.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 28, 2019, 01:19:31 pm
The Skateboarding film Andy mentioned is now on iPlayer so I'll give that a whirl tonight.

Minding the Gap? Do let us know what you think.

Blimey.  Did not expect that at all.  A great film. Very moving and difficult to watch at times.  Thanks for the tip-off.

It blindsided us too, but while it can be very difficult its also incredibly worthwhile, I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 28, 2019, 03:41:47 pm
Yeah absolutely!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 18, 2019, 12:45:47 pm
Two trips to the flicks this week.

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut.  I've never seen the film at a cinema before so this was a real treat.  A 4k restoration and with surround sound it was fantastic.  The famous scene when they fly into and destroy the village was shocking compared to watching on a small screen with limited sound.  Similarly when the patrol boat is attacked - the abrupt changes in volume and sudden eruptions of noise were startling and unsettling.  This cut is a shorter version than the overly long Redux but still includes some of the additional material including the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.  Well worth going to the cinema to watch.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood  Watched this last night and it wasn't what I expected, especially the surprise ending.  Typical Tarantino fare but with (thankfully) much less violence (apart from one scene) than his other films.  Great performances by everyone in it.  A really tense and creepy visit to Spahn Ranch for Brad Pitt.  Me and W thought it was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on August 18, 2019, 02:27:49 pm
The Last Black Man in San Francisco: a touching film that is as much about male friendship as it is about gentrification.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 19, 2019, 10:27:44 am
the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.

Not bizarre:
Because the tension and claustrophobic atmosphere in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now is maintained when they never get off the boat. The only release is into Kurtz's nightmare in the centre of the jungle. The scenes aren't intrinsically bad but they disrupt a tighter narrative structure. Brevity is an underrated virtue in movie making.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on August 19, 2019, 12:44:56 pm
Two trips to the flicks this week.

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut.  I've never seen the film at a cinema before so this was a real treat.  A 4k restoration and with surround sound it was fantastic.  The famous scene when they fly into and destroy the village was shocking compared to watching on a small screen with limited sound.  Similarly when the patrol boat is attacked - the abrupt changes in volume and sudden eruptions of noise were startling and unsettling.  This cut is a shorter version than the overly long Redux but still includes some of the additional material including the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.  Well worth going to the cinema to watch.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood  Watched this last night and it wasn't what I expected, especially the surprise ending.  Typical Tarantino fare but with (thankfully) much less violence (apart from one scene) than his other films.  Great performances by everyone in it.  A really tense and creepy visit to Spahn Ranch for Brad Pitt.  Me and W thought it was great.

Thanks for this. Ive seen AN once only and the confluence of time, place, and mental state (cough) was so perfect for it Ive not dared to see it since!

I dont enjoy cartoon (operatic?) violence in films in general and Im a Tarentino agnostic. Jackie Brown is my favourite by far.  This sounds like it might appeal more than some of his others.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 19, 2019, 01:00:00 pm

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut.  I've never seen the film at a cinema before so this was a real treat.  A 4k restoration and with surround sound it was fantastic.  The famous scene when they fly into and destroy the village was shocking compared to watching on a small screen with limited sound.  Similarly when the patrol boat is attacked - the abrupt changes in volume and sudden eruptions of noise were startling and unsettling.  This cut is a shorter version than the overly long Redux but still includes some of the additional material including the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.  Well worth going to the cinema to watch.


FFS not showing in Scotland, anywhere..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 24, 2019, 01:46:39 pm
the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.
Brevity is an underrated virtue in movie making.

For sure, but, I do like that scene.  It's almost like a dream sequence.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on August 24, 2019, 08:22:19 pm

Apocalypse Now: Final Cut.  I've never seen the film at a cinema before so this was a real treat.  A 4k restoration and with surround sound it was fantastic.  The famous scene when they fly into and destroy the village was shocking compared to watching on a small screen with limited sound.  Similarly when the patrol boat is attacked - the abrupt changes in volume and sudden eruptions of noise were startling and unsettling.  This cut is a shorter version than the overly long Redux but still includes some of the additional material including the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.  Well worth going to the cinema to watch.


FFS not showing in Scotland, anywhere..

It was at the GFT, but maybe been and gone?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on August 24, 2019, 08:32:27 pm
the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.

Not bizarre:
Because the tension and claustrophobic atmosphere in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now is maintained when they never get off the boat. The only release is into Kurtz's nightmare in the centre of the jungle. The scenes aren't intrinsically bad but they disrupt a tighter narrative structure. Brevity is an underrated virtue in movie making.

I was working as a runner when I watched Redux at the cinema and was frothing about it until an editor I worked for explained to what was wrong with it just as you have almost verbatim.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 24, 2019, 11:44:56 pm
the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.
Brevity is an underrated virtue in movie making.
For sure, but, I do like that scene.  It's almost like a dream sequence.
Indeed, I like it too, I'd just argue that apocalypse now is a lesser movie with it in it.

the French plantation house scenes which some people seem to really dislike for some bizarre reason.

Not bizarre:
Because the tension and claustrophobic atmosphere in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now is maintained when they never get off the boat. The only release is into Kurtz's nightmare in the centre of the jungle. The scenes aren't intrinsically bad but they disrupt a tighter narrative structure. Brevity is an underrated virtue in movie making.

I was working as a runner when I watched Redux at the cinema and was frothing about it until an editor I worked for explained to what was wrong with it just as you have almost verbatim.

Thanks,  it's nice to know that others agree with my opinionated ranting  occasionally  ;)
Other rants include: Black hawk down, the best directed film that should never have been released; Spielberg,  the most overrated director in history and bloody super hero movies.

Saying that I am a total hypocrite,  Spielberg does some things amazingly well,  and I love guardians of the galaxy and deadpool. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on August 25, 2019, 07:23:41 am
Re Apocalypse Now.  It's not as a substantial film, but I feel same the same "addition by subtraction" applies to Aliens versus its Directors Cut.  The Directors Cut has extra material that provides background on how the colony was infected / killed by the aliens, and the last stand in the medical suite is extended using motion sensor activated sentry guns.  The extra background is interesting and well done, and the sentry guns seemed very "cool" when I was 12 but in retrospect the extras make the film inferior - less of a lean, breakneck ghost train ride.  And, showing 100s of aliens wiped out by the sentry guns, makes them appear less formidable, and lessens the air of a fight-against-impossible-odds.

Not sure about Spielberg being overated - depends on whose opinion you-re listening to - I suspect some people underrate him.  To me, at his best he has produced some great films.  Jaws is probably my favourite of his - a superb example of how to maintain tension (I'm sure by know most people know this was partly a result of the continuing mechanical failure of "Bruce" the animatronic shark, and script re-writes by cast and writers, overnight before each days filming). But he is often crippled by his sentimentality, e.g. the last section of AI made me very angry (he just couldn't bloody help himself.....).  I seem to remember Sugarland Express being one of the few films where he managed to restrain himself... and that was one of his first!  At worst though, even when he lets himself down, he is rarely less than a very good craftsman.

Never really got into superhero movies.  I also like the odd one (Guardians of the Galaxy, a few of the Batmans, the Sam Raimi Spiderman, I vaguely recall liking the first Kick Ass).  But most are a combination of an adolescent view of what's dark / edgy (swearing! I'm impressed!), take themselves far too seriously (if I wanted "adult", I would not be watching a film about a man in a cape beating up freaks), and completely incoherent.  The better ones often start well, with fun scenes of an "ordinary" person coming to terms with his powers.  Unfortunately, then the "plot" kicks in and it all degenerates; unconvincing villains, and usually an interminable and confusing final hour of non-stop bangs and punching, edited it seems, to hide an inability to choreograph action scenes.  Must stop now... I realise that I have now turned into my Dad.......   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on August 25, 2019, 07:53:34 am
Thinking about it, A.I. is possibly angriest I have ever got in a cinema.  I don't mind bad films, providing they aren't too long and don't take themselves seriously, I often enjoy them; but AI seemed such a waste.  Not seen it since the cinema, so my memory is possibly faulty but I recall lots of interesting scenes and acting and visuals, leading to an appropriate, if bleak, end-point.  But then, an inexplicable, bolted-on final section that made it grossly sentimental and over-long, and ruined the entirity of the preceding film.  It's like Spielberg had completed the film according to his and Kubricks shared vision, and then decided to have a shit in the film cans before sealing them up and posting to the studio.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 25, 2019, 10:24:35 am
Great review Moose 😂

Toby and Cowboyhat Re: Redux - yeah a bloated mess.  Ill be interested to hear what you think of this new edit should you ever watch it.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on August 25, 2019, 11:03:01 am
Re the Aliens DC - whilst doing some research on a book im working on, I discovered that the sentry gun laptop (which Id assumed was a fancy prop) is a GRiD Compass, which was the first closing display laptop computer, dreamed up by British industrial designer Bill Moggridge.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_Compass (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_Compass)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 25, 2019, 11:32:29 pm
Nice contributions all re Spielberg, Moose I'd agree with you on Jaws, Jurassic Park and quite a few others are fantastic classic movie making. However, AI was more or less as you say, Saving Private Ryan was sentimental about relatively recent history and I hated it. Spielberg has a habit of making films about abandoned lonely children, and it smacks of self indulgent repetitivity.

Re Alien, the only real one is the initial cut. Seen on a big screen, it's among the scariest, most brilliant movies I've ever seen. Read a recent article about the monster design being based on a Francis Bacon triptych which I saw in a gallery years ago and liked because I thought it looked like the alien....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 26, 2019, 09:00:21 am
Thinking about it, A.I. is possibly angriest I have ever got in a cinema.  I don't mind bad films, providing they aren't too long and don't take themselves seriously, I often enjoy them; but AI seemed such a waste.  Not seen it since the cinema, so my memory is possibly faulty but I recall lots of interesting scenes and acting and visuals, leading to an appropriate, if bleak, end-point.  But then, an inexplicable, bolted-on final section that made it grossly sentimental and over-long, and ruined the entirity of the preceding film.  It's like Spielberg had completed the film according to his and Kubricks shared vision, and then decided to have a shit in the film cans before sealing them up and posting to the studio.

About right. I went to see it with about 5 people. Near the end I was so annoyed with the whole thing I wanted to walk out, but stayed out of politeness to the other people I was with. Spoke to them all afterwards, and to a person they said the same thing, they all wanted to walk out, but stayed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cheque on August 27, 2019, 11:38:36 am
In 26 years the only time I've ever properly argued with my mate Nima about is whether AI was any good or not, walking back from seeing it at the pictures. I was on the "not good" sude of the argument but I don't remember anything about the film now to be honest.

Can't say I'm a Spielberg fan at all myself- I was shocked to learn that Jurassic Park is now considered a classic the other week when my colleague came into work wearing a t-shirt with the logo on and I laughed at him  :oops:. I was still of the opinion that it seemed everyone had when it came out, that it was an overhyped merchandise vehicle...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 30, 2019, 02:54:28 pm
Watched The Fountain recently, directed by Darren Aronofsky (of 'Pi' and 'Requiem for a Dream' fame, plus various others) it's a sci-fi/fantasy that covers topics of mortality, eternal life, and (eternal) love. A real thought provoker and better than my description seems.

I'd heartily recommend it but you'd have to be in the mood for a bit of an emotional 'thinkers' movie. Definitely not a popcorn seller.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on August 30, 2019, 03:51:28 pm
Stations of the Cross, currently on iPlayer. In German with subtitles. Absolutely riveting cinema about the power and danger of fundamentalist religion; Catholicism in this case. Needs watching rather than on in the background, but well worth it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on August 30, 2019, 03:56:37 pm
Goldstone. Was on BBC 4 over the weekend and now on iplayer. Absolutely brilliant. Australian outback drama/thriller. Get it watched.
Watched this the same week as Wind River, also worth a look. They share a lot of common ground - outsider cop, indigenous people, The Company, big empty landscapes. Understated, ponderous Nick Cave soundtrack to Wind River.

Finally got round to watching Wind River too the other day (on Netflix). A strange mixture of really excellent, tense scenes with some appalling trite dialogue and acting mixed in there too. I thought Goldstone was far superior but WR definitely worth watching. Anyone who has watched the one that precedes Goldstone, I'd be keen for a review. Think its called Mystery Road.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on August 30, 2019, 05:24:38 pm
At the risk of being 'I like the cool bands before they were cool'...

Re: both brevity and Spielberg, Duel is a bloody brilliant film. The most basic of plots, limited dialogue, low budget, shortish runtime and tons of tension. A familiar story to anyone who's ever had an Audi driver in their rear view mirror move their seat to get even closer.

Would like to rewatch and see if agree.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 31, 2019, 12:55:37 pm
After being so pleasantly and taken in by The Fountain a couple of days ago... my latest watch was less successful :/

'High Life' (2018, staring Robert Pattinson and directed by Claire Denis) was a disappointment. I'm not entirely sure what point(s) it was trying to make? Any that it tried to make were rather clumbsy and ham fisted and not well made at all. Some brief points could include: Sex is good. Rape is bad. Human/animal instinct for desiring either of these? Our treatment of criminals could probably be improved. The miracle of birth is precious. Solo parenthood is arduous, especially on a spaceship drifting away from earth?

I feel like there is potentially a good edit of this movie out thee somewhere, on a cutting floor, but this is not it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on September 07, 2019, 03:24:32 pm
We watched The Deer Hunter last night, it seemed an appropriate thing to do before leaving Pennsylvania. I'd only seen it once before, must have been two or three decades ago (though I would have been too young to see it on its release). Its a great but flawed film. The scenes of life at home in Pennsylvania are superb, capturing working class America on the cusp of disaster in the early 70s - very prescient in focusing on these white blue collar lives (the film notably lacks black characters) of the kind we now focus on obsessively in trying to understand how Trump got elected. These sections were also immensely truthful I thought, something I realize now that I've lived in not dissimilar places (albeit in at the other end of the state). I could take you to any number places nearby that still look exactly like those streets, bars, and stores. What I wouldn't have really got first time round is just how important it is that the film focuses so closely on a particular ethnic group (Russians, but it could have been Greeks or Italians or Poles or some other). This is another part of its truth: white America is actually an immense patchwork.

The first section in Vietnam has non sequiturs, gaps and implausibilities but I think its impressionistic method is meant to convey the trauma they experienced. The trauma is the pivot around which the whole film turns but does not itself need to occupy a large chunk of the story telling. But I found the return to Vietnam, as Saigon falls, completely implausible and unnecessary.

What is really weird however are the hunting scenes in the mountains - which are categorically not shot in Pennsylvania, which does not have rocky peaks and glaciers. The town scenes were patently filmed in Pennsylvania. The western part of the state is stunningly beautiful - why did they not film it there? It makes no sense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 15, 2019, 10:41:57 pm
pain and glory
I'd not seen any of Almodavar's films before this, it is truly brilliant.  There is a lot of drug use,  but it doesn't feel gratuitous.  I almost went to see some mindless action film but was very glad I didn't; its serious and thoughtful,  yet entertaining throughout. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on September 16, 2019, 03:34:13 pm
pain and glory
I'd not seen any of Almodavar's films before this, it is truly brilliant.  There is a lot of drug use,  but it doesn't feel gratuitous.  I almost went to see some mindless action film but was very glad I didn't; its serious and thoughtful,  yet entertaining throughout.

the synopsis makes it sound pure otto e mezzo

In which note, the other side of the wind. the story of how this was made is almost as interesting as the film itself.

And while I'm on directors looking inwards, just re-watched All That Jazz. There is a series about Fosse on at the moment which made me think of it. (I haven't seen the series). Upon release in 1979, director Stanley Kubrick reportedly called it "[the] best film I think I have ever seen".

But take it from me, etczz...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 16, 2019, 09:46:31 pm
Finally got round to watching Annihilation at last (I know, I know), on a fairly giant TV. Wow. As great and gripping as it (and the source book) promised it to be. Stylistic blend of beauty and beast, good soundtrack too. Pushed the 15 rating in places, I thought. Pity it didn't make the cinema over here, but really glad it got made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89OP78l9oF0
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 22, 2019, 10:40:44 pm
Ad Astra

In my opinion not the brilliant space opera it was lauded as by some critics, it's certainly entertaining and looks beautiful, but slightly too full of its own self importance to really hit the spot. Perhaps my expectations were too high having seen it billed as 2001 meets Apocalypse Now. The internal monologue and descent into hell narrative certainly reference the latter, but nowhere near as effectively.
Having said all that, it's actually fairly decent, I was just a bit disappointed that it wasn't amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 23, 2019, 09:20:21 am
having seen it billed as 2001 meets Apocalypse Now.

That was Event Horizon, wasn't it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 23, 2019, 12:15:05 pm
Ad Astra

In my opinion not the brilliant space opera it was lauded as by some critics, it's certainly entertaining and looks beautiful, but slightly too full of its own self importance to really hit the spot. Perhaps my expectations were too high having seen it billed as 2001 meets Apocalypse Now. The internal monologue and descent into hell narrative certainly reference the latter, but nowhere near as effectively.
Having said all that, it's actually fairly decent, I was just a bit disappointed that it wasn't amazing.

This time of year super mediocre movies get HYPED to oblivion as 'Oscar contenders' by a predominantly American over zealous advertising PR factory, which i think some (likely paid off / endorsed) critics and review sites get carried away with, ESPECIALLY if they star some kind of older (making a comeback, or formerly disgraced) movie star. Same thing happened with J-Lo in Hustle. This one is 'Sci-Fi Epic + Brad Pitt'. I think they'd be better off spending far less on the PR budget (probably doesn't suit the 'Hollywood accounting' though...) hyping less, leaving people more likely to be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed. Agree that it is OK. But definitely no masterpiece. The monologue/narration was terrible and can only imagine it's aimed at the most ignorant, dumb, movie going audience... But ruins it for anyone with half a brain.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 23, 2019, 12:17:31 pm
having seen it billed as 2001 meets Apocalypse Now.

That was Event Horizon, wasn't it?

Event Horizon is absolutely fantastic, especially if you're at all familiar with the Warhammer 40k universe? Then watch it as an 'origin story' for that universe!  :devil-smiley:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 23, 2019, 12:36:59 pm
As someone "slightly" familiar with Warhammer 40k, it scared the wits out of me in the cinema as a youth!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 23, 2019, 01:08:16 pm
A-Lister + Sci Fi + Hype generally means disappointment; Solaris, Gravity....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on September 23, 2019, 08:35:43 pm
A-Lister + Sci Fi + Hype generally means disappointment; Solaris, Gravity....
A review of this movie contained this zinger: "A character that struggles to display human emotions. The part Pitt was born to play."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 23, 2019, 11:02:44 pm
Having reviewed ad astra slightly negatively, im going to stick up for it. I don't think it's 'super mediocre' it has brilliant cinematography, an excellent score and does feature some tense scenes. I quite liked TLJ as Kurtz in space. Granted it is derivative, Brad Pitt pretty much does what he always does, and it is a little pretentious but it's not awful! 3*/5*

Pain and Glory, on the other hand is absolutely brilliant. 5*/5*
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 30, 2019, 12:48:30 pm
the farewell

An affecting, funny film. Not really what I expected, although I'm not entirely sure what my expectations were thinking about it. Suffice to say, it's different and interesting, and well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 30, 2019, 01:21:25 pm
A-Lister + Sci Fi + Hype generally means disappointment; Solaris, Gravity....

Gravity was good. Especially at Imax

Also: The Martian, Inception, Minority Report, Looper, Edge Of Tomorrow, Oblivion, The Matrix, Passengers, Contagion, The Adjustment Bureau, Interstellar etc etc. P.S. I know fuck all about A-listers and hype but these sprang to mind for a start.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 30, 2019, 02:41:19 pm

Also: The Martian, Inception, Minority Report, Looper, Edge Of Tomorrow, Oblivion, The Matrix, Passengers, Contagion, The Adjustment Bureau, Interstellar etc etc.

Is this meant to be a list of good films or bad films!?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 30, 2019, 04:09:07 pm
Twat!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 06, 2019, 12:26:00 pm
Fiend - thanks for the reminder to watch Annihilation. I thought it was great apart from the sequence inside the lighthouse which kind of let the rest of the excellent film down.  A good adaptation nevertheless and Natalie Portman was fantastic.

The Levelling is on iPlayer and really good.  A dark, brooding family drama set in the Somerset levels. 

Watched John Wick 3 last night.  It picks up immediately as the last left off which John Wick excommunicated and with a bounty hanging over his head.  Cue two hours of cartoonish choreographed fighting and capers.  It's very tongue in cheek and funny. 

Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Herzog.  I've wanted to watch this for ages but it's not available online anywhere (to my knowledge) so I got a 2nd hand DVD.  It's absolutely brilliant.  An exploration of the Chauvet cave in the Ardeche which was discovered in '94 and contains these remarkable cave paintings dating back over thirty thousand years.  Mind-blowing.

Once upon a time in Queens After serving 25 years in prison, an elderly mafiosi boss returns to Queens and comes to terms with his ageing and that things ain't they way they were.  Good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 07, 2019, 09:39:43 pm

Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Herzog.  I've wanted to watch this for ages but it's not available online anywhere (to my knowledge) so I got a 2nd hand DVD.  It's absolutely brilliant.  An exploration of the Chauvet cave in the Ardeche which was discovered in '94 and contains these remarkable cave paintings dating back over thirty thousand years.  Mind-blowing.


footage of the inside of the Chauvet cave?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 07, 2019, 09:47:09 pm
just ordered a 2nd hand DVD of it

we went in the replica this summer, which was a worthwhile tour
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 08, 2019, 07:52:31 pm
Yeah its footage from inside the cave.  He was granted a week to film - some of it is with the scientists and archaeologists and the rest was just done with the crew. 

I got a 2nd hand DVD too.  It was a blu-Ray and came in 2D and 3D version - I dont know anyone with a 3D tele but if I find someone who has one Id love to watch it.

Hope you enjoy it Lagers - I certainly did.  Ive been thinking about it all week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 09, 2019, 08:36:40 am
Welcome to a shot on our telly FD, got the specs and all.

Ended up watching 12 Strong the other night. American Special Forces in Afghanistan. A bit gung ho, but some good action sequences, and based on actual events, apparently. Entertaining but a bit mindless.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 09, 2019, 07:02:59 pm
Thanks Chris - I'll bring it with me next time I'm up in Aberdeen (it may be a while!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 09, 2019, 07:59:37 pm
Unexpectedly- I found myself watching - continuing to watch and enjoying the recent rehash of a Baywatch movie.

Starring the Rock (is he really the largest salary actor??) it was funny - and heavily took the piss out of itself which I liked. I mean its crap but enjoyable crap.

I cant believe I just posted that 😂
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on October 11, 2019, 12:10:26 pm
Films I've watched recently.

Transit
Refugees running away from persecution, hiding from the dangers of deportation, waiting for the visas that can save lives, boarding the ship that navigates to the promised shore of salvation. The film is adapted from a novel set during the second world war but set in a modern day version of Vichy France. Slow, 'art house' style of film making with an underlying tension which builds during the course of the film - def. not to everyone's taste. By no means a flawless film, but it stayed with me.

The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Either it's a film that's way too artsy where just about everything has to be inferred and interpreted rather than made obvious - a bit like watching a movie version of abstract art. Or it's a beautiful, moving portrait of friendship, loss, masculinity, racial stereotypes and gentrification which does what some films do: make us see things differently. Took me a while to get into but ultimately was glad I persevered.

Embrace of The Serpent
Aguirre the Wrath of God meets Apocalypse Now. The story of two explorers, 30 years apart, trying to find a mysterious healing plant in the Amazon jungle guided by a shaman who is the last of his tribe. Beautifully shot in black and white. Minimal and stark. Contemplative and terrifying. Meditative and mesmerising. I can however easily see that it could be seen as just another slow, hackneyed, preachy tome masquerading as profound.

All of these, I'd say, are non-mainstream 'Marmite' films. Personally I got something out of each one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 19, 2019, 03:02:56 pm
El Camino

The Netflix film follow on from Breaking Bad. Really enjoyed it - great production and cinematography - and a couple of nice plot touches. Felt a tad Tarantino like (his good work) in places - though petered out a bit until the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 20, 2019, 11:05:02 pm
El Camino

The Netflix film follow on from Breaking Bad. Really enjoyed it - great production and cinematography - and a couple of nice plot touches. Felt a tad Tarantino like (his good work) in places - though petered out a bit until the end.

I'm really looking forward to seeing that. Jesse was such a brilliant character in Breaking Bad I'd watch it to see how they developed him.

Saw Official Secrets this evening. Brilliant film about GCHQ whistleblower before the second Iraq war. Some knowing lines about PMs not being allowed to make up their own facts... I don't think the screenwriter was only thinking of the subject matter there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 24, 2019, 10:43:52 pm
Saw Terminator: Dark Fate today; I was pretty much going to enjoy this, whatever it was like, but I was quite surprised that it's good anyway. Several of the ludicrous set pieces are pretty impressive, but Linda Hamilton is good in it, as is Arnie though he does have a few silly cheesy lines. Not world changing cinema but if you like the sound of evil AI death robots, C5 Hercules flying into the Hoover Dam and a cyborg time traveling female soldier, you'll love it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 24, 2019, 11:50:30 pm
The Laundromat, Steven Soderbergh's larky but bleak take on the Panama Papers saga. Through a series of loosely coupled stories, the film traces the machinations of international finance and its many deeply buried networks, interspersed with campy direct to the audience turns from Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas as Mossack and Fonseca, partners in the dodgy legal firm at the heart of the scandal. Its not perfect, there are loose ends and weaker segments, but its highly enjoyable as black, sometimes tragic, comedy. Available on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on October 25, 2019, 07:21:05 am
I thought the Laundromat didnt live up to the spin.

It felt more like money laundering for dummies - explained by Oldman and Banderas - as comic characatures of the real F&M.

First half was decent but it kind of lost its novelty and point By bribery101 act with the infidelity/daughter - which seemed a bit weird to me.

Meryl Streep, however, was outstanding... not - over-rated.

It was also interesting to see Oldman and Banderas together in the same scenes doing the same items to camera - and how for me Banderas somehow stole every scene - his twinkle seemed to engage more than Oldmans grumble.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on October 25, 2019, 08:30:01 am
The Joker Better than I thought it was going to be and seemed an interesting departure from the usual super-villain / super hero stuff. Came out feeling slightly disturbed and mildly unsettled.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: gollum on October 25, 2019, 09:05:36 am
We came out of Joker with a great deal of sympathy for him.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 27, 2019, 08:16:20 pm
"Dolemite is My Name" (Netflix). Eddie Murphy in the true story of do-it-yourself 70s Blaxploitation movie star Rudy Ray Moore; huge amounts of fun. "Dolemite is my name and fucking up motherfuckers is my game."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 27, 2019, 09:12:25 pm
The Joker Better than I thought it was going to be and seemed an interesting departure from the usual super-villain / super hero stuff. Came out feeling slightly disturbed and mildly unsettled.

Did you feel it lasted perhaps longer than it needed to?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on October 27, 2019, 09:38:51 pm

Did you feel it lasted perhaps longer than it needed to?

Not particularly, certainly didn't feel anywhere near as excessive as some of those avengers marathons that have come out recently that feel like you're trapped in a permanent inter galactic battle.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 03, 2019, 11:13:10 pm
Went to see Monos this afternoon. This was certainly not quite like anything I've ever seen before. I'd be pushed to say that I really enjoyed it, but it was a brilliant piece of filmmaking. Dark, affecting and relentless; I suppose it comes closest to Lord of the Flies meets Apocalypse Now?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 03, 2019, 11:24:42 pm
I've just read Peter Bradshaw's review,  embarrassingly,  he says a very similar thing: Monos review Apocalypse Now on shrooms

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/feb/13/monos-review-alejandro-landes?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on November 04, 2019, 11:50:35 am
I watched Netflix's 'The King' over the weekend. About a young Henry V becoming the king of England, declaring war on France and the ensuing battle of Agincourt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 04, 2019, 12:25:44 pm
Is it any good?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on November 04, 2019, 01:08:08 pm
...It was alright.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 14, 2019, 09:44:58 pm
Watched Joker last night. A good movie and interesting representation of the process of alienation. I can only assume hed been on a 6 month energy systems Program possibly triggered by reading a seminal capacities pdf online followed by spraying his mums pension up the shitter paying for an Internet coach. Regression into further uselessness accompanied by a deluded level of the emperors new clothes was the final straw 😂
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 15, 2019, 07:55:49 am
If we all had a whip-around and refunded the cost of your dalliance with lattice would you stop bleating about it?   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 15, 2019, 07:59:19 am
If we all had a whip-around and refunded the cost of your dalliance with lattice would you stop bleating about it?

😂
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 15, 2019, 08:14:22 am
 :lol: :2thumbsup: :yes: I'm in. I think I owe ScrapeScroat petrol money anyway but would rather put it towards this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on November 15, 2019, 08:53:37 am
Please god
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 15, 2019, 09:02:45 am
If we all had a whip-around and refunded the cost of your dalliance with lattice would you stop bleating about it?

lol. Crowdfund it. I'd be in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 15, 2019, 09:10:48 am
You may mock, but Joker was clearly a metaphor for the insanity of our consumer culture and its energy systems zeitgeist. Fiend is eternally spouting from his back passage and the rest of you love it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 15, 2019, 09:12:28 am
Dont worry Im sure someone will be along soon going on about letting it go and mental health etc. Thanks in advance 😊
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 15, 2019, 10:16:42 am
The Cheetham Capillarization

Who am I?
Youre Lattice property Dan.Youre a malfunctioning 60-a-month weapon. Youre a total goddam catastrophe!

Jason Bourne, now back in the employ of the US government is tasked with tracking down renegade operative Dan Cheetham. Cheetham was part of Project Lattice - a next-gen physical augmentation programme administered from a black-ops facility in Sheffield, England. During programme training, Cheetham responded badly, experiencing life-threatening energy system fluctuations. Latticeboarded against his will, he escaped and went rogue. Now Bourne, teamed with Level 9 Lattice assets Barrows and Littlefair, must eliminate Cheetham before he makes contact with the Power Klub consortium, an underground deadhanging network funded by the mysterious Shark. If they fail, Cheetham has vowed to infiltrate Power Klub, using it to unleash the terrifying An-Cap Protocol.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 15, 2019, 10:50:48 am
 :lol: :bow:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 15, 2019, 10:58:43 am
Its ok Yossarian, you can just call me Dan. Everyone on here knows who I am, so it should be ok. Maybe youd like to write an article as above. You could introduce yourself into the narrative and maybe do a first person perspective. Maybe you could use your full name to make sure everyone knows whos saying what about who, because this is absolutely necessary and absolutely not unpleasant in getting your genius point across. Ps hope your training is going well ✌️
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 15, 2019, 10:59:08 am
In response Grimer writes a think piece on the project magazine about the halcyon days of climbing/training films* and how drone footy has ruined the genre; which anyway weren't really proper climbing films in the first place.


On a serious note I went to the cinema to watch The Irishman. It is very very long and perhaps will find its natural home when it hits Netflix in a couple of weeks time.

Having said that, the dreamlike efficiency of the pacing; sound, editing and shot selection meant that the first three hours passed without notice, then i suddenly wondered how long i'd been sat there. Needless to say in that regard Scorsese is peerless. It is wholly excellent and I will watch it at home soon with a loo break.


*it was Splinter
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 15, 2019, 11:23:58 am
Can't bring myself to spend 3.5hrs sat down in the cinema but am definitely looking forward to watching it as soon as it lands on Netflix. Decent headphones, 4K laptop screen, home comforts and dog sharing the sofa - while not the same does make for a fairly decent film watching experience.

Only thing of note I've re-watched recently was Fight Club :boxing: - interesting how knowing the twist in this film almost makes it more watchable (and way more fucked up especially in terms of the relationship with Marla...) in comparison to say The Sixth Sense, or many other films where once you know the twists its all over. Also, should hopefully go without saying but I definitely think it should be viewed as a satire not through the 'Red Pill' perspective  :great:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 16, 2019, 09:22:04 am
So is fight club satirising the blue pill - red pill meme culture or satirising the effects of consumerist culture? Or both? Did fight club predict the matrix? And what should I be viewing with cynical lenses and remaining woker than woke. Because Id like to remain cool if possible and woke just isnt, in fact it may be a piece of right propaganda so people remain cynical about woke awakenings. 🤣Time to take more Soma and go back to sleep.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 16, 2019, 09:46:34 am
So is fight club satirising the blue pill - red pill meme culture or satirising the effects of consumerist culture? Or both? Did fight club predict the matrix? And what should I be viewing with cynical lenses and remaining woker than woke. Because Id like to remain cool if possible and woke just isnt, in fact it may be a piece of right propaganda so people remain cynical about woke awakenings. 🤣Time to take more Soma and go back to sleep.....

You completely lost me... Mainly because I can't help but read everything you write in the voice of 'Trying to be intelligent placebo experiment Charlie' from It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia  :shrug:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BNjJutK_4A

For the uninitiated.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 16, 2019, 12:47:30 pm
Hehe I think someone might have slipped me one of those.....

What I was asking is, the blue pill - red pill meme came after fight club so I was wondering how you were relating it?

Did fight club satirise consumer culture only

Or

Was it satirising consumer culture and also the awakening to consumer culture I.e. ridiculing of the Tyler Durden character and his reaction to consumerism?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 16, 2019, 02:51:36 pm
Burning Cane, directed by Phillip Youmans - an undoubtedly very grim drama about poverty in rural Louisiana. It is no fun at all and many will no doubt be turned off but it's also an undeniably impressive piece of film-making from Youmans, who was 19 when he completed it. The cinematography (also by Youmans) is striking, and there's a great central performance from Wendell Pierce, who some may know from the tv series "Treme." 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 16, 2019, 03:09:26 pm
Preface: I'm a little concerned I'm getting into an conversation with an AI generated bot / fictitious online persona and not a real human being but here goes on the off chance!


As an aside - both The Matrix and Fight Club were released in 1999 (a stupendous year for cinema!) with The Matrix actually coming out a few months earlier. In their own ways they were both lashing out against the continually increasing rampant consumer tendencies, our throw away society, the dissatisfaction of vast swathes of the population stuck in careers they dislike, spending 8+hrs a day in a tiny artificially lit cubicle. 20 years later it is almost scary to think how much further the scales have continued to tip in the direction they were against. Luckily today we have the added joys of Instagram influencers to keep the populace docile :P

Moving on to your points:

My mention of the 'Red Pill' wasn't meant to reference The Matrix and it's Red Pill: Blue Pill 'are you woke bro' meme... but the subculture of 'Red Pill' males (a niche - i hope - group of disgruntled incels? I'm not that well informed about the whole shindig tbh) who have misinterpreted / taken FAR too literally (bit like modern day humans who try to literally wield New Testament verses) and appropriated Fight Club almost as a Bible to their cause. This literal interpretation by the middle class white male, constantly trodden on by society is in my opinion nonsense. Equally nonsense to me is the 'outrage culture', super PC, hyper progressive 'lefties' who hold Fight Club up to be a monstrosity - BECAUSE they have completely missed the concept that is meant to be satire :clap2: :wall:

Which brings us on to... Out of you two options I'd go for the former. I'm pretty sure Fight Club was simply intending to satirising excessive consumer culture. The film goes out of it's way to lead the viewer to side with Tyler (who represents the backlash against excessive consumerism) - you're meant to really like the guy, hes cool! Its Brad Pitt looking ripped! Is 'fantastic in bed', charming, charismatic - all this while essentially being the leader of a terrorist organisation. Not many films treat terrorists so lovingly. I know he meets his end and in doing so the Ed Norton 'Narrator' character is implied to have moved on, grown up, or similar but I don't think the killing of Tyler equates to ridiculing what he represents. More likely it represents an inevitable passing of time? The futility in trying to change the world? The inability to halt the insidious consumerist growth?

I also don't think its a dig at the film for me to believe it is taking the less complicated view point. You have to consider it is 20 years old, thus retroactively applying a much more modern thought like your second suggestion isn't really fair, or applicable. I remember hearing an anecdote on one of the film podcasts I listen to something like:

A film/director tutor watches the same movie with his class of teenagers every year for 20+ years. Throughout the movie he pauses it and allows the class to raise points. Every year each class inevitably finds new talking points, applies new thoughts to the same old media... They find things that were never meant to be found.

I don't think your second concept would have been around in 1999 so don't see how it could apply. However, given Hollywood's re-make and sequel culture you could probably successfully pitch that idea!  :2thumbsup:


(holy fuck that got long. Sorry all!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on November 16, 2019, 03:46:34 pm
Le Mans 66 (aka Ford vs. Ferrari). Apart from Bale's dodgy English accent and clich comments about cups of tea etc. I found it generally good and quite amusing at times. Damon is good as Carroll Shelby.

The car scenes don't go too Fast and Furious with an endless gearbox and it is pretty amazing to see a GT40 moving quickly.

I should probably say that I saw it at an Everyman cinema where it's being sponsored by Wild Turkey; they handed out Old Fashioneds to everyone (and Natalie was driving).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 16, 2019, 05:01:17 pm
Cheers legs, enjoyed that explanation. Im not a bot btw, but might as well be the amount of respect I get on here. Satire within satire within satire. Not even a Bene Gesserit witch like fiend could manage that. Fuck it anyway, far to uncultured for this thread. Its cross referential chronologically divergent metaphors that got my bot wires crossed. Looking to stay woke like yossarian yknar
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 16, 2019, 05:06:29 pm
Preface: I'm a little concerned I'm getting into an conversation with an AI generated bot / fictitious online persona and not a real human being but here goes on the off chance!
:lol: :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 16, 2019, 05:14:59 pm
Hey legs, they laugh and cheer pretty much anything on here btw. Sort of slack jawed fashion... particularly if it a very witty put down
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 16, 2019, 05:28:56 pm
A film/director tutor watches the same movie with his class of teenagers every year for 20+ years. Throughout the movie he pauses it and allows the class to raise points. Every year each class inevitably finds new talking points, applies new thoughts to the same old media... They find things that were never meant to be found.

Hermeneutics.

There's a similar classic connundrum for students of literature.  You are given a time machine and told you have one trip to help you understand Hamlet better; do you:
(1) Travel to the distant future when the last Shakespeare expert has given their definitive view, in light of all the findings of all the previous generations' experts.
(2) Travel back to 1601 to the Globe Theatre and watch the first performance in its original context, soak up the politics of the day and get to know the people is was written to appeal to.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 16, 2019, 05:53:31 pm
Not even a Bene Gesserit witch like fiend could manage that.

Is this confirmation that Fiend is to star in the upcoming Denis Villeneuve directed Dune remake?  :o

ps. I'm hyped like NYE 1999 for that movie!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 16, 2019, 06:50:17 pm
A film/director tutor watches the same movie with his class of teenagers every year for 20+ years. Throughout the movie he pauses it and allows the class to raise points. Every year each class inevitably finds new talking points, applies new thoughts to the same old media... They find things that were never meant to be found.

Hermeneutics.

There's a similar classic connundrum for students of literature.  You are given a time machine and told you have one trip to help you understand Hamlet better; do you:
(1) Travel to the distant future when the last Shakespeare expert has given their definitive view, in light of all the findings of all the previous generations' experts.
(2) Travel back to 1601 to the Globe Theatre and watch the first performance in its original context, soak up the politics of the day and get to know the people is was written to appeal to.

You seem to have missed an option:

3) Travel to the exact point in time that best fits your pre-concieved notions and fits your narrative the best?

I'm not THAT much of a cynic, promise.


Thanks for the terminology though. Am sure I'd come across it previously but hadn't committed it to memory/vocabulary. Certainly is an interesting topic of discussion when considering our interpretation of all things native to prior generations :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 16, 2019, 09:38:02 pm
I 💗 everything Dune. Reading your posts you may be interested in my magazine. Psycho-philoso-therapeutic climbing journal. The guys on here mostly sneer and say stuff like self congratulatory psychobabble but they havent read it. Its pretty good.

I just act like this to put the energy systems plebs off the scent
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 16, 2019, 11:25:53 pm
I'll pass on the magazine but look forward to discussing Dune once it's released :punk:

I just watched 'The Amazing Johnathan Documentary' which did not help my declining ability to decipher the blur of reality/fact and fiction! Weird documentary about an even weirder individual who I knew nothing about. Shades of Andy Kaufman. Takes some twists that I can't talk about without spoiling some of the enjoyable 'what the fuckery' of the film.

It's not the kind of profound thought provoking documentary that gives you much to chew on after viewing. Still definitely worth a watch for people who are happy to spend 90mins viewing an amusing slightly bizzaro little story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 17, 2019, 12:20:13 am
A film/director tutor watches the same movie with his class of teenagers every year for 20+ years. Throughout the movie he pauses it and allows the class to raise points. Every year each class inevitably finds new talking points, applies new thoughts to the same old media... They find things that were never meant to be found.

Hermeneutics.

There's a similar classic connundrum for students of literature.  You are given a time machine and told you have one trip to help you understand Hamlet better; do you:
(1) Travel to the distant future when the last Shakespeare expert has given their definitive view, in light of all the findings of all the previous generations' experts.
(2) Travel back to 1601 to the Globe Theatre and watch the first performance in its original context, soak up the politics of the day and get to know the people is was written to appeal to.

Red Pill or Blue Pill?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 17, 2019, 01:15:13 pm
I rewatched the matrix recently and yet can still never remember which pill is keep head in sand and which one is become enlightened.

Name another film that has permeated popular culture more completely in the last twenty years... there isnt one. Its a remarkable achievement.

And still a great movie, amazingly remaining unsullied by its dire sequels.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: abarro81 on November 20, 2019, 08:24:40 pm
The Cheetham Capillarization

Who am I?
Youre Lattice property Dan.Youre a malfunctioning 60-a-month weapon. Youre a total goddam catastrophe!

Jason Bourne, now back in the employ of the US government is tasked with tracking down renegade operative Dan Cheetham. Cheetham was part of Project Lattice - a next-gen physical augmentation programme administered from a black-ops facility in Sheffield, England. During programme training, Cheetham responded badly, experiencing life-threatening energy system fluctuations. Latticeboarded against his will, he escaped and went rogue. Now Bourne, teamed with Level 9 Lattice assets Barrows and Littlefair, must eliminate Cheetham before he makes contact with the Power Klub consortium, an underground deadhanging network funded by the mysterious Shark. If they fail, Cheetham has vowed to infiltrate Power Klub, using it to unleash the terrifying An-Cap Protocol.

Only just saw this...  :lol: fuckin ace
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 21, 2019, 11:47:52 pm
Just watched The Report.

I thought it was really good. Adam Driver performs really well, and it becomes more compelling and engrossing as it builds, it's also surprisingly tense for something where you know essentially what's going to happen as it's closely based on comparatively recent events.

On another note (re The Matrix) I always thought this was a hugely overrated self important couple of hours of cod philosophy and sci fi cliches, albeit with really good special effects. O, and Keanu Reeves does look really cool in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 22, 2019, 07:45:13 am
On another note (re The Matrix) I always thought this was a hugely overrated self important couple of hours of cod philosophy and sci fi cliches, albeit with really good special effects. O, and Keanu Reeves does look really cool in it.

Pretty much my thoughts - great special effects - up there with T2 in terms of appearing utterly ahead of their time.  But the story is an unconvincing rag-bag of tropes with a script that reads like an idiot's idea of clever ("ooohhh characters with names from Greek myth... it's like getting a classical education with Keanu!"). 

I have a pet theory that certain works get praised well above their merits because they are critics' / the general public's first exposure to anything well-made from that genre.   The Matrix is perhaps an example - a lot of the kudos came from people who were not sci-fi afficiandos, who had not become familiar with its ideas in previous (generally worse) films and books, so for them, it did not seem hackneyed.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was another - it was basically a lavishly made mish-mash of umpteen wuxia films.  But as most critics perhaps hadn't watched many / any such films before, the wire-work etc seemed really startling - which perhaps made up for it being a bit pompous and humourless.  Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell is perhaps a literary example - most of the praise seemed to come from critics who never read sci-fi.  So, the various futuristic plotlines and time-hopping seemed original and deserving of lavish praise - when to me, it was just a well-written contributor to an established genre and nothing particularly special.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2019, 08:53:40 am
Speaking of sci fi. I finally got round to watching Blade Runner 2049 (I think).

Loved the first half - I really enjoy the dystopian future imagery and ideas - but thought the second half was good but somewhat predictable.

I did watch it in two halves though - which may have had something to do with it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 22, 2019, 09:01:44 am

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was another - it was basically a lavishly made mish-mash of umpteen wuxia films.  But as most critics perhaps hadn't watched many / any such films before, the wire-work etc seemed really startling - which perhaps made up for it being a bit pompous and humourless.

I think Crouching Tiger had better production values (and obviously had a lot more spent on it) than anything else Id seen in the genre, so whilst the fight scenes were fairly standard, the overall film was a step above.

I think another thing The Matrix had going for it added into the mix was the fight choreography, having Yuen Woo Ping involved obviously took that a step above any other mainstream action films. When I was a student picking films at the video rental store (what), we used to pick our kung fu films by his involvement.

Have you watched T2 recently? The liquid metal effect stands up pretty well by todays standards, but the nuclear bomb scene which I remember being totally epic from my youth is embarrassingly bad!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 22, 2019, 09:39:21 am
T2 was jaw dropping when it first came out.

I remember lining up for a preview showing at midnight at our local cinema and being totally gobsmacked. It was so far ahead of its time for the effects - and the whole concept of a liquid metal robot - what could beat it!!!

You can probably make something like that on a phone now - but back then it was amazing.

Im off out in a bit but my step father in law was a special effects maker back in the day. Lots of tales... big sets.. big stars.. regular coke breaks...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 22, 2019, 09:58:07 am
With the kids of age, I went back and started at the beginning with Pixar films and Toy Story. As the development of computer generated films has been gradual you don't really notice it, but TS 1 looked terrible by modern standards.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 22, 2019, 12:20:43 pm
I think some of you are slightly misrepresenting exactly how ground breaking The Matrix was. I'm sure there are entire documentaries about the make of it - I've just picked up bits and pieces from various podcasts etc. The 'Bullet Time' alone, being an actual practical effect (this being a biggie and why it stands up in comparison to early or even some modern CGI!), having the 360 degree cameras, programmed to take pics in the precisely correct timing sequence is an incredible achievement.

There has hardly been an action movie since that hasn't stolen/borrowed/benefited from the technical discoveries and advancements.

Also its Jesus fighting an AI that has enslaved the human race, whats not to love about that? :D

Regarding T2... It's great in so many ways and agree about the effects holding up... but Edward Furlong. I've re-watched that film a few times over the years and sadly his performance gets worse and worse to the point I don't think i'll be watching it again. Not helped by some of the James Cameron writing in T2 pushing over from cool into cheese :/ I'd rather re-watch T1, which if you run the plot/scenes side by side is incredibly similar to T2.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 22, 2019, 01:40:45 pm
I think some of you are slightly misrepresenting exactly how ground breaking The Matrix was. I'm sure there are entire documentaries ...

Yes, I said it looked amazing. But ultimately, it remains amazing looking, technologically groundbreaking, but utter, utter codswallop.

Great movies are made of considerably more than snazzy special effects. I give you North by Northwest, some stuff that was probably advanced for the time eg the cropduster scene, but basically it's a simple story with killer scriptwriting, great cinematography, great acting, humour and action, and will far outlive ephemeral lightshows.

Sorry, I'll just get off my soapbox now... 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 22, 2019, 01:48:39 pm

Yes, I said it looked amazing. But ultimately, it remains amazing looking, technologically groundbreaking, but utter, utter codswallop.


Would you put Star Wars in the same category You can write this stuff George, but you sure cant say it. Isnt all SciFi essentially codswallop if you want to view it as such?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 22, 2019, 08:37:58 pm
I won't watch ep. IV Star Wars as an adult (although I do go and see the new ones) 'cos it's sooo bad but I loved it so much as a kid I don't want to ruin the good memories.  Empire Strikes Back though is badass.

Good Sci-Fi = Solaris (Trakovski's), Silent Running  :'(, Ex-Machina, Close Encounters, Alien, 2001, Akira, Children of Men, Moon, District 9, Under the Skin, Arrival plus several more that I can't recall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 22, 2019, 09:07:24 pm
I think some of you are slightly misrepresenting exactly how ground breaking The Matrix was. I'm sure there are entire documentaries ...

Yes, I said it looked amazing. But ultimately, it remains amazing looking, technologically groundbreaking, but utter, utter codswallop.

Great movies are made of considerably more than snazzy special effects. I give you North by Northwest, some stuff that was probably advanced for the time eg the cropduster scene, but basically it's a simple story with killer scriptwriting, great cinematography, great acting, humour and action, and will far outlive ephemeral lightshows.

Sorry, I'll just get off my soapbox now...

Along with the Truman Show it certainly influenced a generation of psychotic experiences. Along with the Cold War, Id say that was reasonably influential.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 22, 2019, 09:44:00 pm
I've never seen The Matrix but it seems to me to have had an immensely negative cultural effect (no doubt unintended). The whole "red pilled" thing has become the default get out clause for racists and misogynists wishing to excuse their hatred as having the blinkers lifted while the rest of us sheeple (a pathetic term) wallow in ignorance. Seriously, I think it planted a malign seed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 22, 2019, 10:33:26 pm
Ive never heard it used that way. Maybe In the states? Its been used a bit on here in a mocking way, e.g oooo have you swallowed the red pill etc. I prefer John Carpenters They Live when it comes to a good excuse for a conspiracy theory.  😎
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 22, 2019, 11:00:25 pm

Yes, I said it looked amazing. But ultimately, it remains amazing looking, technologically groundbreaking, but utter, utter codswallop.


Would you put Star Wars in the same category You can write this stuff George, but you sure cant say it. Isnt all SciFi essentially codswallop if you want to view it as such?

No, I wouldn't say so. First off, Star Wars has a very simple premise and story, and  is essentially a very honest film. I'm not saying it's brilliant cinema, but it isn't mired in the pretension that I always felt plagues the matrix. The matrix has a distinct sense of thinking it's a lot more intelligent than it actually is. I love brainless sci fi, but not if it is trying desperately to be all profound and meaningful. Take Pacific Rim, massive robots fight massive radioactive dinosaurs, and nothing more. I absolutely loved it. It definitely makes absolutely no attempt to be meaningful, it's just massive ... you get the picture.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 22, 2019, 11:08:25 pm
I won't watch ep. IV Star Wars as an adult (although I do go and see the new ones) 'cos it's sooo bad but I loved it so much as a kid I don't want to ruin the good memories.  Empire Strikes Back though is badass.

Good Sci-Fi = Solaris (Trakovski's), Silent Running  :'(, Ex-Machina, Close Encounters, Alien, 2001, Akira, Children of Men, Moon, District 9, Under the Skin, Arrival plus several more that I can't recall.

I like all of the movies you mention that I've seen, although I'd argue many of them barely quality as sci fi. Alien is clearly a horror movie which happens to be in space, much as Aliens is clearly a war film, which happens to be in space. Ex Machina was great, but almost qualifies as horror as well, I thought. Akira is excellent, as is Ghost in the Shell  (original).

The best sci fi movie never made (as far as I know) would be JG Ballard's The Drowned World, among my favourite books and it'd make an amazing film. Should anyone on ukb have a few hundred million to splash, hire a director and get it made!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 23, 2019, 08:25:57 am

Yes, I said it looked amazing. But ultimately, it remains amazing looking, technologically groundbreaking, but utter, utter codswallop.


Would you put Star Wars in the same category You can write this stuff George, but you sure cant say it. Isnt all SciFi essentially codswallop if you want to view it as such?

No, I wouldn't say so. First off, Star Wars has a very simple premise and story, and  is essentially a very honest film. I'm not saying it's brilliant cinema, but it isn't mired in the pretension that I always felt plagues the matrix. The matrix has a distinct sense of thinking it's a lot more intelligent than it actually is. I love brainless sci fi, but not if it is trying desperately to be all profound and meaningful. Take Pacific Rim, massive robots fight massive radioactive dinosaurs, and nothing more. I absolutely loved it. It definitely makes absolutely no attempt to be meaningful, it's just massive ... you get the picture.

Agree.  I don't mind films being daft, it's when they take themselves too seriously (often whilst being wildly inconsistant) that I get annoyed.  With Star Wars, yes there was a fair amount of George Lucas "codswallop" dialogue, but it when you have Harrison Ford in a star-making turn mixing it with quips, you can get away with that.   The overall impression has a lightness of touch and playfulness that the Matrix entirely lacks (perhaps it needed camp robots). 

Re never made films - I guess the "classic" modern example I would love to have seen was the script for Alien3 set on an artificial moon made of wood, populated by monks who have rejected all technology - with a final scene involving an attempt to trap the Alien in a field of burning corn on the outer surface, under the stars.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 23, 2019, 08:42:22 am
I like all of the movies you mention that I've seen, although I'd argue many of them barely quality as sci fi.

You can play this game with all sci-fi movies and literature though right, sci-fi just tells you about the setting but the content will generally fall into another genre: Star Wars is a military action film, The Matrix is a Kung Fu Jesus movie, Bladerunner is a noir crime film etc etc.

Agree about Pacific Rim, so stylish and enjoyable!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 23, 2019, 10:20:23 am
I like all of the movies you mention that I've seen, although I'd argue many of them barely quality as sci fi.

You can play this game with all sci-fi movies and literature though right, sci-fi just tells you about the setting but the content will generally fall into another genre: Star Wars is a military action film, The Matrix is a Kung Fu Jesus movie, Bladerunner is a noir crime film etc etc.

Agree about Pacific Rim, so stylish and enjoyable!

"Science fiction just tells you about the setting "; I really disagree, they're variously set in space, on earth, in the future,  in a non specific time on another planet...
 "Science fiction can be defined as that branch of literature which deals with the reaction of human beings to changes in science and technology."Isaac Asimov
Clearly it's something which is difficult to define,  and has considerable overlap with dystopian fiction since sci fiction pretty much never paints a particularly positive view of the future. 
I read a great article recently which was saying something along the lines of it telling us about how we feel about our world and time, and what we are afraid of with an alternative reality. 

Ps: wad points for being a fellow Pacific Rim fan, it's pure trash which I absolutely love. 

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 23, 2019, 10:29:03 am

Re never made films - I guess the "classic" modern example I would love to have seen was the script for Alien3 set on an artificial moon made of wood, populated by monks who have rejected all technology - with a final scene involving an attempt to trap the Alien in a field of burning corn on the outer surface, under the stars.

Yikes.  I'm really glad I'm not in your head, Moose.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 23, 2019, 10:36:52 am
it isn't mired in the pretension that I always felt plagues the matrix. The matrix has a distinct sense of thinking it's a lot more intelligent than it actually is.

I think this is very much in the eye of the beholder though; I'm quite happy to just sit down and enjoy a classic bit of escapism (that's what films are for right?) with the matrix without trying to attach any sort of further meaning to it. Surely the "utter codswallop" title applies to every sci fi film ever made if you take it from a certain perspective?

To use your example, Pacific Rim is utter codswallop about giant dinosaurs fighting giant robots (I agree it's great).

The only real thing a film can do wrong is be boring, in my opinion. If you didn't feel the urge to go and do something else whilst watching it, then it's done its job. Sure some films make an attempt to be meaningful, but I tend to either ignore or forget about it within about 10 seconds because it's so completely irrelevant to real life; particularly with sci fi.

"Science fiction can be defined as that branch of literature which deals with the reaction of human beings to changes in science and technology."Isaac Asimov

I'd argue that includes the audience's reaction (e.g. terror with Alien), just as much as it does the humans in the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 23, 2019, 10:42:29 am
I didn't write the script, I'd just like to have seen it!  The abandoned script was much whispered about after the release of Alien 3, and a few years ago copies came to light along with the concept artwork.  I really liked Alien 3 (Brian Glover versus the xenomorphs!) but the image of trails of burning corn on a tiny planet, alone among the stars, stuck with me,  and has always had me dreaming of what might have been.  Interestingly, William Gibson supposedly also wrote a couple of rejected scripts for Alien 3.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 23, 2019, 01:47:51 pm
Good Sci-Fi = Solaris (Trakovski's), Silent Running  :'(, Ex-Machina, Close Encounters, Alien, 2001, Akira, Children of Men, Moon, District 9, Under the Skin, Arrival plus several more that I can't recall.

That's a REALLY nice list  :bow: seen and enjoyed every one. You forgot a biggie: Blade Runner. I'd also add Gattaca, Ghost in the Shell (original anime), The Fifth Element, Predator (Best B-Movie ever?) The Thing, 12 Monkeys... Am probably also forgetting a few great examples.


The matrix has a distinct sense of thinking it's a lot more intelligent than it actually is.

That didn't hit me from the first film as a stand alone... It is just a hero/savior martial arts adventure, with an evil AI over-lord as the antagonist (hadn't been done that much previously - Terminator being the biggest example) and the concept of living in a constructed reality (had been done even less before?). In its simplest terms its using those sci-fi parts to represent how the masses can feel/be controlled/oppressed in modern society. The hero representing free will/action of the individual. Both fairly common themes.

If we bring the sequels in to the mix then I'd heartily agree with you. They are absolute nonsense and psychobabble tosh :S but I've happily erased them from my memory and deny their existence! Probably super off-topic but I have to wonder that the Wachowskis siblings both transitioning from male > female and the vast psychological / philological / hormonal changes involved had a large part in the pure what-the-fuckery of the sequels. Also they were probably given FAR too much of a free hand by the studio given the success of the original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 23, 2019, 02:05:57 pm
I didn't write the script, I'd just like to have seen it!  The abandoned script was much whispered about after the release of Alien 3, and a few years ago copies came to light along with the concept artwork.  I really liked Alien 3 (Brian Glover versus the xenomorphs!) but the image of trails of burning corn on a tiny planet, alone among the stars, stuck with me,  and has always had me dreaming of what might have been.  Interestingly, William Gibson supposedly also wrote a couple of rejected scripts for Alien 3.

I had a horrible image in my head of basically Children of the Corn in space, with a xenomorph, thus combining a book and a movie which scared the living shit out of me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 23, 2019, 03:12:13 pm
  Interestingly, William Gibson supposedly also wrote a couple of rejected scripts for Alien 3.

available as an audio book

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Alien-III-Audiobook/B07QY1FVDT
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 23, 2019, 03:33:01 pm


Clearly it's something which is difficult to define,  and has considerable overlap with dystopian fiction since sci fiction pretty much never paints a particularly positive view of the future. 
I read a great article recently which was saying something along the lines of it telling us about how we feel about our world and time, and what we are afraid of with an alternative reality. 

I think the Iain M Banks Culture novels paint quite a positive picture of a post scarcity civilisation, as long as you dont mind the idea of being governed by super smart AI!

I think SF as allegory is a great subject, I guess Starship Troopers may be the one where the most people missed the point, I certainly did!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 23, 2019, 04:36:08 pm

I think SF as allegory is a great subject, I guess Starship Troopers may be the one where the most people missed the point, I certainly did!

I was going to add Starship Troopers to my little list above, but wasn't sure if people would take me seriously.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on November 23, 2019, 05:19:41 pm
I think SF as allegory is a great subject

I've always thought of the best Westerns as allegories, or perhaps Greek tragedy (thinking of things like "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on November 23, 2019, 05:22:05 pm
Isnt Star Wars just a Sci Fi version of the Magnificent Seven.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 23, 2019, 05:38:06 pm
 :badidea:
Isnt Star Wars just a Sci Fi version of the Magnificent Seven.

with a bit of Kurasawa's Hidden Fortress (IIRC, The Last Starfighter is an even more explicit Magnificent 7 in Space)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on November 23, 2019, 06:10:58 pm
My favourite SF film is Serenity. Mixes Western and Horror into Space. Funny, good characters (strong female and male characters) and action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on November 23, 2019, 07:14:27 pm
Been out all day and catching up.  Toby - I have to disagree with the barely qualify as sci-if but I do get your point though and would love to see The Drowned World on film.  Especially if it had been done in the 70s with Donald Pleasance,   Donald Sutherland and that lot in it.

The profs nailed it though with his suggestion that its all Greek at the end of the day.

Moose - get it shot or at least write the screenplay.

Youre all ace.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 23, 2019, 07:30:50 pm
... The Drowned World on film.  Especially if it had been done in the 70s with Donald Pleasance,   Donald Sutherland and that lot in it.

That reminds me of another great science-fiction film: the 70s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (with Donald Sutherland). Perhaps combine with John Carpenter's The Thing for a double bill of horrible final scenes that leave you faintly paranoid for days.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 23, 2019, 07:32:54 pm
Another good suggestion for this random 'decent sci-fi' list would be Event Horizon...Think I might have mentioned it a good few pages back. More than dips it's toe in to the horror genre. I have very little interest in 'horror' as a genre (and avoid the vast majority) but this film works for me. Mainly enjoy it because it works SO well as an unofficial 'Warhammer 40k' universe origins story  :devil-smiley: :punk:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 23, 2019, 07:35:36 pm
Exactly what a mate and I thought when we saw it as relative yoofs at the cinema. "WTF is GW doing marketting Khorne and Slaanesh to kids JFC". I had to play Quake for 3 hours straight before I could go to sleep that night.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 23, 2019, 08:38:14 pm
I've never seen The Matrix but it seems to me to have had an immensely negative cultural effect (no doubt unintended). The whole "red pilled" thing has become the default get out clause for racists and misogynists wishing to excuse their hatred as having the blinkers lifted while the rest of us sheeple (a pathetic term) wallow in ignorance. Seriously, I think it planted a malign seed.

The Matrix also has a lot to answer for in regards to ill people's paranoid delusions.

Traditionally (50's to 80's) , people used to think about machines and ray guns putting thoughts into their heads or being able to tell what they are thinking - hence the tin foil hat (ray gun proof, innit) interest. Since The Matrix, lots of mad fuckers have delusions about getting occasional glimpses into how things really are behind the imposed version of what's real in a Matrix stylee.

Especially the folk with a religious slant to their paranoia; for some reason.

They even say that it's "like in the matrix"

plenty of books around with similar ideas way before the film, but having it available in a simple visual format seems to have been the key for the idea catching on.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 23, 2019, 08:44:23 pm
Hehe, I already said that lagers! And the Truman show.... were all on a reality tv show earthenders
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 23, 2019, 08:51:47 pm
Hehe, I already said that lagers! And the Truman show.... were all on a reality tv show earthenders

yeah, but you only said that because they told you to - I have a direct line to the truth

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 23, 2019, 11:50:06 pm
Event Horizon...More than dips it's toe in to the horror genre. I have very little interest in 'horror' as a genre (and avoid the vast majority) but this film works for me.

I love actual proper horror movies, but I loath the slasher - shocker movies, all of them. Event Horizon is very horror-y and, I agree excellent. I saw Ad Astra recently, which managed to do a similar thing, only not as well, and with far more money and a better cast. Sam Neill is pretty scary in event horizon, when TJ Jones turns up in Ad Astra, it all gets silly, and it had gone on too long by then.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on November 24, 2019, 08:45:03 am
Event Horizon...More than dips it's toe in to the horror genre. I have very little interest in 'horror' as a genre (and avoid the vast majority) but this film works for me.

I love actual proper horror movies, but I loath the slasher - shocker movies, all of them. Event Horizon is very horror-y and, I agree excellent.

Same here. Event Horizon is, IMHO, perhaps the finest 'space horror (along with the first Alien)'. It was left open for a sequel, pity they never made one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 25, 2019, 09:08:47 am
Good Sci-Fi = Solaris (Trakovski's), Silent Running  :'(, Ex-Machina, Close Encounters, Alien, 2001, Akira, Children of Men, Moon, District 9, Under the Skin, Arrival plus several more that I can't recall.

You missed out Real Steel.

I got very bored with Ex-Machina, could predict most of the outcome from 1/3 the way in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 25, 2019, 11:42:22 am
I remember seeing Event Horizon when living in Leeds late 90's.

I went with a housemate and we were both quite shaken up afterwards - didnt really say much to each other until the second pint at the pub afterwards... Not dared to see it since!

IIRC it was the split second cut-aways to some purgatorial scenes that did me in...

MrsTT is a big sci fi buff and always raves on about Sunshine....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 25, 2019, 01:31:51 pm
The extensive discussion of sci fi, though undoubtedly diverting has disguised that people should see The Report. It's a good film, although it does lack aliens, spaceships, giant robots or radioactive lizards.  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 26, 2019, 04:12:17 pm

 1The only real thing a film can do wrong is be boring, in my opinion.
 2 Sure some films make an attempt to be meaningful, but I tend to either ignore or forget about it within about 10 seconds because it's so completely irrelevant to real life; particularly with sci fi.



1 agree
2 I couldn't disagree with this more. The appeal of sci-fi in print and film has always been its ability to explore themes and problems that within normal, regular fiction would seem trite.  This ties with andy popps point about westerns as allegory; which performs the same function.

An example, The Word for World is Forest is a pretty much straight up Vietnam allegory, as is its often said, The Forever War.

I didn't see the original Bladerunner mentioned. Starship Troopers is a funny one cos it wasn't recognised AFAIK at the time but has cult following now. Bow before Verhoven though. Robcop and Total Recall...

Drowned World is an interesting idea for un-filmed, I was thinking about that earlier today but in this case wondering why Mockingbird by Walter Tevis has never been a movie, especially considering his other books have been made into such massive films. And it is a brilliant novel.

Finally on The Matrix again; good, bad, derivative, innovative, whichever and all, look back over the two pages of discussion and as I said

'Name another film that has permeated popular culture more completely in the last twenty years... there isnt one. Its a remarkable achievement.'

For better or worse, that is that.


oh yeah, p.s. here I drop a name. the 'Visions of Hell' (as it was referred to), sequence from Event Horizon was edited by my old boss Nicholas, guy I worked for as a runner and then edit assistant, albeit few years after he did that movie. He was then a name in music video editing and they got him in specifically for the montage. I haven't seen him for over a decade; he moved to LA.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on November 26, 2019, 04:17:16 pm
Frozen 2....? I genuinely enjoyed it, possibly more than the first one - but  possibly because I've "seen" the first one 200 times thanks to the daughter.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on November 26, 2019, 06:49:06 pm
oh yeah, p.s. here I drop a name. the 'Visions of Hell' (as it was referred to), sequence from Event Horizon was edited by my old boss Nicholas, guy I worked for as a runner and then edit assistant, albeit few years after he did that movie. He was then a name in music video editing and they got him in specifically for the montage. I haven't seen him for over a decade; he moved to LA.

Tell him it left an impression on me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YObV6i_Yc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 27, 2019, 08:57:46 am
as is its often said, The Forever War.

Wonder if that's ever been considered as a film or mini-series. Maybe a bit ambitious.

The graphic novel version is worth a look if you haven't seen it yet.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 27, 2019, 09:14:23 am
Alistair Reynold's "Century Rain".

Future sci-fi alt-reality detective noir thriller. Great book, very gripping, and would make a superb film - all the way through I was finding it very visual and cinematic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 27, 2019, 09:17:20 am
oh yeah, p.s. here I drop a name. the 'Visions of Hell' (as it was referred to), sequence from Event Horizon was edited by my old boss Nicholas, guy I worked for as a runner and then edit assistant, albeit few years after he did that movie. He was then a name in music video editing and they got him in specifically for the montage. I haven't seen him for over a decade; he moved to LA.

Tell him it left an impression on me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YObV6i_Yc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YObV6i_Yc)

God - Event Horizon. I went to see that with by girlfriend at the time having found the film we wanted to see sold out when we got to the cinema. We thought it was just a fairly benign sci-fi film - I was traumatised for a while afterwards!

I read that for that "vision of hell scene" a) they hired amputees and p0rn actors to be in it, and b) apparently there is/was a more intense version that was cut for the final edit, intended for a "director's cut", but it was lost in a fire at the studio's storage facility.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 28, 2019, 10:54:00 pm
knives out

A great couple of hours of pure,  uncomplicated escapism.  Slightly camp, reasonably witty and free of pretension or pointless sentimental subplots.  A murder mystery with an edge of silliness sufficient to make it possible that literally anyone might have done it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on November 28, 2019, 11:26:05 pm
Rambo last blood

A poignant and visceral satirisation of the Trump presidency. Just let it go Teasel, let, it, go.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 01, 2019, 04:54:36 pm
The Varian Revelation

Where are you now John?
I'm chilling at Kentmere.
I doubt that.
Why would you doubt that?
If you were at Kentmere right now we'd be having this conversation face to face.


Jason Bourne and the Lattice assets have seized Cheetham and imprisoned him at a secure black rendition site operated by the terrifying Fiend Corporation. The An-Cap Protocol has been secured, but the Power Klub consortium shatters the short-lived amnesty when their leader Shark reveals grainy footage taken during an interrogation of fugitive mercenary John Gaskins. Believed to be responsible for a string of clinical assignments across northern England, Gaskins is a legend. He operated in the shadows, backed by a network known as the New Breed.

Breaking cover from his arctic hideout, crypto-anarchist Dan Varian reveals shocking evidence that Gaskins claimed responsibility for missions he had not undertaken. Varian, a billionaire who hacked DARPAs mainframe in the 1990s, stealing the blueprints for a classified Cold War training device codenamed the Beastmaker which he then flagrantly sold on the open market, was originally an adherent to Gaskins unconventional method. Now, his explosive revelations threaten the entire world order.

You're in a big puddle of shit, John, and you don't have the shoes for it.

Meanwhile, an NRA satellite reveals an unsanctioned Level 6 training camp operating in Kalymnos, Greece. Level 9 Lattice assets Barrows and Littlefair are despatched. Their mission: to capture the leader - Gresh - a deadly operative skilled in amphibious warfare and unconventional training techniques. If they succeed, sustained latticeboarding could force Gresh into revealing the location of his former kill squad partner, Emmett.

Armed with Varians evidence, Jason Bourne must find Gaskins and force him to reveal the truth. If Varian is right, will Bourne uncover the identity of the enigmatic operative Gaskins was impersonating? Could Gresh be connected? Did he train Gaskins? This thrilling sequel will answer all of these questions and more...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: UnkArl on December 01, 2019, 06:31:08 pm
 ;D :wub:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 01, 2019, 06:55:05 pm
 :bow:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mr E S Capegoat on December 01, 2019, 06:57:51 pm
Kung Fu Panda,

Best training movie ever. Get on it. Theres more to be gained from that than a lifetime of training beta podcasts and energy systems gumph
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on December 01, 2019, 07:32:50 pm
Did you write that Si OConner spoof years ago Yoss. The one that had him on run from the SAS and escaping by campussing his way up some huge cliff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on December 12, 2019, 12:33:19 pm
Got around to watching 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'. For me one of the better Tarantino films in a while. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are both excellent, Brad Pitt probably edging it in terms of performances. 5* for his visit to the ranch and the magnificently brutal use of a tin of dog food!

Ultimately it is a film about changing times, society moving on, ageing, facing mortality or 'not being as good at things as you used to be'. The DiCaprio:Pitt characters work in a similar duality to that of Norton:Pitt in Fight Club. They could easily be interpreted as two parts of a single entity. Part of which desperately wants to fit in, prolong popularity + success... The other raging against the new wave, wanting to go out all guns blazing. Would be a perfect film for the resident Mr E S Capegoat to interpret regarding his stance about the direction of culture within the sport of climbing that we all love  :P

Probably not a spoiler (as it is mainly about historical events)... but just in case:

***
NSFW  :
I'm not in the slightest bit phased by the change of history that occurs at the end... So this did not detract from the film at all for me. I believe there was quite some 'internet outrage' over this part in particular. This might be because (being a UK and not US citizen, also maybe a bit too young) I know less about those events and they certainly aren't close to me. To expand on this I had heard of the 'Manson family' knew of their infamy due to certain vicious incidents. I would not have known this took place in Roman Polanski's residence while he was abroad. I would not have recognised the name 'Sharon Tate'. However, I did know those details prior to watching having heard them covered in a popular Radio 5 Film Review Podcast - Hello to Jason Issacs and all that good stuff. Also, considering the film has 'Once Upon a Time...' in it's title perhaps people should have been expecting some Tarantino fuckery? Which I rather enjoyed the bittersweet 'what if' when considering how such tiny twist of fate could have a monumental impact on life and history.
***

Worth a watch either way :)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 12, 2019, 01:11:03 pm
I thought it was pretty decent. The Bruce Lee section was particularly amusing...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 19, 2019, 10:52:35 pm
the rise of Skywalker
Ignore some of the critical carping. If you like star wars movies, you'll love it. Richard E Grant is good as an evil admiral. The final scene is for a very brief moment almost a remake of a scene in raiders of the lost ark... I won't give anything away though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on December 20, 2019, 06:54:14 pm
I remember seeing Event Horizon when living in Leeds late 90's.

I went with a housemate and we were both quite shaken up afterwards - didnt really say much to each other until the second pint at the pub afterwards... Not dared to see it since!

IIRC it was the split second cut-aways to some purgatorial scenes that did me in...

MrsTT is a big sci fi buff and always raves on about Sunshine....

event horizon scared the bloody shite out of me.

interstellar is a fav sci fi of mine. a bit of mind bender but really good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 20, 2019, 10:54:45 pm

event horizon scared the bloody shite out of me.


Try watching the trailer for the current massive Christmas turkey movie Cats, now that is really terrifying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 22, 2019, 10:26:10 am
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, somehow the first Tarantino movie I've ever watched. I was enjoying it as Pitt and DiCaprio ambled around late sixties Hollywood. It reminded me of one of the more amiable Cohen brothers movies (though nowhere near as funny as the glorious Hail Caesar), but - mild spoiler alert - I hated the ending. I didn't mind that it messed with history, but it just seemed pointless and came with zero explanation. Also, and I know its to be expected with Tarantino, but the violence is disproportionate. It seemed like the violence was the whole point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ru on December 22, 2019, 12:58:16 pm
I didn't mind that it messed with history, but it just seemed pointless and came with zero explanation.

If you've seen his other stuff like Inglorious Basterds (WW2 revisionist history where the Nazi top brass all meet violent ends) it's less of a surprise, if still incongruous. Seems like a personal revenge movie to redress a disliked moment in history in a violent fantasy daydream, because he can.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 22, 2019, 01:26:45 pm
We watched Paterson last night on Mubi. Not sure what to make of it. She didn't like it at all. I persevered, got some form of closure/understanding in the last few minutes, but just couldn't engage with the main characters.

Seeing as it got gushing reviews and loads of film festival awards, we felt like be just must be too artistically dumb to properly "get" it. Read a load of reviews afterwards, and while some other insight into the themes helped a bit, I still just felt like I was standing at an abstract painting with no feeling whatsoever, nothing evocative or engaging. Meh. You might love it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 22, 2019, 02:16:32 pm
I didn't mind that it messed with history, but it just seemed pointless and came with zero explanation.

If you've seen his other stuff like Inglorious Basterds (WW2 revisionist history where the Nazi top brass all meet violent ends) it's less of a surprise, if still incongruous. Seems like a personal revenge movie to redress a disliked moment in history in a violent fantasy daydream, because he can.

Like I say, I didn't mind the revisionism, it just seemed really poorly thought out. Definite spoiler: why did they go to the wrong house? There was no explanation whatsoever that I could see. Manson was even shown casing the correct house. It all just seemed completely random and dumb.

To Fultonius: I was one of those who loved Paterson. I'm not sure there's anything necessarily to get, as such. I just felt immersed in it for as long as it lasted. It also the first time I realised how good Adam Driver can be. We lived pretty close to Paterson and its a regret we didn't get there before leaving, it looks like an interesting town (I've also been a fan of William Carlos Williams for years, which helps explain some of my interest).

I was going to say that another sweet film set in Paterson is Be Kind Rewind, but turns out that's set in nearby Passaic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 23, 2019, 09:00:58 am

event horizon scared the bloody shite out of me.


Try watching the trailer for the current massive Christmas turkey movie Cats, now that is really terrifying.

My daughter got very excited by that trailer, it just looks daft and shit to me. Might encourage her that Skywalker will be letter.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ru on December 23, 2019, 11:32:38 am
Like I say, I didn't mind the revisionism, it just seemed really poorly thought out. Definite spoiler: why did they go to the wrong house? There was no explanation whatsoever that I could see. Manson was even shown casing the correct house. It all just seemed completely random and dumb.

Getting into definite spoiler land if I provide some explanation, but I basically agree with your overall thoughts if not the detail. It seems to me that the whole thing was a, "wouldn't it be cool if..," in the same way that Inglorious Basterds was a, "wouldn't it be cool if all the Nazis had been shot and burned to death in a cinema." Everything else was a device to get to Tarantino's daydream ending.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 23, 2019, 12:23:46 pm
Like I say, I didn't mind the revisionism, it just seemed really poorly thought out. Definite spoiler: why did they go to the wrong house? There was no explanation whatsoever that I could see. Manson was even shown casing the correct house. It all just seemed completely random and dumb.

Getting into definite spoiler land if I provide some explanation, but I basically agree with your overall thoughts if not the detail. It seems to me that the whole thing was a, "wouldn't it be cool if..," in the same way that Inglorious Basterds was a, "wouldn't it be cool if all the Nazis had been shot and burned to death in a cinema." Everything else was a device to get to Tarantino's daydream ending.

I guess so. I thought Inglorious Bastrerds was a fairly creative way of writing a movie about Jews and Nazis in WWII and making it funny with a feel good ending. If you want to get all critic, you could take it as a witty counterpoint to the holocaust movie tropes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 23, 2019, 12:36:11 pm
Marriage Story is great. Adam Driver and Scarlet Johansson are both brilliant and believable.  Laura Dern is too.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 24, 2019, 01:07:33 pm
Me and W have a thing for viewing submarine films over Christmas so we watched The Kursk last night.  Pretty grim but good.  The captains wife and young son steal the show back on land as the tragedy unfolds and Colin Firth is perfect as the Navy officer trying to help. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 24, 2019, 02:45:02 pm
Me and W have a thing for viewing submarine films over Christmas so we watched The Kursk last night.  Pretty grim but good.  The captains wife and young son steal the show back on land as the tragedy unfolds and Colin Firth is perfect as the Navy officer trying to help.

I love submarine films. And Kursk is cool.

I also have a thing for any trance records with sonar ping noises in them. Of which there are a few..


Must have been a good pill that night 😃
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 26, 2019, 10:13:16 pm
El Camino

Generally underrated, I thought it was really good. Jesse's haunted character is nicely developed and it possesses the pleasantly black comedy that characterised much of breaking bad. 
However,  I am 100% the target audience and those less enthusiastic about breaking bad probably won't be quite as entertained. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 29, 2019, 11:02:02 pm
The Program

Currently on iPlayer, but not for much longer. A worthwhile watch. The central performance of Armstrong is pretty compelling and I quite liked it's use of news and race footage intercut with the scenes involving the actors.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 30, 2019, 11:11:03 am
Force Majeure

Swedish black comedy-drama that is just exquisite from start to finish. A Swedish couple take their children skiing somewhere nice in France. They argued and disagree about various things and then go home.

Midsommar

American-Swedish folk-horror. Curious Americans get invited to religious commune in rural Sweden, where they consume psychedelics and witness increasingly unpleasant things. Made the mistake of watching it straight after the Wicker Man which I suppose is the archetypal folk-horror, but its still a fine film I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 30, 2019, 12:31:50 pm
I absolutely loved Force Majeure.  It's a brilliant piece of work.

Me and W watched 'Amazing Grace' last night.  The film of Arethra Franklin's live recording of her famous gospel album from a church in LA.  It's wonderful and life affirming.  Well worth the rental.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 30, 2019, 12:39:21 pm
Totally agree about both "Force Majeure" and "Amazing Grace."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 30, 2019, 02:02:46 pm
Yossarian - this years Folk Horror Order of the Double Denim honours list was announced yesterday.

 https://folkhorrorrevival.com/2019/12/28/new-year-horrors-2020-order-of-the-double-denim/ (https://folkhorrorrevival.com/2019/12/28/new-year-horrors-2020-order-of-the-double-denim/)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 30, 2019, 07:32:21 pm

Me and W watched 'Amazing Grace' last night.  The film of Arethra Franklin's live recording of her famous gospel album from a church in LA.  It's wonderful and life affirming.  Well worth the rental.

This I need to see! It's about the Amazing Grace album I suppose? Since you wrote LA? I prefer the One Lord album, but both are among her best albums, and therefore among the best sacred music made in the 20th century
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ged on December 31, 2019, 11:15:27 am
El Camino

Generally underrated, I thought it was really good. Jesse's haunted character is nicely developed and it possesses the pleasantly black comedy that characterised much of breaking bad. 
However,  I am 100% the target audience and those less enthusiastic about breaking bad probably won't be quite as entertained.

Agreed. You definitely need to have invested in watching the whole of bb, and liked it, to like this. But if you have, it's good. Apart from that fact that the actor who plays Jesse has piled on the pounds a bit, and he's supposed to have just come out of captivity where he was starved!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 31, 2019, 03:41:55 pm
This I need to see! It's about the Amazing Grace album I suppose?

Yes, it's the film of the album recording - I think you'll love it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 02, 2020, 09:43:21 am
6 Days

On Netflix,  I hadn't heard of it before but its actually pretty decent.  A taught retelling of the 1980 hostage crisis at the Iranian embassy in London.  Some nicely intercut real news footage adds an air of veracity to it, and while I have no idea about its adherence to historical detail, it is entertaining and credible enough for me not to have been too bothered.  A worthwhile hour and a half's watch. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 03, 2020, 09:21:48 am
Me and W have a thing for viewing submarine films over Christmas so we watched The Kursk last night.  Pretty grim but good.

My father in law's company (where he worked as a dive coordinator) was involved in the salvage operations. From what he has told me from conversations with colleagues that was a pretty grim ordeal for them too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: CrimpyMcCrimpface on January 03, 2020, 11:43:57 am
Me and W have a thing for viewing submarine films over Christmas so we watched The Kursk last night.  Pretty grim but good.

My father in law's company (where he worked as a dive coordinator) was involved in the salvage operations. From what he has told me from conversations with colleagues that was a pretty grim ordeal for them too.

I recently watched Kursk and then the documentary of its recovery on YouTube, very interesting if you're into that sort of thing. They had to cut off the torpedo bay as the Russians didn't want it salvaging...

Can recommend The Wolf's Call (Le Chant de loup) which came out last year if you like submarine films, all your fav french actors and great tension the whole story
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 03, 2020, 12:49:09 pm
K19-Widowmaker is also worth a watch, although I assume most people have seen it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 03, 2020, 04:08:15 pm
Chris - the dive crew and salvage team feature in the film.  It must have been incredibly frustrating to have been involved in the 'rescue' and very grim work afterwards.

Crimpy - I'll look up that YouTube and thanks for the tipoff on Le Chant le Loup.  My partner is French so she'll love that.  I can't recall watching a French submarine film before.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark s on January 03, 2020, 10:01:18 pm
Found once upon a time in Hollywood on prime for 3 quid.

Gave it a punt. Mrs nearly creamed her pants when DiCaprio and pitt were on screen together.

It was slow but enjoyable.
The last 20 minutes are brilliant

Mrs said I can't pick anymore films
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 06, 2020, 11:50:04 pm
Did I watch the same Dunkirk as everyone else? I'm not sure why they chose to make 3/400k people look like a few hundred stragglers? Acre upon acre of pristine undisturbed sand? What?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 07, 2020, 09:08:15 am
Did I watch the same Dunkirk as everyone else? I'm not sure why they chose to make 3/400k people look like a few hundred stragglers? Acre upon acre of pristine undisturbed sand? What?

Your propensity for downgrading knows no bounds :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 07, 2020, 09:58:46 am
Did I watch the same Dunkirk as everyone else? I'm not sure why they chose to make 3/400k people look like a few hundred stragglers? Acre upon acre of pristine undisturbed sand? What?

Your propensity for downgrading knows no bounds :D

I think he ought to publish an Almanack of Demotion, Downegradeings and Depreciation.

In the year of our Lord twenty thousande and nineteen, I, WILLIAM HUNT, do decry that all things that I subsequentially liste in this manual be overrated, over graded or otherwise lacking in the quality, difficulty or other such intrinsick notion afforded to them on account of their reputation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: guypercival on January 07, 2020, 11:05:16 am
I saw Jojo Rabbit a few days ago which was excellent. Since watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople I have been a fan of Taika Waititi.
Very funny but moving as well. Good performances all round especially from Roman Davis.
The Gestapo scene with Stephen Merchant is hilarious.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 07, 2020, 11:23:52 am
Did I watch the same Dunkirk as everyone else? I'm not sure why they chose to make 3/400k people look like a few hundred stragglers? Acre upon acre of pristine undisturbed sand? What?

Your propensity for downgrading knows no bounds :D

I think he ought to publish an Almanack of Demotion, Downegradeings and Depreciation.

In the year of our Lord twenty thousande and nineteen, I, WILLIAM HUNT, do decry that all things that I subsequentially liste in this manual be overrated, over graded or otherwise lacking in the quality, difficulty or other such intrinsick notion afforded to them on account of their reputation.

Hear ye hear ye.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 07, 2020, 11:31:11 am
Not Will Hunt for the Wilderpeople? Now theres a story line for you Yoss :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 08, 2020, 11:07:25 pm
I saw Jojo Rabbit a few days ago which was excellent. Since watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople I have been a fan of Taika Waititi.
Very funny but moving as well. Good performances all round especially from Roman Davis.
The Gestapo scene with Stephen Merchant is hilarious.

I concur re: Jojo Rabbit and am a big fan of Taika Waititi. Especially loved his show stealing voice acting performance as the big rock dude in one of the various Marvel films... Thor:Something Or Other?

Watched 'Knives Out' tonight. Nice gentle comedy. Decent ensemble cast - who I get the feeling had fun making the film and playing up their characters, but not to the point of having too much fun and the film ending up a self-congratulatory steaming pile of  :shit: Perfect film for a relaxing evening, when seeing off the ass end (hopefully) of a nasty little head cold.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 09, 2020, 09:53:38 am
I saw Jojo Rabbit a few days ago which was excellent. Since watching Hunt for the Wilderpeople I have been a fan of Taika Waititi.
Very funny but moving as well. Good performances all round especially from Roman Davis.
The Gestapo scene with Stephen Merchant is hilarious.

I concur re: Jojo Rabbit and am a big fan of Taika Waititi. Especially loved his show stealing voice acting performance as the big rock dude in one of the various Marvel films... Thor:Something Or Other?

Watched 'Knives Out' tonight. Nice gentle comedy. Decent ensemble cast - who I get the feeling had fun making the film and playing up their characters, but not to the point of having too much fun and the film ending up a self-congratulatory steaming pile of  :shit: Perfect film for a relaxing evening, when seeing off the ass end (hopefully) of a nasty little head cold.

Totally agree re Knives Out, it's great to see such a good natured film. I've been totally put off Jojo Rabbit by several of the reviews which accuse it of sentimentalising the holocaust without really saying anything coherent other than "Nazis are funny"; and having no real peril in it. I can't comment as I've not seen it yet but I can't help feeling that it might annoy me intensely if these reviews are fair.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 09, 2020, 12:25:00 pm
Regarding JoJo Rabbit it's a bit of a tough one to discuss. I hadn't read/listened to any reviews had just seen a very brief trailer and knew it was about a Hitler Youth who had Hitler as an imaginary friend and that was enough for me as I'm a fan of Taika and trust him to do things in good faith. I think some of those reviews you've read might be guilty of taking in a very PC/white knight/snow flake/lefty (delete/choose the most/least offensive term at your own discretion) viewpoint and then going out of their way to critique the film in a negative light.

Ultimately it's a comedy, if you have 'no go zones' for comedy then it might not be for you. Personally I'm in the camp that almost anything is fair game in comedy, if as long as it isn't mean spirited or bullying. To add to that, I'd say there was more to the satire than just 'Nazis are funny' although that did account for a decent portion of the humour. In comparison for example to The Death of Stalin (an exceptional dark, satire) it did err closer to 'Nazis are funny' where The Death of Stalin felt more like it was highlighting 'the tragedy of a communist dictatorship'.

While watching the film I at no point thought it sentimentalised the holocaust - although I had relatives involved in the war and displaced by the war I have no direct ties to the holocaust or Jewish heritage so perhaps I'm not best placed to comment here. But equally, when I'm watching a comedy about a 10yr old boy who idolises Hitler and has him as an imaginary friend, I'm not of the mindset to even consider these kind of concepts. It's not the sort of 'baggage' I bring to a film. So perhaps another example of getting out of a film what you bring to it?

Without including any spoilers there certainly was some peril and consequence (especially for a comedy which aren't renowned for their jeopardy) though - not sure how anyone could make an argument to deny that.

TL;DR. I'd like to think Taika's heart was in the right place. A comedy based around Hitler Youth, Nazis, an imaginary Hitler and with Holocaust themes is always going to stir up mixed emotions for some people. If you're in that camp perhaps avoid it. Just like I dislike musicals and wouldn't watch The Greatest Showman or Cats. I enjoyed it but probably wouldn't feel a need to re-watch, perhaps I might watch the odd scene/clip on YouTube if I wanted a laugh  :thumbsup:

I really need to try to keep my film posts more concise. But this recap has raised the age old question of listening to reviews before watching a film and to what extent it is (im)possible to then watch the film with a clean slate? I'm wondering if I had heard the reviews you mention whether I would have enjoyed the film so much, or even at all? Or if my viewing experience would have been prejudiced by the reviewers perspective?  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 09, 2020, 01:21:23 pm
Really enjoyed You Were Never Really Here the other eve, not at all the Taken style thing one might assume from the two line summary.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 09, 2020, 04:12:16 pm
Regarding JoJo Rabbit it's a bit of a tough one to discuss.  .... I'm wondering if I had heard the reviews you mention whether I would have enjoyed the film so much, or even at all? Or if my viewing experience would have been prejudiced by the reviewers perspective?  :shrug:

Great post, I usually intentionally avoid reviews although if I know nothing about a film I often look at the rotten tomatoes ratings and prcis.
I studied a lot of film at university, including a significant amount of holocaust cinema, and though I have no personal connection, I have been to Aushvitz, I think I'd have trouble not with the concept of holocaust comedy, but sentimentality - one of the reviewers mentioned the CGI butterfly - which Id find inappropriate in the context. The brutal horror on a literally industrial scale of the holocaust demands some degree of respect in film, literature or any culture.
The review I listened to (kermode and mayo on 5 live, but with stand ins) was actually pretty interesting, one of them really liked it, and together they did a pretty good job of telling you what the film was like, rather than what to think about it ( which Kermode is very good at in my opinion).
All this said, I'm almost tempted to go to see it now, just to spite myself!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 09, 2020, 04:45:38 pm
Kind of in the same vein, if you have seen it what did you think of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_Who%27s_Back_(film)

I thought it was a brave film to make, and really funny in places.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 09, 2020, 04:57:08 pm
Hadn't even heard of 'Look Whos Back' (ps your link is missing the final bracket). From a skim of the Wiki post it does sound like an interesting commentary. I'll add it to a very long list of films 'to watch' that I keep and hope not to end up on any MI5 neo-nazi watch lists from my recent search history etc  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 09, 2020, 05:00:25 pm
FFS can't fix link..

I give up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 09, 2020, 08:19:42 pm
Hadn't even heard of 'Look Whos Back' (ps your link is missing the final bracket). From a skim of the Wiki post it does sound like an interesting commentary. I'll add it to a very long list of films 'to watch' that I keep and hope not to end up on any MI5 neo-nazi watch lists from my recent search history etc  :2thumbsup:

I've read the book by Timur Vernes (English translation) and it was quite entertaining but not exactly biting (Hitler says something racist / antisemitic, people laugh thinking he's a joker in character [repeat]).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stu Littlefair on January 09, 2020, 09:30:38 pm
Look whos back was one of the standout films for me last year. Although finding out that many of the scenes are unscripted interactions with real Germans made me thoroughly depressed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 09, 2020, 10:56:16 pm
Although finding out that many of the scenes are unscripted interactions with real Germans made me thoroughly depressed.

Woah. That certainly adds a further element of wtf to it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 09, 2020, 11:28:59 pm
Look whos back was one of the standout films for me last year.

Now on my list to watch, this sounds really interesting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 10, 2020, 12:40:54 pm
To change things up a bit I watched 'Alita: Battle Angel' last night. I'd been initially put off by the big CGI Anime eyes that I'd seen the main character has and thinking it felt a bit 'teen', so had swerved it. However, it popped up on a 'Top 10 of 2019' list of someone who I generally agree with their taste so thought I'd give it a go.

The big Anime eye thing wasn't too much of a bother, but unfortunately it did all feel dumbed down, aimed at teens and all very throwaway in regards to not really getting stuck into the meat of some of the sci-fi concepts. For the length of the movie the pacing was odd, some parts were refreshingly slow paced but then other character developments felt extremely rushed and not well earned. Also, frustratingly it clearly only told a fraction of the story setting up for a potential sequel or even series of films. All in all it wasn't terrible, but felt like a missed opportunity.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 10, 2020, 02:34:26 pm
Totally agree. There were bits I really liked, and bits that were piss poor, Christopher Waltz's character was beneath his abilities, and played out poorly. Kind of reminded me of that last Lost in Space movie in that it could have been a lot better without a lot of effort.

Felt like a shit version of the recent Ghost in the Shell, which wasn't great either. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 11, 2020, 05:17:11 pm
Marriage Story

Basically Kramer versus Kramer but with less emotional resonance given the characters were so much less relatable (for me), and less effective emphasis placed on the effect of the breakup on the child / impact on the parental responsibilities of the couple. A good example of Hollywood eating itself as the characters are a rich (though they constantly claim not to be) actor and director flying back and forth between New York and LA, hiring expensive lawyers they claim they can't afford, etc.

I suppose it got across the central message of the whole futility of the thing very well at least, and Adam Driver is superb.

Long Shot

Now we're talking. Stuck this on thinking it'd be semi-decent to have on in the background and ended up being fully captivated, laughing all the way through. Rogan and Theron were highly likeable and fun to watch, the story clips along nicely and it offered plenty of unexpected laughs throughout. It's a bit overly PC, but not in a bad way. Well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 17, 2020, 10:15:56 pm
1917

Absolutely the most powerful,  visceral movie I've seen in a long time.  Its almost a horror film,  in the very real sense of the word.  Incredible cinematography which immerses you in the grim world of the trenches. The two lead actors are exceptional.  See it at the cinema,  it would lose a lot on a small screen,  in my opinion. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wood FT on January 17, 2020, 10:17:55 pm
1917

Absolutely the most powerful,  visceral movie I've seen in a long time.  Its almost a horror film,  in the very real sense of the word.  Incredible cinematography which immerses you in the grim world of the trenches. The two lead actors are exceptional.  See it at the cinema,  it would lose a lot on a small screen,  in my opinion.

Nice one Toby, going to see it tomorrow. Did you know Gus is in it? Sang its praises during the filming.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 17, 2020, 10:55:33 pm
Tangentally related to 1917, the Ringer films podcast, the Rewatchables, has had Quentin Tarentino on for the last three weeks.  One of the films he chose to pore over was Dunkirk.  I found it a really interesting conversation about past war films, and an insight into the more specific art / narrative issues and production technicalities. 

There's a hundred other podcasts in the series, and I was impressed enough by that one episode that I've downloaded lots of others - a few films that I think are great, many othersI just have an odd affection for - Die Hard, King of New York, The Warriors, Bloodsport, Heat, Jaws, Any Given Sunday etc.

https://play.acast.com/s/the-rewatchables (https://play.acast.com/s/the-rewatchables)

https://art19.com/shows/the-rewatchables

 (https://art19.com/shows/the-rewatchables)https://open.spotify.com/show/1lUPomulZRPquVAOOd56EW (https://open.spotify.com/show/1lUPomulZRPquVAOOd56EW)

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-ringer/the-rewatchables (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-ringer/the-rewatchables)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 18, 2020, 11:20:07 am
Watched Bait last night.  Really, really good.  Indie film shot on film in square format.  Set in a small fishing village in Cornwall exploring the fractious relationship between the locals and incomers.  Best thing Ive seen in ages.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 18, 2020, 02:41:33 pm
1917

Absolutely the most powerful,  visceral movie I've seen in a long time.  Its almost a horror film,  in the very real sense of the word.  Incredible cinematography which immerses you in the grim world of the trenches. The two lead actors are exceptional.  See it at the cinema,  it would lose a lot on a small screen,  in my opinion.

Nice one Toby, going to see it tomorrow. Did you know Gus is in it? Sang its praises during the filming.

I didn't know that. I hope you like it as much as I did. You could hardly say it was 'enjoyable' but a brilliant film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 18, 2020, 02:42:58 pm
Watched Bait last night.  Really, really good.  Indie film shot on film in square format.  Set in a small fishing village in Cornwall exploring the fractious relationship between the locals and incomers.  Best thing Ive seen in ages.

Nice one FD. I'd wanted to see this, Kermode said it was his film of 2019 I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 18, 2020, 03:13:39 pm
Its on the BFI player/Amazon Prime. Its brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 21, 2020, 10:26:45 pm
I've been smashing through some films recently, catching up on  things I missed and others that have popped up in all the 'Best of 2019' and Oscar buzz chats etc.

Long Shot - this was OK, as far as an easy going rom-com. There was plenty of com to make up for the cliche rom. If you want a couple of laughs and a generally uplifting film that you don't have to divert 100% attention to you could do far worse.

Book Smart - Also had plenty of funny moments and good performances from the young leads to ease the fairly formulaic teen 'last night of fun shenanigans before we move on' drama. I'd throw it in the same kind of category as Long Shot, but I've always had a soft spot for teen/coming of age/one night of madness type films, probably going back to Dazed and Confused.

Dragged Across Concrete - no we're talking. Mel Gibson in the role he was made for... a gritty, grumpy, racist, old git of a cop. Seriously though, it was quite good!

Parasite - Think I may need to re-watch this one at some point. I liked it and get that it is making a social commentary but it didn't wow me like it did lots of critics. The Dad character stole the show with an excellent performance

Upgrade - WOW. Really damn cool sci-fi / horror / action. Went to some dark places in one of my fave settings... A (slightly) dystopian near-future.

Uncut Gems - Deserves all the buzz and critical acclaim it's receiving. Adam Sandler is exceptional. Yup, you heard it correctly...  Adam Sandler puts in a performance of a lifetime, eclipsing that of Punch Drunk Love - which FWIW I'm a fan of. The Safdie brothers have created a claustrophobic, exhausting, adrenaline rush of a film. All the components fit together perfectly. You'll come out of it needing a recovery protein shake/beer/smoke!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 26, 2020, 10:40:40 pm
A personal history of David Copperfield

Really good, some classic comedy you can tell it's Armando Ianucci, many of the actors do a fine job.
Pleasantly escapist. Not quite as ridiculously funny as Death of Stalin but a better story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 27, 2020, 08:48:56 am
Am I the only person who didn't find the Death of Stalin that funny?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 27, 2020, 09:50:00 am
I enjoyed the Death of Stalin, not a laugh a minute I agree but as black comedy goes I thought it was very good.

Watched 1917 last night. Amazing film, well worth a trip to the cinema for. Beautifully filmed (am a sucker for a long continuous shot) and gets across the sheer futility of WW1 brilliantly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 27, 2020, 10:06:19 am
"Judy" - Judy Garland biopic - I'm not really a fan of the genre but I enjoyed this. Rene Zellweger is superb in the title role, just the right side of being too hammy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on January 27, 2020, 10:35:59 am
Really enjoyed Shadow on Netflix, directed by Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers etc.).

Visually stunning as you might expect, as a study of Yin and Yang the colour palette for the whole movie is almost entirely black, white and grey.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 27, 2020, 10:37:17 am
I watched Heat (1995) again on Fri night. I think it's superb.

I'm amazed that both my wife and my colleagues at work haven't seen it/heard of it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 27, 2020, 11:18:59 am
I watched Heat (1995) again on Fri night. I think it's superb.

I'm amazed that both my wife and my colleagues at work haven't seen it/heard of it.

Was this at all prompted by the 'Re-watchables' podcast? I've seen their recent pod was covering Heat and was considering a re-watch myself before listening. Excellent film, probably been 10+ years since I watched it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 27, 2020, 11:40:03 am
No it just happened to be on... (it's also included on Prime Video I think).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 27, 2020, 11:58:58 am
Ahh okay - well if you like film Podcasts 'The Re-Watchables' seems worth a listen listen, although I'm very new to it so can't fully vouch. They recently did 3 episodes with Quentin Tarantino and so far I've only listened to his Dunkirk episode. It's fascinating listening to QT talking films, bloke is a legitimate cinefile, with such a wealth of knowledge and full of insight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 27, 2020, 01:13:44 pm
I love Heat. One of my all-time favourites.  Michael Mann had originally intended it to be a TV series and shot a 90 minute pilot, LA Takedown which is worth watching if you're a fan of the film.  It's all based on true stories - the Wikipedia page is pretty good.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_(1995_film) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_(1995_film))  I'll have a listen to the Podcast.

I watched some good documentaries recently.

Sun Ra - A Joyful Noise.  Filmed in 1980 with interviews with Ra and the Arkestra with concert footage.  Very enjoyable.

Welcome to Leith.  An unsettling 2015 film following the events when white supremicist Craig Cobb bought a load of land in a really small town in Dakota and invites a load of neo-nazis to join him in a white ethno state.  It follows the lives of the locals as they rally around to try and put a stop to it all.  Disturbing stuff.

New Town Utopia.  Basildon and the post-way New Town experiment.  You might think a film about Basildon would be really boring but you'd be surprised.  This was really interesting and poignant.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 27, 2020, 08:11:56 pm
I watched Heat (1995) again on Fri night. I think it's superb.

I'm amazed that both my wife and my colleagues at work haven't seen it/heard of it.

Heat is one of my all time favourite films, and the bank scene is similarly one of my all time favourite scenes. Brilliant tension and intense action.

Pretty influential film too, clearly referenced in the Grand Theft Auto games and various crime films.

Another one very much in this style which I've always loved, but haven't watched in ages, is Ronin.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 30, 2020, 07:47:30 pm
Can confirm Heat holds up and is still superb. So many quotable lines, I'm going to try to work them into everyday situations knowing that nobody will get them but I'll be able to chuckle to myself :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 30, 2020, 08:43:52 pm
The military advisor to Mann for Heat was Andy McNab - ex SAS dude who wrote a load of books.

Apparently the shooting methods, tactics - small bursts of fire etc.. are all very realistic from a military training point of view. Mann also went out and used real gun noises instead of the blanks firing for the final dub. Quite a bit of stuff on it on reditt etc.. about the authenticity of the shootouts...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 30, 2020, 09:13:33 pm
Oh wow... I had no idea Andy McNabb was involved as an adviser. The weapon handling and tactics do look very legit. I'm not sure if the bank robbery scene and lengthy escape has been bettered in modern cinema?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 30, 2020, 10:45:55 pm
You might remember a real bank robbery a few years back in LA where the robbers had studied that scene and the tactics over and over and then went and did it in real life.  They were so tooled up that the police (even the tactical squad) were outgunned and they had to go to gun shops and buy weapons with their own credit cards whilst the shootout was in progress in order to try and bring it to an end.  It didnt end well for the robbers.  Probably on YouTube somewhere... terrifying!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 31, 2020, 07:50:12 am
Wasn't it the other way - the shoot out was based on one where the police had to get vests and gun s from a gun shop as the robbers were so well tooled up? IIRC some of the robbers were cops / ex-cops - I think the incident was part of the Rampart scandal that the show the Shield was based on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 31, 2020, 08:56:22 am
Isn't the restaurant part the only one ever where De Niro and Pacino are in the same scene?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dontfollowme on January 31, 2020, 09:16:44 am
No. They are together in the final scene which is a fitting end to a great film. It conveys the mutual respect for each other. Good use of Moby's god moving over the face of waters too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 31, 2020, 10:04:27 am
Moose - Its probably all a bit of a tangle! This is the one I was talking about.

In 1997, a 44-minute shootout occurred in North Hollywood in which the gunmen, Emil Matasareanu and Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr., robbed a Bank of America wearing heavy body armor and carrying assault rifles. The shootout ended with both gunmen dead Matasareanu was shot 29 times and wasnt given any medical attention. It was later revealed that the gunmen had cited Heat as an influence for the robbery.

Lots of love for Heat on this thread!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on January 31, 2020, 11:28:44 am
Isn't the restaurant part the only one ever where De Niro and Pacino are in the same scene?

Arguably they are also both in the 'escape from bank job scene' but probably not in the same shot and don't share dialogue with each other, if this is what you specifically meant. Interestingly when the film came out on TV back in the day, in the pre-widescreen 4:3 ratio apparently it made the restaurant scene look really dodgy as if they weren't in it together. Made for an incorrect rumour that the two hadn't wanted to be around each other etc.

No. They are together in the final scene which is a fitting end to a great film. It conveys the mutual respect for each other. Good use of Moby's god moving over the face of waters too.

Indeed it is a great ending to the movie, both flawed characters designed to leave the viewer in two minds as to who should 'win' the day. Another piece of trivia is that in an earlier version of the script Al Pacino's character was a raging coke addict, doing a bump or two virtually every scene. Although this was cut from the film in the final script... Al decided to run with it as is apparently incorporating it into his acting... Which in hindsight totally makes sense  :clap2:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on January 31, 2020, 03:25:04 pm
I've never liked the ending of Heat, I thought it should have been more ambiguous.

Good podcast recommendation that, i like bill simmons. Film podcast I listen to, 'The Directors Cut' which also gets really top guests on.

Where was that Sun Ra documentary?

I know I've mentioned it before but the documentary about The Other side of the Wind is an amazing companion piece to the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 31, 2020, 06:59:09 pm
No. They are together in the final scene which is a fitting end to a great film. It conveys the mutual respect for each other. Good use of Moby's god moving over the face of waters too.

As well as the bank job scene and ending chase, they're also in a few other scenes together but again don't share direct dialogue, for example;

- Pacino spying on De Niro and crew leaving a restaurant having identified them as the suspects
- De Niro spying on Pacino at a dock/container yard having found out they're being watched
- Stealth theft where Pacino is spying from a lorry and De Niro realises so they bin off the job (they don't share dialogue but there's a moment where they almost stare one another down)

Sure there are one or two others. Either way, it builds the tension brilliantly as they sort of close in on one another.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on February 01, 2020, 01:43:28 pm
I am surprised about the love for Heat. I went to the movies to see it when it came out, and was extraordinarily bored by the whole thing. I was very close leaving when there was a 15 minutes remaining as that would have allowed me to take an earlier bus. If I had watched on telly I would never have watched it through. Have not seen it since, and just assumed that everyone else also found the film a boring failure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 01, 2020, 08:08:47 pm
I actually watched it last night on the strength of these reviews. Some of the scenes are brilliant, but these are interspersed with a LOT of quite dull scenes (building the tension? Hmmmm).
It's 2 hours and 50 minutes. You can't tell me that some of that couldn't be left on the cutting room floor. Certainly the pointless (other than that's what 90's action films had to have) sex scenes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 01, 2020, 08:25:19 pm
I actually watched it last night on the strength of these reviews. Some of the scenes are brilliant, but these are interspersed with a LOT of quite dull scenes (building the tension? Hmmmm).
It's 2 hours and 50 minutes. You can't tell me that some of that couldn't be left on the cutting room floor. Certainly the pointless (other than that's what 90's action films had to have) sex scenes.

Just as well youre not a millennial 😃
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 01, 2020, 08:26:52 pm
 Heat is a decent action movie,  but I'd say that both De Niro and Pacino have done several considerably better films each. Scarface, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 01, 2020, 11:13:47 pm
I actually watched it last night on the strength of these reviews. Some of the scenes are brilliant, but these are interspersed with a LOT of quite dull scenes (building the tension? Hmmmm).
It's 2 hours and 50 minutes. You can't tell me that some of that couldn't be left on the cutting room floor. Certainly the pointless (other than that's what 90's action films had to have) sex scenes.

Just as well youre not a millennial 😃

On the contrary, I am! Our family spent many a Friday evening in the late 90's and early 00's watching whatever we'd found to rent from Visions Video (now an independent interior furnishings shop, I think). I've seen plenty of nineties action films and they always seemed to have some sex scene or other that served no plot purpose. It's really quite jarring when held up against later cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 02, 2020, 12:09:13 am
Some things I can remember from my 2 x 14hr flights:

Beats
Great wee film about 2 lads who potentially shouldn't be mates getting up to drug / booze related teenage shananigans. Warm, funny, true to life. Made me want to find a quarry and go heidbangin!

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Can't really add much to what's already been said. Enjoyed it.

The Peanut Butter Falcon. Not maybe the strongest opening, and verging on twee, but really quite an uplifting and hamfistedly touching film.

Happy New Year Colin Burstead A good family feud caper. Sometimes a bit clich, but entertaining. Never really goes anywhere, but doesn't fall off a cliff either.

Maradona Neither a big football fan, nor remembering much from the time (was just a bairn), I had really enjoyed both Senna and Amy and had heard the director on R4, so was very keen to see this. Brilliant. So many mirrors of Amy's story - the inability to manage the fame, the hanger-oners and users. Fantastic film. Must see.

Also started watching the BBC thing about the couple in therapy, which was quite amusing until I realised that while I was sleeping at 40,000ft we'd suddenly just lost our EU rights....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dunnyg on February 02, 2020, 09:39:54 pm
Watched once upon a time in holywood. Thought it was pretty dire. Thought the same of the irishman. I watch films for entertainment or occaisionally to provoke thought. Both of these films seemed cut from the same cloth, in that they werent entertaining and the main thought they provoked was how much longer. I had high hopes for once upon a time, and was left pretty disappointed. I have enjoyed every other tarentino film I have seen, so I was really hoping for a goody!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 02, 2020, 10:34:48 pm
Excellent news:

Studio Ghiblis films are coming to Netflix. Make time to binge every one

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/02/studio-ghibli-netflix-binge-japanese-animation?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

Bingeing every one would be quite a feat, I love Ghibli movies though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 03, 2020, 09:33:58 am
I'd recommend going for the best known ones mentioned there and work your way down.

Some are utterly brilliant, but the lesser known ones are a bit meh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cheque on February 04, 2020, 04:54:52 pm
Jesus, that's made me remember Grave of the Fireflies. Make sure you're in a good place before you watch that one!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on February 04, 2020, 05:23:29 pm
Make sure you're in a good place before you watch that one!
It is possibly the saddest film I ever saw. I still don't know what to think... That's good I suppose. But I don't think I'll read the novel anytime soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 05, 2020, 09:52:53 am
As far from Totoro or Spirited Away as you can get.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 09, 2020, 01:35:59 pm
Quote from: cowboyhat
Where was that Sun Ra documentary?
[/quote

It was on Amazon Prime and its here on YouTube  https://youtu.be/3I46buUxltU (https://youtu.be/3I46buUxltU)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 09, 2020, 07:04:17 pm
The Lighthouse
An hour long Guiness advert, feels like the glowing reviews might have fallen for the emperors new clothes...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 09, 2020, 08:46:17 pm
Just finished Darkest Hour. With Gary Oldman as Churchill. Really enjoyed it - great back story on all the shenanigans going on at the onset of ww2.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 09, 2020, 10:30:57 pm
Get yourselves to the cinema and see Parasite as soon as you can. I've wondered for a while why critics bleat on about how good South Korean cinema is. Now I see that they are not just trying to be niche or clever, this is just straightforwardly brilliant, entertaining film making.

And don't read any reviews or synopses, see it as soon as possible before you see any spoilers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 10, 2020, 10:35:57 pm
A worthy winner of the best film Oscar, too incidentally. However I think Mendes should have got best director for 1917 instead
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Alex-the-Alex on February 10, 2020, 10:56:38 pm
oooh really looking forward to seeing parasite. Full convert to korean film. Old Boy blew my puby little mind at 15 and i havnt regreted any others ive watched. I watched the wailing last halloween and couldnt stop thinking about it for the rest of month. Its something else.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mugabe251 on February 10, 2020, 11:55:07 pm
If you're late to the South Korean cinema party and picking it up after Parasite has been thoroughly shilled in the media over the past week or so, you might enjoy these:

Memories of Murder - Superb misanthropic serial killer drama with dark comedy elements. Two ridiculous thugs who've wrangled work as detectives are put onto a case in their small rural town experience a spate of rape/murders targeting women. Cynical, highly-experienced homicide detective from the city arrives to assist in what turns out to be an incredibly complex and disturbing case. Incidentally directed by Bong Joon-Ho and starring Song Kang Ho of Parasite.

The Chaser - Quite a novel plot revolving around a disgraced cop turned reprobate pimp losing one of his girls to a suspected killer. A very intense, claustrophobic and frustrating experience, which sees a gradual metamorphosis of the main character as he begins tracking down what is originally just a valuable asset.

I Saw The Devil - Sort of a more realistic, darker John Wick-esque revenge drama. Bodyguard with special forces training loses his wife to a psychopathic serial murderer, played excellently by Choi Min Sik (star of Oldboy). Cue ultra-violent cat and mouse game as the protagonist gradually becomes more outlandish and sadistic as he takes his game further and further, growing ever more callous until eventually he beings losing whatever little humanity he had left. Somewhat violent to the extreme, but a great concept carried out brilliantly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on February 11, 2020, 03:52:25 pm
I'm not especially on the South Korean train (even though I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Parasite) but the description you've given those 3 films makes them all sound well worth a watch.

Will work through them when I can, cheers! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 11, 2020, 03:57:28 pm
Speaking of trains... (this may be what you were talking about - sorry) but Snowpiercer is doing the rounds on Film4 at the moment https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1706620/

Its weird - but quite good. Don't let the unusual concept (or the insect food) put you off!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on February 11, 2020, 06:23:20 pm
I really enjoyed Snowpiercer. I had a feeling the food part was an excellent homage / tip of the cap to Soylent Green. Throw some class struggle and dystopia in to the mixing pot and I'm an instant fan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 15, 2020, 10:35:16 am
The Two Popes

Reasonably entertaining,  but rather pedestrian.  I think that the entire movie should have been a two piece between Hopkins and Pryce, as they're excellent,  and all these scenes sparkle. The set up news reel bits and scenic shots of the Vatican seem rather like filler for the main act. Well worth watching as it's on Netflix,  but I'd have been peeved if I'd paid for a cinema ticket. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 15, 2020, 12:59:40 pm
I really enjoyed Snowpiercer. I had a feeling the food part was an excellent homage / tip of the cap to Soylent Green. Throw some class struggle and dystopia in to the mixing pot and I'm an instant fan.

I watched it at the deckchair cinema in Darwin NT. sat outside in mid 20s with insects buzzing around was quite a juxtaposition to the film :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on February 18, 2020, 02:55:02 pm
Saw The Lighthouse on Friday. I really enjoyed it but it was undeniably an acquired taste. I can see how some reviews gave it 5 stars and others 2 stars. It is beautifully shot in black and white and the use of light is fabulous. Dafoe and Pattinson are excellent in their roles and the tension is built with real skill. However, the plot is a bit threadbare and leaves plenty of room for you to ponder what various scenes 'mean,' and there are several dream sequences which are poorly explained and leave the viewer a bit lost.

Overall, its well worth a watch but you have to be in the right frame of mind. 4 stars is probably fair.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on February 24, 2020, 09:13:43 am
Watched Bait last night.  Really, really good.  Indie film shot on film in square format.  Set in a small fishing village in Cornwall exploring the fractious relationship between the locals and incomers.  Best thing Ive seen in ages.

Watched this last night. Absolutely brilliant. On the BFI Player which you can get a free trial for 14 days on, so no excuse. Amazing film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: macca7 on February 24, 2020, 02:43:19 pm
Fairly low brow for the current discussion so apologises but for the love of god please do waste your time, money or breath on going to see Birds of Prey it is utter  :shit:

I've never felt so odd watching a film. I obviously wasn't expecting much but this was awful and never felt like it had started very odd experience?

Would highly recommend Jo Jo Rabbit however for those that haven't seen it well worth a watch and the young boys are excellent in it.

Cheers
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 24, 2020, 04:25:58 pm
Friend said Suicide Squad was the worst he's ever seen, is it even worse than that?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: macca7 on February 25, 2020, 09:25:33 am
I'm going to say its the worst film I've ever seen!

Suicide squad was bad but this is worse. As I mentioned it just felt so strange, almost like it was yet to begin for the first 90 mins, it felt like you could walk out at any time and I'm a sucker for watching a film to the end. Even if I'm not enjoying it I can't leave or turn it off until the end. However this.......

I can't emphasise enough just what a pile of  :shit: it is!

Stay away people!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 25, 2020, 01:29:59 pm
I'm going to say its the worst film I've ever seen!

Suicide squad was bad but this is worse. As I mentioned it just felt so strange, almost like it was yet to begin for the first 90 mins, it felt like you could walk out at any time and I'm a sucker for watching a film to the end. Even if I'm not enjoying it I can't leave or turn it off until the end. However this.......

I can't emphasise enough just what a pile of  :shit: it is!

Stay away people!

Nice one. I'd considered it as it had some quite positive reviews, but I'm seriously glad I didn't waste the money.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: macca7 on February 25, 2020, 03:01:19 pm
That's how I got drawn in!

Heard it was slightly less poor than Suicide Squad, and I managed to get through that so thought it would be a reasonable way to spend a miserable , damp and cold Thursday evening.......

How wrong can you be!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mugabe251 on February 25, 2020, 03:47:58 pm
From trailers BoP seemed like nothing but a self-indulgent, female power fantasy; another facile exercise in American-style cultural onanism that western audiences seem to lap up like pigs at a trough. Basically something that you wouldn't waste a minute watching anyway but it's always nice to have your prejudices confirmed.

On an unrelated note I managed to check out Hereditary from Ari Aster, the guy who directed the modern day Wicker Man folk horror 'Midsommar'. If you're in a decent state of mind and want to indulge in a bit of psychological self-abuse, you can't get much better. A shocking and emotionally-violating cult (literally) horror that doesn't let up until the credits.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 25, 2020, 05:45:08 pm
From trailers BoP seemed like nothing but a self-indulgent, female power fantasy; .

Wooooow
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 25, 2020, 05:56:49 pm
First suffrage, now this. When does it stop, eh? EH?!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 25, 2020, 06:02:21 pm
Next someone will suggest violating pizza by putting mushrooms on it. IMAGINE THAT!!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 26, 2020, 05:26:47 pm
El Camino

Generally underrated, I thought it was really good. Jesse's haunted character is nicely developed and it possesses the pleasantly black comedy that characterised much of breaking bad. 
However,  I am 100% the target audience and those less enthusiastic about breaking bad probably won't be quite as entertained.

Agreed. You definitely need to have invested in watching the whole of bb, and liked it, to like this. But if you have, it's good. Apart from that fact that the actor who plays Jesse has piled on the pounds a bit, and he's supposed to have just come out of captivity where he was starved!

I finally got around to watching this and despite having invested the time to watch the whole of BB found it fairly disappointing. It's not really a movie, it's just a 2h continuation of BB (and in that sense it was much of the same)?

The place we're staying has Netflix so we also watched Mystic River which was complete toss (very predictable).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 29, 2020, 10:56:56 pm
Dark Waters: I thought this was a great movie, Mark Ruffalo gives a convincing performance of a man obsessed, yet remains sympathetic. It's quietly dramatic, serious yet entertaining. If you don't know already it's the story of a lawyer essentially suing Dupont for millions of dollars.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 29, 2020, 10:58:52 pm
El Camino

Generally underrated, I thought it was really good. Jesse's haunted character is nicely developed and it possesses the pleasantly black comedy that characterised much of breaking bad. 
However,  I am 100% the target audience and those less enthusiastic about breaking bad probably won't be quite as entertained.

Agreed. You definitely need to have invested in watching the whole of bb, and liked it, to like this. But if you have, it's good. Apart from that fact that the actor who plays Jesse has piled on the pounds a bit, and he's supposed to have just come out of captivity where he was starved!

I finally got around to watching this and despite having invested the time to watch the whole of BB found it fairly disappointing. It's not really a movie, it's just a 2h continuation of BB (and in that sense it was much of the same)?

Yup, exactly, that's why I liked it! (But I understand completely how you wouldn't)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 02, 2020, 11:39:00 am
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I was just expecting a film rather than a 2H special.

I tried 'Better Call Saul' a few years ago and didn't take to it but watched a handful more episodes after watching El Camino and it's really growing on me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 02, 2020, 12:14:28 pm
Following on from watching 'Heat' a while back I finally got around to watching another Michael Mann classic 'Manhunter'. Retrospectively it's easy to see how inspirational it has been in terms of directly spawning an entire genre of forensics heavy / psychological 'cop getting in bad guys head' type films and especially TV shows. Superb.

Next up on my little Michael Mann season 'The Insider'.


Continuing the theme of filling in some 'holes' in my cinematic history, a couple of weeks ago I watched 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford'. Widely and rightly acclaimed for the Richard Deakin's cinematography as a modern day western masterpiece. Yet my lingering thoughts mainly revolved around how clever and subversive the construction of the film is in respect to it's title. Essentially it gives away the plot / plants a very specific idea in your head then spends the rest of the movie twisting these thoughts around. I was left feeling sorrow, pity and rather mournful in respect to the title's tragic 'coward' probably aided by the performance of Casey Affleck. Remarkable film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 02, 2020, 12:55:17 pm
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I was just expecting a film rather than a 2H special.

I tried 'Better Call Saul' a few years ago and didn't take to it but watched a handful more episodes after watching El Camino and it's really growing on me.

Sauls a slow burner.

My review of El Camino is a few pages back - and I liked the first hour - then it ran out of steam and er... meh..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 02, 2020, 01:19:06 pm
Following on from watching 'Heat' a while back I finally got around to watching another Michael Mann classic 'Manhunter'. Retrospectively it's easy to see how inspirational it has been in terms of directly spawning an entire genre of forensics heavy / psychological 'cop getting in bad guys head' type films and especially TV shows. Superb.


Have you seen Red Dragon? I actually prefer it, felt Manhunter was a bit "Miami Viceish" (the orginal TV series, not the film remake) in the whole style and feel of the film, something Mann managed to get rid of in later films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 02, 2020, 03:19:04 pm
re: Red Dragon. Haven't seen it but can add it to my exceedingly long list of films to watch, I have seen a couple of the sequels (Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal)... To be honest I'm an absolute sucker for the '80s Miami Viceish' aesthetic, think it's really cool/badass in a non-ironic way haha! Have done for a long time before the recent '80s revival' that Stranger Things helped to blow up - although I'm not convinced every show/film needs a synthwave soundtrack. I think it's got a lot to do with being born in '82 so am really a kid of the 90s but had older siblings and grew up with various 80s influences but hadn't experienced them first hand. Now when I either re-watch, or watch for the first time classic film from the era it usually works for me.

For example without delving too much into spoiler territory (even though it's a 35yr old film, based on a book that has a modern remake!) there was a romantic scene between the lead and his partner, silhouetted against a coastal sunset with what could be considered a 'cheesey' dialogue regarding time being precious but I thought it was iconic, really well acted and believable. Also, there is a short scene towards the end that has a slow-mo fade out (surely meant to be the ending of the film - then the studio tagged on the last bit) that plants a slightly sinister seed for the viewer to consider regarding the lead protagonist. For many the slow-mo fade probably hasn't aged well and could seem cliche but I thought it was brilliant to plant that seed of ambiguity and show that the lead has been permanently effected. This kind of subtlety goes a long way for me, especially juxtaposed next to some modern day offerings that are so black:white and heavy handed in their messages.

That ended up longer than I intended. TL:DR 80s stuff really works for me but I equally I understand why it wouldn't for others  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 02, 2020, 07:33:28 pm
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I was just expecting a film rather than a 2H special.

I tried 'Better Call Saul' a few years ago and didn't take to it but watched a handful more episodes after watching El Camino and it's really growing on me.

Better call Saul improves massively after the first few episodes, I really liked it. Looking forward to the most recent season
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: UnkArl on March 02, 2020, 10:46:51 pm
I think Manhunter is tremendous, far and away my favourite Hannibal Lecter film. I also really enjoyed the Hannibal series as the plot seemed more inline with Manhunter than the others too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 03, 2020, 08:47:41 am
Dark Waters: I thought this was a great movie, Mark Ruffalo gives a convincing performance of a man obsessed, yet remains sympathetic. It's quietly dramatic, serious yet entertaining. If you don't know already it's the story of a lawyer essentially suing Dupont for millions of dollars.

Second this, really very well acted and an absorbing / alarming story. Mark Ruffalo remains firmly one of my favourite actors. The subject matter as well is genuinely thought provoking, in that (spoiler alert) we've all basically been poisoned by Dupont and they knew they were doing it for decades. Makes you think not only about chemical companies but fossil fuel producers, the fast food industry, etc. etc. If people will buy things people doing the selling will apparently do anything to keep doing so.

Also recently watched A Quiet Place, having seen the ads for part 2 in the cinema; brilliant. Again, superb acting and just a series of "oh fuck something bad is going to happen but I can't do anything about it" type classic horror moments.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 03, 2020, 10:40:49 am
I couldn't get along with the 'rules' that the A Quiet Place universe creates. Might seem odd coming from someone who will happily watch all manner of weird fantasy, out there sci-fi and the odd far fetched action or comic book adaptation.

I'm very rarely guilty of this as I try to go along with the ride and get immersed in the world that the film is creating but I wasn't drawn in at all. Which then left me doing that lame thing where for every action my mind is stuck thinking 'that's dumb... Why don't you do xyz instead...'

Contender for a 'marmite' film or am I on my own?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 03, 2020, 02:48:00 pm
Could you give an example?

I don't really understand what you mean. I didn't think anything was beyond the normal realms of fantasy/sci fi horror. Sure there were a couple of "that's stupid" moments but a) surely that's part and parcel of the genre and b) I still thought all of the decisions were understandable in the context of the situation (I.e. they're absolutely terrified and people make stupid decisions when they're scared, a fact that is easy to forget when you're not in the situation yourself).

Spoiler alert

NSFW  :
The only thing I thought perhaps wasn't completely plausible was their discovery that high frequency distortion was the creatures' Achilles heel. This seemed like an obvious thing to try in hindsight and something the military would probably have found out right at the start. But then, we're only seeing the aftermath so who knows what happened. Maybe they did find it out but it was too late and the message didn't filter out to the public.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 03, 2020, 03:21:24 pm
Spoilers for A Quiet Place:

NSFW  :
I guess lots of it does fall into 'that's stupid' which I can usually roll with but a film/universe has to earn those rights and it just didn't seem to for me. My memory is a little hazy as I watched it a while back close to it's release but a few main examples:

1) The creatures are attracted to any noises - similar to the worms in Dune. In Dune they use 'thumpers' a mechanical device that people use to deliberately attract the creatures so they can use them, in Dune for transport. (Pretty sure they also did this in Tremors a really bad old film that rips off Dunes worms). In A Quiet Place it seems like it'd be very easy to use any noise making device to trap and ambush them?

2) The scene where he takes the lad to the river/waterfall, an extremely noisy place where the film states enables masks the human noises to they can scream, laugh, etc and not attract the creatures. Would seem like a decent place to live?

3) The high pitch noise to daze/ make them vulnerable my thought at that point was 'Oh dear, they've gone full 'Mars Attacks' where the Tom Jones song kills the aliens :D

I agree with you non of this is at all beyond the realms of fantasy/sci-fi, far from it. Was some good tension building at times and there were some nice touches, think they had carpeted walk ways to make their footsteps quieter or something similar? But because my mind wasn't going with it, instead I was thinking about how noisy that process itself would have been! Basically it just didn't work for me.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 03, 2020, 05:27:01 pm
All fair points, I could spend some time giving my perspective but sounds like we just took it in different ways. Maybe it helps that I've not seen any of those other films you mentioned; perhaps you've ruined a good film for yourself by watching bad ones? :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 12, 2020, 10:02:36 am
Im not sure if its been mentioned before, but Apollo 11 (which has just appeared on Netflix) is absolutely glorious...

Reading Wikipedia reveals that they had access to all sorts of footage (inc 70mm), plenty of which is previously unseen (some of the launchpad and recovery scenes) which was transported back and forth from the National Archive to the scanning team in climate controlled vans. And the sound was all meticulously cleaned up.

Its a total visual feast - I kept pausing it to take screenshots - and an amazing snapshot of 60s America. The crowd scenes at the launch especially.

No narration / interviews or anything like that.

Ive watched it two days in a row and might keep doing so as I keep noticing new things...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on March 12, 2020, 05:00:55 pm
This is insanely good, thanks for the heads up Yoss. Sure I'll be rewatching it as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 12, 2020, 05:13:58 pm
I know I posted about this on the podcasts thread, but if you liked the Apollo 11 film (thanks for the recommendation, I look forward to watching), then you should definitely listen to the 13 Minutes To The Moon podcast. Riveting stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 12, 2020, 05:57:14 pm
No, i saw it and immediately added it to my podcast list - thanks.

I hope that First Man (mentioned before, beautiful visually and remarkably more similar in tone to Apollo 11 than most space movies) will emerge as a cult classic - it did a great job of capturing the grainy but ultra futuristic look of that place and period.

Id meant to add to the Heat debate a few weeks back but have been tied up with work / life. I went through a particularly intense Heat obsession (which jwi will find incomprehensible) in which I watched it daily for about 2 months. I was so totally in to Michael Manns urban cinematic vision - the monochrome / fluoro light, and the silhouettes, etc. The action is amazing and compelling, but it was more about becoming immersed in his aesthetic. Manhunter has a lot of the same look / colours, as does the Miami Vice film which Ive also watched a lot...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 12, 2020, 08:12:13 pm
I watched Apollo 11 last week by chance and like Yoss marvelled at the colour and characters of 60s USA. You could almost feel the optimism and happiness rather than todays mistrust and cynicism.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 12, 2020, 08:30:42 pm
I watched Heat daily for about 2 months

Wow. That is dedication! My Michael Mann itch was fairly well satisfied with my Heat+Manhunter+The Insider Triology. Am glad I'm not the only one who loves his aesthetic   8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on March 12, 2020, 09:57:54 pm
Im not sure if its been mentioned before, but Apollo 11 (which has just appeared on Netflix) is absolutely glorious...

That was fabulous. I was totally enthralled by the event at the time and acquired a huge collection of moon landing memorabilia  sadly none of which made it through my adolescence. I watched the film with my son who is the age I was when the mission took place. He's not the geek I was but still pronounced "that was actually really cool" which is rare praise. The beehive hairdos and Bruce McCandless' lemon rollneck got approving comments. As you say, it felt like the epitome of 1960s optimism and quite a contrast to the world my son is growing in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 15, 2020, 11:37:32 am
I finally got around to watching The King last night. Also on Netflix. I hadnt realised it was directed by David Michd (of Animal Kingdom fame), and the cast is superb. Timothe Chalamet Is magnificent, and therefore cant wait to see him in Dune. Robert Pattison ditto as the Dauphin. Plus gravelly Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, etc.

I dont know what the budget was but, either way, they didnt try to go full Game of Thrones on the battle scenes, taking a rather more thoughtful approach. And obvs there have been various debates about accuracy as its based more on Shakespeare than Wikipedia. But as a piece of historical fiction its (I think) a very good film.

(Ive not watched Kenneth Bs Henry V for a while, but imagine it feels a bit cringe these days...)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on March 15, 2020, 12:09:36 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned already but I thought The Two Popes (on netflix) was incredible. Enthralling stuff, even (especially?) as a non-christian.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 15, 2020, 12:26:10 pm
Some cracking recommendations that should keep us entertained over the next few weeks.

I watched The Endless last night having stumbled across it.  A spooky, unsettling sci-fi about two Californian brothers who return the ufo cult/commune in which they grew up and things turn weird from there.  There's a good review here (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/30/the-endless-review).  It only cost $20k to make which is remarkable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on March 15, 2020, 12:31:21 pm
I finally got around to watching The King last night. Also on Netflix.

Agree with everything here Yoss, I was ready to hate in Chamalamalet because hes been so hyped up but he won me around very quickly.

I didnt read anything around it, but I assumed the presence is Falstaff put it firmly toward the fiction end of things.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 15, 2020, 09:55:35 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned already but I thought The Two Popes (on netflix) was incredible. Enthralling stuff, even (especially?) as a non-christian.


The acting and dialogue I thought were fantastic. I thought that the endless scenic shots of the Vatican city were a bit excessive and started to detract for me. I thought it could have been a bit shorter and would have been better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 23, 2020, 08:12:22 am
I watched  Marriage Story a week or so ago. Its hardly cheery but not as grim as some had lead me to believe.  It is superbly acted, especially the female lawyer who does a good job of being skin crawlingly irritating.  Actually both lawyers are pretty irritating!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 18, 2020, 11:24:52 am
Watched Bait last night.  Really, really good.  Indie film shot on film in square format.  Set in a small fishing village in Cornwall exploring the fractious relationship between the locals and incomers.  Best thing Ive seen in ages.

Watched Bait last night, perhaps inspired by a wander down to the fishermens huts earlier in the day.

What an amazing film in so many ways. Its visually completely mesmerising. The story and dialogue is totally captivating. And Ive just discovered it was shot entirely without sound (on a hand-cranked Bolex 16mm) and then all the speech was dubbed in afterwards, along with the rest of the sound. Its so other-worldly. So inspiring that, in a world of GoPros and phone cameras that people are still doing this sort of thing. Apparently he hand-processed all the film at home!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on April 18, 2020, 11:49:36 am
Bait is so good isnt it! One of the best films I've seen for ages.

Also Watched The Two Popes on Netflix the other day and enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 18, 2020, 02:47:13 pm
Watched Bait last night.  Really, really good.  Indie film shot on film in square format.  Set in a small fishing village in Cornwall exploring the fractious relationship between the locals and incomers.  Best thing Ive seen in ages.

Watched Bait last night, perhaps inspired by a wander down to the fishermens huts earlier in the day.

What an amazing film in so many ways. Its visually completely mesmerising. The story and dialogue is totally captivating. And Ive just discovered it was shot entirely without sound (on a hand-cranked Bolex 16mm) and then all the speech was dubbed in afterwards, along with the rest of the sound. Its so other-worldly. So inspiring that, in a world of GoPros and phone cameras that people are still doing this sort of thing. Apparently he hand-processed all the film at home!

Its really great isnt it. I cringed and groaned inside at the scene of the wife filling the fridge when arriving at the cottage.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 18, 2020, 02:51:54 pm
Funny how its turned out but the last movie saw at the cinema was Color Out Of Space which we went to mainly as it had a Q&A with Richard Stanley. He's an interesting bloke.

The film isn't the sort of thing I usually go for but I did enjoy it. The rest of the audience seemed to be much more entrenched in the schlock horror/ Cage oeuvre. Really obvious point being that movies like this get made all the time with a smaller budget and are way more forgettable, this movie probably wouldn't have got made without Cage; and there he is in the film, being Nicolas Cage, dominating the whole thing like a metaphor for the whole plot. After several scenes that he isn't in he pops up again and you realise he's in a different film to the rest of the cast, one that has Nicolas Cage in it. Imagine if Get Out had Cage cast in the catherine keener role.

Interested to know what other people think, especially those into B movie sci-fi type shit, or Cage fans. I've largely avoided since the late 90's when he made fucking awful films like snake eyes, 8mm, Face Off, 60 seconds, etc... the notable exception being Adaptation. I guess I just didn't get him but actually films like Color Out of Space seem like much happier homes for his vibe than these big films. Maybe he's grown into himself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 18, 2020, 03:04:42 pm
And the scene cutting between Martin discovering the cut lobster pot and the lobster close up, lobster on the plate, etc...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 18, 2020, 03:07:34 pm
Re Nicholas Cage - I strongly recommend Mandy. Well, you need a strong constitution as its rather like setting yourself up for a lurid and deeply troubling bad trip. But as a visual spectacle its extremely powerful.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 18, 2020, 03:23:47 pm
I was just writing to say the same. I watched Mandy a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it. Totally bonkers and could have been crap in the hands of a bad director, but its really something unique. Cage is in his element and the cinematography is excellent. I wholeheartedly agree with the strongly recommended.

Colour out of space looks great.  Thanks Cowboyhat.

If anyones not seen it, Werner Herzogs remake of Abel Ferreras Bad Lieutenant set in post-Katrina New Orleans with Cage playing Harvey Keitels fallen cop is fantastic.

Re: Lobsters.  Yes that scene... gut wrenching. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 18, 2020, 03:31:05 pm
Yeah I forgot I've scene Mandy, not my cup of tea. Another example, what would it have been like without Cage? It might have got made but it very much feels like a vehicle movie. The writhing on the cross thing for like fuck knows how long in ECU, no thanks. I'd say its indulgent but I'm not sure as to what.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 18, 2020, 03:35:17 pm
Sorry hit send too soon there.

As I was saying, it does feel though that with movies like this Cage has arrived in his natural place, which couldn't have happened of course without him being Nicolas Cage first. And even if they aren't for me, I am glad they're getting made.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 18, 2020, 03:53:36 pm
Thats a good question.  I still think it would be a good movie without Cage as it stand up by itself as a (forgive me here) meta B-movie, particularly when stood against Once Upon a Time in Hollywood given the Helter Skelter subject matter of both films.  Youre right though, its made for Nicolas Cage the character.

Cinema eh. Barmy.

Props to the UKB film club.  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 18, 2020, 03:59:33 pm
Mandy is definitely not my usual cup of tea either, but Im glad I watched it all. I guess what is most interesting (for me) is that Panos Cosmatos - a relative nobody, albeit with a famous dad and some history with Beyond the Black Rainbow - was able to recruit someone like Nicholas Cage, an amazing performer with a totally hit-and-miss body of work behind him.

I could imagine Michael Shannon in Mandy, or Joaquin Phoenix, Javier Bardem, etc.

I generally struggle With / find most horror deeply uncomfortable, but I was quite fascinated by the recent Susperia remake. I would like to see Dario Argentos original sometime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 18, 2020, 04:16:51 pm
I watched all that stuff at uni (circa 20 ago), and generally found them over rated/ I didn't get it. I don't generally get horror though.

I think unfortunately for suspiria it was lumped in with all these other banned or reputation movies that i watched around the same time, most of which I was coming to with no context; Driller Killer, Cannibal Holocaust, Straw Dogs, I can't think of the others but there are loads.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 18, 2020, 04:22:03 pm
Werner Herzogs remake of Mandy entitled Amanda in Cornwall (2024) with Woody Harrelson in the lead role and Nicolas Cage as the cult leader, all shot on 16mm box format, hand developed  and overdubbed is going to be brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 18, 2020, 05:46:37 pm
Coppolas The Conversation is on BBC2 tonight. One of the greatest films of the 70s. Gene Hackman as cool as a cucumber. A must watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on April 19, 2020, 11:50:37 am
Recently enjoyed  I, Tonya,  a docu style movie about the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan episode. Interesting back story, crazy characters and some ace figure-skating footage.
Also Grand Theft Parsons. The story of the theft of the country-rock legend's corpse and its aftermath. Glorious Joshua Tree scenery made me yearn for California.A bit odd but diverting enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 20, 2020, 02:46:56 pm
from Books...

Why we are living in J G Ballards world.

 https://www.newstatesman.com/2020/04/why-we-are-living-jg-ballard-s-world (https://www.newstatesman.com/2020/04/why-we-are-living-jg-ballard-s-world)

Yeah I read that. I love Ballard, but f*ck reading him at the moment, the drowned world or high rise would be way too close to the bone.

I really enjoyed the movie of High Rise, really captures the sort of silliness and hypocrisy, and is great to look at. Top casting.


Also two of my neighbours are in it, (they're a couple).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on April 20, 2020, 03:37:34 pm
Coppolas The Conversation is on BBC2 tonight. One of the greatest films of the 70s. Gene Hackman as cool as a cucumber. A must watch.

Thanks for this, watched it last night and enjoyed it a lot!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 20, 2020, 03:40:50 pm
@Cowboyhat.  Thats a good tick for them to casually drop in at parties.  Great film with The Falls Industrial Estate over the closing credits. 

@Sherlock - I Tonya is flippin great.  I loved it. 

We did Frost Nixon on Saturday night cos W had never seen it.  I forgot how good it is. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 20, 2020, 03:42:57 pm
Coppolas The Conversation is on BBC2 tonight. One of the greatest films of the 70s. Gene Hackman as cool as a cucumber. A must watch.

Thanks for this, watched it last night and enjoyed it a lot!

Ah great.  Its soooooo good.  Its worth watching Tony Scotts Enemy of the State with Hackman and Will Smith as its a bit of a homage to The Conversation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on May 06, 2020, 11:55:37 am
Love and Mercy, about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys currently on iplayer. Watched last night and thought it was very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: rich d on May 06, 2020, 01:45:35 pm
This thread is still great after all this time, every film that the wife and kids have forced/coerced me to watch during lockdown - which is loads have all been absolute dog shit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 06, 2020, 06:07:19 pm
Love and Mercy, about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys currently on iplayer. Watched last night and thought it was very good.

In which case, I'll mention that this documentary about the making of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is streaming for free this week. For fans.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 06, 2020, 06:10:04 pm
I might be wrong, but I don't think anyone has mentioned this film. We watched Greta Gerwig's Little Women about a week ago. I thought it was fabulous, deserving every plaudit. I'd never read the source book or read any of the many previous adaptations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 06, 2020, 11:34:31 pm
This thread is still great after all this time, every film that the wife and kids have forced/coerced me to watch during lockdown - which is loads have all been absolute dog shit.

Feel your pain. Captain Underpants, Spies in Disguise are notable lowlights.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on May 07, 2020, 07:03:53 am
Extraction - watched it twice recently cos I enjoyed it so much. Exactly what a modern action film should be.
Chris Hemsworth is really good in these kind of roles. Reminds me a bit of Harrison Ford. And myself, obviously.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 07, 2020, 10:03:17 am
If you like seeing yourself in more action films, I actually though 12 Strong is a good film, amazingly "based on true events".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on May 07, 2020, 10:04:01 am
 :punk:
Extraction - watched it twice recently cos I enjoyed it so much. Exactly what a modern action film should be.
Chris Hemsworth is really good in these kind of roles. Reminds me a bit of Harrison Ford. And myself, obviously.

I did the same! The film work and stunts are AMAZING. The fights, and the falling out of buildings, etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 07, 2020, 12:59:34 pm
Extraction - watched it twice recently cos I enjoyed it so much. Exactly what a modern action film should be.
Chris Hemsworth is really good in these kind of roles. Reminds me a bit of Harrison Ford. And myself, obviously.

Me too. I was going to post about it! I really liked it - set in Dakha it had a very non Hollywood feel to it which I really enjoyed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on May 07, 2020, 03:11:01 pm
I thought the hundreds of faceless blameless brown people getting shot with zero thought or consequence was pretty holiwood tbh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 07, 2020, 03:36:16 pm
I thought the hundreds of faceless blameless brown people getting shot with zero thought or consequence was pretty holiwood tbh.

Oh come on Duma - its not Rambo. If you want to discuss it wrt race its an action film set in Bangladesh.  All of the major actors apart from Hemsworth were not white IIRC. In terms of moral positioning its Mercenaries working for one drug lord vs another drug lord surrounded by bent police and more mercenaries!! Everyone is a piece of shit to varying degrees! & All of the white/western mercs get it fairly quick!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 07, 2020, 05:51:08 pm
I thought the hundreds of faceless blameless brown people getting shot with zero thought or consequence was pretty holiwood tbh.

I think that was the point...

I also think, whilst certainly caricature, it didnt fall too far from the reality tree, in terms of  value of life ; as I recall it from my traveling days. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on May 07, 2020, 06:02:13 pm
I thought the hundreds of faceless blameless brown people getting shot with zero thought or consequence was pretty holiwood tbh.

Oh come on Duma - its not Rambo. If you want to discuss it wrt race its an action film set in Bangladesh.  All of the major actors apart from Hemsworth were not white IIRC. In terms of moral positioning its Mercenaries working for one drug lord vs another drug lord surrounded by bent police and more mercenaries!! Everyone is a piece of shit to varying degrees! & All of the white/western mercs get it fairly quick!

No they weren't. Almost everyone who died was a Bangladeshi soldier who, as far as they were concerned, were following what may well have been legitimate orders. Their general was bent, and thus a bad guy, but they were not. I'm not saying it's better or worse than the rest of the genre BTW.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 17, 2020, 09:33:34 pm
Watched Extraction last night. Thought the main action sequence (though I wouldn't describe it as part of the action genre - it possibly ploughs a new furrow in a novel genre called Bullet Fuck) must be one of the best I've seen. Every bit of the film which wasn't Bullet Fuck was desperately boring, but I will definitely watch the Bullet Fuck bit again, if not just to try and make sense of and appreciate the incredible camera work.

The counter argument to "lots of anonymous brown people eating lead" is that if it was set in downtown Whitesville it would be yet another film with a mostly white cast in a mostly white place, which there is no end of criticism for.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 18, 2020, 08:45:40 am
Could say the same for Blackhawk Down, which is based on true events.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 18, 2020, 09:35:18 am
Could say the same for Blackhawk Down, which is based on a wilful gross distortion of true events.

Just a minor edit. Although Ridley Scott is a brilliant director,  and BHD is an entertaining film if you pretend its fiction,  it totally misrepresents what was a total disaster for the US. Perhaps in a similar way to say, a Dirty Dozen film and WWII.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 18, 2020, 09:41:58 am
Fair enough, I thought "based on" covered that adequately, but feel free.

However the point I was trying to make about the local population getting mowed down in large numbers isn't under dispute though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 18, 2020, 03:56:19 pm
Indeed not Chris I think I agree with you! BHD just slightly annoyed me, because it's brilliant as a film, but because it's a distortion of events worthy of Leni Riefenstahl, it shouldn't exist. I love action films, but I dislike propaganda which mistells recent history. It's just a personal bugbear that one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 18, 2020, 04:07:47 pm
I'd like to know how much of 12 Strong, which I mentioned earlier, is actually true.


As far as history goes, don't get me started on U-571.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on May 18, 2020, 09:07:42 pm
As far as history goes, don't get me started on U-571.

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤯🤮 :agree:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on May 19, 2020, 09:13:34 pm
I find the whole 'based on true events' idea off putting and generally uninteresting in film. I'd rather not know that about a movie.

If I want to watch a documentary I'll put bbc4 on.



Feel free to wade fourth with examples; no doubt this like most things will prove me a hypocrite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 19, 2020, 09:36:28 pm
Because truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and it's nice to learn about something delivered in an entertaining manner.

Goodbye Bafana

Zodiac

K-19 The Widowmaker

Mr Nice

The Imitation Game

Midnight Express

12 Years a Slave

Papillon

Cry Freedom

Raging Bull

Wolf of Wall Street

The Big Short
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 19, 2020, 11:46:00 pm
I find the whole 'based on true events' idea off putting and generally uninteresting in film. I'd rather not know that about a movie.

It's not an unreasonable comment, but along with above examples, the last film I saw in a cinema before the lockdown was Dark Waters. It is no doubt a dramatisation not a documentary, which tells a true story in an entertaining way without straying from the spirit of those events as far as I know. I'm sure it glossed over some things and plays up others but it is entertainment not investigative journalism.
Three billboards outside Ebbing Missouri was brilliant.
Vice was brilliant as well, and very close to actual events I think.

My beef is with films that create entertainment out of a distortion of history with an agenda, particularly when this is to Lionise the instigators of disaster, which BHD does in spades.

If a film makes a prominent point of being based on true events, I like there to be a point to that, rather than just an interesting story. Otherwise I don't mind what it's based on as long as I like watching it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on May 21, 2020, 01:57:48 pm
I find the whole 'based on true events' idea off putting and generally uninteresting in film. I'd rather not know that about a movie.

It's not an unreasonable comment, but along with above examples, the last film I saw in a cinema before the lockdown was Dark Waters. It is no doubt a dramatisation not a documentary, which tells a true story in an entertaining way without straying from the spirit of those events as far as I know. I'm sure it glossed over some things and plays up others but it is entertainment not investigative journalism.
Three billboards outside Ebbing Missouri was brilliant.
Vice was brilliant as well, and very close to actual events I think.

My beef is with films that create entertainment out of a distortion of history with an agenda, particularly when this is to Lionise the instigators of disaster, which BHD does in spades.

If a film makes a prominent point of being based on true events, I like there to be a point to that, rather than just an interesting story. Otherwise I don't mind what it's based on as long as I like watching it!

Thanks this more or less sums up what I was getting at and Chris' list has some obviously briliant examples.


At least I called it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on May 21, 2020, 02:09:07 pm
Just rewatched american psycho and the hateful eight on Netflix.

I think i love american psycho even more now than when it came out. Bales performance really is astounding and its still so funny. Very tight movie, hundred minutes, the first half hour sets it up amazingly well. all the lines people quote are from the first few minutes.

And with Hateful, if you can sit still for 2h30 the tension ratchets up so perfectly.


As an aside i'd forgotten a crucial detail of one of the scenes and started watching it with the twelve year old, vaguely thinking it was just a western thats a bit more gory but basically everyone just gets shot. Fortunately just over an hour in we called bedtime and promised to revisit the following evening. I carried on watching and, no, it is an 18 for a reason.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 21, 2020, 02:43:40 pm

My beef is with films that create entertainment out of a distortion of history with an agenda, particularly when this is to Lionise the instigators of disaster, which BHD does in spades.


Totally. See comment re: U-571.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 23, 2020, 02:57:46 pm
Watched 'Meeting Gorbachev' last night.  Werner Herzog interviewing the man himself.  It's really interesting and I learned a lot but it's not quite what you'd expect with both of these two in the same room.  Herzog is clearly enamoured, if not overawed by his subject and you might ask if he soft balled a little but it's still a fascinating insight nevertheless.  Some great side pieces from James Baker, Lech Walesa and the Hungarian PM (can't remember his name). 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 25, 2020, 05:13:57 pm
Watched Mission impossible Ghost Protocol on Netflix; highly entertaining lowbrow action with some great silly climbing bits. Doesn't pretend to be anything it's not and I liked it. Not sophisticated but fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on July 25, 2020, 06:23:49 pm
Wife and I watched Palm Springs recently. Very good Sundance-y romantic comedy with a ground hog day time loop element.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on July 25, 2020, 09:26:47 pm
Extraction - watched it twice recently cos I enjoyed it so much. Exactly what a modern action film should be.
Chris Hemsworth is really good in these kind of roles. Reminds me a bit of Harrison Ford. And myself, obviously.

Me too. I was going to post about it! I really liked it - set in Dakha it had a very non Hollywood feel to it which I really enjoyed.

To all you boys that liked extraction...make sure youve seen the Indonesian The Raid....top draw and superior in every way to imitations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on July 25, 2020, 11:27:29 pm
What about this imitation?
https://youtu.be/y_z3EBalwI4
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on July 26, 2020, 08:22:32 am
That is brilliant  :punk:

Its a plot spoiler though..so dont watch if you havent seen the Raid!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 26, 2020, 09:01:04 am
Wife and I watched Palm Springs recently. Very good Sundance-y romantic comedy with a ground hog day time loop element.

Horses for courses; I didn't like Palm Springs at all. Similarly, I recently enjoyed Uncut Gems, but my wife really disliked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 26, 2020, 10:07:39 am
We watched Uncut Gems last night. It was great. I was absolutely knackered by the end. Read an Ebert review afterwards in which he described the directors as the masters of anxiety inducing film and hes not wrong. Its exhausting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on July 26, 2020, 10:38:53 am
Watched Three Billboards last night. Quite brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 26, 2020, 11:05:41 am
We watched Uncut Gems last night. It was great. I was absolutely knackered by the end. Read an Ebert review afterwards in which he described the directors as the masters of anxiety inducing film and hes not wrong. Its exhausting.

Also, I had to give up on even hearing - let alone understanding - half the dialogue; but once I'd accepted that I was in for the ride.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 26, 2020, 11:46:17 am
We watched Uncut Gems last night. It was great.

I found it exhausting after 30 minutes and that was enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 26, 2020, 12:43:12 pm
Ah - We'll often watch films with subtitles on for W but it really helps with flicks like this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on July 26, 2020, 05:00:07 pm
Ah - We'll often watch films with subtitles on for W but it really helps with flicks like this.

Having the subtitles on is a habit I got into from watching The Wire.  I've since found it invaluable for any series / film with lots of heavily accented, slang heavy dialogue - I also find reading names helps me remember who the characters with big casts.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on July 26, 2020, 05:19:37 pm
We watched Uncut Gems last night. It was great.
I found it exhausting after 30 minutes and that was enough.

Ditto, it was far too anxiety inducing to be enjoyable, and by that point you could already see the direction it was heading in!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on July 27, 2020, 11:22:30 am
Wife and I watched Knives Out. Modern take on the Agatha Christy whodunnit. Really excellent. Got a few Wes Anderson vibes from it, great story (with good twists) and genuine funny bits. Also has Daniel Craig doing a outrageous southern drawl.  Highly recommend if you like murder mysteries.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JJP on July 27, 2020, 11:56:53 am
Just watched the trailor - looks good and def added to the watch list! 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on July 29, 2020, 05:30:55 pm
Wife and I watched Palm Springs recently. Very good Sundance-y romantic comedy with a ground hog day time loop element.

Horses for courses; I didn't like Palm Springs at all. Similarly, I recently enjoyed Uncut Gems, but my wife really disliked it.

That's interesting Andy. What didn't work for you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 29, 2020, 10:49:42 pm
Article about a great movie I've not seen for a while:
https://www.newstatesman.com/children-men-alfonso-cuaron-2006-apocalypse-coronavirus

If you've not seen it, it's brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on July 29, 2020, 11:01:44 pm
Ah, I fucking love that film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 30, 2020, 12:06:26 am
Strangely just read an article today about box office flops that have since been called great works, and this was one of them, and one of the few I agreed with. Great film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on August 01, 2020, 10:04:48 pm
Started watching Uncut Gems wondering what all the fuss was about. Now it's finished and I have to wait for the adrenaline to settle before I can go to bed. Great film.

NSFW  spoiler:
Aren't the two gangsters sealed into the shop at the end? Who will buzz them out?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 01, 2020, 10:51:15 pm
And this too.... dont look if youve not seen it as its a Spoiler.

NSFW  :
In the closing shot, the camera does a panning close up on Adam Sandlers face and the bullet appears to be protruding from his cheekbone, a-la Serpico (Pacino cop movie from the 70s) I said to W Hes still alive!. I think he didnt die
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 28, 2020, 09:24:03 am
Any studio Ghibli fans out there may appreciate this https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/08/studio-ghibli-anime-best-food-scenes.html
Nice, short read and a good way of looking at their movies. 

Has anyone been to a cinema post lockdown yet? I'm keen to see Tenet, as much because I miss the cinema experience as anything,  but it does look promising. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 01, 2020, 03:15:54 pm
It looks cool, but not sure i'm comfortable with risks.

I may be a bit late to the party, but this looks like a good selection of films, a bit different to the usual Netflix / Prime offerings

https://mubi.com/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 01, 2020, 07:20:23 pm
The Booksellers - a documentary about rare and antiquarian booksellers in the US. A film about books and booksellers. Whats not to like? Really great.  On the usual streaming platforms.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on September 01, 2020, 07:46:33 pm
Has anyone been to a cinema post lockdown yet?

we went to see Pinocchio at the Odeon Luxe in Durham last week

great film (ymmv) - cinema well organised and we felt safe

not everyone will like the film, but it gave us as a family a lot to talk about - the history of the original story, what was being said, the makeup (!), dubbing vs subtitles, what was funny, scary stuff in "fairytales"

it was great for everyone to get lost in the cinema experience and have some good laughs
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 01, 2020, 10:37:22 pm
It looks cool, but not sure i'm comfortable with risks.

I may be a bit late to the party, but this looks like a good selection of films, a bit different to the usual Netflix / Prime offerings

https://mubi.com/

We've been on Mubi for a couple of years. Brilliant selection from the downright weird, to the "film festival winners that you never get a chance to see". Definitely a thought provoking lineup, but often not ideal for "casual midweek watching".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 01, 2020, 11:16:40 pm
It looks cool, but not sure i'm comfortable with risks.

Of catching coranovirus? Minimal in a cinema I think. Must be one of the safest possible things you can do. Having said that I have no idea if you have any reason to be particularly circumspect.
The risk of paying a lot of money for it is noticeably higher! Although I have noticed that vue are only charging 4.99 a head for movies as an introductory offer to get people back
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on September 01, 2020, 11:27:01 pm
Unfortunately two American epidemiologists don't think it is a good idea to go to the cinema at the moment.

Short of renting out an entire theater, which is obviously not an option for most of us, there is no scenario in which going to a movie theater is a good idea, says Dr. Anne W. Rimoin, professor of epidemiology and director of the Center For Global And Immigrant Health at the University Of California, Los Angeles. Her sentiments are echoed by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed: Its just about the last thing Id do right now, says the physician and epidemiologist, who is also a former city health commissioner"

https://film.avclub.com/please-don-t-go-to-a-movie-theater-it-s-just-about-th-1844756993
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 02, 2020, 08:14:44 am
Maybe if the windows were open...

😂

or more constructively if they had some data on the fresh air rates added by their AC system...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 02, 2020, 08:19:13 am
That was the same thing I read, or a separate article referencing it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: gme on September 02, 2020, 08:26:46 am
Both my kids have been on separate occasions and said it was fine. Loads of space, clean and orderly. Far less crowded than your average shop or pub.

I wouldn't have an issue going. I am not a regular cinema goer anyway and when i do i usually find them half empty anyway, other than the fact your inside i cant see how it would be a risk if guidelines are followed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nutty on September 02, 2020, 10:18:12 am
Both my kids have been on separate occasions and said it was fine. Loads of space, clean and orderly. Far less crowded than your average shop or pub.
You don't hang around in a shop with the same people for 2-3 hours though, and given the reported outbreaks linked to pubs I wouldn't take 'not as bad as a pub' as a recommendation.

The biggest screen at our local Vue has 360 seats. Ok, they're reducing capacity, spacing out groups etc. but with the current estimated infection rate in the community the chance of someone in an auditorium that size at quarter capacity having Covid-19 would be ~5%. I'm not comfortable with a 5% chance of sitting in an enclosed space for 2-3 hours with someone infected, and not because of the risk to me (the estimated hospitalisation and fatality rates for my age group are pretty small) but because I then wouldn't be happy to visit my parents afterwards. Yes, everyone's supposed to wear a mask, but you can take it off to eat and drink and I reckon enforcement of it would be about as good as on an average Tui flight from Zante...

If I was a massive cinephile, my viewpoint might be different as I'd value the experience more. If I had a higher risk occupation, then the risk of a cinema visit might seem minimal compared to the risk of going to work. For me it would be the riskiest thing in terms of Covid I'd have done since March and I don't value the pay-off for that risk enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 02, 2020, 10:20:30 am
Unfortunately two American epidemiologists don't think it is a good idea to go to the cinema at the moment.

I just don't buy this. They're limited to ⅓ capacity, everyone has to wear masks, everyone is sat down doing nothing, everyone faces the same way... At some point you have to ask what are you willing to do?
I understand if you have a condition which means you're at increased risk but otherwise, I can't see it's much more 'risky' than leaving the house at all.
The only thing that's stopped me going to see Tenet the other day was than its really long and I was feeling a bit sleepy!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 02, 2020, 10:46:06 am
I always refer to this article for my understanding of the risks (you could call it my tenet :)).

The aircon in the restaurant section is my chief cause for concern. Way more risk involved than "leaving the house" or moving round a supermarket.

https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

I'm relatively low risk, but have relatives I see on a weekly basis who are in higher risk categories, and I'd hate to be the one responsible for them getting ill.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 02, 2020, 10:52:04 am
Re: risk of going to the pictures: what Nutty said.

But. This rings true:
If I was a massive cinephile, my viewpoint might be different as I'd value the experience more. If I had a higher risk occupation, then the risk of a cinema visit might seem minimal compared to the risk of going to work.

And then Toby (massive cinephile!) confirms it to be true!
Unfortunately two American epidemiologists don't think it is a good idea to go to the cinema at the moment.

I just don't buy this. They're limited to ⅓ capacity, everyone has to wear masks, everyone is sat down doing nothing, everyone faces the same way... At some point you have to ask what are you willing to do?
I understand if you have a condition which means you're at increased risk but otherwise, I can't see it's much more 'risky' than leaving the house at all.
The only thing that's stopped me going to see Tenet the other day was than its really long and I was feeling a bit sleepy!


This is why it's so futile to be overly judgemental of others. We all have things that we're prepared to break the rules for. The riskiest thing I've done is to have a friend stay for a weekend, during which we carshared to crags. But climbing is the thing I value above almost anything else.

The riskiest thing my parents have done is have close physical contact with their two grandchildren.

Everybody has a price.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 02, 2020, 10:54:03 am
but otherwise, I can't see it's much more 'risky' than leaving the house at all.

Come on Toby, there are thousands of things you can do that involve leaving the house that put you at less risk of getting Covid than sitting in a large air conditioned box with other people for 3+ hours.

If going to the cinema falls under your worth it/not worth it risk line then thats fine but theres no point in pretending its the same risk as going out for a walk (for example).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: gme on September 02, 2020, 11:19:35 am
Both my kids have been on separate occasions and said it was fine. Loads of space, clean and orderly. Far less crowded than your average shop or pub.
You don't hang around in a shop with the same people for 2-3 hours though, and given the reported outbreaks linked to pubs I wouldn't take 'not as bad as a pub' as a recommendation.

The biggest screen at our local Vue has 360 seats. Ok, they're reducing capacity, spacing out groups etc. but with the current estimated infection rate in the community the chance of someone in an auditorium that size at quarter capacity having Covid-19 would be ~5%. I'm not comfortable with a 5% chance of sitting in an enclosed space for 2-3 hours with someone infected, and not because of the risk to me (the estimated hospitalisation and fatality rates for my age group are pretty small) but because I then wouldn't be happy to visit my parents afterwards. Yes, everyone's supposed to wear a mask, but you can take it off to eat and drink and I reckon enforcement of it would be about as good as on an average Tui flight from Zante...

If I was a massive cinephile, my viewpoint might be different as I'd value the experience more. If I had a higher risk occupation, then the risk of a cinema visit might seem minimal compared to the risk of going to work. For me it would be the riskiest thing in terms of Covid I'd have done since March and I don't value the pay-off for that risk enough.

I obviously sit at the opposite end of the spectrum to you with this (i am happy to go to the pub, restaurants, trains etc)  but looking at the figures for Tennet it appears lots of people agree with me and were happy to go. 

More on topic both my kids, one of which is a proper cinephile, though Tennet was the best thing they have seen in years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on September 02, 2020, 12:34:31 pm
Or in other words: Tenet or tennets? Which is your vice?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 02, 2020, 12:51:01 pm
or Tennents
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JamieG on September 02, 2020, 12:58:53 pm
Damn it! I've been out of Scotland too long, can't even spell Tennents.  :slap:

To be fair you normally only need to be able to see the big red T through the beer haze and you'll be fine.  :pissed:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 02, 2020, 02:07:52 pm
Re: risk of going to the pictures: what Nutty said.
...
Everybody has a price.


Yes I agree Will. I am a massive cinephile and I value the experience. Cinema is what films are made for and you will always lose something, sometimes an awful lot, by watching it at home.
It's something I will accept a certain amount of risk for. I didn't see Nuttys post until I had already posted.

Describing a cinema as an air conditioned box is all rather alarmist. Even if someone else in the room has it, you're still unlikely to catch it, not everyone who is in the same room as people with the virus does.

I'll accept it's more risky than a walk, although that depends on where you walk, the Peak District for example gets very busy, and some paths are narrow...

But this isn't a virus thread, apologies. Gav, I'm glad to hear that others thought Tenet was a great movie, and I look forward to seeing it at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 02, 2020, 02:29:58 pm
Quote from: Fiend
Re: risk of going to the pictures: what Nutty said.
...
Everybody has a price.


Yes I agree Will. I am a massive climber and I value the experience of climbing - including during lockdown. Climbing is what the outdoor world was made for and you will always lose something, sometimes an awful lot, by sitting at home festering.
It's something I will accept a certain amount of risk for. I didn't see Nuttys post until I had already posted.

Describing the outdoors as having an actual risk is all rather alarmist. Even if someone else on the same hillside has it, you're still unlikely to catch it, not everyone who is on the same hillside as people with the virus does.

I'll accept it's more risky than just walking / running / cycling once a day as we were allowed to, although that depends on where you do those things because most of the time during your daily exercise allowance there might be people around...

 :-\ :-\ :-\

P.S. I want to go see Tenet.

P.P.S. Mama Fiend has been <insert highly vulgar metaphor for excitement here that will have Mr and Mrs Briggs tutting furiously into their organic herbal teas at the horror of it all> to get back to the cinema, despite being in a clearly high risk group. Not to see Tenet of course, she's far too highbrow for that, makes Falling Down and andy popp look as crass as me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 02, 2020, 03:10:38 pm
I'll accept it's more risky than a walk, although that depends on where you walk, the Peak District for example gets very busy, and some paths are narrow...

Toby, I don't think you should necessarily avoid the cinema. It's your thing; it means a lot to you. If you've weighed up the risks and you're keen then you should go. There's very little that anybody can do which is 0 risk.

However, the quote above implies that your understanding of the risks is very different to mine. I don't think anybody understands it completely yet, but we do know enough to know that the above isn't true.

If you're in the cinema and you're "downwind" of an asymptomatic person with COVID then you'll be breathing in a very low concentration of viruses for 2-3 hours. Over that time, you might cop for an infectious dose due to the prolonged period that you were exposed to low levels of the virus. If you were to happen upon the same person on a narrow path in the Peak then you might brush past them momentarily and you'd only be exposed to their breath for a very short time - not nearly enough time to get an infectious dose. Any viruses that they do breathe out as they go round their walk will be dispersed and diluted by the huge volume of moving air that is present outside. In the cinema, any aerosols that they're producing will hang around for much longer.

That's my understanding of it - it might be wrong or incomplete. I've a friend who has worked as a doctor in intensive care and infectious diseases in Sheffield. She told me she was popping to the wall and I questioned the wisdom of this on the basis of the above. Her view was that aerosol generating procedures were not happening in a climbing wall (but heavy breathing, surely?). I expect her view is coloured by the fact that her workplace is much higher risk, so whatever she might get up to in her free time seems comparatively risk free; and also by the fact that she said, "I just want to have some fun before it kicks off again in winter!".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: James Malloch on September 02, 2020, 03:23:45 pm
I'll accept it's more risky than a walk, although that depends on where you walk, the Peak District for example gets very busy, and some paths are narrow...



If you're in the cinema and you're "downwind" of an asymptomatic person with COVID then you'll be breathing in a very low concentration of viruses for 2-3 hours. Over that time, you might cop for an infectious dose due to the prolonged period that you were exposed to low levels of the virus. If you were to happen upon the same person on a narrow path in the Peak then you might brush past them momentarily and you'd only be exposed to their breath for a very short time - not nearly enough time to get an infectious dose. Any viruses that they do breathe out as they go round their walk will be dispersed and diluted by the huge volume of moving air that is present outside. In the cinema, any aerosols that they're producing will hang around for much longer.


Essentially what the link shared by SA Chris says: https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Some of the diagrams showing who became infected in an indoor environment are very interesting too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on September 02, 2020, 04:17:28 pm
It all depends (as I alluded to in an earlier post) on the amount of fresh air introduced into the AC and if its filtered (and if so how much). Saw a good article on this the other day that kind of said It all depended on the amount of fresh air introduced to the heating/cooling system.

If its not filtered and all recirculated (like a conventional wall mounted ACU in a room or small restaraunt) then walk away.

Windows open ✅

Large venue AC (like a cknima) will probably introduce some fresh air in with the recirculation - but how much is quite important. Otherwise a small dose keeps recirculating.

Theres a couple of recent studies (one on 22 people infected on a coach journey) showing that the closed recirculation can be especially problematic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: robertostallioni on September 02, 2020, 06:54:21 pm
Saw an ad on Netfux yesterday for The Debt Collector and decided to give it 10 mins as it had a decidedly B movie look to it.
It was bloody ace! Great dialogue and action all the way through. And there was a second one! So I watched that too. Just as good. The second one is rather unsurprisingly titled "The debt collector 2".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on September 02, 2020, 11:23:26 pm
Kenneth Branagh has an extremely unconvincing Russian accent in Tenet. I could sustain my disbelief for the inversion of the 2nd law, but an extremely thick "Russian" accent but with a standard /h/ and voiced consonants at the end of words? NO such luck.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on November 03, 2020, 12:01:16 pm
A few recent watches:

Apostasy - on iPlayer. Really good, an examination of the Jehovah's Witness community. Really well acted and enraging at times.

The Nightingale - on netflix. Good revenge story set in colonial Tasmania. Not for the faint hearted, so fair warning. Pretty graphic and disturbing at times but beautifully shot and a great storyline.

The Babadook - iPlayer. Same director as Nightingale. Good spooky horror but slightly overlong. The child in it annoyed me intensely at the start but I think thats sort of the point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 03, 2020, 01:11:41 pm
I went with the lad, almost 13 now, to see Tenet. We both really enjoyed it, totally absorbing.

Plot/ science probably doesnt stand up to much scrutiny but who gives a shit; its just a great movie. Liked the performances, Branagh didnt bother me, actually thought he was quite good ignoring the accent.

Very much of the Nolan uvre. Was thinking where does it leave your bond film type of thing; much like the first Bourne film moved things on with the heist action genre, here we have this auteur with some original ideas being given the budgets to do what he wants which turns out to be heist action things like Inception or Tenet. If I go to see it I cant imagine Ill come out of the next Bond in such a great mood.

Also watched The Terminator and The Untouchables. He loved them both, as do I. Not too long, remember when films used to be two hours...? Pacing, tension and soundtrack crank up nicely through both. Whilst Connery is good in the Untouchables, best supporting actor feels like either a weak year or a loyal service nod.

I second Knives Out, great stuff. Which reminds me I will go and see Bond; because Ana de Armas.



[i looked it up, yeah honourable achievement award for being Sean Connery]
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 03, 2020, 03:08:31 pm
Hey all - I haven't posted on here for ages and not wanting to bore you with all the old films I've been re-watching over lockdown so I'll just share the most recent trio.

I started with True Romance - I think having Tarantino as the writer but then Tony Scott directing is such an amazing combination. Absolutely stacked cast, all putting in incredible performances although perhaps Gary Oldman's is 'incredible' without actually being good but is certainly out there!

Tarantino openly talks about how heavily True Romance was influenced by Badlands - a film I've never watched but was aware of its reputation so figured I'd go ahead and give it a go. After watching it's clear to see how this movie from the 70s influence an entire generation of director and gave me a craving for more Terrence Malick... Which leads us on to...

The Thin Red line - a film I had watched before but long enough ago that I although I knew the story had forgotten much of the dialogue. In fact I was surprised when the dialogue that UNKLE sampled in their song 'Eye for an eye' appeared in the film as I have listened to that song plenty of times but had never placed the sample. Another absolutely stacked cast, again all putting in superb performances and no Gary Oldman crazyness. Nick Nolte is turning it up to 11 but really works for me. Contender for best war film ever? Certainly right up there for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 03, 2020, 03:24:38 pm
Interesting to hear that about The Thin Red Line, it's been a long time since I last watched it but I remember it being utterly tedious!

On the other hand, recently watched 1917 and thought it was superb. The 'one shot' thing is totally immersive, doesn't feel gimmicky at all, and the ebb and flow of the film felt spot on. Tense believable action sequences with haunting sections between and great dialogue.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on November 03, 2020, 04:17:34 pm

On the other hand, recently watched 1917 and thought it was superb. The 'one shot' thing is totally immersive, doesn't feel gimmicky at all, and the ebb and flow of the film felt spot on. Tense believable action sequences with haunting sections between and great dialogue.

Yeah, 1917 is brilliant. Was very glad I saw it in a cinema but good to hear it retains its impact on a TV (presumably).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 03, 2020, 04:28:50 pm
Yes on TV. Started off with it just "on in the background" and ended up riveted unable to look away.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 03, 2020, 09:45:10 pm
I went with the lad, almost 13 now, to see Tenet. We both really enjoyed it, totally absorbing.

Plot/ science probably doesnt stand up to much scrutiny but who gives a shit; its just a great movie. Liked the performances, Branagh didnt bother me, actually thought he was quite good ignoring the accent.

Very much of the Nolan uvre. Was thinking where does it leave your bond film type of thing; much like the first Bourne film moved things on with the heist action genre, here we have this auteur with some original ideas being given the budgets to do what he wants which turns out to be heist action things like Inception or Tenet. If I go to see it I cant imagine Ill come out of the next Bond in such a great mood.


I really liked Tenet. I think that Christopher Nolan probably really enjoys making this sort of stuff and would admit that its all supposed to be a bit of fun, unlike some of his slightly more po-faced predecessors. It all looked very nice and I like that Does this make sense? Actually, I dont know what the fucks going on now. Er, ok, ah yes, right, hes actually that bloke, internal monologue.

Also, I like things that reveal more on subsequent viewings - Primer being perhaps the archetype of the genre, i.e. quite-but-not-too-intelligent films that middle-aged men (who claim to be cinephiles because theyve got a DVD of In the Mood for Love in the attic but given a choice between Superbad and Andrei Rublev theyd almost certainly opt for McLovin, although theyve watched Bait and Beau Travail, and who possibly put Alphaville on their iPad before going to Font but ended up watching Ghostbusters and John Wick instead) can then mansplain to their children dropping in references to Latin palindromic word squares (that they just looked up on Wikipedia)...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 05, 2020, 02:30:38 pm
I went with the lad, almost 13 now, to see Tenet. We both really enjoyed it, totally absorbing.

Plot/ science probably doesnt stand up to much scrutiny but who gives a shit; its just a great movie. Liked the performances, Branagh didnt bother me, actually thought he was quite good ignoring the accent.

Very much of the Nolan uvre. Was thinking where does it leave your bond film type of thing; much like the first Bourne film moved things on with the heist action genre, here we have this auteur with some original ideas being given the budgets to do what he wants which turns out to be heist action things like Inception or Tenet. If I go to see it I cant imagine Ill come out of the next Bond in such a great mood.


I really liked Tenet. I think that Christopher Nolan probably really enjoys making this sort of stuff and would admit that its all supposed to be a bit of fun, unlike some of his slightly more po-faced predecessors. It all looked very nice and I like that Does this make sense? Actually, I dont know what the fucks going on now. Er, ok, ah yes, right, hes actually that bloke, internal monologue.

Also, I like things that reveal more on subsequent viewings - Primer being perhaps the archetype of the genre, i.e. quite-but-not-too-intelligent films that middle-aged men (who claim to be cinephiles because theyve got a DVD of In the Mood for Love in the attic but given a choice between Superbad and Andrei Rublev theyd almost certainly opt for McLovin, although theyve watched Bait and Beau Travail, and who possibly put Alphaville on their iPad before going to Font but ended up watching Ghostbusters and John Wick instead) can then mansplain to their children dropping in references to Latin palindromic word squares (that they just looked up on Wikipedia)...

OOH Primer...

Living in a flat, no attic so they're still taking up space on shelves for all to see. 2046 tho...

Also, Superbad is really fucking funny. I watched it the other day, vetting for a tweenager. (No not yet). Its brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 05, 2020, 06:51:19 pm
The thing is, I would argue that Primer has a more sophisticated plot than any Nolan film. It's obvs pretty convoluted (though there's a great timeline kicking around somewhere) but if you accept the theory of the machine it all makes perfect sense. Big budget films so often seem to use spectacular cinematic window dressing to try to cover various plot holes or things that don't add up. I think it would be terrifically impressive if it was a FilmFour funded independent, but as a $7000 film shot mostly on short ends by a director who also acted / wrote / composed the music it's awesome.

Pity he's not done much since...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 05, 2020, 07:20:03 pm
Yeah natch i had a look at IMDB earlier; what happen to that guy? Clearly a talent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 05, 2020, 07:53:09 pm
Interesting to hear that about The Thin Red Line, it's been a long time since I last watched it but I remember it being utterly tedious!

I was a little shocked when I started playing it and noticed the 2hrs50min running time... but personally found it anything but tedious. I'm a sucked for a bit of teasing though so  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 05, 2020, 08:39:39 pm
Yeah natch i had a look at IMDB earlier; what happen to that guy? Clearly a talent.

He made Upstream Colour which is interesting but weirder. I think hes had various things which have made it part of the way and then fizzled out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 05, 2020, 09:44:29 pm
I was going to post this in one of the Trump / political threads but that isn't really my scene and although it's a fantastic quote and as relevant as ever, it is probably more fun here:

'People want leadership Mr President and in the absence of genuine leadership they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership, they are so thirsty for it they will crawl through the desert to a mirage and when they discover there is no water they will drink the sand.'

Guess the film? No Google-cheating. Bonus points for the actor delivering speech and writer of film in question.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 06, 2020, 08:48:05 am
Blimey, I've no idea on that one - wild guess, but Independence Day?!

Few good films on iPlayer at the moment, presumably leftover from Halloween. The Shining is there, and also Ghost Stories, which I watched the other day.

Written by and starring Andy Nyman, who is part of the team that Derren Brown works with. Has Paul Whitehouse in it too. A lot scarier / creepier than I'd assumed it'd be, and has a good twist.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 06, 2020, 11:51:59 am
Not Independence Day but good guess! I won't give it away yet, just in case someone else wants to have a stab.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 06, 2020, 02:34:15 pm
I was going to post this in one of the Trump / political threads but that isn't really my scene and although it's a fantastic quote and as relevant as ever, it is probably more fun here:

'People want leadership Mr President and in the absence of genuine leadership they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership, they are so thirsty for it they will crawl through the desert to a mirage and when they discover there is no water they will drink the sand.'

Guess the film? No Google-cheating. Bonus points for the actor delivering speech and writer of film in question.

Had to look it up, I haven't seen it.

I have seen the, "they aren't looking at me, theyre looking at you" bit before though. Great cast, writer, director. Will def give it a go when Fanny & Alexander feels too heavy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 13, 2020, 08:14:03 am
Leeds Film Festival is online this year so there's some good looking films to stream. Somewhat annoyingly they seem to have had a rights issue which means you can't play the films through Chrome - so no Chromecasting to the telly.

Watched High Ground last night. 4/5.

https://youtu.be/WL-G4oCoDF0
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pope B on November 13, 2020, 09:09:41 pm
Looks good, will give it a watch!

From the Leeds film festival we watched "The Whaler Boy" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wp-bJ5G0xU&ab_channel=Cinemaldito), which was really good, though not sure I agree with it's description of it as a comedy, it does however have its funny moments.

"Black Milk" was also really good (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LgMbDiqfnY&ab_channel=FilmFestivaldellaLessinia) -- sorry couldn't find an english trailer, on the LIFF website they had it with English subtitles.

Looking forward to seeing a few more
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 14, 2020, 11:43:25 pm
Turns out I was an imbecile and you can Chromecast stuff from the Leeds Film Festival if you're on an Android phone.

Just finished Dune Drifter which was pretty intense. Fighter pilot and her gunner crash land on a desolate planet.

Kind of like what the Martian might have been like if there was an Opposing Force and Hollywood didn't keep you feeling optimistic all the way through.

Very worthwhile.

https://youtu.be/cvbS7ILmFfo
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 08, 2020, 06:03:04 pm
https://youtu.be/ElprzeVzSt8 (https://youtu.be/ElprzeVzSt8)

Possessor - Fairly full-on sci-fi horror from Brandon (son of David) Cronenberg. Not my usual cup of tea, but very stylish and clever. The Guardian suggested it was > Inception which got me interested. General idea is a future organisation are able to perform assassinations by connecting the killer to the mind of a zombie / stooge close to the target via a hardcore VR system. Unfortunately the killer (Andrea Riseborough) is experiencing various mental / personality defects triggered by previous missions which are exacerbated by aspects of the new one, which involve killing a gigantic tech-arsehole (Sean Bean). Things get very nasty, then extremely weird, followed by a magnificent twist at the end. Highly recommended.

(I followed this with his earlier 2012 film Antiviral, which was interesting but less convincing.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on December 08, 2020, 07:02:46 pm
Ohhh I've been looking for that - has it been released on streaming service(s)?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on December 09, 2020, 09:03:00 am
Yep - its on Amazon Prime / YouTube, etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 09, 2020, 09:38:18 am
I really enjoyed Dark Waters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Waters_(2019_film) (on Netflix)

Quite a cast list with Mark Ruffalo as an unassuming civil environmental lawyer who takes on Dupont over how Teflon poisoned thousands of people. Its a gently paced legal drama - that keeps on going right until the end. True story etc.. with Cameo's from some of the actual protagonists (watch the end credits for where).

EDIT: Not many films that lead to a 10% drop in the stock price (of who the film is about) upon release!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 09, 2020, 10:53:15 am
I really enjoyed Dark Waters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Waters_(2019_film) (on Netflix)

Quite a cast list with Mark Ruffalo as an unassuming civil environmental lawyer who takes on Dupont over how Teflon poisoned thousands of people. Its a gently paced legal drama - that keeps on going right until the end. True story etc.. with Cameo's from some of the actual protagonists (watch the end credits for where).

EDIT: Not many films that lead to a 10% drop in the stock price (of who the film is about) upon release!

Good shout. This is the last thing I saw in a cinema, and I agree it's excellent. Hopefully 2021 will be better for cinemas.

Recently (on Netflix) watched Jack Reacher. I'm sure people who have read the novels think it's awful because Cruise is too short etc etc; but I thought it was distinctly enjoyable uncomplicated silly action movie stuff. Nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned. It's hardly memorable cinematic brilliance, but it doesn't pretend to be either.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 09, 2020, 12:53:07 pm
Just finished Dune Drifter which was pretty intense. Fighter pilot and her gunner crash land on a desolate planet.

Kind of like what the Martian might have been like if there was an Opposing Force and Hollywood didn't keep you feeling optimistic all the way through.
Sold!

Possessor - Fairly full-on sci-fi horror from Brandon (son of David) Cronenberg. Not my usual cup of tea, but very stylish and clever. The Guardian suggested it was > Inception which got me interested. General idea is a future organisation are able to perform assassinations by connecting the killer to the mind of a zombie / stooge close to the target via a hardcore VR system. Unfortunately the killer (Andrea Riseborough) is experiencing various mental / personality defects triggered by previous missions which are exacerbated by aspects of the new one, which involve killing a gigantic tech-arsehole (Sean Bean). Things get very nasty, then extremely weird, followed by a magnificent twist at the end. Highly recommended.
And that!

Cheers guys.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Steve R on December 09, 2020, 06:43:14 pm
Watched Possessor last night.  Christ, probably the most graphic up close ultraviolence I've ever seen.  Style and concepts great.  Found the plot and, I guess as a result, some of the scenes and acting a bit sluggish.  Subtle and extremely dark but not particularly ambitious in terms of storytelling?  I guess that's the idea though... Where were the good guys? I guess that's not the idea...
Some of the scenes illustrating a 'transition' into a host thought were incredibly well done.  Ditto the conflicting consciousnesses within the same host body bits. 
Tuppence Middleton reliably  :wub:
Inevitable comparison with Inception - yes this is way better.  Always thought that movie was crap, best thing to come out of it was the Rick & Morty episode it inspired.     

Dune Drifter Tonight.

Thanks for the recs.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on December 09, 2020, 06:53:59 pm
Watched Possessor last night.  Christ, probably the most graphic up close ultraviolence I've ever seen.
Useful to know. I'm a sensitive wee soul and whilst I don't mind OTT horror and gore, I struggle with gritty human-on-human violence. Might just watch Inception again, one of my favourite films ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 10, 2020, 10:53:03 am
I really enjoyed Dark Waters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Waters_(2019_film) (on Netflix)

Quite a cast list with Mark Ruffalo as an unassuming civil environmental lawyer who takes on Dupont over how Teflon poisoned thousands of people. Its a gently paced legal drama - that keeps on going right until the end. True story etc.. with Cameo's from some of the actual protagonists (watch the end credits for where).

EDIT: Not many films that lead to a 10% drop in the stock price (of who the film is about) upon release!

It's also on Prime I believe.

Red Sparrow was on C4 a few weeks ago after maintaining a very high rental cost on other services previously. We both thought it was excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 10, 2020, 11:11:05 am
Something that I didn't mention before is that Dune Drifter was made on a tiny budget, so do factor that in as you watch. It seems to have become the victim of a downvoting pile on on IMDB so its score is somewhere around 3 now. Some reasonable criticisms levelled at it there but it's certainly not worth 1/10! I thought it was enjoyable for what it was. I'd be interested to know what UKBers think if they watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Steve R on December 10, 2020, 11:22:59 am
You got that defense in just in time!  1/10 generous, absolute shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 10, 2020, 11:30:48 am
 :lol:

Did it not at least add something that the baddies seem to have been modelled on Fiend?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Steve R on December 10, 2020, 12:00:05 pm
I'm sure that would've helped but I didn't make it as far as the bits with baddies in.  Sacked pretty early on with the realisation this was time better spent just watching star wars (including the new ones), possibly even Inception  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 10, 2020, 12:16:09 pm
Sacked pretty early on with the realisation this was time better spent just watching star wars (including the new ones),

Thats a seriously low bar to fall under!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 10, 2020, 12:43:32 pm
Downgrading before completing is frowned upon in these parts.
 :spank:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 10, 2020, 01:09:44 pm
Red Sparrow was on C4 a few weeks ago after maintaining a very high rental cost on other services previously. We both thought it was excellent.

Me and MrsTT watched about 40 min of this and thought it just a bit crap. The whole spy school of seduction/sex school part was - well just weird and didnt seem to add up to me either portraying it as weird/traumatic or otherwise... I wondered if these bits were supposed to titilate (I struggled for a better word!) with some gratuitous naked scenes that didnt really seem to add anything to it... Oh well! Maybe it got better :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on December 18, 2020, 11:27:11 pm
I really enjoyed Dark Waters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Waters_(2019_film) (on Netflix)

Quite a cast list with Mark Ruffalo as an unassuming civil environmental lawyer who takes on Dupont over how Teflon poisoned thousands of people. Its a gently paced legal drama - that keeps on going right until the end. True story etc.. with Cameo's from some of the actual protagonists (watch the end credits for where).

EDIT: Not many films that lead to a 10% drop in the stock price (of who the film is about) upon release!

This is absolutely brilliant. Great shout.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 19, 2020, 07:48:38 am
Watched Backkklansman last night. Really enjoyed it, funny but with a very serious point. Some thinly veiled digs at Trump.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 19, 2020, 10:29:04 am
The Shape of Water was on TV recently so might still be available on 4od. We watched it last night and both really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 19, 2020, 01:35:21 pm
Another shout for Dark Waters. Thought it was very good.

Lucky Logan - A very good and funny crime caper with a good cast. Really enjoyed it.

The Gentlemen - Daft as a brush but made me laugh out loud a few times. Hugh Grant camping it up and Colin Farrow are great in it. Its a Guy Richie movie so yknow.

Crock of Gold - A biopic of Shane McGowan by Julian Temple. Pretty bleak seeing him in the state hes on but a good movie nevertheless. Thankfully avoids the usual rock-star-talking-heads thing that plague music documentaries.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 19, 2020, 01:58:31 pm
The lawyer in Dark Waters (forgotten his name) had an op Ed in yesterdays Guardian.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 19, 2020, 02:04:11 pm
We watched Armando Iannucci's "The Personal History of David Copperfield" last week - tremendous fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 19, 2020, 05:40:00 pm
The lawyer in Dark Waters (forgotten his name) had an op Ed in yesterdays Guardian.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/17/dark-waters-pfas-ticking-chemical-time-bomb-in-your-blood
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 19, 2020, 05:43:09 pm
Yup. Ive been looking at non stick cook wear quite differently since viewing it...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 19, 2020, 06:11:54 pm
Persistent Organic Pollutants are pretty terrifying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 19, 2020, 06:56:30 pm
It's a strange thing isn't it, because on the face of it it should be just as much in the public consciousness as Covid-19, has the potential to actually cause a similar amount of illness / premature death, and yet because those illnesses are less immediate, generally accepted as things that happen anyway, and not directly transmissible, and because the potential cure / fix is so hard to imagine, it'll probably never get properly dealt with. Which is my pessimistic take on it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 19, 2020, 09:35:35 pm
The lawyer in Dark Waters (forgotten his name) had an op Ed in yesterdays Guardian.

Dark Waters was really good.

I'm not quite sure how but Drive had passed me by until last night. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on December 19, 2020, 10:39:19 pm
I really liked Drive.  It reminded me of a couple of old favourites, Melville's Le Samourai and Point Blank; similar near-silent "heroes" with no back-story but a "code", and eerie, cold cinematography (Lee Marvin in PB gets the winning vote for services to wearing tight suits).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 21, 2020, 01:04:39 pm
Watched Backkklansman last night. Really enjoyed it, funny but with a very serious point. Some thinly veiled digs at Trump.

Blatant digs at the end, no punches pulled. Good film though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 27, 2020, 06:34:46 pm
The Midnight Sky.

Prcis: Netflix new feature film starring Clooney. Sci fi where the 2049 world is being overcome by a radiation cloud (source unknown - but self inflicted) and Clooney is a dying physicist stationed in the Arctic circle. Everyone else is evacuated but he stays as hes only got weeks left to live.

Meanwhile - space craft returning from exploring an inhabitable (recently discovered - conveniently) moon of Jupiter is unaware of earths peril and having just come out of some sort of radio black spot cant figure out wtf is going on.

Clooney makes it his final act to try and warn them not to try and land on earth and to turn back to their newly discovered inhabitable world.

Review: slow. But nicely shot. Liked the sci fi ideas (spacecraft and features were cool). Not the best set of performances in the world - and some were awkward and wooden. Bits of it felt as tense and as well shot/cgid as Gravity - but then it would stop and be a bit err meh. Also some nice scenes on earth as George makes a crazy dash to a different base (but really should die of hypo). It probably gets 3/5 stars. But its an alright watch - not full of holes, just not as good as it could have been with some better characterisation. Perfect Xmas fodder if youve seen all the usual films.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 30, 2020, 12:14:04 pm
There Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Really brilliant film. Very Coen brothers esq, so if you're a fan of their style you'll enjoy this. Given the starting subject matter I thought it was going to be quite a harrowing watch, so had put it off for a long time. Instead it's a darkly comic and strangely warm and uplifting film, full of memorable moments and great dialogue. Frances McDormand is her usual brilliant self but there are loads of other good performances. Solid 8 or 9/10 for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Footwork on December 30, 2020, 12:42:25 pm
The Midnight Sky.

Prcis: Netflix new feature film starring Clooney. Sci fi where the 2049 world is being overcome by a radiation cloud (source unknown - but self inflicted) and Clooney is a dying physicist stationed in the Arctic circle. Everyone else is evacuated but he stays as hes only got weeks left to live.

Meanwhile - space craft returning from exploring an inhabitable (recently discovered - conveniently) moon of Jupiter is unaware of earths peril and having just come out of some sort of radio black spot cant figure out wtf is going on.

Clooney makes it his final act to try and warn them not to try and land on earth and to turn back to their newly discovered inhabitable world.

Review: slow. But nicely shot. Liked the sci fi ideas (spacecraft and features were cool). Not the best set of performances in the world - and some were awkward and wooden. Bits of it felt as tense and as well shot/cgid as Gravity - but then it would stop and be a bit err meh. Also some nice scenes on earth as George makes a crazy dash to a different base (but really should die of hypo). It probably gets 3/5 stars. But its an alright watch - not full of holes, just not as good as it could have been with some better characterisation. Perfect Xmas fodder if youve seen all the usual films.

What? This was absolutely dreadful. Summed up as Clooney tries to mash two films into one (the Road and Gravity/ The Martian) with no beginning or ending and a drawn out middle, the sole purpose of which was to get a nice visual effects scene during a space walk.

We all grudgingly finished it. We then watched White Chicks on Netflix which was far, far superior.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on December 30, 2020, 01:10:30 pm
The Midnight Sky.

Prcis: Netflix new feature film starring Clooney. Sci fi where the 2049 world is being overcome by a radiation cloud (source unknown - but self inflicted) and Clooney is a dying physicist stationed in the Arctic circle. Everyone else is evacuated but he stays as hes only got weeks left to live.

Meanwhile - space craft returning from exploring an inhabitable (recently discovered - conveniently) moon of Jupiter is unaware of earths peril and having just come out of some sort of radio black spot cant figure out wtf is going on.

Clooney makes it his final act to try and warn them not to try and land on earth and to turn back to their newly discovered inhabitable world.

Review: slow. But nicely shot. Liked the sci fi ideas (spacecraft and features were cool). Not the best set of performances in the world - and some were awkward and wooden. Bits of it felt as tense and as well shot/cgid as Gravity - but then it would stop and be a bit err meh. Also some nice scenes on earth as George makes a crazy dash to a different base (but really should die of hypo). It probably gets 3/5 stars. But its an alright watch - not full of holes, just not as good as it could have been with some better characterisation. Perfect Xmas fodder if youve seen all the usual films.

What? This was absolutely dreadful. Summed up as Clooney tries to mash two films into one (the Road and Gravity/ The Martian) with no beginning or ending and a drawn out middle, the sole purpose of which was to get a nice visual effects scene during a space walk.

We all grudgingly finished it.

Worst film Ive seen in a long time. Just dreadful. The bit where he swims under the ice, soaked through in an arctic storm and simply zips his parka back up  :lol:. Presumably I fell asleep when they actually explained why earth was fuct? Clooney should stick to advertising disposable coffee pods.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 30, 2020, 01:29:29 pm
Sorry for wasting your two hours :(

I did say it wasnt brilliant.. but guess it fitted my lowish expectations. there is no explanation of why the earth was ferked. In the film or book apparently.

For context - I saw the usual suspects at the cinema when it first came out abs thought it was really bad - and predictable. It went on to be a raved about success... :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nai on December 30, 2020, 02:20:47 pm
When I saw it was a 12 I suggested to the family that we watch it rather than Home Alone 2.  Guess how popular I was.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on December 30, 2020, 02:22:39 pm
Big question in my head now is whether its better or worse than Home alone 2.

Its a low bar...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 30, 2020, 03:56:19 pm
I was subjected to the remake of Mulan the other night. Disney have excelled themselves by making something considerably worse than the animated original. I'm told I have to look forward to the same for Aladdin and the Jungle Book (mercifully they both seem to score much higher on IMDB type websites).

 :tumble:

The upside being that the Disney+ subscription allows me to now watch the Mandalorian.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 30, 2020, 04:40:38 pm
Jungle Book isn't quite as bad as Mulan to be fair. Good voice acting at least.

Have you started with the Mandalorian Paul? I wouldn't get your hopes up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 30, 2020, 06:49:45 pm
5ep or so, yes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 30, 2020, 06:54:29 pm
There Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Really brilliant film. Very Coen brothers esq, so if you're a fan of their style you'll enjoy this. Given the starting subject matter I thought it was going to be quite a harrowing watch, so had put it off for a long time. Instead it's a darkly comic and strangely warm and uplifting film, full of memorable moments and great dialogue. Frances McDormand is her usual brilliant self but there are loads of other good performances. Solid 8 or 9/10 for me.

Solid banger and funny as fuck, hopefully most people have checked this out!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 30, 2020, 08:01:09 pm
Quote

Worst film Ive seen in a long time. Just dreadful. The bit where he swims under the ice, soaked through in an arctic storm and simply zips his parka back up  :lol:. Presumably I fell asleep when they actually explained why earth was fuct? Clooney should stick to advertising disposable coffee pods.

This is laughably harsh, complaining about how realistic it was? Really?? And who cares how the earth became uninhabitable, its not relevant.

TT is on the money: looks nice, some interesting ideas, plot a bit thin, as is the acting, bit slow. I enjoyed it but like this sort of thing.
5 or 6 out of 10 is fair.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 31, 2020, 11:33:24 pm
We watched Outside the City last week.  A lovely documentary film about an order of Cistercian monks based just outside Leicester who decided to become the first Trappist brewery in the UK. As much about ageing and a glimpse into the monastic life as it is about beer. Its on all the streaming platforms.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 04, 2021, 07:51:23 am
Guardians of the Galaxy is on iPlayer for a few more days, about the only marvel movie I love, funny stupid and uplifting. Perfect at the moment!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 04, 2021, 08:33:28 am
Lots of great films on IPlayer at the moment.

Inc Godfather, Untouchables, North by northwest, Citizen Kane, and given my penchant for Submarine films, Ice station Zebra got a watch yesterday :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 04, 2021, 11:37:28 am
Finally watched the Godfather. I was really impressed with how well it held up (being from 1972 and my attention span being poor).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 05, 2021, 08:09:59 am
Dredd.
The 2012 dark version, not Sly Stallone's cheesy effort.
Really good sci fi dystopian violence feast, nicely concise and pleasantly escapist.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 05, 2021, 08:16:19 am
What was the overall view of Tenet? Its a fiver to rent on Prime at the moment... usually like Nolan films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on January 05, 2021, 08:53:13 am
What was the overall view of Tenet? Its a fiver to rent on Prime at the moment... usually like Nolan films.

Worth a fiver imo. Make sure you watch it when fresh though, as can be with time travel films the plot is hard to follow.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: gollum on January 05, 2021, 08:59:09 am
What was the overall view of Tenet? Its a fiver to rent on Prime at the moment... usually like Nolan films.

Saw it at the cinema. Really enjoyed it, stick with the first hour or so where we just wondered WTF was going on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 05, 2021, 09:01:39 am
I really quite liked it, and then watched it again (twice) and thought it was great. It was quite majestic (and incredibly loud) at the cinema, but it still stands up quite well on a small screen. Can you watch it a second time on Amazon, or just once? If the latter then you need to really concentrate.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 05, 2021, 09:26:29 am
I really quite liked it, and then watched it again (twice) and thought it was great. It was quite majestic (and incredibly loud) at the cinema, but it still stands up quite well on a small screen. Can you watch it a second time on Amazon, or just once? If the latter then you need to really concentrate.

Think you get 48 hours (or similar) to watch it as many times as you like.

Make sure you watch it when fresh though, as can be with time travel films the plot is hard to follow.

Haha - neither of us are fresh at 8:30 or so after finally getting the nipper off to bed! Usually we watch 20 min of TV then I collapse on the sofa to watch an episode of some netflix thing or other, or a mindless film on the TV, whilst MrsTT sits in bed watching endless episodes of ER/Buffy/The Crown on her ipad :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 05, 2021, 09:31:54 am
Dredd.
The 2012 dark version, not Sly Stallone's cheesy effort.
Really good sci fi dystopian violence feast, nicely concise and pleasantly escapist.

I liked it especially the special FX around the drug, but it's been accused of ripping off the Indo film The Raid, can see the similarities.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 05, 2021, 09:35:50 am
Dredd.
The 2012 dark version, not Sly Stallone's cheesy effort.
Really good sci fi dystopian violence feast, nicely concise and pleasantly escapist.
Yep I enjoyed this and have enjoyed repeat viewings. Hoped it would kick off a bit of a series.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 05, 2021, 09:39:08 am
What was the overall view of Tenet? Its a fiver to rent on Prime at the moment... usually like Nolan films.
It is excellent. Great at the cinema even with the low volume dialogue issues.
Hard to follow at times so yep you have to be on it.
Worth a repeated viewing and some of the explainer YouTube videos are good for filling in gaps / adding potential theory / pointing out not so obvious genius bits etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on January 05, 2021, 10:03:04 am
with time travel films the plot is hard to follow.

Has anyone here ever see "Primer"? Almost impossible to watch without a pen and paper!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on January 05, 2021, 10:15:11 am
with time travel films the plot is hard to follow.


Has anyone here ever see "Primer"? Almost impossible to watch without a pen and paper!
Agreed. Brilliant shoestring sci-fi.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: IanP on January 05, 2021, 10:42:15 am
Multiple universes rather than time travel (and no pen and paper required!) but I really enjoyed Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse which is on Netflix at the moment
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on January 06, 2021, 12:00:11 am
Dredd.
The 2012 dark version, not Sly Stallone's cheesy effort.
Really good sci fi dystopian violence feast, nicely concise and pleasantly escapist.
A far, far better film than the god awful Stallone travesty. Grimy, dirty, violent. A fine realisation of the 2000AD I remember from my youth.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2021, 12:03:06 am
Indeed. I consumed 2000 AD with such an appetite in my youth. A few more of the classic characters would be great on screen, rather than the usual Marvel / DC fodder.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 06, 2021, 06:09:56 am
Dog Soldiers

On All 4 for the next couple of weeks. Classic, low budget British horror. I watched it loads of times years ago but had forgotten just how enjoyable it is until I stuck it on again yesterday. Just great fun all the way through.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2021, 07:51:54 am

On the other hand, recently watched 1917 and thought it was superb. The 'one shot' thing is totally immersive, doesn't feel gimmicky at all, and the ebb and flow of the film felt spot on. Tense believable action sequences with haunting sections between and great dialogue.

Yeah, 1917 is brilliant. Was very glad I saw it in a cinema but good to hear it retains its impact on a TV (presumably).

I watched this on Netflix, really enjoyed it, especially the "one shot" bits, but everyone and everything just looked too clean?  All recounts describe the trenches as basically just mud, everywhere and everyone caked in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 06, 2021, 04:21:45 pm
Always the way with these things though I think. For example I'm currently working my way through The Walking Dead, and although it's very well done overall, they're all still either a little too clean or, more significantly, clearly well fed!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 06, 2021, 04:30:52 pm
Lots of great films on IPlayer at the moment.

Inc Godfather, Untouchables, North by northwest, Citizen Kane, and given my penchant for Submarine films, Ice station Zebra got a watch yesterday :)

Watched La La Land over Xmas break which is totally not my thing but I really enjoyed.

On a similarly jazzy note, watched Soul with the kids as well. Taking the mad nature of the plot (hard to explain to a 6 and a 3 year old!), thought it was excellent. Got me in the feels at the end too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on January 06, 2021, 04:54:57 pm
Just to warn anyone thinking of watching The Midnight Sky not to bother. Tripe.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2021, 04:55:40 pm
Though Soul was one of the weakest of the Pixar films, get a bit meta in places, but some good parts.

Onward is a lot more fun.

If you haven't explored them yet, the Pixar shorts on Disney + are great. Lifted, Boundin' and Piper are my favourites, my daughter loves the songs in Lava and has been singing them all week.

They both got freaked out by Bao though! Watch first to decide if it's suitable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 06, 2021, 05:28:19 pm
I've already freaked my two out with a couple of the studio Ghibli ones on Netflix. My little boy was not keen on Spirited Away once it started getting a bit spooky!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 06, 2021, 09:30:09 pm
Spirited Away freaks me out to be fair, let alone the kids. Kyle is 11 now, and the spooky clown in a Captain Underpants episode gave him nightmares for weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMOhmeQehiU

1:40
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 08, 2021, 08:11:49 am
 Mission Impossible Fallout.
On Netflix,. Gets very complimentary reviews, but I thought it was a bit underwhelming, although still a decent couple of hours of entertainment. Worthwhile but not outstanding.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on January 14, 2021, 12:36:46 pm
I can't remember if it was a recommendation on here or over on the other channel, but thanks to whoever mentioned it. I watched The King Of Staten Island tonight. Judd Appatow directs. It's excellent. Coming of age story of Scott (Pete Davidson - who also Co wrote and produced it,) a mid twenties stoner wannabe tattoo artist, still living with his mom on Staten Island. A great characterisation by the lead with what feels like realist ad-lib dialogue at times, but not at all done in a jarring way, alongside gentle introduction of back story as to how  the protagonist has come to remain where he is still.

A fantastic supporting cast (including Steve Buscemi who always adds value.) Some laugh out loud funny moments and a few to cause a moistening of the eye. But most of all brilliant, believable, likeable, fully-rounded characters amongst the obvious tropes and types that populate the film. Ultimately you actually care for and about the characters. Not action packed nor a blockbuster, but enough story stuff happens to keep the viewer engaged throughout. Nicely shot.

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a film as much. Watch it should you get the chance. I watched it on bluray via Cinema Paradiso (films by post,) but sure it'll be on one of the streaming platforms soon.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 14, 2021, 01:05:48 pm
I loved this too. Its v autobiographical - PD did live with his mum quite recently, has Crohns disease, had a firefighter dad, etc...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2021, 01:28:31 pm
I thought it was a great film but felt it lost its way and meandered a bit in a few places and would have benefitted from a bit of editing down?

Marisa Tomei is also great, but it didn't feel like a particularly demanding role for her.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on January 15, 2021, 04:17:25 pm
I must confess to liking a bit of meandering in the right movie... it doesn't always have to be plot leads to event, leads to resolution.  Maybe it's my age.  :fishing: I even watched all the deleted scenes and two alternative endings included in the bluray. :coffee:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 16, 2021, 04:21:59 pm
Only the Brave has recently been added to Prime. We enjoyed it.

Spoiler:
NSFW  :
If you've watched it, the fact that it's based on a real story is pretty tragic with 19 dead, the oldest around 43 and the youngest aged just 22!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 16, 2021, 05:33:47 pm
 Watched "a Most Wanted Man" on All4 yesterday. Good le Carre adaptation. Philip Seymour Hoffman is very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 19, 2021, 08:14:41 pm
I should think this one has been mentioned, but Id avoided it until today, despite its 2014 release.

Its on Netflix. Quite a hard watch, riveting despite knowing the story and outcome well.

Kajaki.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 19, 2021, 09:33:02 pm
Possibly one of the hardest films I've ever watched, knowing it's based on a true story.

Of all the war films I've ever watched, possibly one of the most terrifying situation you could find yourself in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 21, 2021, 10:31:13 am
trial of the Chicago seven
On Netflix.  Passable entertainment but all a bit worthy and not quite as good as it thinks it is. That sounds harsh, it wasn't bad at all,  I think I was just expecting something a bit better. Sacha BC is fairly good as Abbie Hoffman. 
As a TV movie,  it's fine, but if I'd coughed up 10 for a cinema ticket, I think it would have been really disappointing. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sheavi on January 21, 2021, 11:24:28 am
The Captain (2017 German Film) on Netflix. Dark
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on January 21, 2021, 04:56:04 pm
The Captain (2017 German Film) on Netflix. Dark

Not seen it but just searched for this and couldnt find it on Netflix but is on Amazon Videos
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sheavi on January 21, 2021, 06:46:39 pm
The Captain (2017 German Film) on Netflix. Dark

Not seen it but just searched for this and couldnt find it on Netflix but is on Amazon Videos

Sorry yes my mistake - Amazon Prime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 26, 2021, 12:43:40 pm
White Tiger
On Netflix; I quite like this, its a little Parasite-esque in that it is about inequality and although it's nowhere near as good as Parasite, it does have some strong characters and quite funny moments. Its a shame that it won't be shown in cinemas, as I think a lot of the atmosphere of the locations is diminished on the small screen. It is still definitely worth watching though, maybe 7/10?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on January 26, 2021, 02:20:08 pm
The Farewell (Netflix)

Billie, a Chinese-American woman, goes back to China on a family visit, ostensibly for a wedding. The real reason is that her grandmother has terminal cancer - but the family have decided to keep the diagnosis secret from the old lady. Obviously Billie thinks this is nuts but she has to put up with it. Really enjoyable family drama and lots of great performances.


Is Love Enough Sir? (Netflix)
Ratna moves from the village to Mumbai to become a maid, but her first job doesn't work out as she expects. The plot was a bit obvious, but I found the evocation of modern urban India really good and the woman who plays Ratna puts in an excellent and totally believable performance. In Hindi, but not a masala movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 27, 2021, 08:01:16 am
The Farewell (Netflix)

Billie, a Chinese-American woman, goes back to China on a family visit, ostensibly for a wedding. The real reason is that her grandmother has terminal cancer - but the family have decided to keep the diagnosis secret from the old lady. Obviously Billie thinks this is nuts but she has to put up with it. Really enjoyable family drama and lots of great performances.


Is Love Enough Sir? (Netflix)
Ratna moves from the village to Mumbai to become a maid, but her first job doesn't work out as she expects. The plot was a bit obvious, but I found the evocation of modern urban India really good and the woman who plays Ratna puts in an excellent and totally believable performance. In Hindi, but not a masala movie.

Nice one, I'd like to see the Farewell I didn't realize it was on Netflix, I wanted to see it in the cinema
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: J_duds on January 27, 2021, 08:20:41 am
American Animals - slow build up the starting 30mins feels a bit weird, but gets faster and hooked me in, with a haunting end. Brilliant and weird film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 27, 2021, 08:25:59 am
American Animals - slow build up the starting 30mins feels a bit weird, but gets faster and hooked me in, with a haunting end. Brilliant and weird film.

This was on film4 last night right? It was ace - but I needed to go to sleep at ten so missed the second half!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: J_duds on January 27, 2021, 08:32:38 am
American Animals - slow build up the starting 30mins feels a bit weird, but gets faster and hooked me in, with a haunting end. Brilliant and weird film.

This was on film4 last night right? It was ace - but I needed to go to sleep at ten so missed the second half!!

Yes on film4 last night. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish watching it! I got hooked in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 27, 2021, 09:08:51 am
The Farewell (Netflix)

Billie, a Chinese-American woman, goes back to China on a family visit, ostensibly for a wedding. The real reason is that her grandmother has terminal cancer - but the family have decided to keep the diagnosis secret from the old lady. Obviously Billie thinks this is nuts but she has to put up with it. Really enjoyable family drama and lots of great performances.


Is Love Enough Sir? (Netflix)
Ratna moves from the village to Mumbai to become a maid, but her first job doesn't work out as she expects. The plot was a bit obvious, but I found the evocation of modern urban India really good and the woman who plays Ratna puts in an excellent and totally believable performance. In Hindi, but not a masala movie.

Nice one, I'd like to see the Farewell I didn't realize it was on Netflix, I wanted to see it in the cinema

Actually having looked at the rotten tomatoes page I did see it.... senile moment.  It was good though. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 27, 2021, 09:11:48 am
American Animals - slow build up the starting 30mins feels a bit weird, but gets faster and hooked me in, with a haunting end. Brilliant and weird film.

This was on film4 last night right? It was ace - but I needed to go to sleep at ten so missed the second half!!

Yes on film4 last night. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish watching it! I got hooked in.

I remember this saving my sanity on a flight back from the US, fantastic compared to the rest of the dross on offer. Fascinating film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on January 27, 2021, 09:27:26 am
Yes on film4 last night. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish watching it! I got hooked in.

:D I nearly did the same.... still wondering if it were a documentary with the real protagonists as the talking heads or all fiction (please no spoilers - happy to keep it that way until it comes on again!!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 27, 2021, 09:36:26 am
It will be on All 4 for a month, no need to wait.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on January 27, 2021, 11:21:42 am
Soul (Disney+).

I thought it was great. The plot is loosely A Matter of Life and Death, covering middle-aged disappointment, death, and the purpose of life, through the medium of jazz piano. Almost custom-built for me! It approaches Ghibili levels of visual imagination and would look fabulous on a big screen and/or accompanied by psychedelics.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: r-man on January 27, 2021, 11:32:36 am
American Animals - slow build up the starting 30mins feels a bit weird, but gets faster and hooked me in, with a haunting end. Brilliant and weird film.

I haven't watched the film yet, but... (Contains spoilers).

NSFW  :
I remember finding this fascinating when it came out a couple of years ago. The true story, as recounted by the protagonists.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3cswt6b
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 29, 2021, 07:31:19 pm
The Farewell (Netflix)

Billie, a Chinese-American woman, goes back to China on a family visit, ostensibly for a wedding. The real reason is that her grandmother has terminal cancer - but the family have decided to keep the diagnosis secret from the old lady. Obviously Billie thinks this is nuts but she has to put up with it. Really enjoyable family drama and lots of great performances.


Is Love Enough Sir? (Netflix)
Ratna moves from the village to Mumbai to become a maid, but her first job doesn't work out as she expects. The plot was a bit obvious, but I found the evocation of modern urban India really good and the woman who plays Ratna puts in an excellent and totally believable performance. In Hindi, but not a masala movie.

Nice one, I'd like to see the Farewell I didn't realize it was on Netflix, I wanted to see it in the cinema

Is it on Netflix? Might be because ours is a Dutch account, but then, we're on UK VPN?  Can't see it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 31, 2021, 07:57:00 am
The Dig

Really good, superb performances, and beautifully shot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 31, 2021, 08:24:26 am
The Dig

Really good, superb performances, and beautifully shot.

We enjoyed it too (though my wife is an archaeologist, so there was a degree of running professional commentary). Agreed about Mulligan and Fiennes, but I feel like the narrative lost direction a little in the second half. I would have preferred it remained focused on the main characters rather than the star-crossed young lovers (who really just needed to get on with having a jolly good shag).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on February 04, 2021, 08:21:19 am
Watched this the other night, thought it was pretty good. Interestingly the guy with the camera who goes off to join the RAF is Johnny Flynn who wrote and performed the music for the Dectorists.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 04, 2021, 12:50:04 pm
I finally got around to (starting to) watch The Irishman - having decided to treat it like a short box set instead of sitting down for hours on end. I think it actually suits this quite well - although I'm only about half way through - but I think that its brilliant either way. Its pretty typical Scorcese mob saga and has obviously been compared with Casino and Goodfellas; Pacino edges into a few Scarface-esque rants into the bargain.
I thought that (so far) it's almost a darker tale than these, but a compelling one which deserves to become classic. Recommended to anyone else who's so far been put off by the considerable run time: it's pretty concise if you treat it like a four episode box set.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 04, 2021, 01:19:07 pm
I just couldnt get past the de-aging stuff in it, De Niro meant to be an intimidating tough guy in his prime, but hes hobbling around and holding himself like the old man he is.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 04, 2021, 01:20:38 pm
I finally got around to (starting to) watch The Irishman

Off topic, but anyway ... I've been to two, possibly three, of the mob dive bars that feature in the film (and all before the film came out). The best was The Friendly Lounge. We first noticed it one day a few years back. We were busy then but as connossieurs of Philly's dive bars we made a menta note. A couple of years later we realized we were nearby and that we had to stop in, even though it was 2pm on a Thursday. We had a fantastic couple of hours as the owner regaled us with all kinds of tales about his father, who had established the bar, and the old days in the neighbourhood, about the illegal clubs and drinking dens, and about bombings and the like. There was even a tale about the time Mussolini made a secret visit to the city and all the Italian nonna's got to make him cookies and meatballs (he never set foot in the US, let alone South Philly). The place was quiet, just a few regulars and fully lived up to its name. The owner's father, as he told us, was John "Skinny Razor" DiTullio, who features in the film - so that part of what he told us was true.

I don't know if it will open for people, but here's a good article about the place: https://www.inquirer.com/philly/food/bar-code/friendly-lounge-south-philly-skinny-razor-the-irishman-diltullio-ralph-natale-20171101.html

I enjoyed the film, but didn't think it was up with Scorcese's very best.

Edit: yes, I struggled to get past the de-ageing at times but still enjoyed the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 04, 2021, 01:44:39 pm
The ageing thing really didn't bother me, I think it's reasonable suspension of disbelief.
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on February 12, 2021, 09:33:19 am
Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on February 12, 2021, 09:34:33 pm
News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

A second vote for The Dig. Watched this a week ago with my partner and unusually we both liked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 12, 2021, 09:40:36 pm
A good bit of SciFi schlock on Netflix is Space Sweepers.
I say schlock, but quite high production values, not a bad script and funny enough, often enough, to be quite good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 13, 2021, 11:46:19 am
The Place Beyond the Pines

On iPlayer at the moment. A really impressive piece of thoughtful film making, Ryan Gosling is excellent as a central character with whom you sympathize, but is at the same time,  deeply troubled. It has some nice Nighthawks-esque diner shots. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 13, 2021, 11:57:00 am
Ok Im not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

I seem to remember it being panned at the time - and amazingly Ive never seen it (probably because I like they book lots back in 1984 and didnt want it to puncture my mental image of the story).

Anyway - back to 2020. David Lynch film - no CGI effects (apart from the shields) - meaning everything was done with models and incredibly detailed and lavish sets. Much of it still works well today despite the obvious progression in special effects.

I also love the quaint touches in the scenes and space ships. The almost Victorian feel to the hi tech equipment. I guess its also where lots of subsequent scifi films got their ideas from - Nods from twelve monkeys in particular I thought - and the Borg architecture.

As you can tell Im not really focusing on the plot or characterisation 😁 but lapping up the scenery...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on February 13, 2021, 12:56:10 pm
White Tiger (Netflix)

Balram leaves his poor village and overbearing family to work as a driver for the local landlord/mob boss and begins his brutal rise to self-made millionaire. This is a film version of the book of the same name which won the Booker a few years back. I thought the book was a bit overrated but really enjoyed this. Adarsh Gourav is excellent as the put upon Balram brewing up a dangerous mix of resentment and rage, and the lavish Netflix budget makes Delhi look almost exactly like it actually is, ie a dusty, dirty, dysfunctional metropolis which is nevertheless better than the village Balram is desperate to escape.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 14, 2021, 01:09:08 pm
Apologies if this one has been done before. The Wave 2016 Norwegian disaster movie about a rockslide tsunami  in a fjord.  TomTom, Andi E and Andy R will love the heroic geologist.  Very enjoyable and edge of seat stuff.

Greenland is really good. Totally bonkers and breathless.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 14, 2021, 01:24:14 pm
I got about 30 min into Greenland and had to give up - it was too tense for me for these times... plus Gerard Buttlers accent moved between Boston, New Yoyk, Irish and Scottish - and Brodies Doe eyed wife from Homeland just seemed to play Butlers doe eyed wife here!

But it may have got much better later! I gave up when he was going back for his sons meds (which was of course going to happen!).

My movies taste is probably suspect though as watched the second half of Dune last night. Bonkers - skipped massive parts of the (very long book) and not as good as the first half but I didnt check my phone throughout (a positive sign!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 14, 2021, 02:03:00 pm
News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

Yeah enjoyed this. I recently saw Tom Hanks described as the cinematic equivalent of a comforting hug, which I think sounds about right.

Not all that much nuance or intrigue to the story but just a fairly comfortable way to spend a couple of hours.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JJP on February 14, 2021, 02:33:53 pm
The Place Beyond the Pines

On iPlayer at the moment. A really impressive piece of thoughtful film making, Ryan Gosling is excellent as a central character with whom you sympathize, but is at the same time,  deeply troubled. It has some nice Nighthawks-esque diner shots.

Really enjoyed this around the time it came out originally.  Really well filmed and acted.  Nice its on iplayer - time for a re watch! From memory had similar vibe to Drive but again a while since watched that.  Never watched Nighthawks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 14, 2021, 09:24:22 pm
News of the World: on Netflix. Thought this was great. Admittedly I really like westerns and Tom Hanks is one of my all time favourite actors.

Yeah enjoyed this. I recently saw Tom Hanks described as the cinematic equivalent of a comforting hug, which I think sounds about right.

Not all that much nuance or intrigue to the story but just a fairly comfortable way to spend a couple of hours.

I've got to say I was a little underwhelmed. Some really good, tense sequences, and the to-be-expected competent performance from Hanks. The story lacked something and it was cinematically a bit dull - which is kind of inexcusable if you're filming in the American wilderness.

Compare with the Coen brothers' True Grit, for instance, which also comes with a brilliant score. I have a hard time not crying every time I watch Mattie drive Little Blackie across the river. (True Grit is on Netflix if anyone hasn't seen it).

https://youtu.be/p1V1teWUXZs
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 14, 2021, 09:29:48 pm
Oh I completely agree, True Grit clearly the better film. Suppose I wasn't expecting to be blown away by News of the World, and so didn't mind when I wasn't  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2021, 08:50:14 am
Ok Im not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

 but lapping up the scenery...

Sting in a codpiece!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 15, 2021, 08:58:14 am
Ok Im not half way through but...
Dune (1984 version) popped up on prime.

 but lapping up the scenery...

Sting in a codpiece!

Indeed - only 3-4 scenes though. Looked in one like hed been on the Will Hunt ab-ripper and baby oil work out.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 15, 2021, 10:25:09 am
Oh I completely agree, True Grit clearly the better film. Suppose I wasn't expecting to be blown away by News of the World, and so didn't mind when I wasn't  :)

I always expect to hate Tom Hanks movies because I find him incredibly annoying for no definite reason; it's a totally unreasonable prejudice. But it means that when he's actually in something I enjoy, such as Bridge of Spies it's a lovely surprise. I haven't seen NotW yet, for this reason, but probably will.

I'd say watch A place beyond the pines though, to anyone who wants to see an amazing movie that isn't quite like anything else I've seen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2021, 10:45:59 am

I always expect to hate Tom Hanks movies because I find him incredibly annoying for no definite reason; it's a totally unreasonable prejudice.

Forrest Gump effect. I hated the movie and he's annoyed me because of it ever since.

Admit I think Road to Perdition is brilliant though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 15, 2021, 11:13:47 am
Since Davo listed him as a favourite actor I've really struggled to put my finger on what I think of Hanks' acting. He gives pretty solid performances in films that are pretty watchable, but I don't think I've ever seen him do anything extraordinary. I don't know whether that's because he's not a great actor or because he gets cast in uninspired roles. Compare to people like Johnny Depp, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, whose performances often make the film they're in.

I don't know whether it says more about me or Hollywood but I'm struggling to think of actresses who give the same kind of performances. Maybe something to do with a lack of films with strong individual female lead roles?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 15, 2021, 11:17:21 am
You mean give the same kind of lack of performances? Are depressingly straight in almost everything they do?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 15, 2021, 12:02:03 pm
I got about 30 min into Greenland and had to give up - it was too tense for me for these times... plus Gerard Buttlers accent moved between Boston, New Yoyk, Irish and Scottish - and Brodies Doe eyed wife from Homeland just seemed to play Butlers doe eyed wife here!

But it may have got much better later! I gave up when he was going back for his sons meds (which was of course going to happen!).

My movies taste is probably suspect though as watched the second half of Dune last night. Bonkers - skipped massive parts of the (very long book) and not as good as the first half but I didnt check my phone throughout (a positive sign!)

It got better.

It is standard fare, but not bad in the genre.

Her character kicks up a notch after they get separated, but yeah, shes a bit of a background figure; which is jarring these days.
Big strong man saves helpless family. Thought wed passed that fantasy.

To be fair, later in the film, he comes very close to getting his arse kicked, kills a man and suddenly realises thats not such an easy thing to do and the character loses some of the macho bluster. Still, a little too 80s.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on February 15, 2021, 01:01:28 pm


Never watched Nighthawks.



Watch away!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 15, 2021, 01:12:49 pm


Never watched Nighthawks.



Watch away!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighthawks_(painting))

I watched Nighthawks (the film) the other day and thought it was great. Rutger Hauer is a brilliant terrorist baddie, Stallone and Billy Dee Williams do New York street cops well. And its got Nigel Davenport (Miles (from This Life)s dad as token know it all Brit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on February 15, 2021, 01:43:45 pm
My apologies JJP!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on February 15, 2021, 02:17:40 pm
Jojimbo. 60 year old B&W subtitled Japanese films can be a bit worthy but this is still great: dark story, plenty of black humour, spasms of bloody action, fab. soundtrack and cinematography. It youve not seen it, its the basis of Fist Full of Dollars and many subsequent films: mysterious lone swordsman shambles into small town gang war. Carnage ensues. Toshiro Mifunes performance, pitch-perfect economy, is the template for Clint eatswoods entire career.

(https://imgc.allpostersimages.com/img/print/u-g-Q12PF120.jpg?w=550&h=550&p=0)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on February 15, 2021, 02:51:21 pm
Last man standing with Bruce Willis is another Yojinbo remake I vaguely remember.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 15, 2021, 03:16:53 pm
The sequel, Sanjuro, is pretty good too.  I also have a soft spot for Zatoichi - a bit like Yojimbo but the protagonist is a blind swordsman - not as good as Takeshi Kitano's Yakuza films (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Boiling Point, and Violent Cop) but fun watch.  There was a western version with Rutger Hauer called Blind Fury, which is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: JJP on February 15, 2021, 03:48:34 pm
My apologies JJP!

 :2thumbsup: No worries had also not seen the painting!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 15, 2021, 11:43:47 pm
Since Davo listed him as a favourite actor I've really struggled to put my finger on what I think of Hanks' acting. He gives pretty solid performances in films that are pretty watchable, but I don't think I've ever seen him do anything extraordinary. I don't know whether that's because he's not a great actor or because he gets cast in uninspired roles. Compare to people like Johnny Depp, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, whose performances often make the film they're in.

I don't know whether it says more about me or Hollywood but I'm struggling to think of actresses who give the same kind of performances. Maybe something to do with a lack of films with strong individual female lead roles?

Watch 3 billboards... and Fargo for an incredible example.  Jodie Foster? She's pretty impressive in most of the things I've seen.  Tilda Swinton is a very strong actress in anything I can think of.  I could think of many more,  Im sure. Judy Dench is obviously an excellent actress in many films but also unfortunately happens to be in some proper tripe. 


I always expect to hate Tom Hanks movies because I find him incredibly annoying for no definite reason; it's a totally unreasonable prejudice.

Forrest Gump effect. I hated the movie and he's annoyed me because of it ever since.

Admit I think Road to Perdition is brilliant though.

I'm not sure if I hated Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Big (etc etc...) more. I just can't stand his simpering dumb labrador impression which seems to be his standard substitute for actually bothering to act.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 16, 2021, 07:12:58 am
Surprised by all the Hanks angst!

whose performances often make the film they're in.

In what world does Hanks' performance not make Forrest Gump the film it is?!

Philadelphia as well, but in a very different way. There's a good reason he won back-to-back Oscars for those two.

I think what I like about him is that he's the consummate every man. There's nothing desperately flashy about his acting, he just is the character and it feels more sensitive than someone like Gary Oldman who just wants to tear the screen down.

Although on the other hand, I think he also just can't escape being Tom Hanks, in the same way as Hugh Grant struggles not to be Hugh Grant, so in a lot of roles they don't really worry too much because they know the audience has come to see them, rather than whatever character they're playing.

On female actresses, I'd echo Toby on Fargo & 3 Billboards, and would The Help and Hidden Figures; Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are flipping brilliant. Loads of others of course but those were two that sprung to mind.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 16, 2021, 07:24:58 am
Thought of another; Charlize Theron, Monster.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on February 16, 2021, 07:32:11 am
For Frances McDormand fans, I highly highly recommend the HBO miniseries "Olive Kitteridge", which she's fucking amazing in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 16, 2021, 07:54:26 am
For Frances McDormand fans, I highly highly recommend the HBO miniseries "Olive Kitteridge", which she's fucking amazing in.

And I'm really looking forward to "Nomadland."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 16, 2021, 08:01:58 am
Surprised by all the Hanks angst!

whose performances often make the film they're in.

In what world does Hanks' performance not make Forrest Gump the film it is?!

The world in which Forrest Gump is tedious, sentimental emoting. (Sorry, I know my dislike of Hanks isn't reasonable)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2021, 08:44:08 am
I also found the portrayal of someone with clear Asperger's characteristics as someone to be laughed at uncomfortable viewing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 16, 2021, 08:48:19 am
I also found the portrayal of someone with clear Asperger's characteristics as someone to be laughed at uncomfortable viewing.

Id steer clear of Ben Stiller in Simple Jack then 😄
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 16, 2021, 08:49:55 am
Emily Blunt - The Adjustment Bureau, The Edge Of Tomorrow

Uma Thurman - Kill Bill

Tilda Swinton - Snowpiercer

(I don't even follow actors / actresses apart from a massive crush on posh english-voiced Blunt in that era)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 16, 2021, 08:52:15 am
On the Aspergers thing, what about Sheldon in The Big Bang theory??

I have wondered if the leftieliberal sjwokeflake crowd would find the comedy Aspergers offensive. Or maybe it's lightweight and endearing / sympathetic enough to be okay??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on February 16, 2021, 08:52:47 am
Just read back and I agree with Bradders. What is with the hating on Hanks? He is in several of my favourite films (which I have watched again recently)

Saving Private Ryan (I would argue he is a large part of why the film works)
Forest Gump: I dont usually like this kind of thing but if you dont feel for Gump then you have a heart of stone (TobyD!)
Road to Perdition: just brilliant gangster film.
Green Mile: pretty schmaltzy and sentimental but really well done.

In terms of News of the World vs True Grit. This is not a fair comparison. True Grit is a remake of an all time classic western. In my opinion it is a good film but is not really any better than the original which begs the question (apart from money) why make it?

Like I said I like pretty much all westerns (even the 100s of Randolph Scott ones) and I like Tom Hanks. If these arent your cup of tea then News of the World wont be any good.

On another note: I really liked Fargo (film not series) but though 3 Billboards sucked as a film despite good acting.

Dave
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2021, 09:02:24 am
On the Aspergers thing, what about Sheldon in The Big Bang theory??

I have wondered if the leftieliberal sjwokeflake crowd would find the comedy Aspergers offensive. Or maybe it's lightweight and endearing / sympathetic enough to be okay??

Never seen it, never intend to, nor Simple Jack. You could call me a leftie liberal snowflake (assuming that's what you meant to say) if you want to, or the parent of a child with Asperger's who sees their daily struggle and hears what they have to deal with daily. You choose.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 16, 2021, 09:18:15 am
Chris I definitely wasn't referring to you at all, my mangled phrasing was an OTT tongue-in-cheek description (partly mocking those who dismiss any concerns in just that way).

 And my question behind that was genuine. It's something I've wondered at in recent years after seeing the crackdown on racial / gender portrayals in media. I used to watch and mildly enjoy plenty of TBB, and personally think that whilst Sheldon is a slightly ridiculous and "dysfunctional" aspergers charicature, he is also very likeable and portrayed with some sympathy (in part he's having a struggle - but succeeding, partly due to the geek crowd he's landed with). OTOH I totally respect that for some people with prominent and perhaps difficult aspergers experiences it might be too close to the bone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 16, 2021, 09:35:38 am
Gotta say, I think some are missing the point of Forest Gump.
Pretty sure the sentimentalism is a sarcastic tilt at the American Way and the each and every episode he blunders through is dark, violent, tawdry and often heart wrenchingly believable. A stinging indictment of a USA culture that cares not a jot for its people. Every single character is abused, cheated, permanently disfigured or outright killed, including the protagonist. Bullying, exploitation, imperialism and senseless war. Drug addiction, corruption, and more. The only person who can survive, is the one who cannot feel the pain. Even Captain Dan, the only other positive in the end storyline, has to lose his grasp of the fictional American Dream, even going as far as marrying a Vietnamese woman as a nod that reconciliation and cooperation, not war, are the foundations of happiness...
Etc etc etc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 16, 2021, 09:44:37 am
Gotta say, I think some are missing the point of Forest Gump.
Pretty sure the sentimentalism is a sarcastic tilt at the American Way and the each and every episode he blunders through is dark, violent, tawdry and often heart wrenchingly believable. A stinging indictment of a USA culture that cares not a jot for its people. Every single character is abused, cheated, permanently disfigured or outright killed, including the protagonist. Bullying, exploitation, imperialism and senseless war. Drug addiction, corruption, and more. The only person who can survive, is the one who cannot feel the pain. Even Captain Dan, the only other positive in the end storyline, has to lose his grasp of the fictional American Dream, even going as far as marrying a Vietnamese woman as a nod that reconciliation and cooperation, not war, are the foundations of happiness...
Etc etc etc.

Yes, 100% this.

Chris I've never for one moment thought Forrest Gump was a character to be laughed at! Quite the opposite, for the reasons Matt outlines, I've always found the character to be someone you completely empathise with.

The world in which Forrest Gump is tedious, sentimental emoting. (Sorry, I know my dislike of Hanks isn't reasonable)

You heartless bastard  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 16, 2021, 09:52:44 am
DaVinci code...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2021, 10:06:35 am

Chris I've never for one moment thought Forrest Gump was a character to be laughed at! Quite the opposite, for the reasons Matt outlines, I've always found the character to be someone you completely empathise with.


Let's agree to disagree. I freely admit I may be overly thin skinned about the portrayal.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 16, 2021, 10:42:33 am
Frances McDormand in 3 Billboards is an excellent call. I haven't seen Fargo (only the series).
Helena Bonham-Carter is great in the Harry Potter films though obviously doesn't get to completely let rip as she's playing a fairly minor character.

Maybe I'm hopelessly naive but I didn't ever think of Forrest Gump as being a character with Aspergers or autism, and I didn't really think of him as a comic character - just credulous. I did like the film though - and tbf Hanks brings a lot to it.

Other examples of transformative performances to contrast Hanks with: Heath Ledger as The Joker (contrast again with Heath Ledger in Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain - the guy had decent range), Christian Bale (esp as Patrick Bateman), Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter (particularly when set against Jodie Foster).

Maybe I'm just drawn to baddies!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on February 16, 2021, 11:00:44 am
I really didn't rate American Psycho but know a lot of people who do. Have you read the book Will?

Re transformative, see also Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. The sense of menace he captures is incredible. Strong contender for my favourite film full stop.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2021, 11:06:12 am
Apart from lack of ending.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 16, 2021, 11:08:07 am
Read the above comments with interest, but I'm afraid that I am going to maintain an irrational instinctual dislike of Hanks movies; with the priviso that I can still like some of them, such as Bridge of Spies.
It's not a quality thing, for example I usually find Tom Cruise movies enjoyable and he's just, well Tom Cruise most of the time and doesn't really act much. I just have irrational feelings about movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 16, 2021, 11:17:06 am
Re transformative, see also Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. The sense of menace he captures is incredible. Strong contender for my favourite film full stop.

Great film. I'm a Cohen Bros fan...

I'm a bit with Toby on Tom Hanks though. He's certainly very very good - I just am generally uninspired (ocassionally to the point of irritated) with his roles.. Bridge of Spies is excellent though....

He (Hanks) does do ALOT of films....

Speaking of actors that do alot of films - has there ever been a genuinely brilliant performance by Michael Caine? He's good - nearly always good - but has he ever been exceptional in a film? (with the brooding menace in Get Carter possibly - the rocking chair/phone scene is great...)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2021, 11:20:07 am
Michael Caine films are like Gary Gibson routes, so many there there have to be a few good ones.

There was a point when Pete Postlethwaite was in nearly everything too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 16, 2021, 11:56:28 am
Michael Caine? Muppets Christmas Carol, duh!

I liked him in Children of Men, but then what wasn't good about that film? You're probably right. Never extraordinary but consistently Very Good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 16, 2021, 12:23:14 pm
Caine FFS

Get Carter
Ipcress File
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Quiet American
Educating Rita
Zulu

I liked Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson's War. Band of Brothers obvs. The rest just make me think that there might be worse people to get stuck in a lift with...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on February 16, 2021, 12:58:41 pm
Caine FFS

Get Carter
Ipcress File
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Quiet American
Educating Rita
Zulu

I liked Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson's War. Band of Brothers obvs. The rest just make me think that there might be worse people to get stuck in a lift with...

Hes not bad in Twist either, as a modern day Fagin. The film was so so, a bit CBBC, but, especially considering his age, Caine was quite good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GazM on February 16, 2021, 01:55:17 pm
Band of Brothers obvs.
Pendants Corner!
Dyou mean Saving Private Ryan? He was an exec. producer on Band of Brothers but never acted in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: AMorris on February 16, 2021, 02:18:55 pm
The Dig

Really good, superb performances, and beautifully shot.

Watched this last night and was captivated the whole way through. I was entirely ignorant of the story behind this excavation, so afterwards it sent me on a hunt to find out more about Basil Brown. I'm a sucker for this kind of tale!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 16, 2021, 02:44:05 pm
Sorry, yes!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: GazM on February 16, 2021, 04:14:31 pm
Sorry for the pedantry! I was (still am I guess) a massive Band of Brothers fanboy.

We've watched very few films in recent years (young kids innit) but watched The Dig last week and loved it. Like AMorris that led to a bit of online research and to the British Museum's Curators Corner series on YouTube. Fascinating stuff.

By contrast, we watched Mary Queen of Scots the other night, which was entirely forgettable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on February 16, 2021, 04:20:52 pm
Apart from lack of ending.

Strong disagree! Think the ending works better in the book but I'm really glad they stayed true to it in the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on February 16, 2021, 09:49:58 pm
Following the Greenland reviews, I watched a much slimmer Gerard Butler (pre lockdown) starred in Hunter Killer that was on film4 the other night (on 4 player etc..) - and I quite enjoyed it. Im a sucker for sub films and whilst it was fairly brainless Hollywood blowing up things I thought it was alright.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on February 17, 2021, 12:03:24 pm
Caine FFS

Get Carter
Ipcress File
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Quiet American
Educating Rita
Zulu


Good list, missed Italian Job, and the 'Man who would be King', if anyone hasn't seen that is compulsory viewing;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on February 17, 2021, 12:21:22 pm
Caine FFS

Get Carter
Ipcress File
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
The Quiet American
Educating Rita
Zulu


Good list, missed Italian Job, and the 'Man who would be King', if anyone hasn't seen that is compulsory viewing;)

He was good in Sleuth too (the original version with Olivier), and in a supporting role in The Quiet American.  I vaguely recall him being very good in a seedy way in Blood and Wine.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ali k on February 17, 2021, 12:23:05 pm
Band of Brothers obvs.
Pendants Corner!
Dyou mean Saving Private Ryan? He was an exec. producer on Band of Brothers but never acted in it.
Oh the irony  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 19, 2021, 07:48:52 am
Judas and the Black Messiah; not a biopic, but focused on the last year or so in the life of Fred Hampton, leader of the Black Panthers in Chicago. I thought this was a great film, anchored by superb performances by Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, and Dominique Fishback. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sheavi on February 19, 2021, 10:43:38 am
Babyteeth - Aussie drama/comedy on Netflix.  Thought it was excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6E8gPmz7n4
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on February 19, 2021, 08:02:54 pm
White Tiger (Netflix)

Balram leaves his poor village and overbearing family to work as a driver for the local landlord/mob boss and begins his brutal rise to self-made millionaire. This is a film version of the book of the same name which won the Booker a few years back. I thought the book was a bit overrated but really enjoyed this. Adarsh Gourav is excellent as the put upon Balram brewing up a dangerous mix of resentment and rage, and the lavish Netflix budget makes Delhi look almost exactly like it actually is, ie a dusty, dirty, dysfunctional metropolis which is nevertheless better than the village Balram is desperate to escape.

Thanks for the recommendation. Just watched this and thought it was great. Really well acted, filming and images of India and Delhi are amazing. Would never have bothered watching without the heads up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 20, 2021, 09:07:13 am
Nomadland, directed by Chlo Zhao, starring Frances McDormand, based on the 2017 non-fiction book "Nomadland: Surviving American in the Twenty-First Century," and featuring several of the people from that book playing themselves. I had high hopes for this film, hopes the film utterly exceeded. Fern (McDormand) has been widowed and the company town she lived in has been shuttered. Through force of circumstance she begins to live in her van, slowly drifting into a nomadic lifestyle followed by increasing numbers of older Americans experiencing extreme economic precarity, living a life on the margins, working terrible jobs, seemingly lost but forging bonds and community.

Roaming endlessly across Arizona, Nevada, and the Dakotas, the film has all the majestic landscape beauty of the best westerns, but the story is told on such a perfect, intimate human scale, with great subtlety and compassion but without sentimentality. McDormand is better than she's ever been, but it's such a self effacing performance you immediately forget she's working with non-actors.

I think the film will probably be most often viewed as a parable of contemporary America's economic dysfunction, but it also the best thing I've ever seen on the experience of widowhood.

If you're in any doubt, I think this is a masterpiece, one that is going to bear many viewings.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 21, 2021, 07:58:24 am
Nomadland, directed by Chlo Zhao, starring Frances McDormand, based on the 2017 non-fiction book "Nomadland: Surviving American in the Twenty-First Century," and featuring several of the people from that book playing themselves. I had high hopes for this film, hopes the film utterly exceeded. Fern (McDormand) has been widowed and the company town she lived in has been shuttered. Through force of circumstance she begins to live in her van, slowly drifting into a nomadic lifestyle followed by increasing numbers of older Americans experiencing extreme economic precarity, living a life on the margins, working terrible jobs, seemingly lost but forging bonds and community.

Roaming endlessly across Arizona, Nevada, and the Dakotas, the film has all the majestic landscape beauty of the best westerns, but the story is told on such a perfect, intimate human scale, with great subtlety and compassion but without sentimentality. McDormand is better than she's ever been, but it's such a self effacing performance you immediately forget she's working with non-actors.

I think the film will probably be most often viewed as a parable of contemporary America's economic dysfunction, but it also the best thing I've ever seen on the experience of widowhood.

If you're in any doubt, I think this is a masterpiece, one that is going to bear many viewings.

Where can you see this?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 21, 2021, 08:32:34 am
We used a VPN to watch it on US Hulu. On reflection, it would have been helpful if I'd noted this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 21, 2021, 11:15:37 am
We used a VPN to watch it on US Hulu. On reflection, it would have been helpful if I'd noted this.

Ok thanks dude, I had already read about this elsewhere and it sounds very good; I'll have to see how it's available in the UK. Good review btw thanks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on February 21, 2021, 11:30:00 am
If it isnt breaking any rules, i can sugest a streaming site where that film is available. Legally a gray area but so it's using VPN's to get around territorial DRM restrictions...  :whistle: So handy for cases like this one
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 21, 2021, 12:19:52 pm
We actually pay for a Hulu subscription, so I don't feel too guilty about using a VPN.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Loos3-tools on February 21, 2021, 06:46:34 pm
Raze available on Amazon at the moment - strong grindhouse vibe

The Cube - 90s sci-fi horror classic that feels very now
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 27, 2021, 09:06:01 pm
Apologies if this one has been done before. The Wave 2016 Norwegian disaster movie about a rockslide tsunami  in a fjord.  TomTom, Andi E and Andy R will love the heroic geologist.  Very enjoyable and edge of seat stuff.
Watched this due to your recommendation, thanks, it was indeed good, and a lot less cheesy and OTT than it's Hollywood equivalents.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on February 27, 2021, 10:18:52 pm
Judas and the Black Messiah; not a biopic, but focused on the last year or so in the life of Fred Hampton, leader of the Black Panthers in Chicago. I thought this was a great film, anchored by superb performances by Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, and Dominique Fishback. Highly recommended.

I watched this the other day. I thought it was really good too. I had a look for Daniel Kaluuya films that I'd not seen and discovered Queen & Slim which I think is the best film I've seen for a while. Poignant and tragic but also funny and with an amazing cast and soundtrack. And very beautifully filmed. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 01, 2021, 12:56:25 pm
Glad you enjoyed The Wave Fiend.

We watched good documentary on Saturday.  Santoalla.  Its about an idealistic Dutch couple who go to live in an almost abandoned village in the Galician hills.  They have a falling out with the neighbours and then, well it starts to get weird.  It was filmed whilst some of the events were occurring so its very immediate in its impact.

Weve added Queen and Slim and the Fred Hampton one to the watchlist.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 03, 2021, 08:04:06 am
Empire of the Sun on iPlayer at the moment
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on March 03, 2021, 10:31:59 am
Is it good? I remember them putting up loads of bamboo fencing in Knutsford to make it look (even) more like 1940s Shanghai.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 03, 2021, 11:02:05 am
Is it good? I remember them putting up loads of bamboo fencing in Knutsford to make it look (even) more like 1940s Shanghai.

That thought made me LOL JB :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on March 03, 2021, 03:46:37 pm
Wasn't sure if this fit best in here or the TV thread  (or if we need a theatre thread), but anyway --

I've been wallowing in the National Theatre new online archive ( https://www.ntathome.com , you can rent individual productions or get a subscription ), and they've just put up Angels In America, the 2017 production with Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane and Russell Tovey which subsequently went to Broadway and won all the Tonys.

Fucking outstanding, all seven-and-a-half hours of it. Funny and moving and spectacular and beautiful. Not previously been available outside of being broadcast for NT Live.

For anyone not familiar with the play: it's about AIDS in the gay community in New York circa 1985. And about the infamous Roy Cohn (mentor to one Donald Trump, incidentally). And about Mormons. And angels. And the ozone layer. And impromptu visits to Antarctica.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on March 03, 2021, 04:22:01 pm
Supernova - Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are a long established couple. Tucci's character has early onset dementia. They go on a road trip to the Lakes in a slightly crappy old camper van, see old family and friends, and talk. Doesn't sound like much, but an incredibly moving film driven by what might be career best performances from Tucci and Firth. On Amazon I believe.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 03, 2021, 04:34:39 pm
Supernova - Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are a long established couple. Tucci's character has early onset dementia. They go on a road trip to the Lakes in a slightly crappy old camper van, see old family and friends, and talk. Doesn't sound like much, but an incredibly moving film driven by what might be career best performances from Tucci and Firth. On Amazon I believe.

I can't find it. Has anyone else managed? I saw the trailer actually in a cinema some time ago and took a mental note that I'd return for this.

I watched I Care A Lot yesterday. It seems to be a feature of Amazon movies that some things are a little over done but in general, Rosamund Pike does a good job of acting the role of sociopath, and Dinklage is actually a good 'villain'.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/I-Care-Lot-Rosamund-Pike/dp/B08WHNJVHS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=I+care+a+lot&qid=1614789254&s=instant-video&sr=1-1
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on March 03, 2021, 04:40:48 pm
Supernova - Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are a long established couple. Tucci's character has early onset dementia. They go on a road trip to the Lakes in a slightly crappy old camper van, see old family and friends, and talk. Doesn't sound like much, but an incredibly moving film driven by what might be career best performances from Tucci and Firth. On Amazon I believe.

I can't find it. Has anyone else managed?

I could well be wrong. My wife is typically responsible for finding and cueing up films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 08, 2021, 09:53:26 pm
The Mule (2018 on Amazon Prime at the moment)

Clint eatswood plays a 90 year old man who thinks he has nothing to lose who takes up running drugs across the states for the cartel. eatswood is excellent - more tender and less snarling than in Gran Torino - and the concealed warmth of the character he portrays comes across really well. Its a bit of a crime story, a bit of a drugs story - but really quite a sweet tale about a man who seemed to have lost everything and then finds it again. Good characters - nice pace. Worth a couple of hours of life.

(Might be based on a true story...)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 08, 2021, 10:17:48 pm
makes a change from two mules...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 08, 2021, 10:21:05 pm
A good bit of SciFi schlock on Netflix is Space Sweepers.
I say schlock, but quite high production values, not a bad script and funny enough, often enough, to be quite good.
Definite schlock! Quite fun tho, with some entertaining characters and decent background / world-building (no pun!) - which I'd have liked to be explored further, maybe instead of some of the more cliched bits.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 14, 2021, 02:03:23 pm
Watched Sully a few days ago; it's been mentioned before but I thought it was brilliant. A really involving / engaging bit of story telling, and has the novelty factor of feeling like a disaster movie with a genuinely happy ending, as opposed to the typical "sort of happy but lots and lots of people have still been killed" type thing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on March 14, 2021, 02:35:58 pm
Don't know why but I happen to have partaken in a couple of Nicolas Cage films on Netflix of late:

Next

High-concept, low execution quality about a guy who can see (a bit) into the future. A good brainless watch and pretty entertaining.

The Frozen Ground

Based on a real life case, Cage as a cop up against John Cusack's creepy serial killer. Polar opposite of Next, very good - absorbing and also features 50 Cent in a hilarious wig playing a pimp.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 14, 2021, 04:25:23 pm
A good bit of SciFi schlock on Netflix is Space Sweepers.
I say schlock, but quite high production values, not a bad script and funny enough, often enough, to be quite good.
Definite schlock! Quite fun tho, with some entertaining characters and decent background / world-building (no pun!) - which I'd have liked to be explored further, maybe instead of some of the more cliched bits.

I was going to post about this! Its excellent! Got cult classic written all over it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 16, 2021, 12:18:41 pm
Greyhound 2020 Apple TV

To carry on the theme of Tom Hanks - I watched this last night.... WW2 drama, based on a US Destroyer (Greyhound) with the captain (Hanks) leading the ship on its first combat mission, escorting a convoy across the Atlantic in Jan 1942 at the height of the U boats effectiveness... I had low expectations after the first 5 min - which featured Hanks (1) praying (2) lots of 'patriotic music' and (3) a distant love interest. But - after that - it was a bit like a windswept, rough sea, rain splashed Naval equivalent of 'Gravity'... in that once the convoy entered the zone between US and UK air cover it all started... Not as spectacular as Gravity of course - but the way in which the momentum kept going - the relentlessness of it all - was really effective. And the film was only 1:25 long... Some decent (but not over the top) special effects, and lots of tension, near misses and hits. I was very pleasantly surprised - and recommend it if you have access to it...

(if you like Sub films - looking at you Falling Down - I think this works similarly well..)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 16, 2021, 12:24:53 pm
Is it good? I remember them putting up loads of bamboo fencing in Knutsford to make it look (even) more like 1940s Shanghai.

Yes, I'd recommend it. It took me quite a while to realise that the reason the main boy character (the author) is played by Christian Bale, and that's why he looks so familiar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 16, 2021, 12:27:42 pm
Don't know why but I happen to have partaken in a couple of Nicolas Cage films on Netflix of late:

Next

High-concept, low execution quality about a guy who can see (a bit) into the future. A good brainless watch and pretty entertaining.

The Frozen Ground

Based on a real life case, Cage as a cop up against John Cusack's creepy serial killer. Polar opposite of Next, very good - absorbing and also features 50 Cent in a hilarious wig playing a pimp.

I found this funny, he's an extremely entertaining actor though isn't he. I enjoyed Lord of War. Cage movies definitely tend towards being trashy, but I very often really enjoy them,
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 16, 2021, 12:47:56 pm
Con Air probably being the most quotable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 16, 2021, 02:00:40 pm
I've not seen it but apparently he goes full Nick Cage in Mandy.

There were plans in the late 90s for him to play Superman in a film which never happened. Shame.


Saw Nomadland the other day. Thought it was very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Catcheemonkey on March 16, 2021, 02:25:28 pm
Mandy was amazing - some might not think in a good way, but I loved it.

Nicholas Cage is a complete cypher for much of it - then arbitrarily condenses all his performing into a few scenes. You'll struggle to find a film where you see more acting coming out of a man than in the batshit bathroom scene.

When he started smelting his own weaponry I felt all Nick Cage movies had been building to that moment.

You could tell me it is a masterpiece or the worst film ever made - I think you'd be able to make a plausible argument either way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on March 16, 2021, 02:37:51 pm
Raising Arizona is superb... (while we're on the Nick Cage theme....)

I think he'd have made an excellent Lex Luthor in Superman....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 16, 2021, 04:42:44 pm
Theres a good Cage/Mandy discussion a few pages back on this thread.

We watched Bladerunner as W had never seen it and then 2049 which we both thought was absolutely brilliant.

Calvary with Brendan Gleeson from 2014 was a good Sunday night movie. A bit grim in parts but still a black comedy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on March 16, 2021, 05:57:05 pm
I've rewatched 2049 a couple of times in the last few months; it is on balance just really watchable, lots of a amazing stuff in there and i've softened my stance since I saw it at the cinema which was confused annoyance at a missed opportunity.

Its free on amazon at the moment.

There are still a couple of really unnecessary scenes/ lines of dialogue that are very clunky, terrible in fact. And as a sequel there is a big existential problem but well, what do I know. Fuck all.

Still looking forward to his go at Dune.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 16, 2021, 06:17:26 pm

We watched Bladerunner as W had never seen it


Theatrical, director's or final cut?

reminds me I always meant to read the book, but never have, need to add to list.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on March 16, 2021, 06:49:24 pm
... and then 2049 which we both thought was absolutely brilliant.


I love Bladerunner, saw it at the Showroom in Sheffield one Saturday morning as one of their random "flashback" things years ago and the difference from the TV screen to the big screen was sizeable.

Watched 2049 at the Bradford IMAX and glad I did, gave it a real sense of scale.

I've actually read Dune recently in anticipation of the new one - found the book quite heavy going but glad I've read it before watching the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 16, 2021, 07:41:29 pm
Chris - I think it was the Directors cut. They dont drive away at the end and it didnt have Deckards voiceover monologues.

TTT & Cowboyhat I would have liked to see it in the cinema.  I guess living in London Ill get to do that at some point.

Looking forward to Dune.  The trailers look mint.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 16, 2021, 09:33:28 pm

I've actually read Dune recently in anticipation of the new one - found the book quite heavy going but glad I've read it before watching the film.

Might need to reread, I remember consuming all he Herbert books in the local library one after the other, so they all kind of blend into one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 16, 2021, 09:51:41 pm
I loved Dune but got more annoyed as I read the sequels, until I gave up - I vaguely recall a "fuck sandtrout" moment and a ceremonious flinging of a book into a waste bin.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on March 17, 2021, 11:40:40 am
I love Bladerunner, and the book, and 2049, though still think it could be 15min shorter.

I am outrageously psyched for Dune, think Timothee Chalamet is a great choice, love him in The King (which I also think is great, once you get over it's non-relationship to actual history/shakespeare)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: daddy long legs on March 17, 2021, 01:07:48 pm
Yep, Dune is badass. Hope Sting makes a cameo in the new one  :punk:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 19, 2021, 10:32:53 am
I can't review or recommend this as I haven't seen it yet, but thought it might be worth flagging for those on this thread. There are only a couple of performances left to see. It's free (donation recommended) or there's a 10 version which you can interact with.

https://dream.online/home/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on March 19, 2021, 02:52:39 pm
A good bit of SciFi schlock on Netflix is Space Sweepers.
I say schlock, but quite high production values, not a bad script and funny enough, often enough, to be quite good.
Definite schlock! Quite fun tho, with some entertaining characters and decent background / world-building (no pun!) - which I'd have liked to be explored further, maybe instead of some of the more cliched bits.

If you liked that...

Doomsday.

On Netflix.

Scotland has been walled off and the sea around it mined, after an outbreak of an incurable virus. 25 years later, rumour of a cure in the abandoned nation surfaces along with a new outbreak in London.

Mad Max with UK accents.
Better production standards than I expected.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 26, 2021, 10:16:50 pm
A few months ago I watched a film called High Ground and enjoyed it. Jim then recommended The Nightingale. I put it on my Netflix list and tonight we watched it.

Jim had described the film as "a little confronting at times".

After 2+ hours of the most gruelling snuff, I can honestly say that I would not wish this film on my worst enemy. During the second (and not the last) rape scene, in which we also see a baby killed by being slammed against a wall, my wife walked out of the room and I skipped forward a couple of minutes. Unfortunately we had lots more executions, beheadings, and other "confronting" events still to go.

Jim is a psychopath.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: 36chambers on March 26, 2021, 11:13:26 pm
After 2+ hours of the most gruelling snuff, I can honestly say that I would not wish this film on my worst enemy. During the second (and not the last) rape scene, in which we also see a baby killed by being slammed against a wall, my wife walked out of the room and I skipped forward a couple of minutes. Unfortunately we had lots more executions, beheadings, and other "confronting" events still to go.

Thanks for the spoilers...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on March 26, 2021, 11:17:00 pm
After 2+ hours of the most gruelling snuff, I can honestly say that I would not wish this film on my worst enemy. During the second (and not the last) rape scene, in which we also see a baby killed by being slammed against a wall, my wife walked out of the room and I skipped forward a couple of minutes. Unfortunately we had lots more executions, beheadings, and other "confronting" events still to go.

Thanks for the spoilers...

Anything that reduces the chances of somebody watching this horrible film is a boon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 26, 2021, 11:40:27 pm
I thought it was a good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shark on March 27, 2021, 08:52:45 pm
Has Intouchables/Untouchables been mentioned? Thought it was great
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 27, 2021, 09:27:02 pm
After 2+ hours of the most gruelling snuff, I can honestly say that I would not wish this film on my worst enemy. During the second (and not the last) rape scene, in which we also see a baby killed by being slammed against a wall, my wife walked out of the room and I skipped forward a couple of minutes. Unfortunately we had lots more executions, beheadings, and other "confronting" events still to go.

Thanks for the spoilers...

Anything that reduces the chances of somebody watching this horrible film is a boon.

I've become a lot "softer" in my tastes as I've aged. I used to be all about a cold hearted dedication to  ideas and mise-an-scene. These days, I'm looking for a laugh and vaguely sympathetic characters.

I've not seen Nightingale but the response reminds me of Mark Kemode's review of Process. This  led to my brother tracking down the Director, being willingly scammed, possibly being the last person to properly speak with him,  and now being accused as part of a(nother) faked death scam!

Process is an artsy Anglo-French endurance test. Child death, cancer, fatuous Holocaust references its all here in 29 fun-packed, dialogue-free single takes from director CS Leigh, who admits: Not a day goes by I dont visualise myself taking my own life. Batrice Dalle stars as the actress who swallows broken glass and engages in rough sex before wrapping a bag round her head and expiring. Miserabilist muso John Cale goes plinky-tinky-plunk-bong on the soundtrack, and then it all ends with the Jams Thats Entertainment! Ha bloody ha.

Mark Kermode. 17 July 2005, the Observer.[/it]
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 27, 2021, 09:44:31 pm
The Nightingale - first user review on IMDB. "Not for everyone" sums it up quite nicely.

Persian Lessons - very good film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on March 28, 2021, 12:14:54 pm
86 on Rotten Tomatoes, can't be only me that rated it! I thought it was a really good evocation of the infamous brutality of colonial Tasmania, a bit like a film version of a Richard Flanagan novel.

I watched it with my girlfriend and she rated it as well. I don't see it as any different to a Tarantino, who everyone raves about.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on March 31, 2021, 11:06:52 pm
Cherry - bit mediocre.
Sound of Metal - undecided. Either very good or brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 01, 2021, 08:24:48 am
Watched Oat Studios Vol 1 on Prime last night, a strange "showcase" collection of short films from Neill Blomkamp (District 9 etc).

The main ones are pretty dark to say the least, but the special effects are brilliant through out, although not all the stories are conclusive. I skipped through the cooking show ones after the first one, "comedy" is definitely not his strong point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 01, 2021, 08:50:34 am
I feel a bit bad about posting this one, as yesterday was the last day it was available on Mubi - it might be a bit of a struggle to find it anywhere.

Beautiful animation about the pre-war occupation of Catalonia through the eyes of Josep Bartoli - a Catalan artist confined to a concentration camp in south France.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 01, 2021, 09:16:10 am
What's it called?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 01, 2021, 10:09:12 am
Ha!

If started this on my phone but it froze up, so typed it out on the laptop instead. Forgot the name in the process!

Josep: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10534996/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 01, 2021, 05:40:12 pm
Thanks. Sounds good. It's on the list.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 02, 2021, 07:50:47 pm
The Mauritanian, Moxie and Violation are all worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on April 10, 2021, 04:39:11 pm
Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.

Great recommendation, just watched this and really enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 11, 2021, 07:45:31 am
Thought I'd try watching  Avengers Assemble, thinking that maybe I'm too negative about Marvel movies. It really isn't much good though, even if you're in the mood for a silly film. Just continuous chaotic action scenes, as though they've forgotten that it'd be great if there was some plot, or characters or anything else. Not a classic...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on April 11, 2021, 02:24:53 pm
Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.

Great recommendation, just watched this and really enjoyed it.

If you want to continue the non-comedy Vince Vaughn film journey I can recommend 'Dragged Across Concrete'. Which is a dark/crime/drama starring him and Mel Gibson. Gibson playing a role he seemed destined for as a bitter, racist, old drunk :D

I re-watched 'Inside Man' recently - prompted by a discussion of it on the superb 'Rewatchables' film review podcast. Had seen it somewhere around it's release in 2006 but enough time had passed for me to forget the majority of twists, turns, hilarious lines of dialogue etc. Well worth a watch or re-watch if your film memory is a blurry as mine is :D

Something to think about: They mention this line of thought on the podcast but these excellent mid-budget (where you tend to have a collection of decent actors, enough budget for some good action scenes and all round high production quality) films of the 90s/00s really don't seem to get made these days. Films are either low budget in the straight to Netflis / Indie flick shot on someones iPhone / art-house Oscar bait where a big actor 'roughs it' or gets dirty, categories. Or a HUGE smashy blockbuster usually featuring Super heroes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on April 11, 2021, 02:31:36 pm
Thought I'd try watching  Avengers Assemble, thinking that maybe I'm too negative about Marvel movies. It really isn't much good though, even if you're in the mood for a silly film. Just continuous chaotic action scenes, as though they've forgotten that it'd be great if there was some plot, or characters or anything else. Not a classic...

I think Avengers Assemble is meant to be one of the worst of the bunch, so you might have been unlucky with your choice there :/ I'm by no means the biggest Marvel fan but did find myself getting sucked in by the end of the series with Infinity War and Endgame.

If you haven't watched them the Thor films are great - Especially Thor:Ragnarok (Directed by Taika Waititi) is superb and probably the funniest of the entire Marvel bunch.

Also, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - very unique animation style rather than live action and actually made by Sony not Marvel (Disney) Studios is an exceptional film on many levels.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 11, 2021, 06:40:28 pm
Thought I'd try watching  Avengers Assemble, thinking that maybe I'm too negative about Marvel movies. It really isn't much good though, even if you're in the mood for a silly film. Just continuous chaotic action scenes, as though they've forgotten that it'd be great if there was some plot, or characters or anything else. Not a classic...

I think Avengers Assemble is meant to be one of the worst of the bunch, so you might have been unlucky with your choice there :/ I'm by no means the biggest Marvel fan but did find myself getting sucked in by the end of the series with Infinity War and Endgame.

If you haven't watched them the Thor films are great - Especially Thor:Ragnarok (Directed by Taika Waititi) is superb and probably the funniest of the entire Marvel bunch.

Also, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - very unique animation style rather than live action and actually made by Sony not Marvel (Disney) Studios is an exceptional film on many levels.

Yes I'd actually totally agree with you on several of those, Thor Ragnarok was pretty funny, and I don't think they're all bad, but there are probably far more terrible superhero movie than good ones, in my opinion. Somewhat like romantic comedies perhaps?! Some might argue that's true of any genre, but I still am a bit prejudiced against superhero movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on April 11, 2021, 07:33:20 pm
I actually quite enjoyed the Snyder cut.
Despite not being a huge Superhero movie fan and almost choking when I saw that it was four hours long...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 11, 2021, 09:01:51 pm
Just watched the Gentleman on Prime. Guy Ritchie film about... standard Guy Ritchie stuff. London based gangsters, drugs etc...

I really quite liked it - despite not being a huge fan of his films. It stars Mathew McConaughey, Hugh Grant and Colin Farrell amongst others. Notably, Hugh Grant is at first a bit annoying - but then actually quite funny playing a camp, aged paparazzi photographer trying to blackmail a gangster, Farrell some sort of boxing trainer (very funny) with a cohort of goons wearing amusingly co-ordinated pisstake designer street wear.

Its Hackneyed stuff - but the characters are decent, the plot is well thought out and it was one of the better films Ive seen in the past year. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 12, 2021, 08:51:02 am
Anyone who has Hulu is it worth going for the ad free version or not? And has anyone else considered or has got a month trial and cancelled it before you start paying? I think Andy P did but US so not sure if it's the same from the UK. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 12, 2021, 11:35:33 am
@tomtom we thoroughly enjoyed The Gentlemen too. Its very funny.

W dug out something called Once upon a time in Anatolia last night and wow, what a film. The best thing Ive watched in a long time. Theres been a murder and the police, a doctor, the prosecutor and the murderer spend a night driving around the steppes to locate the body. Its brilliant. (Its Turkish, so subtitled throughout).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 12, 2021, 11:48:24 am
Watched Escape from Pretoria on Prime. Interesting story, easy enough watch, attempts at South African accents ranging from passable to appalling.

I liked that they seemed to have managed to get all the period clothes, cars etc pretty much spot on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 18, 2021, 10:32:08 pm
Palm Springs: a well done rom com groundhog day film.
Promising Young Woman: zeitgeist candy floss rape revenge film with a few twists. Oscar chances.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 22, 2021, 07:44:03 pm
Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.

Great recommendation, just watched this and really enjoyed it.

Glad you enjoyed. Makes the forum worthwhile!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on April 22, 2021, 07:45:28 pm
Saw ' Brawl at cell block 99' last night.

Dodgy title, amazing film. Grindhouse neo-noir with an utterly superb Vince Vaughn (didn't realise he did other roles than comedy).
One those films that builds and builds, and you never want it to finish.

Great recommendation, just watched this and really enjoyed it.

If you want to continue the non-comedy Vince Vaughn film journey I can recommend 'Dragged Across Concrete'. Which is a dark/crime/drama starring him and Mel Gibson. Gibson playing a role he seemed destined for as a bitter, racist, old drunk :D

I re-watched 'Inside Man' recently - prompted by a discussion of it on the superb 'Rewatchables' film review podcast. Had seen it somewhere around it's release in 2006 but enough time had passed for me to forget the majority of twists, turns, hilarious lines of dialogue etc. Well worth a watch or re-watch if your film memory is a blurry as mine is :D

Something to think about: They mention this line of thought on the podcast but these excellent mid-budget (where you tend to have a collection of decent actors, enough budget for some good action scenes and all round high production quality) films of the 90s/00s really don't seem to get made these days. Films are either low budget in the straight to Netflis / Indie flick shot on someones iPhone / art-house Oscar bait where a big actor 'roughs it' or gets dirty, categories. Or a HUGE smashy blockbuster usually featuring Super heroes.

Checked dragged across concrete thanks for recommendation its defo a good one
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 22, 2021, 08:29:10 pm
Watched 18 Bridges on Prime the other night - and thought it was a decent cops n robbers thriller. Kinda nice plot swivel 2/3 way through... some good acting/good characters (the first 2 min is a bit ugh but alright after that)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 22, 2021, 08:37:22 pm
I watched Sorcerer last night. Hadnt seen it for a while - directed by William Friedkin between the Exorcist and Cruising (which I watched a few weeks ago incidentally).

What an absolute masterpiece! Quite a theatrical segmented structure, insane stunts (including the most terrifyingly real terrorist explosion Ive ever seen in a movie, plus trucks creeping over collapsing bridges), Roy Scheider, and a Tangerine Dream soundtrack. The second half is unbelievably tense. Its very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on April 23, 2021, 06:29:06 pm
Promising Young Woman: zeitgeist candy floss rape revenge film with a few twists. Oscar chances.

I thought this was all a bit, well, tame....struggling to think of another way to describe it, but given the subject matter and the awards success it's enjoying so far I was expecting it to be a lot more hard hitting than it is.

I was imagining something along the lines of the scene in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Spoiler
NSFW  :
which in a way it was...except it wasn't at all

Maybe I'm desensitised to violence but the - minor spoiler - almost total lack of any sort of violence for me lessened the film's impact. It ended up feeling like a very average TV / Netflix drama with a couple of easily foreseeable plot twists and fairly average acting.

It just didn't have any weight to it at all. Quite disappointing.

More potential spoilers
NSFW  :
Did we ever find out why some of the marks in her little book were red and the rest were black? I assumed that would be a key part of the story...but if it was revealed it totally passed me by.

Also, considering the whole point of the film was around justice for rape, why did almost none of the men at fault get their comeuppance?! I kept waiting for someone to suffer as a result of their actions, and it just never really happened. Even the one who did was arrested for her murder, and not for the rape (although there was the tape so I guess he didn't get away with it, but still).

Lastly...starting to rant now...what was the point of the scene where she smashes up that pick up truck? And why didn't he just drive off when she started with the tail lights?

I'd give it 3 or 4 stars out of 10 if I were rating it. Tame.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on April 24, 2021, 07:16:56 am
I was pleasantly surprised by how Promising Young Woman subverted my, similar, expectations

Concrete Cowboy: coming of age story set to a back drop of real urban black cowboys in Phillie. Thought this was decent and engaging.

Mortal Kombat (2021): probably the best video game to film attempt so far. Overall not bad with mediocre acting, pretty good fight scenes, CGI and the usual good vs evil plot. Certainly not a flawless victory but a lot better than the original film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on April 24, 2021, 08:50:00 am
Concrete Cowboy: coming of age story set to a back drop of real urban black cowboys in Phillie. Thought this was decent and engaging.

We got about half way through this the other night but it got late and we didn't finish. I'm not sure I was engaged enough to return to be honest. As you note, the Fletcher Street Urban Riding club is a real thing. It is always a pleasure to see Philadelphia again though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 26, 2021, 08:38:16 am
Thunder Force on Netflix. Incredibly low maintenance but very very funny. Kids and I laughed out loud a lot. Bit of swearing (6 drops or so, probably the most sensor will allow for a 12) but otherwise fine.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 28, 2021, 07:47:23 am
 War of the Worlds
On iPlayer at the moment, a serviceable version, lots of classic Spielberg set pieces with perhaps too much action to be effective. It is entertaining and unchallengingly enjoyable, but marred by way too much of the annoying kids. Worthwhile though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 28, 2021, 08:20:16 am
Cruise version?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on April 28, 2021, 10:50:57 am
Another recommendation for the Mauritanian

Superb. Best film I've seen this year.

Make sure you watch the credits too... (well most of them anyway..)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 29, 2021, 12:04:53 am
Cruise version?

Yes, sorry, I did mention Speilberg but not TC.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 29, 2021, 08:40:44 am
I was being lazy, just thought there might have been another remake.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 31, 2021, 09:52:24 am
On BBC Iplayer for a couple more days only is the worthwhile Sully. Its not incredible,  but is slickly made and tells an interesting story. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on May 31, 2021, 07:48:43 pm
Army of the dead (Netflix)

I really really liked this. After a military accident - Vegas becomes over-run with zombies. They manage to wall of Vegas and contain - and schedule to nuke the site to wipe them out. But - theres still 200mill in cash in one of the vaults.

So its a heist film - and a zombie film. Thought it had some really cool touches - and lots of humour. Good soundtrack - and plenty of nods to Vegas and its excesses - especially in zombie form. At times it felt like oceans 11, the A team and World War Z all rolled into one - which wasnt a bad thing. Loved the zombies (looked like theyd hired loads of dancers for that) and some neat twists in how the dead became organised with leader(s). Some fun characters big guy, Latino YouTube gansta, German safe cracker (cringy but funny). Good scene with using zombies to find booby traps.

I expect it may not be everyones cup of tea but I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 31, 2021, 08:42:41 pm
I don't know why but it's taken me a while to get psyched to sit down and watch Bohemian Rhapsody. What a film. I ended up playing Queen's greatest hits for days afterwards.

Joe. I'd never heard of it but thought Cage was brilliant. It had plenty of "getting old and starting to feel it" vibes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 31, 2021, 10:24:46 pm
Army of the dead (Netflix)

It looks like a poorer version of the Zombieland films (which I really liked) so was put off a bit. Better or worse?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 01, 2021, 09:12:52 am
Army of the dead (Netflix)

It looks like a poorer version of the Zombieland films (which I really liked) so was put off a bit. Better or worse?

Not seen any of them Chris. so no idea how it would hold up. I expect you'd get a feel for how it was after the first 10-15 min... It had a wee bit of a saggy bit in the middle but otherwise romped along in typical zombie stylee for 2 hours..

It had a good ending too (I thought).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 01, 2021, 09:16:45 am
If you like that sort of thing - Zombie / comedy they are worth a look. First is a bit better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on June 01, 2021, 11:42:55 am
Nomadland is cracking. Highly recommend a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on June 01, 2021, 12:20:18 pm
Ok, coming out of the zombie closet... also enjoyed The Silence, Cargo and #Alive. Latter might appeal to fans of the Korean breakthrough thing Parasite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 01, 2021, 12:26:46 pm
or Train to Busan?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on June 01, 2021, 02:01:29 pm
I don't know why but it's taken me a while to get psyched to sit down and watch Bohemian Rhapsody. What a film. I ended up playing Queen's greatest hits for days afterwards.

I enjoyed this, and likewise Rocketman, the Elton John one, is in a very similar vein.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 01, 2021, 03:50:38 pm
Nomadland is cracking. Highly recommend a watch.

Really looking forward to seeing this at some point, weather's been too good to go to the cinema though!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 11, 2021, 07:32:43 am
Moneyball on Netflix, a movie about baseball and data analysis. This sounds unutterably dull, but in fact it's a study of motivation, and triumph of an idea over pure financial muscle. Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 11, 2021, 09:32:03 am
Moneyball on Netflix, a movie about baseball and data analysis. This sounds unutterably dull, but in fact it's a study of motivation, and triumph of an idea over pure financial muscle. Recommended.

The Brad Pitt film? If so great. One of his better roles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 11, 2021, 10:30:38 am
Moneyball on Netflix, a movie about baseball and data analysis. This sounds unutterably dull, but in fact it's a study of motivation, and triumph of an idea over pure financial muscle. Recommended.

The Brad Pitt film? If so great. One of his better roles.

Yes I agree that he's excellent in it, although I think he's frequently very good. Fight Club, Twelve Monkeys, even the Ocean's movies although they are of a type.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 11, 2021, 01:27:02 pm
I thought he was great in Fury too, though I found it a hard film to watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on June 11, 2021, 07:44:19 pm
I thought he was great in Fury too, though I found it a hard film to watch.

He was about the only redeeming factor in that shell-shock inducing monstrosity!

I like Brad Pitt, even in his less great roles. Always watchable.  Not seen Moneyball yet, but I might check it out this weekend.  :icon_beerchug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tomtom on June 11, 2021, 09:01:29 pm
He was strangely good in a comedy/parody role in Burn After Reading - but I do love Cohen Bros films!!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on June 11, 2021, 09:15:41 pm
He was strangely good in a comedy/parody role in Burn After Reading - but I do love Cohen Bros films!!!

He's always been good in comedic roles - right back to Floyd in True Romance.  He was funny (if disturbing) in Inglorius Basterds (...were in the killin Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin.).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 11, 2021, 11:37:27 pm
Since you've all weighed in with more Pitt movies,  I was actually going to say originally Thelma and Louise, in which hes surprisingly good IIRC, although it's a long time since I saw it.
I thought I'd sound like too much of a film geek if I did, which I probably do anyway.  Anyway,  if any of you haven't seen Moneyball,  do so.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on June 12, 2021, 09:27:42 am
Pitt is also excellent in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", which is an awesome film (apart from the five minute crescendo of violence at the end).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 12, 2021, 10:50:22 am
Pitt is also excellent in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", which is an awesome film (apart from the five minute crescendo of violence at the end).

Nice one, that reminds me I haven't seen it yet
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on June 12, 2021, 11:08:04 am
I've seen Moneyball a couple of times. It's great. Quite a similar feel to The Big Short.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 17, 2021, 06:22:40 pm
Nomadland is cracking. Highly recommend a watch.

I saw Nomadland today. What a beautiful movie. I'd highly recommend anyone see this, and on a big screen while it is around. The sound and the cinematography really need a cinema to come across I would guess, it is mournful, touching and occasionally mildly amusing. Frances McDormand is just as good in it as she is in Fargo or 3 Billboards... It's certainly not an action movie or remotely fast paced, but as long as that is what you're in the mood for, I think most people would love it. 9/10 or something like that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 18, 2021, 01:38:26 pm
Army of the dead (Netflix)

It looks like a poorer version of the Zombieland films (which I really liked) so was put off a bit. Better or worse?

Not seen any of them Chris. so no idea how it would hold up. I expect you'd get a feel for how it was after the first 10-15 min... It had a wee bit of a saggy bit in the middle but otherwise romped along in typical zombie stylee for 2 hours..

It had a good ending too (I thought).

I watched it, thought it was OK, but some bits were just a bit too silly even for my low levels of entertainment. Found most of the characters pretty annoying too. Not really a direct comparison, but prefer Zombieland for the humour, and the characters, plus better known stars seem to have a lot of fun in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on June 18, 2021, 02:27:36 pm
I watched it, thought it was OK, but some bits were just a bit too silly even for my low levels of entertainment. Found most of the characters pretty annoying too. Not really a direct comparison, but prefer Zombieland for the humour, and the characters, plus better known stars seem to have a lot of fun in it.

NSFW  :
It was pointed out in one of the online reviews that, if the zombie head was more valuable than the cash as noted, then they could have had a 10 min film by just employing the coyote to get it for them and miss out the heist bit all together! 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 18, 2021, 02:33:33 pm

Indeed - more spoilers below
NSFW  :
Totally agree. Also, why was the guy locked in the safe, when did he get bitten, why hadn't he changed like everyone else and how did he get out of the safe. And why didn't he get radiation poisoning?

And why did the 3 women even go into Vegas in the first place?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 08, 2021, 11:47:03 pm
After watching Army of the Dead, thought i fancied a bit more of a Zombie fix, so went on to watch the Korean move Train to Busan - Terminal. And guess what, AotD is a blatant rip-off of the storyline from that.  The Korean version is better though, more splattering.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on July 09, 2021, 06:36:19 am
We rewatched the Coen brothers' Hail Caesar! last night. This might be one of my favourite films - just gloriously stupid fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on July 09, 2021, 09:12:00 am
Not sure if this goes here, or the podcasts thread, but on the zombie tip - I've been burning through the excellent "Evolution Of Horror" podcast lately.

The cover off a different sub-genre of horror and do a podcast on each one. The zombie ones include 28 Days Later, Shaun Of The Dead, Zombieland, Train To Busan.

Well worth a listen!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on July 09, 2021, 09:55:22 am
Oooh, hadn't heard of that podcast, will need to check it out. I've been enjoying "Talking Scared" lately -- it's a podcast interviewing horror writers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on July 09, 2021, 10:25:42 am
I'll have to check that out once I've rinsed all the EoH ones - there are some good ones on Donnie Darko, The Shining and Under The Skin as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 12, 2021, 07:28:52 am
out of the blue

On iPlayer for the next week only; this is a strange but I thought excellent film. Dreamy and meditative in tone, but the content is an engaging murder investigation. Recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on July 16, 2021, 10:30:30 am
Once upon a time in Hollywood:

Watched this on Netflix yesterday and thought it was really enjoyable. Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio make a good pair. Not Tarantinos best work but still very enjoyable and a nice re-work of the Sharon Tate murder
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 21, 2021, 09:06:55 am
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on July 21, 2021, 09:23:40 pm
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.
It is beautiful film, I think. Beguiling and childlike (as you say) but also playful & imaginative. Miyazaki's favourite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on August 07, 2021, 08:40:26 pm
https://mubi.com/films/first-cow

Stretched out, with ebbs and flows of tension. Just watched it and making sense of it all now. Very good, I think.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on August 26, 2021, 08:17:18 pm
If anybody is planning on watching Once Upon A Time In Hollywood I'd recommend going down this Wikipedia rabbit hole first. It would have been a totally different film if I'd known about this!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate%E2%80%93LaBianca_murders#Tate_murders
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on August 26, 2021, 08:45:21 pm
If anybody is planning on watching Once Upon A Time In Hollywood I'd recommend going down this Wikipedia rabbit hole first. It would have been a totally different film if I'd known about this!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tate%E2%80%93LaBianca_murders#Tate_murders

I knew the story beforehand and so it was a real surprise how it actually turned out in the film. If only real life had worked out that way for Sharon Tate!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 27, 2021, 07:26:14 am
Suicide Squad
ie the first one on Netflix now. A pretty poor superhero movie although saved from being totally worthless by a really good soundtrack and the presence of Will Smith.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on August 27, 2021, 01:35:06 pm
Suicide Squad
ie the first one on Netflix now. A pretty poor superhero movie although saved from being totally worthless by a really good soundtrack and the presence of Will Smith.

I've tried to watch this several times now and given up each time. It's just rubbish. I can't really explain why, it just is really, really bad.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on August 27, 2021, 01:51:53 pm
It could have been terrible anyway, but I think the main reason it is soooo bad is that they re-edited after Deadpool (and before it Guardians) did so well, so they wanted to make it more comedy with a notable soundtrack. Like Snyder with Justice League, the director has made his feelings known! https://collider.com/ayer-cut-suicide-squad-david-ayer-statement
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 28, 2021, 10:36:29 am
It could have been terrible anyway, but I think the main reason it is soooo bad is that they re-edited after Deadpool (and before it Guardians) did so well, so they wanted to make it more comedy with a notable soundtrack. Like Snyder with Justice League, the director has made his feelings known! https://collider.com/ayer-cut-suicide-squad-david-ayer-statement

Ah I see.  I didn't quite finish watching it,  and probably won't bother either, although I don't normally do that,  I like to finish even bad movies,  or books.  Suicide squad is completely devoid of plot or narrative drive though. Given that Will Smith and the soundtrack are the only good things,  I could just rewatch Bad Boys and find the soundtrack on spotify.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 05, 2021, 07:33:56 am
Don't know if it's been mentioned up thread but Sherpa is good. On Netflix, yet another Everest doc but it's got some good cinematography and some powerful bits. Only available until the end of the month.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hydraulic Man on September 05, 2021, 10:10:54 am
Watched Bait the other evening....Quite topical given the comments regarding Cornwall on this site recently....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 05, 2021, 11:15:15 am
Watched Bait the other evening....Quite topical given the comments regarding Cornwall on this site recently....

I'd really like to see this, where is it available?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hydraulic Man on September 05, 2021, 11:22:32 am
Rented off Prime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on September 05, 2021, 11:46:39 am
Bait is a good film.

I watched Destroyer last night as it is on iplayer at the moment. Nicole Kidman as you've never seen her before is a ground down, murder detective hunting down a gang of armed robbers who she had previously been involved with in an undercover capacity. Quite slow moving in a thoughtful manner at times but  interspersed with some sudden scenes of pretty cool action. Good characterisations throughout and touches on similar themes as Point Break and Heat but in a more  thoughtful manner and with fewer full on half-hour action set pieces. Interesting to note that it's largely produced technically by a female director & crew (I know... Point Break directed by Katherine Bigelow.)

Check it out if you are so inclined. I enjoyed it second time round as much as the first.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 05, 2021, 05:43:39 pm
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.

Was walking in to Cuckoo Rock, this afternoon and No.1 blurted out Ha! So were climbing on Totoro today. Never thought about it before, but now cant unsee it:

(https://i.ibb.co/64ztK5k/D7-D2922-E-469-E-43-C6-AA07-296-C6-BEAD0-EF.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 05, 2021, 10:14:29 pm
Uncanny
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 05, 2021, 10:44:56 pm
Uncanny

Well, it was when he pulled out the umbrella.

(https://i.ibb.co/YQtb4W3/77035709-DD1-F-4741-830-C-7-B32-E84-A287-D.jpg)


Ok, ok, Ill get my coat
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 05, 2021, 11:26:53 pm
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.

Was walking in to Cuckoo Rock, this afternoon and No.1 blurted out Ha! So were climbing on Totoro today. Never thought about it before, but now cant unsee it:

(https://i.ibb.co/64ztK5k/D7-D2922-E-469-E-43-C6-AA07-296-C6-BEAD0-EF.jpg)

Awesome! I haven't been up to coombeshead for years I'll have to try to make it next time I'm down there.  I love that place,  even more so now I know I can visit Japanese film stars and boulder.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 06, 2021, 08:24:54 am
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.

Was walking in to Cuckoo Rock, this afternoon and No.1 blurted out Ha! So were climbing on Totoro today. Never thought about it before, but now cant unsee it:

(https://i.ibb.co/64ztK5k/D7-D2922-E-469-E-43-C6-AA07-296-C6-BEAD0-EF.jpg)

Awesome! I haven't been up to coombeshead for years I'll have to try to make it next time I'm down there.  I love that place,  even more so now I know I can visit Japanese film stars and boulder.

OT, but we had to retreat from our summit attempts, because the wind dropped and the entire tor was suddenly covered in an incredibly dense swam of flying ants, that choked you or filled your ears. No escape except dropping back into the valley. I think I weight 2-3kg more in dead ant corpses on the walk back.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 07, 2021, 08:50:00 am
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.

Was walking in to Cuckoo Rock, this afternoon and No.1 blurted out Ha! So were climbing on Totoro today. Never thought about it before, but now cant unsee it:

(https://i.ibb.co/64ztK5k/D7-D2922-E-469-E-43-C6-AA07-296-C6-BEAD0-EF.jpg)

Awesome! I haven't been up to coombeshead for years I'll have to try to make it next time I'm down there.  I love that place,  even more so now I know I can visit Japanese film stars and boulder.

OT, but we had to retreat from our summit attempts, because the wind dropped and the entire tor was suddenly covered in an incredibly dense swam of flying ants, that choked you or filled your ears. No escape except dropping back into the valley. I think I weight 2-3kg more in dead ant corpses on the walk back.

I don't know if that's off topic, attack of the giant ants could be a good horror movie. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 07, 2021, 09:13:06 am
My neighbour totoro

A studio Ghibli movie I hadn't seen until recently,  its not Spirited Away,  but it is an entertaining hour and a half.  Probably more of a kids film really but enough weirdness to keep me watching.  The cat bus beast is a particular highlight,  some pretty powerful mushrooms must have been used to come up with that idea.

Was walking in to Cuckoo Rock, this afternoon and No.1 blurted out Ha! So were climbing on Totoro today. Never thought about it before, but now cant unsee it:

(https://i.ibb.co/64ztK5k/D7-D2922-E-469-E-43-C6-AA07-296-C6-BEAD0-EF.jpg)

Awesome! I haven't been up to coombeshead for years I'll have to try to make it next time I'm down there.  I love that place,  even more so now I know I can visit Japanese film stars and boulder.

OT, but we had to retreat from our summit attempts, because the wind dropped and the entire tor was suddenly covered in an incredibly dense swam of flying ants, that choked you or filled your ears. No escape except dropping back into the valley. I think I weight 2-3kg more in dead ant corpses on the walk back.

I don't know if that's off topic, attack of the giant ants could be a good horror movie.

Well, the classic there is Phase IV, however my kids still rave about Marabunta and will still emulate scenes from that movie, when they encounter an ant nest etc.
I think the youngest two, were still young enough, to be actually slightly traumatised by that movie when they first watched it. Traumatised the way my eldest was by the Weeping Angels in Dr Who

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Fire:_Killer_Ants! (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_of_Fire:_Killer_Ants!)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on September 07, 2021, 04:16:35 pm
Watched "Beckett" recently as it was suggested in Netflix.

Meh.

Can kind of see what they were attempting, the whole "lost in a country where you don't speak the language and people are after you", but the ending was ridiculous, and it never really got tense... Seemed they'd tried to keep things realistic to build drama, so no choreographed fight scenes, or explosive gun battles - but then so many plot holes, and an utterly ridiculous ending undid all this.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 07, 2021, 05:42:28 pm
Watched "Beckett" recently as it was suggested in Netflix.

Meh.

Can kind of see what they were attempting, the whole "lost in a country where you don't speak the language and people are after you", but the ending was ridiculous, and it never really got tense... Seemed they'd tried to keep things realistic to build drama, so no choreographed fight scenes, or explosive gun battles - but then so many plot holes, and an utterly ridiculous ending undid all this.

I almost watched this, and then had a look at it's rotten tomatoes score after putting myself through suicide squad. This put me off, but nice one for confirming that it's gash.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 08, 2021, 07:56:43 am
For anyone with Disney+ , I only discovered the other day that the default profile setting is to block anything that isn't for kids.

I spun up a new profile the other day and changed that, and found a load of stuff on there with age-restrictions on it, including Aliens.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 08, 2021, 08:15:09 am

I almost watched this, and then had a look at it's rotten tomatoes score after putting myself through suicide squad. This put me off, but nice one for confirming that it's gash.

This is the key filter for any of this straight to Amazon/Netflix fare for me, combo of IMDB and rotten tomatoes seems to allow for any fanbase effects.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 08, 2021, 08:31:15 am
For anyone with Disney+ , I only discovered the other day that the default profile setting is to block anything that isn't for kids.

I spun up a new profile the other day and changed that, and found a load of stuff on there with age-restrictions on it, including Aliens.

STAR has loads of good films too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 08, 2021, 09:53:05 am

I almost watched this, and then had a look at it's rotten tomatoes score after putting myself through suicide squad. This put me off, but nice one for confirming that it's gash.

This is the key filter for any of this straight to Amazon/Netflix fare for me, combo of IMDB and rotten tomatoes seems to allow for any fanbase effects.

I often use just the top critics filter on rotten tomatoes, and look at a few of the ones whose likes / dislikes I know from their reviews and whether they're similar to mine. The overall critical score doesn't always work for me, I also listen to people's opinions on here, I haven't noticed anyone who likes awful movies yet!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 08, 2021, 10:43:43 am
Same. I also have a look at Roger Ebert and Grauniad reviews as another check.

Some recent good ones:

Pig - Brilliant and unexpected from Nicholas Cage.

The WeWork doc - Great documentary filmmaking. Madness, hubris and money.

Mystery Road and Goldstone - Superb Aussie grittiness.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on September 15, 2021, 10:06:26 pm
I just came back from seeing Dune. I have not seen a better film in a long time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 15, 2021, 10:09:11 pm
How come you get it a month before us? Bloody Brexit 😡

Is it only half of the first book?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on September 15, 2021, 10:18:00 pm
Yup it is the first act from the book. The film ends exactly where you would imagine the cut-off between part 1 and part 2 ot be.

Rebecca Ferguson is magnificent as Lady Jessica. Some of the best acting I have seen.

I think it doesn't get a release in UK because of HBO MAX?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on September 15, 2021, 10:48:24 pm
OMG I'm so psyched for this!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 16, 2021, 08:26:32 am
Me too - I read the book for the first time about this time last year in anticipation. From what I've heard it's been well-received so I have high hopes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 16, 2021, 11:18:34 am
Same. I also have a look at Roger Ebert and Grauniad reviews as another check.

Some recent good ones:

Pig - Brilliant and unexpected from Nicholas Cage.

The WeWork doc - Great documentary filmmaking. Madness, hubris and money.

Mystery Road and Goldstone - Superb Aussie grittiness.

Agree Pig was excellent - some VERY lazy critics/reviews giving it the 'John Wick meets Chef' analogy completely missed the point of the film imo and to reference John Wick at all due to a single scene seemed fairly silly to me.

If you enjoyed the WeWork Doc and also enjoy PodCasts there is an excellent series produced about Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos called 'The Dropout' - the one created by NBC News to avoid confusion as there are a couple. I believe there was also one called 'Bad Blood' and perhaps a netflix doc of the same name but I've not consumed either. Who as it happens is finally being tried for all kinds of fraud charges right now.

Regarding DUNE - I believe it only gets it's nationwide cinema release on the 22nd October in the UK?? Even though I've read the book (and all of the somewhat questionable sequels) multiple times I'm doing all that I can to avoid any for of spoiler, trailer, review... I don't even want to see a single still from the film before I'm sat in an IMAX absorbing every detail my eyeballs can manage... Which is fairly tricky when my Google algorithms know my love for all things sci-fi!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on September 16, 2021, 06:30:29 pm
Watched Sicario the other day. Not sure how it had passed me by until now, but I thought it was brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 17, 2021, 07:29:08 am
Opening scenes are pretty grim!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on September 17, 2021, 07:49:26 am
I didn't say it was an easy watch!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 17, 2021, 09:07:34 am
Thanks crzylegs, Ill have a look for the Theranos docs.

Looking forward to Dune and one for a slightly more niche audience, Fire Music, a great looking documentary on the history of free jazz.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 24, 2021, 09:12:09 pm
Apart from the fact Im convinced my name is now Todd Hewitt

Chaos Walking.

On Prime and now free.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 26, 2021, 06:12:55 pm
The Green Knight. Ive been scratching my head about this all day. Its visually stunning, beautifully written, the actors are all amazing and its a _really_ interesting take on the story. But, its a bit, erm boring.

Its been getting 5* across the board in the papers but I wonder whether its more of a critics film? I was very excited to watch as it ticks so many boxes for me but I was a bit underwhelmed and I love slow paced, symbolic and clever films. Maybe I was tired? Ill give at another go I think.

Sean Harris is magnificent though. I could watch him all day, every day.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Pope B on September 26, 2021, 07:01:21 pm
Saw Green Knight yesterday evening. I really enjoyed it.

Been a while since I've read any versions of it, but from what I saw it didn't seem to be anything that different from other versions. The bits on his journey to the green chapel were new but I don't think the journey is ever actually covered in the original poem?

I thought that acting was excellent, the lighting & colours really good and the use of ambient sound and music pretty engaging and suspenseful.

That said I could definitely see people finding it boring, was a bit slow perhaps and quite a different watch to how it was portrayed in the trailer
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 26, 2021, 08:00:49 pm
Ill definitely watch it again. I think I was too tired to really appreciate it last night.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 26, 2021, 08:32:36 pm
I'd agree with having another go. Yes the pacing is slow, but they've put so much effort into every shot, that I think if it was any faster you wouldn't have time to soak it all in. So much going on, I'm sure most the symbolism going straight over my head! For me there was a slow suspense and sense of foreboding almost throughout which helped keep me on the edge of my seat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 26, 2021, 09:27:52 pm
Some recent films I've watched on Mubi:

First Cow Kelly Reichardt

I thought this was really good. Long and slow, but always kept you engaged. Some great acting and directing. A simple enough plot, but just washing over you type of film. 4/5

https://mubi.com/films/first-cow

Sweat

Quite good but not quite excellent; watchable and a novel concept. About a girl who is an instagram influencer, but is lonely and sad. Almost a faux-documentary ish thing. Short. I guess it felt like it didn't delve too deep. Magdalena Kolesnik was good in the main role https://mubi.com/films/sweat-2020. 3.69/5

Yellow Cat

Weird, kind of interested as it was set in Kazakhstan where I've been many years ago now.

This sums it up for me pretty well (spoilers). Can't say I'd recommend unless you have a fondness for odd films...

https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/yellow-cat-busan-review/5154234.article

https://mubi.com/films/yellow-cat

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on September 27, 2021, 12:21:45 pm
Is The Green Knight filmed on location on the Cheshire/ Staffordshire border?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 27, 2021, 06:21:51 pm
The Green Chapel certainly isnt Ludchurch and I couldnt place any of the scenery so Im guessing most if not all was shot in Ireland.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on September 27, 2021, 07:46:04 pm
No wonder you struggled then, can scratch that off the list!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 30, 2021, 08:41:06 am
News of the World
Finally got round to watching this,  I thought it was really good despite being mildly prejudiced against Tom Hanks for some reason.  It is dressed up like a Western, and although it includes many elements of the genre, in many ways it has more in common with a feelgood roadtrip movie. Given that description I'd probably run a mile,  but liked it nevertheless,  its beautifully shot and the central characters are well acted.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 03, 2021, 07:39:54 am
The Girl on the Train

Watched this last night; it's great if you want a convincing performance of a person falling into extreme alcoholism. Emily Blunt is convincing but for me it wasn't terribly enjoyable, the narrative doesn't really drive it forward and it becomes mainly a harrowing endurance test.
Worthy but not fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on October 03, 2021, 08:31:13 pm
No time to die.absolutely superb.

Makes up for the poor predecessor Spectreand puts itself up there as one of the great Bond films  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 03, 2021, 11:06:14 pm
No time to die.absolutely superb.

Makes up for the poor predecessor Spectreand puts itself up there as one of the great Bond films  :)

Sounds great,  I've heard several people say it's the best Bond movie.  I like them all in one way or another though. Really looking forward to this one. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 04, 2021, 08:40:23 am
Free Guy

On Disney + - Good Family fun, I probably laughed more than the kids. 9 yo struggled with some of the concepts though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 13, 2021, 12:58:07 pm
Forgive me if this is a repost as I don't follow this thread, but....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5BKctcZxrM

...was quite enjoyable. Requires some suspension of disbelief in many places, but is well done and has some good twists and thought-provoking moments.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on October 13, 2021, 04:36:53 pm
Tenet. Just watched it en route to Turkey (now now in Ukraine).

Pretty good sci-fi, or, more futuristic heisty geopolitical action film. Sometimes a little hard to follow but generally enjoyable aviation fodder.

Kind of inception meets black Bourne, ish, with more acting and less explosions. Maybe.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 13, 2021, 05:37:04 pm
baby driver
Can't believe I haven't seen this until now. Really stylish funny well directed Edgar Wright movie, Kevin Spacey is also very entertaining. He is a brilliant actor, whatever else he might have done or not done in his life. Anyway, the film's light-hearted, highly entertaining and there are good car chases.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 14, 2021, 09:58:23 pm
Another possible repost....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuA-xqBw4jE

A good alien film, kinda like an inferior but quite respectable spiritual successor to Alien itself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on October 15, 2021, 06:43:26 am
baby driver
Can't believe I haven't seen this until now. Really stylish funny well directed Edgar Wright movie, Kevin Spacey is also very entertaining. He is a brilliant actor, whatever else he might have done or not done in his life. Anyway, the film's light-hearted, highly entertaining and there are good car chases.

Good innit and it has lily James in it  :wub:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 20, 2021, 10:16:30 am
I saw Ad Astra recently, which managed to do a similar thing, only not as well, and with far more money and a better cast. Sam Neill is pretty scary in event horizon, when TJ Jones turns up in Ad Astra, it all gets silly, and it had gone on too long by then.
BRad Astra more like  ::)

Another "Fiend desperately tries to distract himself from the slothful tedium of golfer's elbow" tick. It was okay overall. The main character and human story were pretty good (commentary included), and some of the tension and atmosphere in the middle was good, as was the soundtrack. However for a tightly focused story with a distinctly down-to-earth very-near-future low-tech setting, some of the inconsistencies were more jarring than they would have been in a more grandiose and flamboyant film....

Why was the moon base fucking massive and full of kids if it takes a whole rocket to get 6-8 people up there?
Why were they still using basic exposed lunar rovers if they were capable of building such a massive moon base?
Moon pirates really? How did that slip through security?
Talking of security why were they so useless at actually tracking / dealing with moon pirates?
The mayday call ship / space station, what was that all about?
(both these bits seem to have been shoehorned in to add length, and whilst tense in their own way, hardly supported the main plot)
Where were the signs and designs indicating that the moon-mars ship was capable of life support for a 160 day round trip after it was repurposed?
Why did the crew asphyxiate in a matter of seconds?
Why could his dad fight back if he's been rotting away in a zero-g base for 16 years?
The chances of getting through the rings without being deflected miles off course hmmmmm?


FWIW I fucking hate plot-hole-pickers and sciencier-than-thou spoilsports in sci-fi films, but this stuff really stood out in the context / film style I initially mentioned. It was okay but could have less getting in the way of the atmosphere and tension, and more supporting that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 20, 2021, 01:05:39 pm
I really enjoyed The Colony (which is now on Prime). I'd started it previously but got distracted but this time I didn't have any such issue.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colony-Emma-Watson/dp/B07C4HHHD7
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 21, 2021, 07:34:33 am
blood diamond
On Netflix. Watchable but unremarkable action filled movie with a decent performance from DiCaprio as an unsympathetic diamond smuggler.
However, in a scene where radicalised children are given ak47s and saying their new war names such as "baby killer" or "killing machine", I'm sure I heard one of them say straight to the camera from behind his weapon "I am Donald Trump". Wierd, given that it was made in 2005/6.
Worth watching but not amazing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 21, 2021, 11:04:41 pm
Saw Dune this evening

Fucking incredible. Just astounding. I cannot recommend it enough.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on October 21, 2021, 11:52:32 pm
Saw Dune this evening

Fucking incredible. Just astounding. I cannot recommend it enough.


Same. Just back from an IMAX screening. Very much worthy of viewing on the largest, loudest screen you can manage. I'm sure any fans of epic (as in vast) sci-fi will love it.

Edit: Also fans of the book have nothing to worry about. It's one of my all time faves with numerous re-reads. Denis Villeneuve has done it justice. Shame we'll be waiting a year or more for the security nd part!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 22, 2021, 09:23:46 am
I'm a massive fan of the book and I thought they adapted it perfectly. I also went with two people who haven't read it, and they loved it. Fair to say they've nailed this one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on October 22, 2021, 10:07:41 am
I'm going in an hour, (got to get it in before a weekend of night shifts and then half term) can't wait!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 22, 2021, 09:19:24 pm
The Platform. Pretty sure this wasn't mentioned before. An uplifting class-system morality tale for our times, or something:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlfooqeZcdY

If the trailer appeals, you'll definitely like the film. I did, pretty gripping stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on October 25, 2021, 09:15:41 am
Just to add my voice to the Dune praise, holy shit what a triumph. Also second finding the biggest cinema you can, always feel fortunate to have the Bradford IMAX local for these sort of films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 25, 2021, 10:13:16 am
Re Dune, do you need to be a fan of the book to enjoy this? I have no idea about what it involves really apart from having played a 90s PC game adaptation which was a bit crap.  So all I am vaguely aware of is that it involves a planet with lots of sand, some big worms, and spice. On these criteria it sounds promising,  in a district 9 kind of way. I loved district 9, will I love this?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 25, 2021, 10:29:48 am
It's very different from District 9 but I went with a group of people, two of which had no idea what it was about, and they loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on October 25, 2021, 11:00:58 am
I went to see it with a big group including everyone from proper fanboys (looking at you dan m) to people who'd not heard of it before. Everyone enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on October 25, 2021, 11:06:14 am
Being a complete fanboi its hard to say, but it seemed like everything that needed explaining was done, but without masses of exposition that some of these sort of films have in.

As with 2049 I think it would be entirely enjoyable purely as a visual and auditory experience.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on October 25, 2021, 12:11:14 pm
Re Dune, do you need to be a fan of the book to enjoy this?

As other's have mentioned I'll chime in with agreement that I don't believe you need to have read the books, or be a fan of them to enjoy the film.

having played a 90s PC game adaptation which was a bit crap.

However, this kind of heretic talk might be an issue! Dune (the PC game) was the forerunner of Command and Conquer and thus essentially all the RTS games for the next ~20 years... I get back in the geeky corner of my man cave now  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 25, 2021, 05:45:55 pm

However, this kind of heretic talk might be an issue! Dune (the PC game) was the forerunner of Command and Conquer and thus essentially all the RTS games for the next ~20 years... I get back in the geeky corner of my man cave now  ;D

Interesting to know, but it still wasn't terribly good though was it? Although it might have just not been my thing, I always preferred stuff like half life or tomb raider, as well as the skating games.
I'd argue that seminal pieces of culture aren't necessarily intrinsically good, important and interesting though they might be.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 25, 2021, 05:46:37 pm
Thanks for the Dune beta everyone I'll probably try to see it at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on October 28, 2021, 10:26:06 am
Yes I've been wondering about the opinion of someone not familiar with the Dune text.

My initial impression within the first ten or fifteen minutes was that the script does a lot of exposition heavy lifting early on; excellent structure for the uninitiated.

As an expectant fanboy I had deliberately avoided all media, trailers, info of any kind; I didn't know it was to be two films. Even when the Part One aston appears at he beginning I still wasn't sure. Because all Tarantino movies have five parts anyway etc. Later I was wondering about time elapsed and the choice to include some scenes that surprised me; for the positive because its actually more faithful than i expected. Scenes that are pivotal to character development have been included for the better.

When it ended I was slightly disappointed; I'm very much looking forward to the double billings that will hopefully appear in late '23.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on October 28, 2021, 10:46:55 am
Sign me up for the double billing with a beer and snack interlude!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on October 28, 2021, 10:54:48 am
The Guilty
Enjoyed this on Netflix at the weekend, one of those 'pretty much all happens in one room' stories, mostly with one bloke. Always find Jake G watchable. The Danish original is apparently on All4 now, which promises to be almost word for word, but more Danish.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 28, 2021, 05:49:07 pm
The Guilty
Enjoyed this on Netflix at the weekend, one of those 'pretty much all happens in one room' stories, mostly with one bloke. Always find Jake G watchable. The Danish original is apparently on All4 now, which promises to be almost word for word, but more Danish.

I saw the original at the cinema when it came out about two or three years ago, it was brilliant I thought, really intense at the cinema which might be a bit lost on a smaller screen but probably still good. Reviews I've seen say that the remake isn't a patch on the original, but then critics always say that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on October 28, 2021, 11:44:13 pm
I had been wondering about whether you would need to have read the book to enjoy Dune to the fullest and even wrote a post out asking this very question a few weeks ago. I deleted it when I read it back and it read like jibberish. I don't need another Earl Crag connies in-joke on my hands.

I have been aware that there was a big book called Dune for a number of years. Spice, sand, politics, war. It sounded like the kind of thing I'd like but never got round to reading it.

Went to see the film tonight. It was:
Absolutely
Fucking
Incredible.

The sound, the cinematics, the story, the everything. Just wow!

I enjoy a lot of films but I can almost always think of something that needed fixing. In this case I can't think of a single thing. 10/10.

I saw Bond a few weeks ago and, whilst enjoyable, didn't think it was worth the rave reviews. It was all very neat and tidy (though I saw where it was going towards the end and found it a total clich from which point it lost me a bit) - a complete Bond film. But it didn't have anything special that excited me. I left Dune completely buzzing.

Obviously I have no idea what I might have missed plot-wise, but there was nothing I felt I didn't understand, and none of the world building felt laboured, dull, or cryptic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 29, 2021, 08:46:54 am
Anything in Dune that would bother a 12 year old, or would he just be left confused and best to leave him at home?

Loves Star Wars, Marvel, anything like Pacific Rim, so not overly sensitive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 29, 2021, 08:50:35 am
I don't think he'd be confused. It's not that graphic either. But it's hard to say with kids.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Catcheemonkey on October 29, 2021, 09:42:12 am
Anything in Dune that would bother a 12 year old.

Took my 11 year old daughter and she loved it. She was probably buzzing more than me when we came out. I think shes now slightly obsessed with the worm though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on October 29, 2021, 01:11:08 pm
I think shes now slightly obsessed with the worm though.

Bless the Maker and His water.
Bless the coming and going of Him.
May His passage cleanse the world.
May He keep the world for His people.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on October 29, 2021, 01:49:17 pm
the worm

The all-seeing, all-consuming bumhole.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 29, 2021, 02:01:17 pm
I've got Waiting for the Worms by Pink Floyd in my head now, I think I've been earwormed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on October 29, 2021, 02:09:14 pm
Just to break up the Dune love in (since I can't really get to the cinema atm!).

Bird Box

Been meaning to watch this for a while. Surprisingly good! Very much in the mold of A Quiet Place, and perhaps the superior film. Plenty of genuinely tense segments, not to mention a good amount of actual horror. Sandra Bullock is great and tbh as a new parent I found some of it towards the end particularly affecting. Well worth...seeing  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on October 29, 2021, 02:50:43 pm

Bird Box
Been meaning to watch this for a while. Surprisingly good! Very much in the mold of A Quiet Place, and perhaps the superior film...

To complete the set you should have a look at The Silence, bet it was a right race to get those 3 released! This one does have a monster, but the real monster turns out to be 'Other People'.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on October 29, 2021, 02:58:44 pm

Bird Box
Been meaning to watch this for a while. Surprisingly good! Very much in the mold of A Quiet Place, and perhaps the superior film...

To complete the set you should have a look at The Silence, bet it was a right race to get those 3 released! This one does have a monster, but the real monster turns out to be 'Other People'.

Ha yes the synopsis does sound familiar! On the list.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on October 29, 2021, 03:12:54 pm
Quiet Place 2 is a very good sequel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 29, 2021, 08:27:24 pm
The all-seeing, all-consuming bumhole.
Hi, yes, what was I summoned for??



P.S. I read the Bird Box book, it was decent. Trailer looks like it captures it well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 29, 2021, 09:51:54 pm
Anything in Dune that would bother a 12 year old, or would he just be left confused and best to leave him at home?

Loves Star Wars, Marvel, anything like Pacific Rim, so not overly sensitive.

My slightly oversensitive 10 yr old didn't fully appreciate everything in the film, but he enjoyed it a lot and we had some good conversations afterwards
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 30, 2021, 01:26:43 pm
I took my 10 year old daughter to see it last night and she loved it.

I thought it was magnificent. A total visual feast from start to finish. The detail blew me away, but I want to watch it again soon because Im sure there were things I missed.

I noticed the Harkonnens who went in the room post tooth / gas were in suits referencing the Sardaukar in the Lynch film, and I wonder if there are some more hidden treats like that.

Cant wait for a double bill with part 2.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on October 30, 2021, 10:36:29 pm
Maybe mentioned already. Watched The Alpinist this morning which was brilliant. Documentary on Marc-Andre Leclerc with some amazing footage and insight into a really talented climber.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 02, 2021, 09:20:27 am
Quiet Place 2 is a very good sequel.

Watched this the other day; brilliant. Just as good as part 1 and makes for a great double feature.

The concept itself still does lots of the heavy lifting in terms of creating tension etc. but that's not a bad thing. Tbh I really didn't want it to end, feels like it would suit a full TV series to do the world justice.

That said, it makes me very excited for The Last of Us TV show, since, as anyone who's played the games will know, the Clickers in that world are basically the exact same as the monsters in A Quiet Place (albeit less omnipotent). Fingers crossed the TV show does it justice!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 03, 2021, 02:18:20 pm
Extended period of meh illness has meant I've watched a few random things

Along Came A Spider (Netflix) - terrible kidnap "thriller" thing with ludicrous plot holes, excessive exposition and a completely predicable twist in the third act. It's got Morgan Freeman in it though and he's quite good.

Molly's Game (Netflix) - liked it in that it's a smart-talking, wish fulfilment kinda story and it's about poker. You'll need to get past a(nother) dodgy Idris Elba American accent though.

Let The Right One In (BBC) - one of a good lot of horror films on iPlayer, but only for a short while. It's the original Swedish version. I'm only about 30 mins in but it's creepy AF.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on November 03, 2021, 02:40:19 pm

Molly's Game (Netflix) - liked it in that it's a smart-talking, wish fulfilment kinda story and it's about poker. You'll need to get past a(nother) dodgy Idris Elba American accent though.


I turned this off in disgust, thought it was absolute tripe! Idris Elba wasn't even the worst part  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 03, 2021, 02:56:07 pm
How massively overrated is Idris Elba? I can't remember seeing him in anything where I thought he was any good. Hope he isn't the next James Bond.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dunnyg on November 03, 2021, 03:32:59 pm
The wire.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 03, 2021, 03:41:52 pm
What Dunny said. Check yourself Bradders!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 03, 2021, 03:47:42 pm
Ah not seen that. In that case has he just been trading on that for the last decade? He was terrible in Luther, Prometheus, The Dark Tower, and okay in Pacific Rim. Voice work was good in The Jungle Book I guess. Just seems far too highly rated to me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on November 03, 2021, 04:02:40 pm
I enjoyed Luther! But yes, otherwise fair to say hes been trading on the Wire I think, which tbf he is incredible in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on November 03, 2021, 04:36:38 pm
Ah not seen that.

You're gonna tell me you've never watched The Sopranos next.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 03, 2021, 04:43:11 pm
Beats of No Nation?

Its a fair point though, he's up for review. He's in a lot of very average stuff so; were the good things he was in good, because he was good? Or was he a bystander? The other side of that, can he elevate shit? have you come out of the cinema and said, 'pretty average movie but Idris was great in it...'?

This applies to all actors.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 03, 2021, 04:56:05 pm
I took my 10 year old daughter to see it last night and she loved it.

I thought it was magnificent. A total visual feast from start to finish. The detail blew me away, but I want to watch it again soon because Im sure there were things I missed.

I noticed the Harkonnens who went in the room post tooth / gas were in suits referencing the Sardaukar in the Lynch film, and I wonder if there are some more hidden treats like that.

Cant wait for a double bill with part 2.

We both loved it but I needed to explain about the religion his mother belonged to afterwards.

He also asked at one point early on, are they on Jakku? :)

Would have liked to see a newer version of Guild Navigators, do they appear later on in the story?

Long time since I was in the cinema, great to be back. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 03, 2021, 06:02:11 pm

Would have liked to see a newer version of Guild Navigators, do they appear later on in the story?


I think they did appear, but they weren't obvious or announced. When the Emperor's delegation arrived on Caladan there were some figures with large globular helmets with what looked like spice floating around inside. I will have a better look when (if) I make it back for another watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 03, 2021, 06:23:32 pm

Would have liked to see a newer version of Guild Navigators, do they appear later on in the story?


I think they did appear, but they weren't obvious or announced. When the Emperor's delegation arrived on Caladan there were some figures with large globular helmets with what looked like spice floating around inside. I will have a better look when (if) I make it back for another watch.

Pretty sure you're correct here.

Leto also asks his Mentat advisor Thufir Hawat something along the lines of 'how much would have this cost... 3 guild navigators etc' and I think there were 3 of the fish bowl helmeted characters :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 03, 2021, 07:04:10 pm
Ah not seen that.

You're gonna tell me you've never watched The Sopranos next.

Ha, only recently finished it!

Beats of No Nation?

Its a fair point though, he's up for review. He's in a lot of very average stuff so; were the good things he was in good, because he was good? Or was he a bystander? The other side of that, can he elevate shit? have you come out of the cinema and said, 'pretty average movie but Idris was great in it...'?

This applies to all actors.

Well quite. I'm not saying he's shit (necessarily), just overrated. He's like a very poor man's Will Smith.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveyo on November 03, 2021, 07:06:46 pm
Dune; I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Paul Atreides is Dave Graham's Doppelganger!  I can't just be me!? (Or I've missed it)

Felt weird(and good) to watch a film and not be constantly turning the volume up and down too!  Brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 03, 2021, 07:07:34 pm

Would have liked to see a newer version of Guild Navigators, do they appear later on in the story?


I think they did appear, but they weren't obvious or announced. When the Emperor's delegation arrived on Caladan there were some figures with large globular helmets with what looked like spice floating around inside. I will have a better look when (if) I make it back for another watch.

Pretty sure you're correct here.

Leto also asks his Mentat advisor Thufir Hawat something along the lines of 'how much would have this cost... 3 guild navigators etc' and I think there were 3 of the fish bowl helmeted characters :D


I thought they were described as ambassadors of the guild rather than navigators, but I also look forward to geeking out further on the rewatch. There's generally a pretty big deal in the book when a navigator leaves their ship, and with everything else being so faithful I'm expecting some big tank action.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2021, 07:27:48 am
the sum of all fears

On Netflix: uncomplicated, silly action movie with an impressive cast (Affleck, Morgan Freeman etc).
Not ambitious or intelligent, but pretty enjoyable despite its overblown nature. The fact that it's based on a Tom Clancy novel explains a lot. Ultimately, I quite liked it, doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 04, 2021, 07:44:43 am

Would have liked to see a newer version of Guild Navigators, do they appear later on in the story?


I think they did appear, but they weren't obvious or announced. When the Emperor's delegation arrived on Caladan there were some figures with large globular helmets with what looked like spice floating around inside. I will have a better look when (if) I make it back for another watch.

OK, somewhat understated compared to the ones in the Lynch version
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 04, 2021, 08:08:43 am
Dune @Imax

Very cool. Very big. Girthy.

Not much to add to comments above except that during the trailers and fucking adverts I thought the Imax screen would be far too big, hectic, and impossible to take in, BUT the in the Dune film itself a lot of the spectacle is quite open and sparse and austere and that worked really well on the massive screen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 05, 2021, 09:24:46 pm
Mortal Engines

Really quite good fun for what it is, more so than I expected. Some of the cornier moments had me reaching for my anti-nausea tablets (the end of the floating city bit especially had me cringing) and it's obviously cliche upon cliche overall. But there's actually a bit of plot intrigue, the spectacle is indeed spectacular, and it's quite nice to have something with a very distinct backdrop / world mythology (and the smaller cities remind me a lot of Ork battlewagons).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 06, 2021, 12:11:56 am
I'll admit that the Matrix Resurrections trailer with Jefferson Airplane soundtrack makes it look very cool and has got me quite keen..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 06, 2021, 12:46:57 pm
I'll admit that the Matrix Resurrections trailer with Jefferson Airplane soundtrack makes it look very cool and has got me quite keen..

+1. Saw the original again on a plane the other day. It still stands up. No Laurence Fishburn in the new launch sadly though, but the trailer does look like a return to the quality of the first episode.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 06, 2021, 01:03:13 pm
Start of the trailer makes it look rather like a re-run of the original. Presume that's intentional but hopefully it isn't just a glorified remake!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on November 06, 2021, 01:30:15 pm
No Time to Die
Thought it was brilliant and despite what the reviewers say I thought it was very true to the Bond films of my childhood. Most significantly we went to the cinema to watch and discovered Everyman cinema with sofas and food, absolutely brilliant and good value

The Report
Slow burn but very good if you have any interest in American politics. Amazon Prime
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on November 06, 2021, 01:42:17 pm
Lets just remind ourselves that as good as The Matrix is, era defining, setting the tone of pop culture for years to come etc;

the following two films should be flushed down the toilet.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 06, 2021, 02:53:52 pm
Lets just remind ourselves that as good as The Matrix is, era defining, setting the tone of pop culture for years to come etc;

the following two films should be flushed down the toilet.

Bit harsh, I've always enjoyed them, particularly Revolutions. The defense of Zion scene is brilliant. Not as good as the original of course, but what is?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 06, 2021, 05:36:55 pm
Lets just remind ourselves that as good as The Matrix is, era defining, setting the tone of pop culture for years to come etc;
the following two films should be flushed down the toilet.

I've always thought the Matrix is a bit overrated to be honest, certainly entertaining and the use of bullet time in the fights was groundbreaking, but it's also full of cod philosophy and wooden acting. I still enjoyed watching it, but it's kind of got ideas above its station. Sometimes that's absolutely all I want from a film, but I'm not sure it has any great deep meaning to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on November 06, 2021, 08:36:57 pm
Went to see Dune today. Solid 2.5/5 for me, was bored in the first 15 minutes and it never improved.

Id read the story as a teen but had forgotten/not realised how shonky it all is. It didnt take much my lord this that and the other to have me pining for the Culture and its space communism. And all that specious mysticism and the American mid 60s racial hierarchy complete with cod Chinese accent doctor.

But also the treatment was so tedious, stretched out for either self indulgence or commercial effect, so obvious oooh a dark rainy planet it must be the baddies. There was no sense of jeopardy or even action for a loooooong way into the movie. Putting a choir in the background does not a sense of wonder make.

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on November 06, 2021, 11:04:48 pm

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

 Now, this is very interesting.
Anyone else interested in a thread split about which SF works should be made into films?
I'll start with Robert A Heinlein "Job".  With all the modern stuff like American Gods, this should be doable, surely?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: NaoB on November 06, 2021, 11:43:17 pm
 I saw a trailer for Foundation the other day, looks like it will be a series on Apple TV (which I don't have...). I've been an Asimov fan since mid-teens, so curious to see how this will turn out.

Edit: obviously this is the wrong thread for a series!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 07, 2021, 09:01:10 am

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

 Now, this is very interesting.
Anyone else interested in a thread split about which SF works should be made into films?
I'll start with Robert A Heinlein "Job".  With all the modern stuff like American Gods, this should be doable, surely?

My pick would be The Drowned World by JG Ballard.  Not modern, but would be an amazing film in the right hands.
Also,  although I've only just started reading it, Sunfall by Jim Al Kalili.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 07, 2021, 09:21:01 am

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isn’t because it doesn’t have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

A Consider Phlebas series was in the works, but now cancelled sadly. Hopefully someone will have another go soon, although that wouldn’t be my first choice of Culture novel. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/26/amazon-tv-adaptation-of-iain-banks-culture-series-is-cancelled
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on November 07, 2021, 09:47:14 am
I saw a trailer for Foundation the other day, looks like it will be a series on Apple TV (which I don't have...). I've been an Asimov fan since mid-teens, so curious to see how this will turn out.

Edit: obviously this is the wrong thread for a series!
I have the book but haven't read it yet. I am enjoying the series so far.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 07, 2021, 10:10:43 am

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

I've always thought the lack of any films or other media (apart from various videogames) based in the Warhammer 40k universe is pretty strange.

In particular my absolute favourite books are the Gaunt's Ghosts novels. They'd make brilliant films in my opinion.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 07, 2021, 10:21:09 am
Really interested to watch the Foundation series, from the trailer it looks like the entire series may be based on the first 20 pages of the first book!

Agree re Warhammer, both 40k and normal, I feel like there should at least be some substandard fare by now like the WoW film.

In terms of modern sci getting made, Id say that The Expanse and to a lesser extent Altered Carbon are great examples, maybe its just easier to get series commissioned rather than movies?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 07, 2021, 07:46:59 pm

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

I've always thought the lack of any films or other media (apart from various videogames) based in the Warhammer 40k universe is pretty strange.

In particular my absolute favourite books are the Gaunt's Ghosts novels. They'd make brilliant films in my opinion.

Anything all about the space marines and or terminators Vs the chaos would be amazing, but need a huge budget!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 07, 2021, 08:34:53 pm
In particular my absolute favourite books are the Gaunt's Ghosts novels. They'd make brilliant films in my opinion.

Good shout - Gaunt's Ghosts is basically "Sharpe in Space" - people in peril against terrible odds (the book that is basically a rewritten Siege of Stalingrad would be a goer?). 

I think Space Marines are possibly a bit too leaden for good drama - 8ft tall near invincible demigods with wooden personalities.  Mind you, I guess expecting great "human" drama is perhaps too high a demand for a WH40K film! I At least, CGI allowing, they'd allow for great action scenes.

Ciaphus Cain would be a possibility - i.e. Flashman in Space - sci-fi action black comedy. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 07, 2021, 08:49:10 pm
the book that is basically a rewritten Siege of Stalingrad would be a goer?

Necropolis, yeah that would be top of the list.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 07, 2021, 10:31:33 pm


I think Space Marines are possibly a bit too leaden for good drama - 8ft tall near invincible demigods with wooden personalities.  Mind you, I guess expecting great "human" drama is perhaps too high a demand for a WH40K film! I At least, CGI allowing, they'd allow for great action scenes.

Are you forgetting how good Terminator was? Or that The Rock is probably currently one of the most bankable movie stars around? Itd be a nailed on success. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 08, 2021, 09:27:16 pm


I think Space Marines are possibly a bit too leaden for good drama - 8ft tall near invincible demigods with wooden personalities.  Mind you, I guess expecting great "human" drama is perhaps too high a demand for a WH40K film! I At least, CGI allowing, they'd allow for great action scenes.

Are you forgetting how good Terminator was? Or that The Rock is probably currently one of the most bankable movie stars around? Itd be a nailed on success.

Terminator was great, but I feel a film that comprised lots of emotionless, genetically flawless terminators would not be. And, while The Rock is popular, are any of his films good? And would a film where every character is The Rock be interesting? Mind you, you're probably right that such a film would be successful, even if it was crap. And, a film of Space Marine versus Space Marine action (e.g Horus Heresy) could be really fun.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 08, 2021, 09:34:28 pm
You bunch of utter dweeboids!!  :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on November 08, 2021, 09:49:44 pm
You bunch of utter dweeboids!!  :lol:

I know! I've had a ferociously hard few months of work, and recently found that Wh40k novels give my brain a holiday! [See also, Jack Reacher]. I wasn't even aware of their existence until recently. I follow the Twitter feed of Patrick Wyman, of the Tides of History podcast, and he recommended the Black Library as a fund of  military sci-fi fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 09, 2021, 08:56:18 am

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

A Consider Phlebas series was in the works, but now cancelled sadly. Hopefully someone will have another go soon, although that wouldnt be my first choice of Culture novel. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/26/amazon-tv-adaptation-of-iain-banks-culture-series-is-cancelled

First choice would be Player of Games?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on November 09, 2021, 09:20:48 am
You bunch of utter dweeboids!!  :lol:

I know! I've had a ferociously hard few months of work, and recently found that Wh40k novels give my brain a holiday! [See also, Jack Reacher]. I wasn't even aware of their existence until recently. I follow the Twitter feed of Patrick Wyman, of the Tides of History podcast, and he recommended the Black Library as a fund of  military sci-fi fun.
Should move this to good book thread but if you like military sci-fi you have to read Amour by John Steakley, its just brilliant, possibly best ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 09, 2021, 09:39:22 am

First choice would be Player of Games?

Yeah, or Use of Weapons, also think Surface Detail would be great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 09, 2021, 10:40:43 am

First choice would be Player of Games?

Yeah, or Use of Weapons, also think Surface Detail would be great.

Player of Games struck me as a successful pastiche of Hesse's The Glass Bead Game. I don't know whether that's entirely my reading or misreading of it, but it's not a negative point, I still thought it was excellent.  I'm not sure if a film would do justice to the culture novels though, theres a lot of internal monologue which would be very difficult to render into a movie which retains any narrative drive.  I'd be nervous about it decending into tedious space opera. It's a while since I've read one though,  I could be completely wrong. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on November 09, 2021, 11:28:47 am
When I made my comment above I was thinking of filming books like The Left Hand of Darkness or The Parable of the Sower - books using SF to explore ideas around sexuality, social decay, religion, and not written from the perspective of middle aged white men.

But it's clear that what the market wants is Terminator on steroids...  :tumble:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 09, 2021, 11:43:44 am
Enough social decay and issues around religion and sexuality going on in the real world, give me the escapism of talking ships and overpowered McGuffins any day of the week.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on November 09, 2021, 12:01:50 pm
Enough social decay and issues around religion and sexuality going on in the real world, give me the escapism of talking ships and overpowered McGuffins any day of the week.

Fair enough!

Though Dune was still fucking tedious despite its overpowered McNonsense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 09, 2021, 12:17:12 pm
Did you have similar feelings about other slow paced things such as Green Knight, 2049 etc. and how much of your dislike of the film would you put down to the political landscape portrayed? I was fairly tempted to go straight back to the cinema the following day, for me it is pretty much everything Ive wanted out of sci fi.

Also interesting that you went for Left Hand after decrying 70s books popular with hippies 😄 For me the central no war conceit didnt work against a backdrop of execution, political rivalry, border disputes etc. Im sure the sexuality side of it was a big deal in the 70s but felt pretty unremarkable these days.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 09, 2021, 12:32:55 pm

The criminal thing about films this shit is they distract from all the potentially interesting and more modern SF that could be made, but isnt because it doesnt have the brand name built from a book that was popular with 1970s hippies.

 Now, this is very interesting.
Anyone else interested in a thread split about which SF works should be made into films?
I'll start with Robert A Heinlein "Job".  With all the modern stuff like American Gods, this should be doable, surely?
Said it before, and will say it again, Alistair Reynold's Century Rain, a mixture of detective noir and alt-worlds thriller. Got plenty of good, gripping, cinematographic imagery in it, at the time I thought it would be great as a film.

A lot of the modern semi-fi thrillers I read would translate well, the stuff I've mentioned recently in the books thread for example.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on November 15, 2021, 09:35:23 pm
Red Notice (Netflix)
Read some shit reviews for this but I thought it was very enjoyable, possibly carried by the two charismatic stars though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: dunnyg on November 16, 2021, 07:53:58 am
Also watched this the other day and enjoyed it, agree it could have been pretty crap without the leads.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on November 21, 2021, 05:27:43 pm
A Cure For Wellness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF1rLFCdewU

Again can't remember if it was mentioned before. I thoroughly enjoyed this, despite it being a bit drawn out and having a bit of a corny ending, for most of the film it was very well done and really quite sinister and creepy - definitely kept me intrigued!

Also some aspects of the whole "cure for wellness" / cult thing were quite timely in view of the recent epic vaccine bantathon on here  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 21, 2021, 07:48:19 pm
Has anyone watched the new Ghostbusters... My instincts were that it'd be a load of rubbish, trading on nostalgia and lame fan pleasing moments. However, a friend (who lets say isn't top of my list for trustworthy recommendations...) seemed to think it's rather good, harmless fun.

Any second opinions?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 21, 2021, 07:53:59 pm
A Cure For Wellness

This looks interesting. I do love some Jason Isaacs, especially when he is playing the creepy/weird doctor similar The OA.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on November 21, 2021, 08:34:00 pm
Has anyone watched the new Ghostbusters... My instincts were that it'd be a load of rubbish, trading on nostalgia and lame fan pleasing moments. However, a friend (who lets say isn't top of my list for trustworthy recommendations...) seemed to think it's rather good, harmless fun.

Any second opinions?

Some friends said it was pretty enjoyable. They're not high-brow film types, but also not trashaholicks.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on November 30, 2021, 11:27:23 am
I recognize that "1980s lesbian politics" might not be an obvious sell for some here, but Rebel Dykes is an absolute blast.

Joy, fun, rage, pr0n, punk, S&M, Greenham Common, baby oil wrestling, Debbie Smith of Echobelly, and abseiling into the House of Lords:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-rebel-dykes-2021-online

Genuinely important re: the fight against Section 28, the emergence of sex-positive feminism, trans inclusion, etc., but also just an absolute fucking blast.

Instant flashbacks for everyone old enough to remember the "BEEB MAN SITS ON LESBIAN" headline, historical education for those too young.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: i_a_coops on November 30, 2021, 11:41:24 am
I recognize that "1980s lesbian politics" might not be an obvious sell for some here, but Rebel Dykes is an absolute blast.
:punk: Instant sell for me - psyched to watch this later! :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: IanP on November 30, 2021, 02:00:34 pm
I recognize that "1980s lesbian politics" might not be an obvious sell for some here, but Rebel Dykes is an absolute blast.
:punk: Instant sell for me - psyched to watch this later! :popcorn:

Agreed, sounds well worth watching.

Don't generally watch enough films to post on here but by strange coincidence watched Pride a few weeks ago - more mainstream but covers a similar period loosely based on the true story of LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) in the mid 80s; who knew that a benefit concert called Pits and Perverts was held in London and 1984 headlined by Bronski Beat!?

In the line of gritty(ish) British dramas like Brassed Off, Full Monty etc, it's not particularly subtle but has a great cast and is really entertaining.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on December 01, 2021, 11:36:51 am
Have a (NSFW!) trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC3es6Rup0s
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on December 01, 2021, 03:34:03 pm
I recognize that "1980s lesbian politics" might not be an obvious sell for some here, but Rebel Dykes is an absolute blast.
:punk: Instant sell for me - psyched to watch this later! :popcorn:

Agreed, sounds well worth watching.

Don't generally watch enough films to post on here but by strange coincidence watched Pride a few weeks ago - more mainstream but covers a similar period loosely based on the true story of LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) in the mid 80s; who knew that a benefit concert called Pits and Perverts was held in London and 1984 headlined by Bronski Beat!?

In the line of gritty(ish) British dramas like Brassed Off, Full Monty etc, it's not particularly subtle but has a great cast and is really entertaining.

Incidentally (and because it's World Aids Day), you might be pleased to know that Jonathan Blake (played by Dominic West in Pride) is still alive and well and fighting the good fight -- he's in Sky's new documentary series Positive.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 05, 2021, 07:34:01 am
Red Notice (Netflix)
Read some shit reviews for this but I thought it was very enjoyable, possibly carried by the two charismatic stars though.

I agree, very entertaining but extremely silly. I enjoyed it, a great film to see on a plane flight or long train journey.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 05, 2021, 09:08:15 am
Went back to the IMAX for another sitting of Dune yesterday, so good to be able to soak up more of the details. Think this might be the first film Ive watched twice at the cinema, which is a sign of how much I love it I guess!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 05, 2021, 09:16:37 am
Went back to the IMAX for another sitting of Dune yesterday, so good to be able to soak up more of the details. Think this might be the first film Ive watched twice at the cinema, which is a sign of how much I love it I guess!

Finally managed to get to the Imax yesterday for the first time to see Dune for the first time. Not much to say really, very good even if you're not a big scifi fan.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on December 12, 2021, 11:40:01 am
Tokyo Godfathers. An Anime Christmas story of sorts. The Godfathers are a runaway teenage girl, alcoholic man, and trans. woman living on the streets. They find an abandoned baby and try to trace her parents whilst we learn a little more about their backstories. Dickensian in the range of characters, multiple plot strands, and outrageous coincidences, verging on the magical in the final act. From 2003 but re-released with a new dub this year. On Netflix.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on December 12, 2021, 02:31:46 pm
Tokyo Godfathers. An Anime Christmas story of sorts. The Godfathers are a runaway teenage girl, alcoholic man, and trans. woman living on the streets. They find an abandoned baby and try to trace her parents whilst we learn a little more about their backstories. Dickensian in the range of characters, multiple plot strands, and outrageous coincidences, verging on the magical in the final act. From 2003 but re-released with a new dub this year. On Netflix.
I really enjoyed Tokyo Godfathers. Totally subverted my expectations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 13, 2021, 12:07:18 pm
Watched Tomorrow War with my son on Saturday arvo. Action / Cheese fest but good fun, and both enjoyed it, lots of exploding aliens.

Until I raised the old issues around time travel with him, which bent his brain a bit.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 28, 2021, 07:31:38 am
Once upon a time in Hollywood

I liked this perhaps the least of any Tarantino film I've seen, although it's still entertaining it lacked the wit of inglorious bastards, or the stylish violence of his earlier films. It is ultimately a film about the cinema industry and despite some good scenes it felt a little too self indulgent to be brilliant. I'd still give it 7/10 though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on December 28, 2021, 07:49:19 am
Once upon a time in Hollywood

I liked this perhaps the least of any Tarantino film I've seen, although it's still entertaining it lacked the wit of inglorious bastards, or the stylish violence of his earlier films. It is ultimately a film about the cinema industry and despite some good scenes it felt a little too self indulgent to be brilliant. I'd still give it 7/10 though.

I watched it with pretty much no info about it and quite low expectations and was pleasantly surprised and therefore really enjoyed it. I liked the reworking of history and Brad Pitt and DiCaprio are both very good. 7/10 seems fair
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 28, 2021, 08:45:02 am
I thought Dont look up might be quite witty and entertaining. Sat down with entire family to watch it. There was the odd moment but it just dragged on, labouring the same point. Felt very uncomfortable with the mocking of autistic tendencies. Cast looked great. As a list, it was, as an ensemble it sucked.
It would have worked as an SNL half hour special but 2 hours and 18 minutes?
No idea why its been popular. Even to this politically sympathetic family, it was OTT. Edit an hour out of it, maybe 7/10, as is, 4/10.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: IanP on December 28, 2021, 08:58:28 am
Don't watch that many films (too much TV to watch!) but mention of Stop Making Sense on another thread reminded me that I don't think Summer of Soul has been mentioned on here.

I thought this was brilliant. some amazing performances intermixed with great background and interviews, really one of the great concert films and incredible the footage has been hidden away for so long.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 28, 2021, 09:14:43 am
Agreed. I also thought Summer of Soul was brilliant, both for the history and for the performances.

Theres an equally worthwhile documentary about the live recording of Aretha Franklins classic gospel album (in a church in LA if I remember) - some absolutely thrilling performances.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 28, 2021, 09:59:54 am
Once upon a time in Hollywood

I liked this perhaps the least of any Tarantino film I've seen, although it's still entertaining it lacked the wit of inglorious bastards, or the stylish violence of his earlier films. It is ultimately a film about the cinema industry and despite some good scenes it felt a little too self indulgent to be brilliant. I'd still give it 7/10 though.

I watched it with pretty much no info about it and quite low expectations and was pleasantly surprised and therefore really enjoyed it. I liked the reworking of history and Brad Pitt and DiCaprio are both very good. 7/10 seems fair

Yes, I'd agree, they are both entertaining in pretty much every movie they're in. If my review seems harsh, its probably because I love Tarantino movies and had high expectations,  which it only partly met.

I thought Dont look up might be quite witty and entertaining. Sat down with entire family to watch it. There was the odd moment but it just dragged on, labouring the same point. Felt very uncomfortable with the mocking of autistic tendencies. Cast looked great. As a list, it was, as an ensemble it sucked.
It would have worked as an SNL half hour special but 2 hours and 18 minutes?
No idea why its been popular. Even to this politically sympathetic family, it was OTT. Edit an hour out of it, maybe 7/10, as is, 4/10.

Thanks for that I'd been intending to watch that but perhaps I wont bother!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on December 29, 2021, 01:40:23 pm
I don't watch a lot of films, my wife has the remote control and she's already seen them. Don't look up is entertaining, a bit overlong and flashy but sags in the middle rather than drags at the end. It's nice to see a Chris Morris style satire get such big treatment, of course being american and not Morris at the helm there isn't much subtlety. Beefs: (spacewanker pedant obvs) the unrealistic way the science is done and released, the way they still can't help portraying the US as both all that matters and the only ones who could save us (after years relying on russia to taxi them to the ISS) but the big one is that they are trying to do a huge wake up call while preaching squarely to the converted.

Also watched The Rescue, Chinny Jim and co's doc on the Thai cave rescue. The story is incredible and benefits from the deep dive into details. Just astonishing. I didn't think the doc was that well done, the start is messy, the geography of the cave is never really made clear despite fancy graphic overviews, and the recreated diving footage is downright misleading. When a British cave diver describes it as a muddly hole with zero vis, or whitewater caving, the footage bears no resemblance. But fuck me what a story. I'd thought the kids might be traumatised but I'm more worried for the rescuers now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 29, 2021, 02:11:32 pm
I was surprised to find that "The Last Duel" is on Disney+ already having only just been in cinemas. Tbh I stuck it on in the background whilst training, but was rapidly sucked in and by the end fully absorbed. Interesting story, well told, doesn't get boring despite essentially seeing the same events three times in a row. Well worth a watch. Made me want to read the book it's based on as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 29, 2021, 03:03:38 pm
Are you part of the reason it flopped in cinemas?

https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1526161/ridley-scott-millennials-mobile-phones-The-Last-Duel-news-latest
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 29, 2021, 03:43:48 pm
Well I am a millenial, and I watched it on a tablet, so....yes?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 29, 2021, 11:49:43 pm
Finally got around to seeing No Time to Die in a cinema this evening.  I thought it was absolutely brilliant,  one of the best Bond movies probably.  Everything you want from the genre, although with a little more depth than most of them.  Its largely solid entertainment though,  which would be lost on a small screen. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 30, 2021, 06:33:41 am
  Its largely solid entertainment though,  which would be lost on a small screen.

I enjoyed it v much on a laptop with headphones 😄

As usual with Bond, some rather large plot holes its worth not considering too much and just enjoy the ride.

I also thought Dont Look Up was worth a watch, definitely not as strong as it could have been with the cast but still some great scenes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on December 30, 2021, 09:47:16 am
I watched NTD on the big TV in my living room yesterday, as my birthday treat (because PJs, unlimited snacks and pausing the movie for pee breaks, beats the cinema experience: if you have the right screen and sound).
Thought it was bloody good.
I understand theyre casting the next film already and Im quite baffled how thats going to tie into the Bondverse given the ending of NTD.
Up until SPECTRE, Id thought they were going for Bond is a job, not a person and that it was simply an identity handed over as agents retired. SPECTREs back story about Bonds childhood squashed that. I wonder if Mathildes middle name is Jane?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 30, 2021, 05:53:18 pm
We watched it on Christmas Day and loved it. Surprisingly moving at the end. Had a bit of grit in my eye.

Madeleine Swann (might start climbing again this year..)  :smartass:

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 30, 2021, 10:52:55 pm
I watched NTD on the big TV in my living room yesterday, as my birthday treat (because PJs, unlimited snacks and pausing the movie for pee breaks, beats the cinema experience: if you have the right screen and sound).

Nah, I have to respectfully say that you're wrong on that one, even if you have a very snazzy TV; itd still be better on a cinema screen. To me saying that it's better at home is akin to saying that your favourite band sound better at home on a posh B&O stereo than they do live. Technically speaking perhaps it does,  but theres a massive difference between being at home and a collective experience where it's more difficult to interrupt it to get a cup of tea/ bottle of beer /have a piss. Films are (usually) made to be seen in a cinema. 
(All the above is somewhat tongue in cheek in case it isn't obvious,  I'm glad that most people also seem to love NTTD wherever they choose to watch it).

I wonder who the next Bond will be? I don't think that they'll go for a female Bond myself,  he is ultimately a very male character. I'd guess Idris Elba is getting a bit old now, I don't know who else has been mentioned. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 12, 2022, 10:19:25 am
Not new at all but midway through the Hobbit trilogy on Netflix which I never saw when they came out. I started off thinking that it was vastly too long, but now ⅔ of the way through the second one, I like it more.
I expected to be underwhelmed, but have been pleasantly surprised, I'd say it's worth watching overall so far. One comment specifically, Stephen Fry is awful in it, and I usually think he's quite entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 21, 2022, 06:32:12 pm
Shadow in the Cloud

Excellent b movie fun
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 21, 2022, 06:50:18 pm
Prospect

Decent indie sci-fi, much better than most of the dross constantly pumped out by Netflix and Amazon these days
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on January 22, 2022, 10:55:49 am
I thought it was good times yeah, very 80s and 90s scifi inspired which is cool. Would recommend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 22, 2022, 02:05:07 pm
Sorry more stuff from my isolation viewing, apologies if they've been mentioned.

Mother/Android (Netflix)

Rather formulaic post apocalyptic thriller, but decently done, and Chloe G-M is good, the couple seem a bit more believable than average for this sort of film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 22, 2022, 02:13:04 pm
Cosmos (Amazon)

Amateur astronomers think they pick up alien signal. Low budget student feel to it, some terribly clichd dialogue, but I liked the believable geekyness of the characters, and the friendships. Manages some real tension too, despite very little really happening and no effects or budget. Too long though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 22, 2022, 02:17:45 pm
Shadow in the Cloud

Excellent b movie fun

Forgot to mention, features some quality jug hauling by CGM through a roof(/belly of the plane)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 22, 2022, 04:01:41 pm
I Think We're Alone Now (amazon)

Really liked this, gorgeously shot. Dinklage is great. Doesn't do anything exciting or unexpected but worth it for the cinematography alone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 22, 2022, 05:02:25 pm
Mother/Android (Netflix)

Not to be confused with I Am Mother, which features an android and is a post-apocalyptic thriller.


P.S. Go check out A Cure For Wellness if you haven't, my favourite watch recently. Worth keeping in mind any frothing conspiracy loons whilst watching too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 26, 2022, 11:07:06 am
Also watched The Rescue, Chinny Jim and co's doc on the Thai cave rescue. The story is incredible and benefits from the deep dive into details. Just astonishing. I didn't think the doc was that well done, the start is messy, the geography of the cave is never really made clear despite fancy graphic overviews, and the recreated diving footage is downright misleading. When a British cave diver describes it as a muddly hole with zero vis, or whitewater caving, the footage bears no resemblance. But fuck me what a story. I'd thought the kids might be traumatised but I'm more worried for the rescuers now.

Agree, given the reviews I was expecting a bit more. it was a bit "lumpy" in places. Watched it with the family, so ended up having to recite the subtitles to the 9 yo, who wasn't reading them fast enough!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on February 05, 2022, 10:11:31 am
Saw Madres Paralelas last night in Spanish with subtitles. Think its on mainstream cinemas in English as Parallel Mothers.

Story of two women who share a room on the maternity ward and whose lives subsequently become entwined. Great performances by Milena Smit and Vernica Cruz. Cruzs character is trying to have the unmarked grave of her great grandfather excavated and that provides the serious thrust of the film.

For those who may not know, Spain has more unmarked mass graves than any other country in the world, apart from Cambodia. The preoccupation with the civil war isnt going away any time soon.

Powerfully done, Almodvar tones down the camp for this one, though its still funny at times. Some sex scenes, not too explicit, Worth seeing, shines a light on the ongoing impact of the civil war today.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12618926/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 07, 2022, 09:34:15 am
Also watched The Rescue, Chinny Jim and co's doc on the Thai cave rescue. The story is incredible and benefits from the deep dive into details. Just astonishing. I didn't think the doc was that well done, the start is messy, the geography of the cave is never really made clear despite fancy graphic overviews, and the recreated diving footage is downright misleading. When a British cave diver describes it as a muddly hole with zero vis, or whitewater caving, the footage bears no resemblance. But fuck me what a story. I'd thought the kids might be traumatised but I'm more worried for the rescuers now.

Conversely I thought it was amazing. For me, not fully understanding the geography of the cave didn't matter I was simply fascinated that a niche group of experts in cave diving were the world's best (only?) option for the rescue (including sorting the anaesthetic); it's like relying on Barrows in some bizarre scenario where selecting the best kneebar for the job was of such importance. One of my former colleagues is big into diving and I remember him telling me about cave divers making their own kit with wide eyes. It was also interesting to just see what cave diving is all about. One of the people who first taught me to climb got a bit bored above ground so started caving and then cave diving and I honestly didn't understand what it entailed (other than quite a lot of danger).

I also finally got around to watching Dune last night (now it's at a reasonable price for home rental). I was given the book (a very crumpled copy I might add) by my MiL so it was fitting she joined us (actually, we watched it at her house given my FiL's home audio setup is significantly better than ours). Again, I thought everything about it was brilliant especially the casting (Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica).






Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 07, 2022, 10:11:22 am
Just to speak up for The Rescue too, which was way better than I thought it was going to be, and pretty harrowing! It felt like they were trying to force a narrative onto the story to some extent, and the mix of actual footage and recreation is a bit confusing, but this does little to take away from the sum.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 13, 2022, 10:51:32 am
The Power of the Dog, beautiful,  impressive film making and a stunning performance from Cumberbatch.  Its pretty slow and moody, but not in a bad way, I think its something you have to be in the mood for, but overall I thought it was excellent. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 13, 2022, 11:13:02 am
There was a point where I wondered where it was all going but I ended up really enjoying the development of all the characters. Very skillfully done.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on February 13, 2022, 12:21:56 pm
The Power of the Dog, beautiful,  impressive film making and a stunning performance from Cumberbatch.  Its pretty slow and moody, but not in a bad way, I think its something you have to be in the mood for, but overall I thought it was excellent.

Well put. Would also add that Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons were also both superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on February 15, 2022, 07:46:25 pm
Freaky and The Hunt

New comedy horror things. Both really good fun!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 30, 2022, 05:23:30 pm
Finally got round to watching Dune last night. I thought it was visually spectacular, impressive soundtrack and effects and great battle scenes, but I thought it really lacked narrative focus and was a bit overlong. Despite the reservations, I really enjoyed it and those might have been the fault of the source material, but I can't say, not having read it. I imagine it'd have been better in the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on March 31, 2022, 02:13:31 pm
Prompted by listening to an episode of 'The Big Picture' podcast I went on a little 'Garbage Crime' film watching spree - a genre they created, best explained as the not quite top tier or budget film, knows exactly what it is and does it well, with crime/criminal activity at the heart.

Some notable mentions:

Den of Thieves - Probably my pick of the bunch. SUPERB Gerard Butler crime scene outside a doughnut shop. Worth a watch for that alone.

Training Day - Classic of the genre. Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke on top form and Antoine Fuqua (he has various entries in this sphere but this has to be the best) directs.

Sicario: Day of the Soldato - I was actually pleasantly surprised with this film. Had put off watching because there is no Denis Villeneuve directing or Emily Blunt so I thought it might be a knock-off, money grab sequel. It isn't. The Josh Brolin+Benicio Del Toro characters are a lot of fun to watch on the screen and the action was just as tense and visceral as the first without being a re-do.

Wrath of Man - surprisingly good Jason Statham nonsense.

Triple 9 - Absolutely bonkers film. If you can go with it you'll enjoy it.

21 Bridges - Decent enough but didn't stand out to me.


Outside of this genre the two more recent releases I watched were The French Dispatch and Licorice Pizza. Huge fan of Wes Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson so was probably always going to like these. Although they are probably both 'mid tier' entries for each director, so unless you're already a fan I'd probably start elsewhere within each of their filmographies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 31, 2022, 05:41:04 pm
Nice list. Training Day is one of my all time favourite films. Good to know Sicario 2 is worth the time as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on March 31, 2022, 06:31:30 pm
Power of the Dog seconded, good slow burn stuff.
From left field the 1975 version of Suspiria, suitably bonkers. 2018 remake at some point. My daughter's on a ticklist mission at the moment prompted by a scratch off 'Top 100 Movies' poster, so it's a good opportunity to watch/rewatch some old classics not normally on the radar.
Enjoyed the Usual Suspects (good films from bad people?). Kevin Spacey is brilliant though.
Killing of a Sacred Deer with a deadpan turn from Colin Farrell.
The Trip (not the Steve Coogan one) is just out on Netflix. Slightly annoying premise but great execution.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 01, 2022, 11:08:54 pm
Power of the Dog seconded, good slow burn stuff.
From left field the 1975 version of Suspiria, suitably bonkers. 2018 remake at some point. My daughter's on a ticklist mission at the moment prompted by a scratch off 'Top 100 Movies' poster, so it's a good opportunity to watch/rewatch some old classics not normally on the radar.
Enjoyed the Usual Suspects (good films from bad people?). Kevin Spacey is brilliant though.
Killing of a Sacred Deer with a deadpan turn from Colin Farrell.
The Trip (not the Steve Coogan one) is just out on Netflix. Slightly annoying premise but great execution.

I think that Suspiria is one of the best horror movies ever made,  that scene when the blind man is attacked by his dog really stuck in my mind for some reason despite the fact that I saw it about 15 years ago. 

The usual suspects is a proper classic,  and the uncomfortable truth is that many amazing artists,  actors in any form are not nice people.  This doesn't change the fact that Kevin Spacey is an incredibly good actor,  or that Michael Jackson performed some of the greatest pure pop songs ever. I believe Dickens behaved absolutely reprehensibly towards his wife... I think that their legacies can be appreciated without delving into their characters. 

I think that Boyz n the Hood should be on any list of classic movies. It's on iplayer at the moment,  as is Citizen Kane and quite a few other films that anyone interested in really good film making should see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on April 06, 2022, 12:15:19 am
Withnail and I is on All 4 at the moment in case any of you shag sacks haven't seen it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on April 06, 2022, 09:43:35 am
I enjoyed Three Days of the Condor, other than that Ive been struggling and have cancelled my Netflix subscription even though its only 5.99 a month.
IMDB TV does a reasonable roster of classic films as well
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on April 11, 2022, 08:46:08 am
Cancelled Netflix too. With Prime, Disney + and IMDB, no need to spend extra cash. Until winter...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 11, 2022, 05:39:17 pm
The apparently superlative Boiling Point is now on Netflix for anyone who hasn't cancelled their subscription. Was kicking myself that I didn't catch it at the cinema but looking forward to seeing it soon now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on April 11, 2022, 06:43:45 pm
The apparently superlative Boiling Point is now on Netflix for anyone who hasn't cancelled their subscription. Was kicking myself that I didn't catch it at the cinema but looking forward to seeing it soon now.

Saw this the other day on Netflix and thought it was amazing, though it was amazingly stressful to watch. Not one if you want a relaxing evening in.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on April 13, 2022, 02:17:13 pm
Someone at work just mentioned Boiling Point so I'll give it a look. Doesn't sound like relaxing evening viewing but I like steven graham.

Finally watched Don't look up; it does flab in the middle but what film doesn't these days etc. Really enjoyed it, but tbh I was onboard with that cast anyway

Speaking of Leo; somehow, excuses but i just finally watched Once upon a time in Hollywood. Twice actually, i put it straight back on. That's the selling point of home movies, if there is one. Though I like the cinema. Anyway, Joker better be good, (when I watch it next week), because Leo is incredible in OUTIW. What can I say, I love Tarantino, and this was right up my street.

Took the lad to the cinema to see The Batman. Its a 15, and despite being 5'11" he was very nervous about getting in (just turned 14), he kept saying, but they're really strict now dad' which amused me no end, and we all remember that jeopardy/thrill, jumpers for goalposts...

Anyway despite the three hour! runtime, I enjoyed it. They've taken it in a new direction, which I guess they had to, and generally works. Snyder aside I've seen all of the previous two major Batman franchises, (Schumachers 'effort' being the only film I've ever walked out of at the cinema. I went for a long loo break in Moulin Rouge, ...) Yet i'd never describe my self as a fan of any comic book movies really and wouldn't have gone to see this without aforementioned underage youth etc. And so. I did actually have a good time, no groans, was entertained throughout. Its quite a lean story, less pompous than the Nolan stuff. Emo goth mise en scene, kind of like a light version of Seven really. No bad thing.

Speaking of infinite franchises, No time to Die. Again, just watched on tv at home through my preferred medium, the amazon prime rental. Too long, otherwise good. Entertaining throughout in that absolutely meaningless, Bondian type way.

Fans of Lea Seydoux; the French Dispatch. Wes Anderson by numbers. A veritable bubble and squeak. Needless cameos, too many ideas, too many sets, too many characters, nevertheless entertaining throughout in that absolutely meaningless, Bondian type way. And Lea Seydoux appears naked.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 13, 2022, 05:50:55 pm




Speaking of Leo; somehow, excuses but i just finally watched Once upon a time in Hollywood. Twice actually, i put it straight back on. That's the selling point of home movies, if there is one. Though I like the cinema. Anyway, Joker better be good, (when I watch it next week), because Leo is incredible in OUTIW. What can I say, I love Tarantino, and this was right up my street.

Once upon a time... is brilliant isn't it. I haven't yet seen the Joker either, not sure if I'll watch it soon although it has just appeared on Netflix, so I'll probably watch it at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on April 13, 2022, 06:03:08 pm
Joker is the kind of film you really should watch, but it's tough going. I'm not sure what I was expecting from it exactly but a superhero movie it is not. Joaquin Phoenix makes Heath Ledger's Joker look pretty cute and cuddly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 29, 2022, 09:06:49 am
The apparently superlative Boiling Point is now on Netflix for anyone who hasn't cancelled their subscription. Was kicking myself that I didn't catch it at the cinema but looking forward to seeing it soon now.

Saw this the other day on Netflix and thought it was amazing, though it was amazingly stressful to watch. Not one if you want a relaxing evening in.

I also thought that this is excellent.  If you have a Netflix account,  watch it. Its even better if you occasionally remind yourself that this is all filmed in one continuous take; what an amazing achievement.  It isn't just a cinematic gimmick either,  it really intensifies the atmosphere and transports you into the environment. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on April 29, 2022, 09:17:44 am
So there are no cuts hidden or otherwise? That seems truly remarkable.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 29, 2022, 09:40:50 am
So there are no cuts hidden or otherwise? That seems truly remarkable.

I believe not,  I haven't analysed it frame by frame or anything but that's how its described in credible reviews and it certainly feels like that to watch. Whatever the minutiae,  it's a brilliant movie.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/09/boiling-point-review-stephen-graham-restaurant-drama-single-take?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on April 29, 2022, 12:23:09 pm
We loved it too.  Pretty stressful and yep, all shot in one take.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on April 29, 2022, 12:44:08 pm
Has House of Gucci been mentioned?

I started watching this and wasn't sure what I thought, and left it for a few weeks and then returned to it. I don't think it's brilliant, but the casting is so incredibly good and every single person in it seems to be having so much fun with their roles that I liked it more and more as I watched it. Jared Leto and Lady Gaga are both particularly good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on April 29, 2022, 10:37:16 pm
Anyone seen The King? I quite liked it and I'm progressively more war film phobic. Not a total banger but some good acting and a different perspective on battle scenes!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on April 29, 2022, 10:58:28 pm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_(2019_film)
This one? Yeah I've seen it a couple of times, think it's great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on April 29, 2022, 11:04:26 pm
Yeah me too, great cast, Pattinson looked to have a lot of fun with his role!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 05, 2022, 05:39:34 pm
Inside Man A fairly old (2006) heist movie with a superior cast: Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe and Clive Owen. A good TV movie, nothing too challenging but entertaining enough without being spectacular. It's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 13, 2022, 05:34:48 pm
Django Unchained (on Netflix) I thought this was intermittently very funny and had some great set pieces and scenes. The use of music is really good as well. It is slightly let down for me by being too long: some of it drags a little but this doesn't spoil it, it's still a great movie, just perhaps not Tarantino's best.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 16, 2022, 08:58:56 am
Agree, would definitely benefit from a bit of tight editing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 16, 2022, 09:24:11 am
Gave up trying to find something to watch on Netflix and started to browse Disney Plus. I was pleasantly surprised to find Nomadland lurking in there, which is as good as they all say.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 16, 2022, 11:03:07 am
Covid meant I've watched quite a lot of films recently (that, and a 1/M NowTV Cinema subscription):

Pig:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11003218/
Very odd but not as bad as the description might suggest.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4513678/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Enjoyable with some nice little nods to the original and a few dark moments that made me chuckle.

Stillwater:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10696896/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_4
I quite enjoyed this. Damon does a lot of heavy lifting as there aren't many characters.

Supernova:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11169050/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Not uplifting but very well done. I do like Tucci in anything though.

Finding the Way Back:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8544498/
Like a reverse Coach Carter but significantly less good and with a deeply unsatisfying ending.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 16, 2022, 11:17:03 am
Has anyone mentioned Good Time on this thread ? currently on netflix and I think its just extraordinary.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on May 16, 2022, 12:49:30 pm
No doubt everyone has already seen it but Taxi Driver just popped up on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on May 16, 2022, 12:51:06 pm
No doubt everyone has already seen it but Taxi Driver just popped up on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on May 16, 2022, 01:26:22 pm
The worst person in the world.

No one gets shot in the face, which is the mark of a good film, and people talk to each other all the way through but it's bearable, all the same.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 16, 2022, 05:28:36 pm
Supernova:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11169050/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Not uplifting but very well done. I do like Tucci in anything though.
I agree, the Italian travel / food series he did on HBO was extremely pleasant, stress free entertainment.

No doubt everyone has already seen it but Taxi Driver just popped up on Netflix.

If anyone hasn't seen it, where have you been? One of the most memorable, impactful movies ever made, in my humble opinion. De Niro gives arguably his best performance ever.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 16, 2022, 09:48:49 pm

If anyone hasn't seen it, where have you been?

You talkin' to me?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 16, 2022, 10:41:48 pm

If anyone hasn't seen it, where have you been?

You talkin' to me?

I don't see anyone else in here...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 16, 2022, 10:45:57 pm
I agree, the Italian travel / food series he did on HBO was extremely pleasant, stress free entertainment.

Season two is on the way! His book, Taste was ok but a few things made me question it a bit. Sticky toffee pudding as a Christmas Day British thing? It's nice, but no.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on May 17, 2022, 06:38:32 am
I second the recommendations for both Supernova and Worst Person in the World.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on May 17, 2022, 12:26:22 pm
Really loved We're All Going To The World's Fair:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-were-all-going-to-the-worlds-fair-2021-online (or Apple TV, Prime Video or wherever you get your movies, etc. etc.)

The blurbs for it tend to give the impression that it's going to be a micro-budget inventive "found footage" type shocker a la Blair Witch Project, and, though I'm very up for that, what you get is something much stranger and more wonderful.

There are multiple points where you can see a particular development coming, go "oh yeah, I see where this is going" and then it ... doesn't.

I'm not even sure it's a horror movie (as opposed to a very creepy art movie), though it's very much engaging with horror and has a kind of wave-particle superposition about whether it's a horror movie or something else.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 18, 2022, 09:49:45 pm
I agree, the Italian travel / food series he did on HBO was extremely pleasant, stress free entertainment.

Season two is on the way!

Only in the US  I thought?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 18, 2022, 10:08:00 pm
That was the same with the first season as well. It'll make it's way here.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 19, 2022, 08:55:02 am
I agree, the Italian travel / food series he did on HBO was extremely pleasant, stress free entertainment.

Season two is on the way!

Only in the US  I thought?

Series 1 is on iPlayer at the moment. I enjoyed it for all the same reasons, but flippin eck I just wish he had more to say about the food and wine he tasted than Oh my God!.  I found myself shouting at the tele Cmon Stan, tell us what it tastes like!!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on May 19, 2022, 12:01:44 pm
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Christopher Nolan meets Stanley Kubrick meets Jackie Chan? Comedy, drama, action movie, surrealist trip with pathos and poignancy. Those familiar with Michelle Yeoh's work will enjoy her tongue in cheeky nods to her back catalogue. There's also an ongoing homage to Ratatouille. On one level it's a chaotic film with so many ideas & images thrown into it (including butt plugs!) that it could have been a complete mess but somehow it manages to be both entertaining and existential. One of the best films I've seen in a while. Well worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 19, 2022, 05:52:49 pm
I agree, the Italian travel / food series he did on HBO was extremely pleasant, stress free entertainment.

Season two is on the way!

Only in the US  I thought?

Series 1 is on iPlayer at the moment. I enjoyed it for all the same reasons, but flippin eck I just wish he had more to say about the food and wine he tasted than Oh my God!.  I found myself shouting at the tele Cmon Stan, tell us what it tastes like!!

I suppose so, but so much great Italian food is so simple, (eg: the courgette pasta dish, or prosciutto) you can have a pretty good guess, and he is certainly curious, enthusiastic, and really, really, enjoying himself.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 19, 2022, 05:53:36 pm
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Christopher Nolan meets Stanley Kubrick meets Jackie Chan? Comedy, drama, action movie, surrealist trip with pathos and poignancy. Those familiar with Michelle Yeoh's work will enjoy her tongue in cheeky nods to her back catalogue. There's also an ongoing homage to Ratatouille. On one level it's a chaotic film with so many ideas & images thrown into it (including butt plugs!) that it could have been a complete mess but somehow it manages to be both entertaining and existential. One of the best films I've seen in a while. Well worth a watch.

Great review, looking forward to seeing it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on May 22, 2022, 03:25:49 pm
Another oldie that younger readers might have missed on BBC4 The Graduate .
Dustin Hoffman as a dissaffected college graduate who embarks on a. Ill advised affair with the bitter and alcoholic Anne Bancroft.
 Worth seeing for the magnificent Bancroft.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 22, 2022, 05:59:37 pm
Munich on Netflix. Standard Brit flick spy drama type stuff, but very watchable saying that. Generates a remarkable amount of tension given that if you don't already know what happens you've been lobotomized. Jeremy Irons, and the guy who's in 1917 act very well in it. I really liked it overall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on May 23, 2022, 03:31:55 pm
That'd be Munich Edge of War...? Not the 2005 Spielberg movie...

Everything everywhere sounds like a good option to take the youth this half term.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 23, 2022, 05:35:03 pm
That'd be Munich Edge of War...? Not the 2005 Spielberg movie...

Indeed, the 2021 Netflix film. Apologies I was too lazy to type the full title and thought it'd be obvious from the review. It's good, watch it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on May 23, 2022, 07:20:26 pm
Shout out for Manhunt on Netflix.

Found it as was idly searching for John Woo (balletic ultraviolence specialist - Hard Boiled, Face:Off, Mission Impossible 3 etc etc) films.

Takes a while to get going, but before you know it people are jumping out of second floor windows on motorbikes, jumping off the bikes while firing a 9mm automatic in both hands and then landing perfectly on the ground!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 23, 2022, 10:25:03 pm
Nobody. You might enjoy it if you can stomach Better Call Saul as a retired tough guy and won't be put off by a down market John Wick storyline. As you might tell, I wasn't psyched.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 24, 2022, 09:48:59 am
Nobody. You might enjoy it if you can stomach Better Call Saul as a retired tough guy and won't be put off by a down market John Wick storyline. As you might tell, I wasn't psyched.

That didn't make sense to me, is Nobody the title of a movie?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 24, 2022, 10:29:27 am
Nobody:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7888964/

Nobody. You might enjoy it if you can stomach Better Call Saul Bob Odenkirk as a retired tough guy and won't be put off by a down market John Wick (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911666/) storyline. As you might tell, I wasn't psyched.

Better?  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 24, 2022, 12:55:18 pm
I thought the film 'Nobody' was superb. Some excellent, physical feeling action scenes, fairly nonsensical plot, nice turn from Christopher Lloyd... All in all good 'popcorn munching' fun times.

I re-watched Collateral last night. Michael Mann really is a different class of director. Want to get my hands on the directors cut of his Miami Vice (2006?) film as I think I've only seen the feature length release but i'm not sure if it is on any of the streamers.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on May 24, 2022, 01:04:49 pm
I am a massive Mann fan too. Heat is currently on Netflix, and I think Amazon Prime too. Think one of them is the Director's Cut as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on May 24, 2022, 01:23:34 pm
For all its faults - overlong, occasionally a bit portentous- Heat is absolutely one of my favourite films and has to have some of the best heist scenes ever made.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 24, 2022, 01:45:17 pm
I am a massive Mann fan too. Heat is currently on Netflix, and I think Amazon Prime too. Think one of them is the Director's Cut as well.

Bizarre circle, when you mentioned Manhunt a few posts back i initially thought you were referring to Mann's Manhunter, (which was later remade as Red Dragon).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 24, 2022, 02:48:44 pm
I am a massive Mann fan too. Heat is currently on Netflix, and I think Amazon Prime too. Think one of them is the Director's Cut as well.

Heat is a clear standout of the genre. So many imitations and knock-offs over the years. Some of them pretty decent in their own right but I don't think any film has toppled it from the top spot.

For you Mann fans, Collateral is definitely worth a (re)watch - Really enjoyed Tom Cruise in a very 'off brand' role playing the bad guy. Some of his lines of dialogue are absolutely incredible:

''Okay, look, here's the deal. Man, you were gonna drive me around tonight, never be the wiser, but El Gordo got in front of a window, did his high dive, we're into Plan B. Still breathing? Now we gotta make the best of it, improvise, adapt to the environment, Darwin, shit happens, I Ching, whatever man, we gotta roll with it.''

''Well, tens of thousands killed before sundown. Nobody's killed people that fast since Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Did you bat an eye, Max?... Did you join Amnesty International, Oxfam, Save the Whales, Greenpeace, or something? No. I off one fat Angelino and you throw a hissy fit.''

Get you in the mood for what I'm sure is a very different performance in the new Top Gun and next Mission Impossible that is being churned out.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on May 24, 2022, 02:52:30 pm
Heat is a clear standout of the genre. So many imitations and knock-offs over the years. Some of them pretty decent in their own right but I don't think any film has toppled it from the top spot.

For you Mann fans, Collateral is definitely worth a (re)watch - Really enjoyed Tom Cruise in a very 'off brand' role playing the bad guy. Some of his lines of dialogue are absolutely incredible:

Agreed on both fronts. I've also re-watched a load of the Tom Cruise classics over the past few months and I've thoroughly enjoyed them all (having sidestepped Cocktail obviously). Was I just in a really bad mood watching Nobody?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 24, 2022, 03:08:51 pm
Was I just in a really bad mood watching Nobody?

I can see it not being for everyone. Personally I really like Bob Odenkirk - fan of his early comedy in Mr House(i think it was?). He was one of the best bits in Breaking Bad and imo Better Call Saul has surpassed that show! So I just went along for the ride. Have actually watched Nobody about 3 times now, couple of times as 'background noise' on my second monitor when I don't want to have to fully focus on the film and can just perk up for a couple of the more wild sequences.

Admittedly, I have a strange affinity for films that know exactly what they are, don't try to ride above their level but execute their mission statement. A while back I mentioned on here about the 'Garbage-Crime' binge I went on inspired by talk of it on a film podcast. Nobody is similar. It's not trying to be an AAA* summer blockbuster, not trying to be Oscar bate, not taking itself over seriously. The fight/action scenes are never going to match something like The Raid for example, but in its own slightly off-kilter, amusing way delivered a pleasant surprise for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on May 24, 2022, 03:25:44 pm

For all its faults - overlong, occasionally a bit portentous- Heat is absolutely one of my favourite films and has to have some of the best heist scenes ever made.


And obviously, it has this remarkable exchange in it too!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7m_QaXkryY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7m_QaXkryY)



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 24, 2022, 04:52:22 pm
Iconic Pacino :D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 24, 2022, 05:09:17 pm
youtube at work blocks links, but i know exactly what it is.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on May 24, 2022, 05:28:17 pm
I'd be happy with a whole thread dedicated to the greatness of Mann. I think manhunter and thief are unbelievably good too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on May 24, 2022, 05:52:01 pm
youtube at work blocks links, but i know exactly what it is.....

Supposedly in the early drafts of the script, Pacino's character had a coke habit - scenes explicitly showing his coke use were cut, but scenes like the "great ass" one are a legacy of it - Pacino was playing it as though he was high.

If anyone wants to relive the experience / find out more about the making of Heat, I highly recommend listening to the Ringer Rewatchables podcast episodes on it.  It's the hosts' favourite film so they've covered it three times.  The most recent occasion was with Michael Mann - really interesting stuff up about the script, actors, and filming.

https://www.theringer.com/2017/8/7/16109854/hall-of-fame-heat-with-bill-simmons-and-chris-ryan (https://www.theringer.com/2017/8/7/16109854/hall-of-fame-heat-with-bill-simmons-and-chris-ryan)

https://www.theringer.com/2020/1/24/21079798/the-re-heat-with-bill-simmons-and-chris-ryan (https://www.theringer.com/2020/1/24/21079798/the-re-heat-with-bill-simmons-and-chris-ryan)

https://www.theringer.com/2021/11/2/22758064/the-three-heat-with-bill-simmons-chris-ryan-and-michael-mann (https://www.theringer.com/2021/11/2/22758064/the-three-heat-with-bill-simmons-chris-ryan-and-michael-mann)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 24, 2022, 05:55:39 pm
Was I just in a really bad mood watching Nobody?

I can see it not being for everyone. Personally I really like Bob Odenkirk - fan of his early comedy in Mr House(i think it was?). He was one of the best bits in Breaking Bad and imo Better Call Saul has surpassed that show! So I just went along for the ride. Have actually watched Nobody about 3 times now, couple of times as 'background noise' on my second monitor when I don't want to have to fully focus on the film and can just perk up for a couple of the more wild sequences.

Admittedly, I have a strange affinity for films that know exactly what they are, don't try to ride above their level but execute their mission statement. A while back I mentioned on here about the 'Garbage-Crime' binge I went on inspired by talk of it on a film podcast. Nobody is similar. It's not trying to be an AAA* summer blockbuster, not trying to be Oscar bate, not taking itself over seriously. The fight/action scenes are never going to match something like The Raid for example, but in its own slightly off-kilter, amusing way delivered a pleasant surprise for me.

Great summary, I think I'll watch this at some point now, I also like movies that don't get ideas above their station. I like some arty complicated international movies, and I like Pacific Rim. Nothing wrong with a cheesy popcorn film that knows what it is! This is also why the Matrix slightly pissed me off, too much pretend philosophy.

I also like most Tom Cruise movies, at least a bit. A few good men is classic. He actually has a bit of range: Rainman, Jerry Maguire, Top Gun, Collateral....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on May 24, 2022, 08:49:32 pm
On the Tom Cruise / Mann thing - I actually watched Collateral at the big Cineworld out on the edge of Sheffield when I was down visiting a mate, the weekend it came out.

Obviously pretty blown away by it, and afterwards we were discussing what we thought about it, and his very thoughtful Syrian housemate pondered for a while and said "I didn't like it...you can't kill Tom Cruise in a movie".

Led us to think - is it the only film where you see his character die? I haven't seen his whole back catalogue, but I reckon it's one of the few!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 25, 2022, 12:41:52 am
He dies a few times in Edge of Tomorrow :P

But also can't think of another legitimate time he dies... Or when he ever plays the 'villain' to the extent he does in Collateral? Zero character development. Starts of the with a list of people to kill and shows no remorse or will to change at any point! It really is a shame for the last 10yrs we've only had god/hero figure Cruise in films. He used to challenge himself with a much wider range of roles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 25, 2022, 09:34:34 am
Or when he ever plays the 'villain' to the extent he does in Collateral?

Well he is a Nazi in Valkyrie, although he isn't a "bad" one.

And when do Hollywood leads ever die? Not never, but rarely.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on May 25, 2022, 04:14:30 pm
Does he die in Valkyrie? I feel like he might do but it's been a while. He is 100% a good guy in it though, or at least portrayed as one despite the context. 

Edge of Tomorrow is one of my favourite guilty pleasure type films. Always an easy watch. Likewise Collateral, which considering the limited set up (and presumably the relatively tiny budget) is pretty much perfect all the way through.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 25, 2022, 04:17:56 pm
Or when he ever plays the 'villain' to the extent he does in Collateral?

Well he is a Nazi in Valkyrie, although he isn't a "bad" one.

And when do Hollywood leads ever die? Not never, but rarely.

Ahh... I've not actually seen Valkyrie.

Good point tbh! But it isn't just not dying, he really stopped taking risking/interesting roles post the ~2005 Scientology madness reveals. Reverted to the safe space of Mission Impossible, where he can always be the best, most intelligent, morally correct, flawless hero/God/saviour character.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on May 25, 2022, 04:19:51 pm
Edge of Tomorrow is one of my favourite guilty pleasure type films. Always an easy watch. Likewise Collateral, which considering the limited set up (and presumably the relatively tiny budget) is pretty much perfect all the way through.

Edge of Tomorrow is excellent - no need for it to be a guilty pleasure imo! Not entirely sure it sticks the ending but it was a really fun twist on the 'Groudhog Day' principle.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 25, 2022, 05:28:54 pm

And when do Hollywood leads ever die? Not never, but rarely.

...
But it isn't just not dying, he really stopped taking risking/interesting roles post the ~2005 Scientology madness reveals. Reverted to the safe space of Mission Impossible, where he can always be the best, most intelligent, morally correct, flawless hero/God/saviour character.


I think this is unfair to Cruise, and Hollywood. The decline in mainstream interesting grown up movies is a function of the decline in cinema attendance, and the vast value of the Chinese market.
If you are going to invest $XX million in a movie, you want guaranteed return, so it needs to be able to appeal to the maximum number of markets. Hence the endless stream of (in my opinion!) tedious Marvel movies which don't differ very much or challenge anyone with more than one brain cell. That said lots of people don't want to be challenged, and there is lots of really interesting, innovative movie making out there, from the US, the UK and many other countries. 1917 was a big screen mainstream film for instance, in which almost everyone dies, and with some ground breaking cinematography.
I also like the Mission Impossible films, incidentally. They do exactly what you expect, are silly, unchallenging and don't take themselves too seriously.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on May 27, 2022, 01:00:29 pm
Inspired by this thread I rewatched Heat yesterday and its even better than I remembered it. Lots of little details I missed before, and Prime gives you interesting little bits of trivia and background too. Three hours well spent!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 27, 2022, 09:14:05 pm
We just watched Summit of the Gods.
My wife's review: "that was absolutely wank".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on May 27, 2022, 11:11:21 pm
Everything Everywhere All at Once - Christopher Nolan meets Stanley Kubrick meets Jackie Chan? Comedy, drama, action movie, surrealist trip with pathos and poignancy. Those familiar with Michelle Yeoh's work will enjoy her tongue in cheeky nods to her back catalogue. There's also an ongoing homage to Ratatouille. On one level it's a chaotic film with so many ideas & images thrown into it (including butt plugs!) that it could have been a complete mess but somehow it manages to be both entertaining and existential. One of the best films I've seen in a while. Well worth a watch.

Watched this eve, what a wild trip. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on May 28, 2022, 06:59:03 am
Into the Wild

Few years old now but my wife and I finished watching this last night (had to spread it out over 3 nights, because, y'know, life etc.). It's a bittersweet, romantic story told and filmed beautifully. The whole thing has left me feeling very conflicted. The film is very much a slow burner but I recommend sticking with it, many of the most poignant moments are right towards the end.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 28, 2022, 09:11:55 am
Yep. Did the book proud. Definitely a story for our times.

Grizzly Man covers similar terrain in a tragicomic doc style - recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 28, 2022, 11:32:48 am
Theres a couple of good documentarys made post-Into the Wild.  The Call of the Wild and Return to the Wild. We watched the latter recently. Has a lot of the McLandless family in it, mainly his sister.  Worthwhile if youre interested in the story.

JB - the soundtrack for Grizzly Man is ace. Richard Thompson and Jim ORourke noodling on guitars.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 29, 2022, 10:43:09 am
Munich: Edge of War on Netflix. Standard Brit flick spy drama type stuff, but very watchable saying that. Generates a remarkable amount of tension given that if you don't already know what happens you've been lobotomized. Jeremy Irons, and the guy who's in 1917 act very well in it. I really liked it overall.

I'd avoided this as it didn't scrape 7 on IMDB but watched it last night on this recommendation. Thoroughly enjoyed it. As Toby says, it manages to be very tense.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on May 30, 2022, 10:38:46 pm
Top Gun Maverick

For the first few minutes,  you wonder if you're watching the old one (mark kermode said this but it is true) especially as Cruise doesn't age at all. Its not complicated, sophisticated or thought provoking; but if you like 80s nostalgia,  or really impressive fighter planes going very,  very fast and doing ridiculous manouevres, its great fun.
Cheesier than a tartiflette, but I loved it. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on May 31, 2022, 11:20:43 pm
Seconded. We saw it at the IMAX this evening and loved it. A proper blockbuster.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nike Air on May 31, 2022, 11:24:39 pm
It's so good isn't it. We went to see it this morning before going to the crag and made us smile alot.
I want a plane now...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on June 01, 2022, 12:03:58 am
especially as Cruise doesn't age at all.

The Indian Face FA was the same year as Top Gun came out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 01, 2022, 10:13:09 am
especially as Cruise doesn't age at all.

The Indian Face FA was the same year as Top Gun came out

Crazy isn't it. Thatcher was PM, hardly anyone had heard of the internet... Etc etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 01, 2022, 02:08:16 pm
It's so good isn't it. We went to see it this morning before going to the crag and made us smile alot.
I want a plane now... (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corgi-CS90682-Maverick-Gooses-Roosters/dp/B08517RX54/ref=asc_df_B08517RX54/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463215581993&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3461894284280119831&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046592&hvtargid=pla-1060178840291&psc=1)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nike Air on June 01, 2022, 09:59:44 pm
Haha fantastic. I know Toms small but didn't think he was that tiny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on June 01, 2022, 10:26:00 pm
It's so good isn't it. We went to see it this morning before going to the crag and made us smile alot.
I want a plane now...

You can be my wingman anytime goose  🤣
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Nike Air on June 01, 2022, 11:18:04 pm
Am I spoiling it for anyone telling you goose no more. Its all about the rooster now..
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on June 02, 2022, 09:18:53 am
Haha fantastic. I know Toms small but didn't think he was that tiny.

This is always worth a post:
https://youtu.be/UxFq16IG_k0
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on June 02, 2022, 09:29:48 am
I really need to see the new Top Gun.

I also really need to see Men, at the other end of the spectrum
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on June 07, 2022, 05:34:37 pm
I really need to see the new Top Gun.
I also really need to see Men, at the other end of the spectrum

Funnily enough they accidentally sold us a ticket for Top Gun when we went to see Men at the weekend. I was chuckling at the thought of the 2 fan bases overlapping (I would like to see Top Gun though).

Men: 3.5* out of 5. Really good to look at, some proper creepy atmospherics and quality performances. A sort of feminist modern day Brit Horror but just a bit heavy handed in the latter parts. It didn't help that I found (one of the) Roy Kinnear's to be channeling a David Walliams oddball from Little Britain. I also wouldn't have been surprised if members of the Hot Fuzz or This Country cast had wandered onto set.

Boiling Point - tick, technical triumph. As well as Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson that played Carly did a fine job.

Notable catchups: Blade Runner (see also Vangelis ref: RIP thread), Kill Bill 1, Pulp Fiction, still enjoying daughter's new ticklist mentality.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on June 07, 2022, 06:46:05 pm
If you're going to see top gun try and make sure you do so in IMAX it'd be well worth it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on June 08, 2022, 08:35:41 am
Haha fantastic. I know Toms small but didn't think he was that tiny.

This is always worth a post:
https://youtu.be/UxFq16IG_k0

Fantastic, that channel is worthy of the Best of YouTube thread!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on June 08, 2022, 08:42:53 am
I know Toms small but didn't think he was that tiny.

OI!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 10, 2022, 01:26:02 pm
Anyone know where operation mincemeat is available? It says it's a Netflix movie online, but doesn't seem to be available on there. Perhaps it hasn't been released yet?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on June 10, 2022, 01:58:14 pm
Looks like it was a regional release, so only Netflix in the Americas and went to cinema release here.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Adam Lincoln on June 10, 2022, 02:31:47 pm
Looks like it was a regional release, so only Netflix in the Americas and went to cinema release here.

Just get a vpn so you can watch netflix American version.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on July 06, 2022, 07:15:57 am
I recognize that "1980s lesbian politics" might not be an obvious sell for some here, but Rebel Dykes is an absolute blast.

Joy, fun, rage, pr0n, punk, S&M, Greenham Common, baby oil wrestling, Debbie Smith of Echobelly, and abseiling into the House of Lords:

https://player.bfi.org.uk/rentals/film/watch-rebel-dykes-2021-online

Genuinely important re: the fight against Section 28, the emergence of sex-positive feminism, trans inclusion, etc., but also just an absolute fucking blast.

Instant flashbacks for everyone old enough to remember the "BEEB MAN SITS ON LESBIAN" headline, historical education for those too young.

Now free to watch on All 4 through the rest of July:

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/rebel-dykes
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 08, 2022, 01:38:11 pm
Rewatched Oceans Eleven last night, having last seen it years ago. What a finely crafted, conscise movie it is. 2 hours of uncompleted entertainment devoid of any pretensions, I'd forgotten how good it is.

It's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 18, 2022, 11:17:39 pm
Rewatched Oceans Eleven last night, having last seen it years ago. What a finely crafted, conscise movie it is. 2 hours of uncompleted entertainment devoid of any pretensions, I'd forgotten how good it is.

It's on Netflix.

On the other hand,  Oceans Twelve is unmitigatedly tedious,  vacuous and not even the strange appearance of Bruce Willis as himself half way through saves it, even a little bit.  I usually really like many of the actors in it, I like heist movies but this really is awful. 
Is this the least consistent of a series of movies? Jurassic park/ world? The Exorcist movies?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cheque on July 19, 2022, 12:09:14 am

Is this the least consistent of a series of movies? Jurassic park/ world? The Exorcist movies?

The podcast Cult Popture does a regular series Film Franchise Fortnights in which the hosts (New Zealish ex-film students) watch each of the films in a series and report back on them. Many of the series turn out to be inconsistent. Heres the Oceans one. (https://open.spotify.com/episode/43nsRiHdj3BUIa5JMfPPhc)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 19, 2022, 08:02:52 am
Rewatched Oceans Eleven last night, having last seen it years ago. What a finely crafted, conscise movie it is. 2 hours of uncompleted entertainment devoid of any pretensions, I'd forgotten how good it is.

It's on Netflix.

On the other hand,  Oceans Twelve is unmitigatedly tedious,  vacuous and not even the strange appearance of Bruce Willis as himself half way through saves it, even a little bit.  I usually really like many of the actors in it, I like heist movies but this really is awful. 
Is this the least consistent of a series of movies? Jurassic park/ world? The Exorcist movies?

Alien/s? 1st good horror, 2nd good action, rest are pap. Likewise T1 and T2, after which quality falls off a cliff. I enjoyed Oceans 8 more than expected though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on July 19, 2022, 08:23:12 am
Alien/s? 1st good horror, 2nd good action, rest are pap. Likewise T1 and T2, after which quality falls off a cliff. I enjoyed Oceans 8 more than expected though.

I actually have a real soft spot for Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. Always enjoyed them just as much as the first two.

Conversely I though 8 was absolute tripe.

Terminator is on the money though. It's not like the subsequent films are all completely awful, and I think Salvation is genuinely good, but the first two set such a high bar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Durbs on July 19, 2022, 08:35:32 am

Alien/s? 1st good horror, 2nd good action, rest are pap.

Even more so if you include Covenant and Prometheus... So much potential, wasted. Urgh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 19, 2022, 08:59:54 am
Conversely I though 8 was absolute tripe.

Not saying it's good, just I had very low expectations and it wasn't quite as bad as expected.

I'm pretty sure I've seen all / most of the Alien movies, but after 1 and 2 I can't recall on from the other.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on July 19, 2022, 10:53:47 am
I've a soft spot for Alien 3. Sniffed at when it came, further doldrumed by Fincher disowning it, but I like it. Decent premise, good monstering, motherhood theme, a few good gags.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/22/alien-3-movie-1992-david-fincher

Let's just not speak about Alien vs Predator though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on July 19, 2022, 11:02:00 am
Fast and Furious obviously the most consistent series 😂
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 19, 2022, 11:15:34 am
like Terry Pratchett books; after a while it doesn't matter which ones you have seen, they are all familiar and similar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 19, 2022, 05:51:30 pm
I've a soft spot for Alien 3. Sniffed at when it came, further doldrumed by Fincher disowning it, but I like it. Decent premise, good monstering, motherhood theme, a few good gags.

I like all the Alien movies I've seen, other than Prometheus, which I thought was boring and pretentious. Personally I liked all the first four, they are just very different from each other. Alien: horror movie. Aliens: basically a Vietnam war movie in space. Alien 3: David Fincher stylised darkness like Seven or π, but in space with a xenomorph... Etc.

Terminator, agree with others one and two are brilliant, one especially so, but I have enjoyed them all to an extent.

I'd suggest (contraversially?) Blade runner. Original: one of my favourite films. 2049: I thought was shite.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on July 19, 2022, 06:19:18 pm

I'd suggest (contraversially?) Blade runner. Original: one of my favourite films. 2049: I thought was shite.

I remember you not being a fan of Dune either, Villneuves epic pace too slow for you?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on July 19, 2022, 07:31:36 pm

I'd suggest (contraversially?) Blade runner. Original: one of my favourite films. 2049: I thought was shite.

You are of course entitled to your incorrect opinion ;-)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 19, 2022, 07:32:03 pm
How about Highlander? One great film, the rest utter cods. Well I am guessing they are cods, i gave up after the second.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 19, 2022, 08:53:32 pm
Alien 3 good in it's own right, I like that they didn't try to do the sci-fi action flick of Aliens and kept it more claustrophobic and low-key. Couldn't watch Resurrection on principle of Ripley being dead. Prometheus and Covenant almost okay in their own right but wasted huge potential.

Terminator Salvation was a genuinely and surprisingly decent film. Not nearly as classic but not bad at all.

BR2049 great as any fule kno.

Just throwing an 0:02 in the mix.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Andy F on July 19, 2022, 09:44:48 pm
How about Highlander? One great film, the rest utter cods. Well I am guessing they are cods, i gave up after the second.
Similar to the Police Academy series then  ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on July 19, 2022, 09:47:06 pm
How about Highlander? One great film, the rest utter cods. Well I am guessing they are cods, i gave up after the second.

There can be only one?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 19, 2022, 10:44:10 pm
I'd suggest (contraversially?) Blade runner. Original: one of my favourite films. 2049: I thought was shite.
I remember you not being a fan of Dune either, Villneuves epic pace too slow for you?
I'd suggest (contraversially?) Blade runner. Original: one of my favourite films. 2049: I thought was shite.
You are of course entitled to your incorrect opinion ;-)

It's not a question of epic pace or something,  it's a question of trying to be all mysterious and long winded as a substitute for any intellectual heft. Some of these film makers need to take their heads out of their own behinds, and remember that they are not directing a Brecht or Chekov play on celluloid (yes I know its digitised really) and be entertaining as well.  The original blade runner dealt concisely with the issue of AI as in the source material, which is after all, a really short story.
It didn't need a 3 hour sequel,  which succeeds only in doing this less well. 

I maintain you're all wrong. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on July 19, 2022, 10:56:25 pm
I thought 2049 was absolutely great but I can get why some people would hate it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on July 20, 2022, 06:54:53 am
 
It didn't need a 3 hour sequel,  which succeeds only in doing this less well. 

I maintain you're all wrong.

Us, film critics and awards shows!

Its 3 hours of beauty, Id quite happily watch cinematography that good for a film about talking cats or something. I think the story addresses different issues to the first, more current issues.

Im kinda sad for you that you didnt enjoy that and Dune more than anything else, as it feels like youre missing out as someone who obviously likes watching films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 20, 2022, 08:52:34 am
Might go back back and rewatch Dune and 2049 just to remind myself how good they are. Gutted still a long wait for the next Dune film.

Be like the guy who threw a chocolate sweet in his herb garden; Revel in your Thyme.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on July 20, 2022, 09:19:39 am
One thing I really liked about those movies is that they took themselves pretty seriously and allowed the heavy tone to be present and not undercut. A nice antidote to the quippy jokefests that are the Marvel movies

Incidentally I rewatched Fellowship of the Ring recently and its still brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on July 20, 2022, 09:39:04 am
Blade Runner 2049 didn't really do it for me either. Maybe my attention span is too short. I'll probably rewatch at some point with a more open mind. I keep the original shrink wrapped on a pedestal, as an all time great. 2049 kinda felt like another sci fi movie, which is fine. The good people of IMDB give it 8.0, a whisker behind the 8.1 original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 20, 2022, 09:44:38 am
Which original? ;)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 21, 2022, 08:32:15 am
I didn't dislike Dune, btw, I was just perhaps not nearly as enthusiastic as some people were about it.  This may be because I saw it at home; no doubt it's much better on a cinema screen.  It was still pretty cool though. 

I'm still sceptical about 2049, although I might rewatch it at some point. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Carliios on August 06, 2022, 08:54:07 am
Watched Prey last night (the new predator film) and I thought it was fantastic - bonus points if you watch it in Comanche with subtitles. Well worth a watch if youre looking for a film this weekend. On Disney+
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on August 07, 2022, 10:01:39 am
Watched about the first third of "Once Upon a Time in America" last night (started watching too late and it is nearly four hours). And, just wow! I don't know what I was expecting, probably something cornier, but it's magnificent. As much as anything I loved the incredible portrait it paints of the Lower East Side in the early twentieth-century. Can't wait for more tonight.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on August 07, 2022, 10:45:51 am
Thats a great film. Id be interested to know what you make of the ending when you get there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on August 07, 2022, 02:39:26 pm
I only just saw this for the first time fairly recently and it is indeed excellent. In the 20s New York was where the future was being made and this film gives a great sense of that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on August 07, 2022, 03:36:37 pm
Its the world that Once Upon aTime in the West gives birth to. Not a completely optimistic vision.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 19, 2022, 07:08:49 am
The Ghost Writer

I thought this was pretty good, an entertaining TV movie with a great cast. I might have seen it years ago but if so couldn't remember anything about it.
Recommended, as it's on Netflix, it won't change your life but it's an enjoyable evening.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 20, 2022, 11:16:08 am
Bit late to this one but I finally got around to watching Top Gun Maverick - on a suitable large and loud (iSense with Dolby Atmos) screen. Amazing popcorn (or in my case Haribo... my guilty pleasure!) cinema. Ticks all the boxes. Amazing footage of the actors in the planes, nostalgia soundtrack, Tom Cruise saving the day, parallels with him ageing as a film star / the death of the film star in our age of IP/content and his character being phased out by drones.

Not really a spoiler but a theory I kind of like:

NSFW  :
Maverick actually died at the start during the Mach 10 boom boom. The rest of the film is some kind of death dream/ purgatory dream


Something new to me (I think) but an older film - The Limey - from the classic film year that is 1999. Watching this parts of it felt very familiar so I might have half watched it before but if I have either i was tired / under the influence / or simply enough time has past for it to feel like a new film. Absolute classic of the revenge genre. Some of the dialogue had me in creasing up - especially when the mighty Bill Duke appears. Also, the throw away line from Peter Fonda's character about helping the parents of his girlfriend pick her name when she was born - what an incredible way to show what an absolute creep and scumbag he is, with one simple line! Very high recommendation for this one to anyone who hasn't seen it, or like me might have not seen it for ~20yrs!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on August 20, 2022, 05:01:28 pm
Watched Prey last night (the new predator film) and I thought it was fantastic - bonus points if you watch it in Comanche with subtitles. Well worth a watch if youre looking for a film this weekend. On Disney+

Watched this last night, great no nonsense action, great lead actor and beautiful scenery
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 20, 2022, 05:34:27 pm
Watched Prey last night (the new predator film) and I thought it was fantastic - bonus points if you watch it in Comanche with subtitles. Well worth a watch if youre looking for a film this weekend. On Disney+

Watched this last night, great no nonsense action, great lead actor and beautiful scenery

Jealous. Shame that it's only on Disney, I can't afford that and Netflix. Perhaps I can find a way to download it for free somehow...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on August 20, 2022, 06:23:18 pm
You could always dump Netflix for a month or two and take up Disney instead? Netflix context quality has dropped off a cliff over the last few years with all the other streamers starting up and taking back their content.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 20, 2022, 08:28:22 pm
Speaking of Disney+ aimed mainly but not exclusively at anyone with kids I've had some overwhelmingly positive reviews for an animated series called 'Bluey'. I'm not a parent but the reviews I've heard have been so heartfelt I'm going to have to at least check out a few episodes.

Just realised this definitely isn't a film... oh well... it's here now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kac on August 20, 2022, 08:49:16 pm
You can use Tesco clubcard points to get Disney cheaply. I also thought prey was great. Generally find the film choice a bit rubbish though and only really had it for watching frozen most days!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on August 20, 2022, 10:02:07 pm
You can use Tesco clubcard points to get Disney cheaply. I also thought prey was great. Generally find the film choice a bit rubbish though and only really had it for watching frozen most days!

Frozen must be the greatest investment any studio has ever made. Hundreds of thousands of parents worldwide are forced to maintain a Disney subscription to feed their children's meth-like Frozen addiction.

Have you got the dresses as well?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 20, 2022, 10:51:12 pm
Gladly outgrown by now, we still have DVDs if anyone wants to save a subscription. We got D+ for the Mandalorian for the older one and baby Yoda for the younger one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kac on August 21, 2022, 08:14:01 am
Getting the DVDs would be the sensible option but always make the mistake of thinking he can't want to watch it again! No dresses yet but suspect I have that coming with his little sister. To be fair to Disney I thought the mandalorian was brilliant and Obi wan Kenobi pretty good. Unfortunately it also gave me the opportunity to see the last stars wars film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 21, 2022, 09:40:50 am
I can't believe that a 'good films' thread has deteriorated to a discussion of Frozen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kac on August 21, 2022, 10:03:16 am
Sorry Toby. How about Ray & Liz on 4oD.
Its a good film although you may want to watch frozen to cheer yourself up afterwards!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on August 21, 2022, 10:50:55 am
I can't believe that a 'good films' thread has deteriorated to a discussion of Frozen.

Yes please post Frozen-related content in the gooDADvice thread.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 21, 2022, 12:15:50 pm
Jealous. Shame that it's only on Disney, I can't afford that and Netflix. Perhaps I can find a way to download it for free somehow...

I've recently switched phone contracts and have the option to select a few months for free of various services. I'm currently on a child account of another UKBer. I can look into doing the same if you like?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 23, 2022, 10:15:19 am
I finally cracked and went to see Top Gun: Maverick at the weekend. I should preface this with once a year as a kid I'd be in a bus with a TV which would undoubtedly include watching Top Gun; I had high hopes.

NSFW  :
Honestly I thought the flight scenes were incredible but the rest was rather lacklustre. They seemed to have lazily recreated characters/scenes from the first film whereas I think the best sequels/prequels have more subtle (not always serious) nods to their predecessor. I think Monica Barbaro was good as Phoneix and Lewis Pullman as Bob.

I wasn't aware of Val Kilmer's health issues until I Googled them following his scene:
Quote
He underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies. In 2020, he revealed that he had been cancer free for four years, and that he uses a feeding tube because he can no longer eat. In 2021, his voice was able to be re-created through AI technology using archival audio of his voice

It made me want to watch Only the Brave again though (featuring a few of the same actors; Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on August 24, 2022, 02:56:22 pm
Its not a film (yet) but Michael Manns Heat 2, a novel is as good as you would hope. Its both a sequel and prequel to the movie. Im thoroughly enjoying it.  Weve talked about the film a lot on this thread hence me mentioning it here.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 24, 2022, 09:03:47 pm
I finally cracked and went to see Top Gun: Maverick at the weekend. I should preface this with once a year as a kid I'd be in a bus with a TV which would undoubtedly include watching Top Gun; I had high hopes.

NSFW  :
Honestly I thought the flight scenes were incredible but the rest was rather lacklustre. They seemed to have lazily recreated characters/scenes from the first film whereas I think the best sequels/prequels have more subtle (not always serious) nods to their predecessor. I think Monica Barbaro was good as Phoneix and Lewis Pullman as Bob.

I wasn't aware of Val Kilmer's health issues until I Googled them following his scene:
Quote
He underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies. In 2020, he revealed that he had been cancer free for four years, and that he uses a feeding tube because he can no longer eat. In 2021, his voice was able to be re-created through AI technology using archival audio of his voice

It made me want to watch Only the Brave again though (featuring a few of the same actors; Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly).

Having known the Val Kilmer medical history prior to watching I think they handled that sequence really well. Was a nice touch. He's an incredible actor... Arguably could have had a more significant career.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on August 24, 2022, 09:09:20 pm
Its not a film (yet) but Michael Manns Heat 2, a novel is as good as you would hope. Its both a sequel and prequel to the movie. Im thoroughly enjoying it.  Weve talked about the film a lot on this thread hence me mentioning it here.

Good to hear this, I preordered it but it's not arrived yet so extra excited now!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on August 24, 2022, 09:16:41 pm
Miss Sloane

Jessica Chastain does a good line in sharp, powerful women and this is basically a sequel to Zero Dark Thirty / prequel to Molly's Game in which Jessica Chastain switches career (she's had quite the roller coaster) to become a high powered corporate lawyer / lobbyist taking on the gun lobby. Enjoyable enough to have on in the background whilst fingerboarding anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on August 24, 2022, 09:20:30 pm
I love JC and Zero Dark Thirty, this better not disappoint Bradders...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on August 24, 2022, 09:48:24 pm
Don't worry, she plays literally the same person (not a bad thing), just different context.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 24, 2022, 09:55:49 pm
I love JC and Zero Dark Thirty, this better not disappoint Bradders...

I enjoyed it too and the same for the other JC movies mentioned (Molly's Game less on second viewing).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on August 25, 2022, 07:25:07 am
Id say Zero Dark Thirty is substantially better than the other two JC films mentioned, which are both good, but ZDT is just amazing. Wont miss a chance to shout out Hurt Locker, also directed by Bigelow
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 25, 2022, 10:04:50 am
Id say Zero Dark Thirty is substantially better than the other two JC films mentioned, which are both good, but ZDT is just amazing. Wont miss a chance to shout out Hurt Locker, also directed by Bigelow

I'd say that The Hurt Locker is one of the best war movies ever made.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on August 25, 2022, 10:54:41 am
Ive pretty much run out of things to watch on Amazon Prime so eventually got around to watching War Dogs, definitely one of the better films Ive seen on there.
In contrast Id been looking forward to Northman but found it a bit boring. Seemed to fall between two stools, action-adventure and Norse mysticism without satisfying either itch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 25, 2022, 11:21:51 am
I liked War Dogs, but I think it's more a work of fiction than even loosely based on a true story.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on August 25, 2022, 11:53:04 am
Id say Zero Dark Thirty is substantially better than the other two JC films mentioned, which are both good, but ZDT is just amazing. Wont miss a chance to shout out Hurt Locker, also directed by Bigelow

I'd say that The Hurt Locker is one of the best war movies ever made.

Can't argue with any of those films being highly praised. It's not at all connected to JC or Bigelow but under the topic of war movies my personal favourite is The Thin Red Line. I'm an absolute sucker for Terrence Malick's directorial style and that film really works for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hydraulic Man on August 25, 2022, 06:09:34 pm
Got round to watching Titane last night...Chrome injury French Wierdness...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 26, 2022, 09:52:24 am
Id say Zero Dark Thirty is substantially better than the other two JC films mentioned, which are both good, but ZDT is just amazing. Wont miss a chance to shout out Hurt Locker, also directed by Bigelow

I'd say that The Hurt Locker is one of the best war movies ever made.

Can't argue with any of those films being highly praised. It's not at all connected to JC or Bigelow but under the topic of war movies my personal favourite is The Thin Red Line. I'm an absolute sucker for Terrence Malick's directorial style and that film really works for me.

That one would also be high on my list of better war movies
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 26, 2022, 09:58:16 am
The Gray Man
On Netflix. If you want to use your brain, or are after quality acting, screenplay etc, do not under any circumstances watch this.

If on the other hand, you want to see Ryan Gosling beating people up, and an awful lot of guns, explosions, fast cars and stupid stunts for a couple of hours with a minimum of actual plot, then get it on.
To employ a clich as terrible as many of those in the film, this does exactly what it says on the tin. I enjoyed it, because it's more or less what I wanted at the time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on September 04, 2022, 02:08:44 pm
Went to see Nope yesterday

Was bloody brilliant. Definitely worth a cinema ticket for. Don't want to spoil a thing and the less you know the better but I 100% recommend it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 05, 2022, 10:06:31 am
Rewatching guardians of the galaxy last night (iplayer) it has a great prison riot scene. It occurred to me that quite a few classic movies have memorable prison scenes; the riot in natural born killers is possibly my favourite,  along with the scene in goodfellas where the gangsters are slicing garlic with a razor blade. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 05, 2022, 10:13:00 am
And Goldmember :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on September 05, 2022, 10:27:48 am
and "The Raid 2".
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on September 05, 2022, 11:07:23 am
Nominate Cool Hand Luke egg eating scene for the wider 'things in prison' category. And the end of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (more or less a prison).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 05, 2022, 11:23:10 am
Cool Hand Luke egg eating scene

Two dads of kids in my year at school were drinking together and one of them bet the other that he could eat 50 eggs as in Cool Hand Luke. The stake was the family summer holiday. Needless to say, the egg-eating dad stayed at home that year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 05, 2022, 11:24:43 am
You guys are overlooking Shawshank. As good as a prison film can get IMO. And Papillon (the original, didn't know it was remade).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 05, 2022, 11:28:21 am
Erm..... the green mile, pretty much start to finish.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on September 05, 2022, 11:44:46 am
Papillon, excellent choice. Shawshank but everyone knows that. Bloke flipping out in Midnight Express https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RbUdJcxhhg
And from this century, The Platform!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 05, 2022, 12:50:03 pm
Erm..... the green mile, pretty much start to finish.

Good story, but a wee bit far fetched. The Rock is more realistic :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 05, 2022, 01:29:25 pm
 :lol:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 05, 2022, 05:56:43 pm
You guys are overlooking Shawshank. As good as a prison film can get IMO. And Papillon (the original, didn't know it was remade).

I wasn't overlooking it, I just think it's pretty mawkish and sentimental personally. I feel pretty much the same about the Green Mile.
I've only read Papillon but that was amazing, I'd like to see it.

Frankly they all look underwhelming compared to the racoon thing machine gunning the prison in guardians of the galaxy!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on September 07, 2022, 03:54:30 pm
Papillion obviously. Apologies for stating this but you never know; Its steve mcqueen and dustin hoffman. One of those movies a bit like The Good the bad and the ugly that i'd find myself drawn into late at night, every time it was on which seemed to be a lot, why do they have three hour movies starting at 10pm, 14" tv in my bedroom with the volume on 1 or 2, parents ye be deaf.

For modern the prison section with Rorschach in The Watchmen is great, as are the prison parts in the two wes anderson movies The Grand Budapest and The French Dispatch.

Although my overall review of the french despatch is, mixed. I can see that wes anderson isn't for everyone.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 07, 2022, 09:12:15 pm
Rewatching guardians of the galaxy last night (iplayer) it has a great prison riot scene. It occurred to me that quite a few classic movies have memorable prison scenes; the riot in natural born killers is possibly my favourite,  along with the scene in goodfellas where the gangsters are slicing garlic with a razor blade.

A few films based around prisons (rather than a single scene) I can add to the mix

Classic of the genre:
The Great Escape

A personal fave:
Escape From New York - a prison of sorts.

Honourable mentions:
Brawl in Cell Block 99 - a slightly more recent prison based film that I enjoyed for what it is. In a similar vein to Nobody where Bod Odenkirk plays an unlikely capable master of violence in Brawl in Cell block 99 it's Vince Vaughn's turn to kick ass!
Out of Sight - George Clooney has a funny prison break in this as far as i recall.

Totally agree about the prison section of The French Dispatch being the best!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on September 07, 2022, 09:16:50 pm
Paddington 2

Or that Stallone one where they fix a car and play American football in the mud
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 07, 2022, 09:38:03 pm
I'm fond of the 70s version of The Longest Yard - Burt Reynolds in an American football version of Escape to Victory.  Bronson, with Tom Hardy as one of Durham Prison's most famous inmates, was really striking.  My overall favourite, for both quality and nostalgia reasons, is probably Cool Hand Luke though - not just for eponymous reasons - so much iconic imagry and that Newman performance. 

I agree with Toby re Shawshank - it's a good film (even better than Escape Plan... and that's got both Stallone and Arnie!) but I'm mystified by its appearances on "Best Film Ever" lists.  To me, it's a sentimental, Sunday matine potboiler with an added buggery.   YMMV but while I think it is "handsome" and "well-made", I also feel that those are more hallmarks of an artisanal piece of furniture than art.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on September 07, 2022, 09:47:30 pm
Burt Reynolds is a good call Moose
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on September 08, 2022, 07:34:07 am
It's not strictly a film (although only about 3 hours in total so not far off), but I thought Time was excellent. Lots of prison based dramas tend to romanticise the experience; this doesn't!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 08, 2022, 08:07:42 am
Re Shawshank. When I first watched it I thought it was the best film ever, but agree it doesn't stand up to repeated viewings. Yes, the end is sentimental, and considerably more upbeat than the book, but as a story told, I think it's excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on September 08, 2022, 12:37:13 pm
I'm fond of the 70s version of The Longest Yard - Burt Reynolds in an American football version of Escape to Victory.  Bronson, with Tom Hardy as one of Durham Prison's most famous inmates, was really striking.  My overall favourite, for both quality and nostalgia reasons, is probably Cool Hand Luke though - not just for eponymous reasons - so much iconic imagry and that Newman performance. 

I agree with Toby re Shawshank - it's a good film (even better than Escape Plan... and that's got both Stallone and Arnie!) but I'm mystified by its appearances on "Best Film Ever" lists.  To me, it's a sentimental, Sunday matine potboiler with an added buggery.   YMMV but while I think it is "handsome" and "well-made", I also feel that those are more hallmarks of an artisanal piece of furniture than art.

Good list of prison films. Papillon is excellent. What about 'Scum' with a young Ray Winstone? My memory of it was that it was a very good film albeit super depressing. Good riot scene.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 08, 2022, 05:47:13 pm
I'm fond of the 70s version of The Longest Yard - Burt Reynolds in an American football version of Escape to Victory.  Bronson, with Tom Hardy as one of Durham Prison's most famous inmates, was really striking.  My overall favourite, for both quality and nostalgia reasons, is probably Cool Hand Luke though - not just for eponymous reasons - so much iconic imagry and that Newman performance. 

I agree with Toby re Shawshank - it's a good film (even better than Escape Plan... and that's got both Stallone and Arnie!) but I'm mystified by its appearances on "Best Film Ever" lists.  To me, it's a sentimental, Sunday matine potboiler with an added buggery.   YMMV but while I think it is "handsome" and "well-made", I also feel that those are more hallmarks of an artisanal piece of furniture than art.

Good list of prison films. Papillon is excellent. What about 'Scum' with a young Ray Winstone? My memory of it was that it was a very good film albeit super depressing. Good riot scene.

I think I saw scum a very long time ago, but perhaps I'll have to rewatch it for a good prison riot.
Anyone who hasn't seen it should try to see Natural Born Killers. The prison riot in that with a Dr Dre track playing is brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on September 08, 2022, 05:49:37 pm

Good list of prison films. Papillon is excellent. What about 'Scum' with a young Ray Winstone? My memory of it was that it was a very good film albeit super depressing. Good riot scene.

Was going to say this one, remember it being an excellent film for making you never never want to go to prison, without the glorification that there is in some prison films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 08, 2022, 06:18:42 pm
Paddington 2

Or that Stallone one where they fix a car and play American football in the mud

Paddington 2 - amazing call - such a great section of that film!  :clap2:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 08, 2022, 06:29:21 pm
Id say Zero Dark Thirty is substantially better than the other two JC films mentioned, which are both good, but ZDT is just amazing. Wont miss a chance to shout out Hurt Locker, also directed by Bigelow

I'd say that The Hurt Locker is one of the best war movies ever made.

My inherent anti-US-military-industrial-complex-propoganda bais just makes it impossible to watch any of those films without ending up with an over-riding internal fury and disgust at the over-hyped brahuha of it all.

I did, however, quite enjoy 1917 in the war genre. Basically it was all about human emotion and the madness and sheer disorganisation of war.

Other things I enjoyed recently - The King, not all great but good enough to keep me going.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on September 08, 2022, 08:07:05 pm
Good chat.

I forgot about Chopper!

Escape from New York is a good call, a love that movie. Haven't watched Shawshank through for years but young lad is interested in why it sits a top the pile of reviews so going to watch it soon.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 08, 2022, 08:20:13 pm

I did, however, quite enjoy 1917 in the war genre. Basically it was all about human emotion and the madness and sheer disorganisation of war.


I enjoyed it, but thought everywhere was too tidy and clean (especially if compared to Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grown Old).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 08, 2022, 09:42:52 pm
Escape from New York !!!! Yes, incredible film Ill have to have a rewatch this weekend.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 08, 2022, 10:01:31 pm
A few more favourite war films to add to the lists - some are maybe not "great" but they are all movies I would gladly watch again (there's a reason I have Die Hard and Aliens Quadrilogy on DVD, but have no wish to ever watch Requiem For a Dream or Nil By Mouth again!):

- Dr Strangelove... you might argue that this is not an actual war film but there's no arguing with lines like "Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!" or "I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But I do deny them my essence."

- Dirty Dozen - 'nuff said (trivia nugget, it was during the filming of this that Jim Brown, the consensus greatest NFL running back ever (possibly the greatest player in any position), resigned from the game - he's the one who puts the grenades down the ventilation shafts during the finale).

- Kelly's Heroes - Tiger!

- Paths of Glory - early Kubrick - part war film, part courtroom drama - all great.

- Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Bowie and Beat Takeshi and a great theme tune.

- Stalag 17 - Billy Wilder - really cynical, darkly funny POW film.

- Inglourious Basterds - I was unimpressed the first time I saw this but now I really like it.  It's more a series of scenes than a film, but what scenes! Waltz sniffing out the Jews hiding beneath the floorboards, the tavern scene, the "Bear Jew" baseball bat executions, the finale in the theatre!

- The Beast of War - Soviet tank lost in Afghanistan in the 80s - claustrophobic and with an interesting subplot where one of the Russians "goes native".

- Das Boot... [sound of distant depth charge] "Deeper!" [dial quivers to 180m] [Ominous creaking].

- Battle of the Bulge and Operation Crossbow - possibly the war films I have seen the most.  Neither are good but for years they were on TV frequently during weekend afternoons, and in those pre-TV-on-demand days and before the internet what else was I going to do?!   [Healthy exercise, self-improving hobbies?! Ha!].
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 09, 2022, 12:12:04 am
Fury has some of the most stress inducing scenes I have ever seen, as does 84 Charlie MOPIC and Kajaki.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 09, 2022, 02:24:38 am
Fury has some of the most stress inducing scenes I have ever seen, as does 84 Charlie MOPIC and Kajaki.

Cannot say I enjoyed Fury, but I did come out somewhat shell shocked! I guess if that was the point it was a success, but I wasn't really grabbed by the narrative or cinematography.

True that a lot of 1917 was sparse and clean, but in an artistic way I quite liked the dialled down imagery and sense of sparseness - it focused the mind on the human element.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 09, 2022, 07:24:54 am
A few more favourite war films to add to the lists - some are maybe not "great" but they are all movies I would gladly watch again (there's a reason I have Die Hard and Aliens Quadrilogy on DVD, but have no wish to ever watch Requiem For a Dream or Nil By Mouth again!):

- Dr Strangelove... you might argue that this is not an actual war film but there's no arguing with lines like "Gentlemen. You can't fight in here. This is the War Room!" or "I do not avoid women, Mandrake. But I do deny them my essence."

- Dirty Dozen - 'nuff said (trivia nugget, it was during the filming of this that Jim Brown, the consensus greatest NFL running back ever (possibly the greatest player in any position), resigned from the game - he's the one who puts the grenades down the ventilation shafts during the finale).

- Kelly's Heroes - Tiger!

- Paths of Glory - early Kubrick - part war film, part courtroom drama - all great.

- Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Bowie and Beat Takeshi and a great theme tune.

- Stalag 17 - Billy Wilder - really cynical, darkly funny POW film.

- Inglourious Basterds - I was unimpressed the first time I saw this but now I really like it.  It's more a series of scenes than a film, but what scenes! Waltz sniffing out the Jews hiding beneath the floorboards, the tavern scene, the "Bear Jew" baseball bat executions, the finale in the theatre!

- The Beast of War - Soviet tank lost in Afghanistan in the 80s - claustrophobic and with an interesting subplot where one of the Russians "goes native".

- Das Boot... [sound of distant depth charge] "Deeper!" [dial quivers to 180m] [Ominous creaking].

- Battle of the Bulge and Operation Crossbow - possibly the war films I have seen the most.  Neither are good but for years they were on TV frequently during weekend afternoons, and in those pre-TV-on-demand days and before the internet what else was I going to do?!   [Healthy exercise, self-improving hobbies?! Ha!].

Inglorious Bastards was great, I liked it. The dirty dozen movies were brilliant although I am not sure if I've seen any of them since they were on seemingly every weekend when I was a kid.

I'd add Where Eagles Dare to your list. Classic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hydraulic Man on September 09, 2022, 08:08:22 am
Have you seen Come and See? Eastern Front grimness.....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 09, 2022, 09:41:41 am
Incidentally, Moose, I too have seen Requiem for a Dream, and thought it an astounding, brilliant mediation on the nature and torture of addiction, perhaps one of the better movies I've ever seen, but nothing would persuade me to watch it again, even if I had a 24 hour supply of Pixar and Wallace and Grommitt movies to watch afterwards to cheer up.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on September 09, 2022, 09:51:53 am
Incidentally, Moose, I too have seen Requiem for a Dream, and thought it an astounding, brilliant mediation on the nature and torture of addiction, perhaps one of the better movies I've ever seen, but nothing would persuade me to watch it again, even if I had a 24 hour supply of Pixar and Wallace and Grommitt movies to watch afterwards to cheer up.

Those are my feelings - entirely beautifully made and admirable in many ways... but definitely not rewatchable.   
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on September 09, 2022, 10:49:56 am
Incidentally, Moose, I too have seen Requiem for a Dream, and thought it an astounding, brilliant mediation on the nature and torture of addiction, perhaps one of the better movies I've ever seen, but nothing would persuade me to watch it again, even if I had a 24 hour supply of Pixar and Wallace and Grommitt movies to watch afterwards to cheer up.

Those are my feelings - entirely beautifully made and admirable in many ways... but definitely not rewatchable.

Completely agree with this! Harrowing watch.

For prison escapes I think Face Off is an interesting one, it's utterly ridiculous but I remember being completely mystified as to how he would get out. One of Nicholas Cage's best films?

On war films I think we're missing the classic Vietnam ones:
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
- Hamburger Hill
- Apocalypse Now (never quite sure what I think about this, maybe great scenes bad film is a good description)

Also WWII
- A Bridge Too Far (best cast ever? Good film but loooooong. Should be used in a route name on euro lime if not done already)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on September 09, 2022, 11:03:16 am
My favourite "classic" war movie is the Guns of Navarone, which I watched with my Dad as a kid, a fine bonding experience
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 09, 2022, 11:16:47 am
Prescient timing.

Noticed the other day that Escape From Alcatraz has appeared on Netflix. One of my favourite prison films.

And yes - Moose and Toby, I watched Requiem For A Dream recently as it was on Prime and I had a vague recollection of it being "critically acclaimed", and while I can see how, I never want to watch it again!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 09, 2022, 02:31:39 pm
On war films I think we're missing the classic Vietnam ones:
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
- Hamburger Hill
- Apocalypse Now (never quite sure what I think about this, maybe great scenes bad film is a good description)


Have you ever seen 84 Charlie MOPIC, as mentioned above? One of the first films I saw to use the "found footage" concept. It got some incredibly tense and claustrophobic scenes. May not have aged well mind.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 09, 2022, 05:44:12 pm
For prison escapes I think Face Off is an interesting one, it's utterly ridiculous but I remember being completely mystified as to how he would get out. One of Nicholas Cage's best films?

On war films I think we're missing the classic Vietnam ones:
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
- Hamburger Hill
- Apocalypse Now (never quite sure what I think about this, maybe great scenes bad film is a good description)

Face Off was highly entertaining, I thought actually quite good despite also being a bit silly. Cage is in some pretty decent movies, in my opinion. Lord of War is really good (it's on Netflix), Con Air has a certain appeal, but he's in some more credible things as well the names of which I can't currently bring to mind.

I can't comment on Hamburger Hill, but all the others are excellent. Apocalypse now as well, as long as it's the shorter version not the silly long cuts with the playboy bunnies and the French plantation scenes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on September 11, 2022, 08:46:49 am
Son of Rambow on Netflix is a fun watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on September 11, 2022, 10:06:30 am
Incidentally, Moose, I too have seen Requiem for a Dream, and thought it an astounding, brilliant mediation on the nature and torture of addiction, perhaps one of the better movies I've ever seen, but nothing would persuade me to watch it again, even if I had a 24 hour supply of Pixar and Wallace and Grommitt movies to watch afterwards to cheer up.

Those are my feelings - entirely beautifully made and admirable in many ways... but definitely not rewatchable.

Completely agree with this! Harrowing watch.

For prison escapes I think Face Off is an interesting one, it's utterly ridiculous but I remember being completely mystified as to how he would get out. One of Nicholas Cage's best films?

On war films I think we're missing the classic Vietnam ones:
- Platoon
- Full Metal Jacket
- Hamburger Hill
- Apocalypse Now (never quite sure what I think about this, maybe great scenes bad film is a good description)

Also WWII
- A Bridge Too Far (best cast ever? Good film but loooooong. Should be used in a route name on euro lime if not done already)

Agree with everything apart from Hamburger Hill.


Good list...But-

Escape
The Count de Monte Cristo
the Colditz story
The Great Escape

War movies and War series
The Deer Hunter
The Cruel Sea
Ice Cold in Alex
Lawrence of Arabia
The Good the Bad and the Ugly{American Civil War}
Das Boot
Band of Brothers
The Outpost
Saving Private Ryan
Zulu
Black Hawk Down
etc etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 11, 2022, 10:15:34 pm

War movies and War series
The Deer Hunter
The Cruel Sea
Ice Cold in Alex
Lawrence of Arabia
The Good the Bad and the Ugly{American Civil War}
Das Boot
Band of Brothers
The Outpost
Saving Private Ryan
Zulu
Black Hawk Down
etc etc

Saving Private Ryan was, in my opinion awful.  Sentimental and ultimately trivial.  The opening scene is classic Spielberg,  but I thought Dunkirk was miles better. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on September 12, 2022, 07:35:23 am

War movies and War series
The Deer Hunter
The Cruel Sea
Ice Cold in Alex
Lawrence of Arabia
The Good the Bad and the Ugly{American Civil War}
Das Boot
Band of Brothers
The Outpost
Saving Private Ryan
Zulu
Black Hawk Down
etc etc

Saving Private Ryan was, in my opinion awful.  Sentimental and ultimately trivial.  The opening scene is classic Spielberg,  but I thought Dunkirk was miles better.

I think awful is a bit strong but i appreciate your points, i put it in for the first 20 mins of the film which were pretty ground-breaking.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 12, 2022, 07:56:21 am
Holy crap, the Deer Hunter. Amazing film, especially with the Tony Hart soundtrack ;).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 12, 2022, 03:30:28 pm
I haven't watched The Deer Hunter for a very long time. Vaguely recall enjoying it but having learned more about Michael Cimino in the passing years I don't think I could bring myself to watch it or enjoy it again. Usually I can separate the artist from the art but he seems to be a pretty rotten individual, who wove himself a rather prickly nest of lies trying to insist that the film is autobiographical based on real personal events.

That said I do need to watch Heaven's Gate - another of his films which was an epic production (cost $40+mil in 1980) and equally epic box office bomb (earned ~$4mil) but seems to have been re-evaluated in more recent years.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on September 12, 2022, 03:43:22 pm
I haven't watched The Deer Hunter for a very long time. Vaguely recall enjoying it but having learned more about Michael Cimino in the passing years I don't think I could bring myself to watch it or enjoy it again.

I don't know anything about Cimino. I watched the film again quite recently, whilst living in Pennsylvania, where it's set. I still think the hometown scenes - the steel mills, bars, and wedding etc. - are brilliant. The Vietnam sections have never hung together so well, in my view, but I still think its a great film.

Watching it again though the hunting scenes are funny. Hunting is huge in PA. All public schools close on the first day of the season ... but there are no rocky peaks or glaciers within probably a thousand or more miles of PA. I've no idea why the film maker would have made that choice. The hometown scenes look exactly like a PA steel town but are actually filmed in MIngo Junction, Ohio. I only happened to find this out because I'm currently writing an essay set in Mingo Junction
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on September 12, 2022, 03:52:12 pm
I haven't watched The Deer Hunter for a very long time. Vaguely recall enjoying it but having learned more about Michael Cimino in the passing years I don't think I could bring myself to watch it or enjoy it again. Usually I can separate the artist from the art but he seems to be a pretty rotten individual, who wove himself a rather prickly nest of lies trying to insist that the film is autobiographical based on real personal events.

That said I do need to watch Heaven's Gate - another of his films which was an epic production (cost $40+mil in 1980) and equally epic box office bomb (earned ~$4mil) but seems to have been re-evaluated in more recent years.

Just checked...... :read:

Oh fir Fucks sake :wall:
Why do ALL our heroes/mentors/role models from this era turn out to be at best, arseholes. At worse serial rapists and paedo's?.

Oh well there's another film toppled off its Golden Plinth.
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 12, 2022, 04:25:43 pm
Also, I had always presumed that was what PA looked like, although in hindsight it's pretty unlikely.

So a film i had always revered turns out to be a deceitful and produced by a right shit. I blame scragrock for mentioning it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 12, 2022, 05:33:40 pm

Just checked...... :read:

Oh fir Fucks sake :wall:
 

Sorry! It was within the last few years that I got wind of his shenanigans and had a brief search myself to confirm. Can't remember if it was the source of my Cimino knowledge but there was a fascinating interview with Richard Dreyfuss on what was the BBC version of Kermode+Mayo a while back. He was meant to be promoting a much more recent film of his, but for some reason used it as a platform to go off on a tangent about how much he hated Cimino and lost all respect for him.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on September 12, 2022, 07:59:03 pm
Also, I had always presumed that was what PA looked like, although in hindsight it's pretty unlikely.

So a film i had always revered turns out to be a deceitful and produced by a right shit. I blame scragrock for mentioning it.

Oi :blink:  :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on September 15, 2022, 10:40:50 am
This Cimino thing is part of a wider debate that for me just trends towards not being able to experience or enjoy any culture that wasn't produced by your own benign grandma. Who may or may not have once contrived to prevent Mrs Higginbottom from winning the WI cake competition in 1972.

I have no intention of looking up Cimino, or his flawed personality. What of the Usual Suspects, or Seven; can we still enjoy them. Or should I be driven to distraction by the misdeeds of the protagonists? TUS is a double!

Listening to radio. M Jackson comes on, like Beat it or something. Four year old starts dancing and is clearly elated. Wants to know more. His older brother immediately puts on youtube, they're watching smooth criminal, Thriller, etc. What should I do? Never mind Ignition (Remix).

With old literature it becomes even more problematic.


As an aside I was talking about Deerhunter/ Apocalypse Now/ Full Metal Jacket with big chop aged fourteen and a half, six foot six and a hundred tons. He is not a young fourteen by any means but I've advised that he's not quite ready, needs to be a little bit older, a tiny bit more context. Probably Apocalypse is fine to go first, then maybe FMJ and DH are an equal shock. We've watched stuff like Inglorious Bastards but its effectively a comedy. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 15, 2022, 05:42:28 pm
I have no intention of looking up Cimino, or his flawed personality. What of the Usual Suspects, or Seven; can we still enjoy them. Or should I be driven to distraction by the misdeeds of the protagonists? TUS is a double!


There is (in my opinion at least) a big difference between these examples - the 'flawed personality' (assuming you're referring to Kevin Spacey) as you put it, is not directly related to the art in question. I prefaced my Cimino info with 'I can usually separate the artist from the art' and personally I can still enjoy The Usual Suspects, I've watched it since Spacey's fall from grace and still find it an incredible film. The Cimino situation is rather more entangled with the art itself, as he has falsely claimed the film to be autobiographical and true to life. This I find (where others may not) unacceptable given the subject matter delving into 'stolen valour' territory and must be a huge slap in the face for people who have actually served duty under similar situations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: CrimpyMcCrimpface on September 16, 2022, 08:45:54 am
I watched The Outfit this week. It stars Mark Rylance as a British tailor (cutter) living in Chicago and his involvement with the Mafia - or rather them encroaching on his life. Set vaguely in the 50s but costume and acting makes it appear earlier. One of those films which is built entirely on the acting, with all scenes in a single location of the tailors shop. Really enjoyed it, very smooth, tension and intrigue throughout but never jarring.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 16, 2022, 08:49:04 am
Body of Lies. Renowned director,  amazing cast, and generally well directed and acted. Stunning locations,  tense action scenes; what could go wrong?
Unfortunately they forgot an actual story.  It ends up being watchable but pretty aimless and forgettable. 
It's on Netflix if you're tempted. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 16, 2022, 12:08:43 pm
Another vote for The Outfit.  Really enjoyed it.  Im guessing it might have been written as a stage play?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 17, 2022, 12:31:32 pm
Skandal! - The Wirecard story. Watched last night on NetFlix. Really good.. (story on the book thread).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on September 17, 2022, 03:31:06 pm
We watched "The Harder They Fall" last night. A classic, obviously, but somehow I'd never seen it. Really excellent - I'm surprised it ever became any kind of a hit, it's pretty uncompromising.

Watched Baz Luhrmann's new "Elvis" last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very obviously a Luhrmann film but the frenetic energy very much fits the subject.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on September 17, 2022, 08:51:22 pm
Very much enjoyed the Edgar Wright Sparks Brothers documentary on Netflix currently, a band I seem to get into every 10 years or so. Astonishing theyre now mid to late 70s and still cranking them out. Nicely made, one of the better music docos youll see.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on September 23, 2022, 10:25:00 pm
Skandal! - The Wirecard story. Watched last night on NetFlix. Really good.. (story on the book thread).

Thanks, really enjoyed this.

Just watched Only Lover Left Alive. I thought it was great. If you like weird indie arthouse type shit, then it'll be up your street. Best vampire movie I've ever watched (not gore/scary).

PM me if you want a free watch on Mubi.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 25, 2022, 10:17:18 am
Here's a few from the last week or two:

- Triple Frontier, this one escaped me while I was on my 'Garbage Crime' genre binge a while back. A bit of a game of two halfs. First half seemed really pretty great, stacked cast, sets up the heist premise nicely... the second half essentially the getaway felt weaker. Unless you're a 'Garbage Crime' completionist, are probably better films out there for you.

- Dredd (the 2012 Karl Urban one), this film had passed my by probably due to the original being so bad in my mind it had tainted the franchise. SO glad I caught up with it. Was actually a really cool 'switch brain off' action film. Some excellent camera/photography/special effects. Huge body count. All takes place in one of my favourite film settings 'dystopian sci-fi' not so distant future. Whats not to love?

- Horrible bosses (the first one) - another film that had passe me by. Was actually really funny, the lead trio (Jason Batemen, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis) are some of my favourite comedy actors. AMAZING role for Jennifer Aniston. Possibly knowing role for Kevin Spacey? I almost spat my beer out when 'TOTAL FUCKING ASSHOLE' came up on the screen as his character is introduced! Colin Farrell was also having fun playing his version of the horrible boss. More than enough funny moments to keep me entertained.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on September 25, 2022, 04:40:03 pm
[quote author=Falling Down link=topic=6004.msg666223#msg6662

Just watched Only Lover Left Alive. I thought it was great. If you like weird indie arthouse type shit, then it'll be up your street. Best vampire movie I've ever watched (not gore/scary

+1 for Only Lovers Left Alive, excellent.
Mentioned in best war films thread a while back, Lawrence of Arabia is on Netflix. It still looks fabulous.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: largeruk on October 14, 2022, 06:06:59 pm
If you ever get the chance to see a film called Mr Bachmann and His Class (Herr Bachmann und Seine Klasse), give it a whirl. It's 217mins long, it's a fly on the wall documentary and it has no narration or script - yeah, I know, it should be a dull, boring and tedious snooze-fest. I almost never watch films that long and especially not documentaries but to my amazement this drew me in and captivated me in a way few films have done. Utterly unexpected.

TLDR; it's about grade 6 class - 12-14 year olds including many (i)migrants - and their teacher in an industrial town in Germany with its own complex history. The film is basically about the relationship and rapport built by the teacher with his students, both collectively and individually. As he tries to develop their understanding of the complexities of the wider world without just filling them with academic facts to pass tests, Bachmann's seemingly haphazard style reveals itself to have another purpose and objective that is being crafted by his gentle but firm wisdom, knowledge and musical skills; to help his class build empathetic, supportive relationships with each other as a buttress against the harsh social and economic realities of their lives while having belief in their own talents and the pursuit of a life that is their own.

The film is basically a human, warm, funny, affecting and ultimately emotional film about the potential of all kids and the value of treating them with respect and dignity. If all that sounds more than a bit 'worthy and wanky art film nonsense', that would do it a great disservice. My fave genres of film are sci-fi and thrillers - this wouldn't normally be my kind of film at all!

If you ever come across the film, give it a whirl even if you think it's absolutely not your kind of thing especially if you have young or teenage kids. To everyone who does give it a go - watch the first hour; if it hasn't drawn you in by then, it's not going to be for you. If you make it beyond an hour, you'll probably end up watching the whole thing. There are plenty of things that could be better about the film - notably it could actually have been shorter, I think, without losing its impact but the rewards far outweigh any faults IMHO.

Finally, apologies for going big on such a niche film. I watched it a couple of weeks ago and find myself still thinking about it which is super rare for me. One of the best films I've watched in quite some time. It's not the easiest film to hunt out (it's on MUBI from time to time, I think) but well worth your time if you do ever come across it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on October 22, 2022, 10:39:59 am
Everything, everywhere, all at once.
Quite literally. Stuffed full of sight gags, movie references and Kung fu, likely one of the more bonkers films youll see this year. Good cast, especially appreciated Jamie Lee Curtis as a fierce tax inspector. Strict minimalists look elsewhere.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 24, 2022, 09:38:09 am
I enjoyed it but found it hard work to keep up.

Got round to watching Tenet now on Prime. I enjoyed it, but found it hard work too, need to rewatch now (possibly in rewind!).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on October 24, 2022, 02:18:41 pm
Fury on Prime, first good film Ive watched on there for some time. Wouldnt say I enjoyed it as its a grim watch at times but definitely a reasonable way to while away an evening
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 24, 2022, 04:19:38 pm
If you ignore the reality of the various tanks' capabilities then it is indeed a good (gritty watch).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on October 24, 2022, 05:37:10 pm
The Courier

On Netflix atm. If you like war/espionage films set in the mid-late 20th Century, as I do, then you'll enjoy this. Improves as it goes on as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on October 24, 2022, 06:30:38 pm
Another Round. Danish, Mads Mikkelsen, Now TV. Very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 25, 2022, 05:53:15 am
Another Round. Danish, Mads Mikkelsen, Now TV. Very good.

Agreed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 25, 2022, 08:45:29 am
If you ignore the reality of the various tanks' capabilities then it is indeed a good (gritty watch).

Explain? All accounts I've read have said the film is pretty accurate. Tigers outclassed Shermans in just about every aspect except speed / maneuverability.

Great film but pretty harrowing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 25, 2022, 09:42:13 am
Explain? All accounts I've read have said the film is pretty accurate. Tigers outclassed Shermans in just about every aspect except speed / maneuverability.

It's been a while but isn't there a 3:1 scene? Anyhow, I guess picking holes in action films isn't generally a good idea.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 25, 2022, 09:43:53 am
Let's not start on Maverick :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on October 25, 2022, 10:28:43 am
I think one of the best tank films is The Beast. Late 80s film about early 80s Soviet T-55 which gets lost in a valley in Afghanistan. I first watched it with a UK armoured infantry guy who pointed out the (at that time) Soviet doctrine of lone tank patrols with armed crews who could fight in or out of the tank, which is fairly crucial to the plot.

Amazing cast - Jason Patric, Stephen Baldwin, Steven Bauer, shot somewhere in Israel that looks just right, badass Afghans, etc. its very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on October 25, 2022, 02:21:39 pm
[Tigers outclassed Shermans in just about every aspect except speed / maneuverability.

...and reliability, cost and ease-of-manufacture (all hail Henry Ford), fuel consumption (the Germans were perpetually short), manoeuvrability (Tigers were too big and heavy for many country roads and bridges), and crew experience and training (1940s US was already motorised and most tankies knew how to drive and fix vehicles before joining the army).

In the unlikely event of meeting a Tiger that hadn't broken down or run out of petrol you back off and call rocket-firing Typhoons to take care of it.

The Americans had a better-than-Tiger tank in 1943 - the Pershing - but stuck with the Sherman because it was good enough and they could produce and ship them by the 1000s. [/Tooze]
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 25, 2022, 03:00:57 pm
TBF I did mention manoeuvrability :)

I find it an interesting subject, my grandfather was a commander of one of the first Flamethrowers, weapons that the Nazis allegedly hated so much they shot any captured crew when they broke down (which is how he apparently met his fate).

Until they made their own version.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 25, 2022, 03:15:59 pm
I think one of the best tank films is The Beast. Late 80s film about early 80s Soviet T-55 which gets lost in a valley in Afghanistan. I first watched it with a UK armoured infantry guy who pointed out the (at that time) Soviet doctrine of lone tank patrols with armed crews who could fight in or out of the tank, which is fairly crucial to the plot.

Amazing cast - Jason Patric, Stephen Baldwin, Steven Bauer, shot somewhere in Israel that looks just right, badass Afghans, etc. its very good.

The Beast is an absolutely cracking film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 25, 2022, 03:37:45 pm
This one?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094716/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on October 25, 2022, 03:49:29 pm
Yeah. Definitely worth a watch
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 28, 2022, 07:24:15 am
The Courier good quality spy thriller with a decent cast and a strong story. The characters have a bit more hinterland than in many spy thrillers, and it's not overlong. It's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 28, 2022, 08:18:20 am
A few I've watched recently...


Fury (Prime) - what's been said above - probably not that historically accurate, and quite harrowing, but an entertaining watch


Inglorious Basterds (Netflix) - finally got round to watching this, excellent. Christoph Waltz is absolutely amazing.


Ad Astra (All4) - (and yes, I've watched a lot of Brad Pitt films) - not what I was expecting, quite low-key for what I thought was going to be a sci-fi thriller / action kinda thing. Good, but not great.


Life (Netflix) - pretty meh I thought, for what is a very "Alien by numbers" type of plot.


Midsommar (Netflix) - fucking hell. Been waiting to watch this and it didn't disappoint. Creepy, weird, horrifying. Left a lingering feeling for a day or so afterwards.


Train To Busan - (All4) - another one I've been waiting for for ages - absolutely brilliant. A zombie film that ticks all the zombie film trope boxes, but actually has a lot of heart / emotion running through it.



Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on October 28, 2022, 09:01:22 am
TBF I did mention manoeuvrability :)

I find it an interesting subject, my grandfather was a commander of one of the first Flamethrowers, weapons that the Nazis allegedly hated so much they shot any captured crew when they broke down (which is how he apparently met his fate).


So you did! 

I was a World War Two nerd as a thirteen year old then forgot all about it when I got into climbing.

Grim to hear about your Grandpa. Both my dad (radar operator in a Swordfish on the Arctic Convoys) and Grandad (stoker on unknown ship in WW1) survived their military service though both found it pretty traumatic. Recently, I've been trying to discover a bit more about my dad's early life, he died relatively young without giving away very much, and dipped my toe back into the world.

Best naval war film: The Cruel Sea: 1950s humane, unheroic convoy story, all about the men rather than the boats. Highly believable despite cardboard effects, half the cast had seen service.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on October 28, 2022, 09:02:08 am

Midsommar (Netflix) - fucking hell. Been waiting to watch this and it didn't disappoint. Creepy, weird, horrifying. Left a lingering feeling for a day or so afterwards.


Ha I finally plucked up the courage to watch this week too, what an amazing film! So much depth in terms of set design etc. and the story is so well done.

Have you watched The VVitch? Thought that had a similar vibe.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 28, 2022, 09:22:02 am
Recently, I've been trying to discover a bit more about my dad's early life, he died relatively young without giving away very much, and dipped my toe back into the world.

I wanted to learn more too, and had this book on my Amazon wishlist for ages (didn't pay that much!) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flame-Thrower-Andrew-Wilson/dp/0553245333 and was surprised that it actually mentions my grandad by name, briefly says what he was like and says what happened to him.

Apologies OT.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 28, 2022, 09:24:34 am
A few I've watched recently...


Fury (Prime) - what's been said above - probably not that historically accurate, and quite harrowing, but an entertaining watch


Inglorious Basterds (Netflix) - finally got round to watching this, excellent. Christoph Waltz is absolutely amazing.


Ad Astra (All4) - (and yes, I've watched a lot of Brad Pitt films) - not what I was expecting, quite low-key for what I thought was going to be a sci-fi thriller / action kinda thing. Good, but not great.


Train To Busan - (All4) - another one I've been waiting for for ages - absolutely brilliant. A zombie film that ticks all the zombie film trope boxes, but actually has a lot of heart / emotion running through it.

Surprised you didn't jump to World War Z! (which I really liked).

I watched Peninsula, the "sequel" to Train... which I really liked too, it has some moments but it's not as good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on October 28, 2022, 10:56:12 am
Birdman a movie about movies/theatre. But don't let that put you off. Witty, strong performances and a lot of that single shot energy of Boiling Point up there. I wouldn't say I enjoyed Midsommar but I'm glad I watched it. The VVitch too, good immersion in another world. Always good to watch Anya Taylor-Joy, plus Chris Finch from The Office. See also Buster Scruggs (daft and fragmented but enjoyable).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 28, 2022, 11:28:21 am

Surprised you didn't jump to World War Z! (which I really liked).


Ha - I actually did, but remembered that after loving the books, the film is a bit of an anticlimax. First hour or so is good though.

Note there are some good classic horrors knocking about as it's coming up to Halloween time...BBC has Poltergeist, Evil Dead (the original one) and Don't Look Now for a starter.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: J_duds on October 28, 2022, 02:09:41 pm
The Mist - terrifyingly good, the mist covers up the poor CGI, it was absorbing and clichd. Also had a great ending to this horror movie. On Film4 last night and on All4 app.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 31, 2022, 02:07:48 pm
Threads - for some reason I rewatched the BBCs 1984 nuclear war drama, which follows a young couple couple in Sheffield in the run up and then the aftermath of an all-out conflict between the USA and USSR. Why did I put myself through this? It is an unrelenting parade of fear, horror, misery and suffering which lives on within you in long after the final scene. Sure, its a bit obviously low budget but theres enough to keep the imagination filling the gaps. If you were too young to have lived through the Cold War then this gives a very good sense of what we feared back then, even as children. But only bother if youre going to sit down and engage with this brilliant but very disturbing work it on its own terms. I still feel rather off.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mrjonathanr on October 31, 2022, 03:03:21 pm
Did you ever watch Edge of Darkness?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_of_Darkness
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 31, 2022, 03:09:57 pm
The day after Threads was screened was an interesting day at school. Kids, teachers, dinner ladies everyone was traumatised. Ive not seen it since.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 31, 2022, 05:29:21 pm
If you were too young to have lived through the Cold War then this gives a very good sense of what we feared back then, even as children.

To be honest, I really don't think I ever felt like I was living in fear, though that's not to say others didn't genuinely feel a sense of dread.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 31, 2022, 06:10:41 pm
If you were too young to have lived through the Cold War then this gives a very good sense of what we feared back then, even as children.

To be honest, I really don't think I ever felt like I was living in fear, though that's not to say others didn't genuinely feel a sense of dread.

Fear is maybe the wrong word, but I also suspect there may be an age difference thing going on here. I was 12 when I first saw Threads; during the period of peak nuclear annihilation concern in the early 80s I was just old enough to be aware of the outside world, but still with a child's active imagination.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 31, 2022, 06:29:27 pm
Similar vein, but when we were up in Kirkubright in Dumfries and Galloway over the summer there was a Raymond Briggs exhibition which contained a lot of the original work, sketches etc.

Forgot what an impact When The Wind Blows had on me when I was barely 9 or 10 or something.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on October 31, 2022, 07:15:26 pm
Ah, a fellow member of the generation who got traumatized because it came out when Briggs was best known among children for Fungus the Bogeyman?

It felt odd to realize that younger generations presumably haven't grown up with vague knowledge at the back of their brains about whitewashing your windows and building a fallout shelter under the stairs using sandbags and doors.

(As a child I was always confused because it seemed like your house would be less protective if you took the front door off to build a shelter with. It took me a very long time to realize that they probably meant internal doors from rooms you weren't using for shelter purposes.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 31, 2022, 07:27:48 pm
Yeah there was a lot of this stuff, Briggs, Z for Zachariah, War Games, and if you were into what today would be labelled geek culture - SF, fantasy, RPGs etc - then you got a double dose. I was less concerned about the initial blast as I come from a small town on the Yorkshire coast, so radiation sickness and fallout was much more my youthful area of concern.

In a sort of weird mirror image to the idea of younger generations not knowing about fall out shelters, presumably we are now seeing the emergence of generations who dont  experience our warm autumns and punishing summers as anything but normal.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 01, 2022, 05:46:53 pm
The Banshees of Inisherin

Absolutely brilliant movie, in my opinion and worth every penny of a cinema ticket. It's not an easy watch, despite being extremely funny and beautifully shot. After the first ten minutes, I wasn't loving it, but by the end, I'd struggle to think of a better film I've seen recently.

I didn't read any reviews before I saw it, but here is the extract of Mark Kermodes review from rotten tomatoes:
"Swings between the hilarious, the horrifying and the heartbreaking in magnificent fashion."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on November 01, 2022, 05:55:39 pm
I'm still wrestling with banshees, its usually the hallmark of a great film if you can't decide whether you like it or not after the first viewing.

I remember the first time I watched 'there will be blood' it stayed in the back of my mind for a weeks and now I love it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 01, 2022, 10:38:40 pm
It took me a very long time to realize that they probably meant internal doors from rooms you weren't using for shelter purposes.)

I always  understood it as  removing doors was to allow the nuclear blast wave to travel through a building, so that it remained standing rather being fully knocked over as an immovable object. Similar painting widows white was to reflect heat and taping then was to prevent injury from flying glass.

All a bit pointless in my opinion as a young'un. . I read Children of the Dust as a kid growing up and clearly remember thinking as a 10 yr old that it'd be better to be vapourised stood out in the street than trying to survive starvation and radiation sickness. Hard to describe that fear of nuclear annihilation to today's generation, though Putin is doing his best to bring it back into fashion again.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 02, 2022, 09:18:39 am
Was about to say the same re Putin. I think with modern weaponry it will be a bit more binary though; button pressed most of us will die immediately, not worth worrying about.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark20 on November 02, 2022, 09:54:39 am

Midsommar (Netflix) - fucking hell. Been waiting to watch this and it didn't disappoint. Creepy, weird, horrifying. Left a lingering feeling for a day or so afterwards.


Ha I finally plucked up the courage to watch this week too, what an amazing film! So much depth in terms of set design etc. and the story is so well done.

Have you watched The VVitch? Thought that had a similar vibe.

I've been wanting to watch Midsommar for a while, and finally got round to it the other night after this reminder. The cinematography is excellent, acting is good, and there's a creepy vibe all the way through. Maybe I didn't quite get it, but I think it fell into all the usual horror cliches of poor dialogue, completely unbelievable storyline that felt like it was made up as it went along, and some out of character stupidity "just turn the light on!" moments. Interestingly I've just checked the IMDB website and it divides opinion on there too. Either way, it's engaging and worth a watch.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 02, 2022, 10:02:44 am
I'm still wrestling with banshees, its usually the hallmark of a great film if you can't decide whether you like it or not after the first viewing.

I remember the first time I watched 'there will be blood' it stayed in the back of my mind for a weeks and now I love it.

I'd agree. The best films aren't necessarily the most fun to see straight away. I loved the recent Top Gun movie, or Deadpool, when I saw them but although they're great fun, Banshees of Inisherin and movies like it stick in your mind longer, make you think, and when you walk out of a cinema having seen them, the world looks slightly different for a short while.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on November 02, 2022, 11:04:57 am
Has anyone mentioned Men? I found that pretty traumatic. Wasnt entirely convinced by the ending, but Jessie Buckley is brilliant and Rory Kinnear - well, you have to see it to appreciate what he gets up to.

Also, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Nicholas Cage playing Nicholas Cage, who is tormented by visions of a younger Nicholas Cage. With Pedro Pascal and Sharon Horgan and arms dealing and the CIA. If you dont like
Nicholas Cage you will hate it, but if you do its very funny and original.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on November 02, 2022, 11:33:51 am
I thought Men was good but could have been great, it almost got there but not quite. Maybe didn't quite deliver on the trailer, but worth a watch for sure
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on November 02, 2022, 03:29:37 pm
My thoughts on 'Men' too, unravelled a bit in the last reel. Plus an unfortunate resemblance to one of David Walliams' Little Britain characters. Good atmosphere and she was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on November 04, 2022, 09:28:59 am
Watched All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix last night. Im no film critic but I enjoyed it, especially the dready sounds that are prevalent throughout.

Does anyone with a better knowledge of history than me know if the final battle has any grounding in historical fact? Pretty mental if so!!

If you havent watched it but want to know what Im on about and arent bothered about a spoiler look at the NSFW tab;

NSFW  :
Basically at the end of th film, the Germans have signed the armistice agreeing peace, but some rogue general gathers up a load of men and attacks a French position at 10:45. Is there any foundation of truth in this??
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 04, 2022, 09:49:40 am
Watched All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix last night. Im no film critic but I enjoyed it, especially the dready sounds that are prevalent throughout.

I think you're on safe ground, I haven't seen a single critic who hasn't though it was excellent.
Does a dready sound mean it's got a lot of reggae? Strange choice for a WW1 battlefield....
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on November 04, 2022, 09:59:09 am
Well thats good then!! Im often easily pleased by films that friends have thought not that good

Haha no a sound that makes you feel dread

Though maybe a WW1 film with a reggae score could be what we have to look forward to as film people try and find new interesting ground
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on November 04, 2022, 10:11:27 am
Watched All Quiet on the Western Front on Netflix last night. Im no film critic but I enjoyed it, especially the dready sounds that are prevalent throughout.

Does anyone with a better knowledge of history than me know if the final battle has any grounding in historical fact? Pretty mental if so!!

If you havent watched it but want to know what Im on about and arent bothered about a spoiler look at the NSFW tab;

NSFW  :
Basically at the end of th film, the Germans have signed the armistice agreeing peace, but some rogue general gathers up a load of men and attacks a French position at 10:45. Is there any foundation of truth in this??

NSFW  :
I don't know about Germans, and especially rogue commanders, but the Entente continued some planned attacks and shelling right up to the minute of the ceasefire coming into effect (the last American shells landed at 11:10am, 11th of November 1918). There was a belief amongst many commanders that they didn't want to lose any military advantages in case the ceasefire failed and they'd just given the German Army time to regroup. Foch himself was pretty bearish on it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 05, 2022, 05:35:38 pm
Living
Just over an hour and a half of quiet, understated brilliance. It is really moving, what could be a very downbeat experience ends up being positive and optimistic. Bill Nighy will probably get an award for his performance, he certainly deserves one. Highly recommended, as long as you don't want any action or special effects.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 06, 2022, 09:59:10 am
The Good Nurse is a decent,  but not exceptional drama.  I felt that the lead performances were, although generally impressive,  a little overwrought.  The tension is deeply unsettling throughout the second half of the run time, and overall,  I think its a good movie and well worth watching.  It probably suffered for me,  in that I watched it in the evening,  having seen Living earlier in the day. The good nurse can't get close to being that good,  but there isn't really anything badly wrong with it. TGN is perhaps an 8/10 as opposed to 10/10 for Living.  The Good Nurse is on Netflix. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 14, 2022, 09:58:47 am
Zero Dark Thirty I liked this, although I think it lacks the same tension and narrative drive as something like The Hurt Locker. That said, it isn't quite a war movie either so perhaps the comparison is unfair. Jessica Chastain's performance is impressive, and I thought that the almost anticlimactic conclusion was a fitting end to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 14, 2022, 10:06:32 am
Zero Dark Thirty I liked this, although I think it lacks the same tension and narrative drive as something like The Hurt Locker. That said, it isn't quite a war movie either so perhaps the comparison is unfair. Jessica Chastain's performance is impressive, and I thought that the almost anticlimactic conclusion was a fitting end to it.

Weird, I recently re-watched The Hurt Locker after it was discussed on here, and couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. I found it entirely lacking in narrative, essentially a series of tense sequences strung together by dint of their involving the same characters, with nothing in the way of plot or storyline.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on November 17, 2022, 01:47:41 pm
Re-watched Dredd (2012)

Man what a banger. Love it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 17, 2022, 02:29:18 pm
Re-watched Dredd (2012)

Man what a banger. Love it.

I watched this again recently and enjoyed it a lot more. When I first watched it, I had only just seen The Raid, which is essentially the same movie but with the benefit of Iko Uwaiss amazing skills.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on November 17, 2022, 02:56:03 pm
The Raid was amazing and is probably better, shame that Dredd did get overlooked a bit as a result. But it is a great time!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 17, 2022, 05:10:11 pm
Re-watched Dredd (2012)

Man what a banger. Love it.

I watched this again recently and enjoyed it a lot more. When I first watched it, I had only just seen The Raid, which is essentially the same movie but with the benefit of Iko Uwaiss amazing skills.

Mentioned Dredd a couple of pages back - really is an underrated film imo. Hadn't made the mental link to its proximity with The Raid. Good shout. That's a tough time for any other action film to come out because The Raid really is/was astonishing. For me it was the longer term mental damage caused by Sly's version of Judge Dredd :shit: that put me off watching Dredd for so long and perhaps watching in this rather mediocre time for cinema meant I was doubly pleasantly surprised!

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on November 17, 2022, 05:29:19 pm
Man the Stallone one had such potential with Mean Machine and ABC Warriors but was just a mess as I guess a lot of comic book stuff was around then. I guess the Urban one benefits from not trying to do too much with sets and CG. Hopefully they will do some more!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 20, 2022, 10:35:03 pm
Still love a proper ABC Warriors movie. Sly's Dredd was terrible.

And a Ballad of Halo Jones series.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lorentz on November 21, 2022, 11:23:34 am
I watched Ben Wheatley's In the Earth the other night. Really enjoyed it. If you liked A Field in England and Kill List it touches on some similar themes. Science vs Necromancy. Nature vs mankind.

Set somewhere outside Bristol during a pandemic, a scientific researcher and woodland ranger set off to meet a missing scientist who has gone off grid doing research in a vast forest. Reece Shearsmith is terrifying in it. I'll say no more as wouldn't want to spoil it. Worth a watch, especially if you like Ben Wheatley's movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 26, 2022, 07:31:22 am
Jackie Brown (Netflix) rewatched this having seen it last when it came out in the cinema in the 90s. It's really worth watching while it's on Netflix, one of the more underrated of Tarantino's films with great use of music and some cracking dialogue.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on November 26, 2022, 11:58:47 am
Jackie Brown is pure quality.
Don't know if it's been mentioned but 2020 Spike Lee film,Da 5 Bloods is superb. I won't say too much about it to avoid spoilers. Four GIs return to Vietnam. Some great character acting and an interesting plot. Not perfect by any means but a powerful piece of cinema. It's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 26, 2022, 05:46:57 pm
Jackie Brown is pure quality.
Don't know if it's been mentioned but 2020 Spike Lee film,Da 5 Bloods is superb. I won't say too much about it to avoid spoilers. Four GIs return to Vietnam. Some great character acting and an interesting plot. Not perfect by any means but a powerful piece of cinema. It's on Netflix.

Nice one, 5 bloods has been on my watch list for ages and I've not got around to it. I'll definitely watch it now
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on November 26, 2022, 08:57:26 pm
Exciting news for all the Dredd heads - apparently a Dredd 2 with Karl Urban returning is in the works. No idea how far along but hope they do a decent job of it!

Can confirm Jackie Brown is excellent. Been one of my fave Tarantino's for a long time.

Da 5 Bloods - mostly agree with the comment 'not perfect but powerful piece of drama' well worth a watch. One scene in particular is not for the weak of stomach... although I found it hilarious, I think it was meant to be slightly comic but is rather graphic for a second or two!

Just about to watch 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent' either that or 'Confess, Fletch' will report back my findings  :popcorn:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on November 26, 2022, 09:40:04 pm
Hyped for dredd 2 I think the authenticity with which the original film was made would be very hard to pull off now and Im not sure how it managed to fly under the execs radar in the first place.

In my humble opinion Jackie brown is Tarantinos best film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 26, 2022, 11:02:47 pm
The very best there is......accept no substitutes.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: ducko on November 27, 2022, 07:49:36 am
Dredd was mega
I really hope there is a second instalment the first (Karl urban) was incredible
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on November 27, 2022, 08:17:02 am
Dredd 2! Brilliant. I'd be there day 1.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 27, 2022, 10:14:14 am
In my humble opinion Jackie brown is Tarantinos best film.

It's also a really nice reminder of a world before the vast majority of people had a mobile phone,  most probably didn't use email and stuff like Twitter or Facebook barely existed.
The very best there is......accept no substitutes.

... but the US had exactly the same problem with guns. Some things don't change.  (The quote refers to the AK47, for those who aren't as much of a geek as I am)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on November 27, 2022, 11:14:37 am
Watched I Came By (Netflix) with no knowledge or expectation of it. Wife and I both really enjoyed it but the reviews I read afterwards were a bit sniffy.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on November 27, 2022, 07:43:35 pm
Watched I Came By (Netflix) with no knowledge or expectation of it. Wife and I both really enjoyed it but the reviews I read afterwards were a bit sniffy.

Reviews often seem rather negative towards Netflix films, despite some of them being really good. I liked the good nurse, the dig, the courier... and probably lots of others
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 14, 2022, 09:54:21 am
The Constant Gardener - Netflix. A serviceable but not great adaptation of a John Le Carr novel. I thought that the 'social issue drama in Africa ' movie has been done better by other movies, but that it was still a reasonably engaging, though unmemorable watch with some good cinematography. After watching it, I had a feeling that I might have seen it years ago but couldn't remember much about it. That probably tells you the most about it. It's worth watching because it's on a streaming service, but I'd have felt a bit robbed at the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lagerstarfish on December 20, 2022, 09:22:47 pm
Me and the lad went to watch the new Avatar film.
On an IMAX screen.
In 3D.

Just awesome.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 21, 2022, 07:47:53 am
out of sight on Netflix, slickly directed by Soderberg, an entertaining heist/ rom com crossover. I liked it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Eddies on December 21, 2022, 12:46:05 pm
'Bones and All' Original, very well acted, brilliant
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on December 22, 2022, 12:06:12 am
Me and the lad went to watch the new Avatar film.
On an IMAX screen.
In 3D.

Just awesome.

^^ second this.

Although I opted for 2D on a similarly large screen, as I thought 3+hrs of 3D glasses would give me a migraine. The visual effects are unbelievably good, can easily get lost in the world thinking you're watching real filmed images not CGI/magic creations.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 22, 2022, 08:11:08 am
Need to rewatch the original with the kids, then get to the cinema for this. They went on the Avatar ride at Animal Kingdom before they saw the movie!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: erm, sam on December 24, 2022, 06:51:18 pm
Quick, go and see Violent Night while it is still seasonal. Stupid, funny, lots of violent deaths at the hands of Santa. Whats not to love?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 24, 2022, 10:28:08 pm
my regular seasonal recommendation. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1401143/
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on December 25, 2022, 03:39:07 pm
Another from me without the violence that is essential for a good film but, in spite of, oh, you know, a cellular level,

Aftersun,

Is really good.

Saw it a few weeks ago with the wife and has cropped up on several people's list of films of the year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 25, 2022, 05:49:10 pm
Another from me without the violence that is essential for a good film but, in spite of, oh, you know, a cellular level,


Either youve had too much port or I have, but I cant make sense of this sentence 😂
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on December 25, 2022, 06:00:08 pm
Quick, go and see Violent Night while it is still seasonal. Stupid, funny, lots of violent deaths at the hands of Santa. Whats not to love?

Watched this last night - definitely a good choice for this time of year. Many great funny-violent moments, my personal fave being the direct Home Alone booby trap homage/rip off sequence!

As if they decided to mix together Die Hard, Home Alone and Bad Santa and it actually worked  :clap2:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on December 25, 2022, 06:13:55 pm
Glass Onion is great, absolutely worth a watch
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: chriss on December 26, 2022, 12:35:32 am
Glass Onion is great, absolutely worth a watch

I watched this the other night, thoroughly entertaining.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 28, 2022, 02:56:19 pm
Got round to watching glass onion last night, I thought it was sensational and somehow managed to top the first film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on December 28, 2022, 08:04:55 pm
Glass Onion is great, absolutely worth a watch

I watched this the other night, thoroughly entertaining.

Agree with this, well worth a watch. Enjoy Daniel Craig chewing up the scenery.

I followed this up with The Banshees of Inishirin. VERY different types of film but Banshees was incredible. Film of the year contender for me, not that I've watched all that many 2022 films in 2022.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 28, 2022, 10:33:24 pm
Watched the two Knives Out films this past couple of evenings. Very formulaic in that they're both Gentleman-Detective-Amidst-Opulent-Surroundings films, which is a very well-trodden genre: but with good reason. These are great!

Janelle Mone is a superstar. Her music is incredible and so creative AND she can act. Did anybody see her Glastonbury set a few years ago? Wow! Such talent!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 29, 2022, 07:44:24 am
I followed this up with The Banshees of Inishirin. VERY different types of film but Banshees was incredible. Film of the year contender for me, not that I've watched all that many 2022 films in 2022.

I'd agree with that, it's amazing. For me, about equal to Living.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 30, 2022, 09:43:35 am
Got round to watching glass onion last night, I thought it was sensational and somehow managed to top the first film.

On Glass Onion,  I thought it was highly entertaining but not quite as good as the first one.  GO was a bit too silly for my liking,  and takes too long introducing the characters.  Craig and Norton save it, however. I really hope they don't try to spin out the idea into several more movies, as I'd struggle to see how they can take it anywhere interesting now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 30, 2022, 10:50:25 am
I really hope they don't try to spin out the idea into several more movies, as I'd struggle to see how they can take it anywhere interesting now.

They're going to though aren't they.

Finished The Banshees of Inisherin yesterday, and I really don't quite know what to make of it!

NSFW  :
I have so many questions!
- Colm has clearly lost his marbles. Why on earth is everyone carrying on interacting with him almost as normal (playing music etc.) once he's cut off his own finger, let alone after the other four go?!
- How would a finger kill the donkey?
- What happened to Dominic? Presumably his father didn't kill him, did he kill himself? After finding out Padraic maybe isn't so nice after all and having been rejected by Siobhan?
- Why is it called Banshees of Inisherin when Inisherin doesn't exist and it was shot on Inis Mor which definitely does exist?

Shall be watching it again at least!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on December 30, 2022, 11:26:05 am
I really hope they don't try to spin out the idea into several more movies, as I'd struggle to see how they can take it anywhere interesting now.

They're going to though aren't they.

Finished The Banshees of Inisherin yesterday, and I really don't quite know what to make of it!

NSFW  :
I have so many questions!
- Colm has clearly lost his marbles. Why on earth is everyone carrying on interacting with him almost as normal (playing music etc.) once he's cut off his own finger, let alone after the other four go?!
- How would a finger kill the donkey?
- What happened to Dominic? Presumably his father didn't kill him, did he kill himself? After finding out Padraic maybe isn't so nice after all and having been rejected by Siobhan?
- Why is it called Banshees of Inisherin when Inisherin doesn't exist and it was shot on Inis Mor which definitely does exist?

Shall be watching it again at least!

I am with you on this, i absolutely loved the movie as its beautiful, every scene is a painting. The acting is ridiculously good, i also get that it is trying to parallel the pointlessness of the civil war where families and friends ended up as enemies but i wanted it to have a more conclusive ending, perhaps this says more about me than the film :-\
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 30, 2022, 02:36:07 pm
Craig and Norton save it, however. I really hope they don't try to spin out the idea into several more movies, as I'd struggle to see how they can take it anywhere interesting now.

They didn't save it for me. I remember seeing the trailer for the first one in a cinema and thinking it wasn't for me. However, it was on a subscription service at a later point and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it but not this version. Halfway through I thought perhaps it had enough of a twist to prove me wrong for a second time but not this time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 30, 2022, 10:11:47 pm
They didn't save it for me. I remember seeing the trailer for the first one in a cinema and thinking it wasn't for me. However, it was on a subscription service at a later point and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it but not this version. Halfway through I thought perhaps it had enough of a twist to prove me wrong for a second time but not this time.

Conversely I gave up on the first one when it was first streaming as I couldnt get into it, but I hugely enjoyed the massive amount of piss taking in this one (not least the Jesus style wall mural), which made it a joy.

Im not sure it would be as funny with an actual southern gent playing the lead role, the ham definitely adds to the overall effect.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on December 31, 2022, 11:00:45 am
I just saw the latest (2022) of many Caravaggio biopics at the movies and thought it was great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trfMaPzR2T8

Bio-pic in a very loose sense of the word as I suspect that most biographical details are partly or completely invented, but it had a marvellous cast and very good depiction of the art created by the great painter.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on December 31, 2022, 08:42:29 pm
I'm also a bit mystified by all the love for glass onion. Enjoyed knives out, in a mild sort of way, but the newer one just seemed to add nothing.

Rewatched Bad Times At The El Royale last night, reminded me how much I love it, Cynthia Erivo is just fantastic.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on January 01, 2023, 02:22:46 am
I wasnt sure about banshees at first but its stayed with me more than any other film Ive seen this year. I didnt feel like Id want to sit through it again but now Im starting to feel like I might have to.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 01, 2023, 09:06:50 am
We watched Banshees last night and also loved it: very, very funny, beautifully acted, profoundly sad.

In response to Bradders' questions (I've never used NSFW before so hope I haven't messed this up):

NSFW  :
1. They've all lost their marbles (except Siobhan)
2. The donkey choked to death
3. Surely we're meant to think Dominic killed himself
4. It's fiction

And one of my own, I wasn't sure who Siobhan was corresponding with on the mainland. I probably just missed it amid the ridiculous amount of fireworks being detonated outside.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on January 01, 2023, 10:58:08 am
As we are scraping the barrel of things to watch we ended up watching Troll on Netflix and really enjoyed it but no idea why.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 01, 2023, 11:03:53 am
Is Banshees only available on Disney?

We watched Notre Dam on Fire last night as were going through a disaster movie phase. It was great and very nicely done splicing real footage with the acted/set scenes. (The storyville doc on the same subject is excellent BTW).

Happy new year all!

On a film related note, Im off to see Andrei Rublev at the cinema in a couple of hours for a rare screening. Cant wait to see it on a big screen.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on January 01, 2023, 01:59:29 pm
Ive only seen Andrei Rublev once and it was at the cinema, absolutely one of the best films ever and a real experience.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 01, 2023, 05:43:50 pm
Is Banshees only available on Disney?

Probably still in some cinemas, especially as I'd have thought it would be up for awards of some sort. I saw it on a big screen, which is well worth it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 01, 2023, 07:20:58 pm
Doh! (Slaps forehead) of course. Will go next weekend with W cos shes off work.

Sean, Andrei Rublev was quite the experience in the cinema, I saw so much more than I did whilst watching at home.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 04, 2023, 05:46:16 pm
Recently watched Hunger Games: catching fire on Netflix. It's a decent stab at a dystopian action movie although as a political satire it's pretty clumsy. Other films have pulled this off better, (District 13, Total Recall) but it was still really enjoyable. Probably a better TV movie than I'd imagine it was in the cinema.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 04, 2023, 07:04:18 pm
Reply to Andy's Banshees question below. I've NSFWed it to, but don't think it reveals much of the plot.



NSFW  :

And one of my own, I wasn't sure who Siobhan was corresponding with on the mainland. I probably just missed it amid the ridiculous amount of fireworks being detonated outside.


Other than being offered a job as a librarian, which I guess she applied for, there wasn't any other correspondence.

FWIW I wasn't crazy about the film as a whole; stunning scenery, great acting, but plot didn't seem to amount to much.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 04, 2023, 07:30:44 pm
Assume all you Banshees lovers have seen The Guard?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 04, 2023, 08:49:40 pm
Yes, and given the choice I think I'd choose The Guard to watch again. Funnier, kind of sad too, and much more satisfying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 05, 2023, 09:08:53 am
And In Bruge. No similarities other than the same 2 actors, but a great film. Maybe I was expecting similar.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 05, 2023, 09:25:05 am

FWIW I wasn't crazy about the film as a whole; stunning scenery, great acting, but plot didn't seem to amount to much.

I'd argue that Banshees has a very clearly defined narrative,  in that it tells the story of a relationship ending.  There are other things happening around this,  but I liked its raw simplicity. I also thought that the way that it ends is part of its appeal.  It resists the idea of any neat conclusions and leaves you thinking about what you've just seen.  Admittedly,  I wouldn't have liked it if what I wanted was some pure, uncomplicated entertainment,  which I often do. It's a great movie,  in my opinion,  but perhaps not the most immediately entertaining. 

I don't think that there's anything wrong with just wanting to be entertained,  incidentally,  I think it just depends what you want out of the experience. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: scragrock on January 05, 2023, 09:57:13 am

FWIW I wasn't crazy about the film as a whole; stunning scenery, great acting, but plot didn't seem to amount to much.

I'd argue that Banshees has a very clearly defined narrative,  in that it tells the story of a relationship ending.  There are other things happening around this,  but I liked its raw simplicity. I also thought that the way that it ends is part of its appeal.  It resists the idea of any neat conclusions and leaves you thinking about what you've just seen.  Admittedly,  I wouldn't have liked it if what I wanted was some pure, uncomplicated entertainment,  which I often do. It's a great movie,  in my opinion,  but perhaps not the most immediately entertaining. 

I don't think that there's anything wrong with just wanting to be entertained,  incidentally,  I think it just depends what you want out of the experience.

I suppose if you were after everyone talking about your movie long after they viewed it then that is exactly what has happened.

Let me be clear here, i have recommended Banshees to several friends since i watched it because it is a beautiful film with amazing acting and an intriguing plot, the caveat being that they discuss how they felt about it afterwards.

I too watched Banshees off the back of In Bruges, I found Bruges to be way more satisfying.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on January 07, 2023, 03:37:10 pm
I wouldn't normally go for a romance but I thought Lady Chatterley's Lover on Netflix was very good.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on January 19, 2023, 08:14:43 pm
Tr is an orchestral conductor at the pinnacle of her profession but who grooms and preys on women. Like most of the film this is ambiguous - shes clearly autocratic and somewhat Machiavellian, but probably needs to be given who she is and the sea she swims in - but only hints at the sexual predation. It doesn't have a clear plot and there are certainly no goodies or baddies. It would have been more audience friendly, but probably less interesting, to have the central character be a Harvey Weinstein figure. Classic music is not short of them, take a bow Placido Domingo or Jimmy Levine (https://archive.ph/pcxP0). That Tr is a lesbian and apparently an impressive and sympathetic figure - a kind mother and often supportive wife - makes the tragic flaw that undoes her so much more surprising. Her complete commitment to her art is quite moving but the way she constantly imposes her views is repellent. Its an excellent portrait of the manipulative narcissism that quite a few extremely talented people have - everything has to revolve around them. The much talked-about masterclass scene is a good example of the film's ambiguity. Left-wing and Conservative commentators, both spectacularly missing the point, have taken it as a defence of western values against student workery - one of the students doesnt like Bach because hes a white cis male - but this is completely undermined by Trs behaviour: its a study in dominance and narcissism, not listening to the students, imposing your view on everyone.

Cate Blanchett is superb in every way (except her conducting technique, which wont worry any but classical nerds) and has to be a shoe-in for the Oscars. It looks gorgeous: all bleached-out shades of grey, Berlin modernist architecture and design, shot in ultra long takes. It has exceptionally good sound, not just the music. Like nearly all modern films it's about 20 minutes too long, there are a couple of sub-plots that could have been cut. Its quite implausible in places. There are a number of classical music in-jokes and several barely-disguised secondary characters but you dont need to know about the world to enjoy it. The ending is hilarious or heart breaking depending on your viewpoint. I cant stop thinking about it and Im keen to see it again.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 20, 2023, 04:07:38 pm
Enys Men

What a film. It makes the directors (Mark Jenkin) previous black and white hand-cranked movie Bait look like Avengers Endgame. If you need an antidote to overhyped computer-generated twaddle, this is it. (Much better review by Mark Kermode in the Guardian.)

The Menu

This had quite good reviews, but I thought it was fairly irritating and extremely pleased with itself.

I decided to give Knives Out a go based on the positive words on here, but I lasted about 20 minutes before my patience ran out
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on January 21, 2023, 08:52:01 pm
Have we done The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Its a series of short stories about the American West. I laughed out loud a few times, cringed and even got a bit thoughtful.
Great scenery even if it doesnt float your boat.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 23, 2023, 10:04:13 am
All Quiet on the Western Front is absolutely amazing. I seem to remember that somewhere up thread, someone compared it unfavourably with 1917. Personally, I thought it was every bit as good, if not better. In many ways they're quite different films. All Quiet... seemed even bleaker if anything, but that might be how recently I've seen it.
The battle scenes are harrowing and raw, and capture well the absolute futility of WW1 tactics. The scenes in between the fighting feel like a welcome respite but are suffused with a sense of the mens' boredom and anxiety about what they have to return to at home.
Richly deserves Oscars, if they mean anything; watch it, if you have Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 24, 2023, 09:25:27 pm
The Railway Man is currently on iPlayer.
https://g.co/kgs/hp7fEm

Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman are both very good.

I've still got Banshees and The Menu to try on Disney+ before All Quiet on the Western Front.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 24, 2023, 09:33:21 pm
Saw Aftersun the other day. Wonderful, and so syked for Paul Mescal getting a (very well-deserved) Oscar nomination for it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on January 24, 2023, 10:01:37 pm
All Quiet on the Western Front is absolutely amazing. I seem to remember that somewhere up thread, someone compared it unfavourably with 1917. Personally, I thought it was every bit as good, if not better. In many ways they're quite different films. All Quiet... seemed even bleaker if anything, but that might be how recently I've seen it.
The battle scenes are harrowing and raw, and capture well the absolute futility of WW1 tactics. The scenes in between the fighting feel like a welcome respite but are suffused with a sense of the mens' boredom and anxiety about what they have to return to at home.
Richly deserves Oscars, if they mean anything; watch it, if you have Netflix.

Slightly off topic, but the novel is well worth reading too.  I read it recently and was very impressed.  Up there with Capote's In Cold Blood as a book that seems anachronistically modern.
Also... it's really short -  a good fit for this age!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 25, 2023, 09:06:01 am
Richly deserves Oscars, if they mean anything; watch it, if you have Netflix.

Did you post this before or after the nominations were released?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64386176

Everything EAO will hopefully clean up. FWIW.

I remember the book being great and a short read too. Up there with ..Ivan Denisovich as a quick read to make you appreciate your lot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 25, 2023, 10:06:04 am
Richly deserves Oscars, if they mean anything; watch it, if you have Netflix.

Did you post this before or after the nominations were released?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64386176

Everything EAO will hopefully clean up. FWIW.

I remember the book being great and a short read too. Up there with ..Ivan Denisovich as a quick read to make you appreciate your lot.

Before; or certainly before I knew anything about it anyway. I definitely think Bill Nighy should get best actor for Living. EAO?? If you mean everything all at once, I haven't seen it, I thought it sounded annoying, but that seems as though it was overly judgemental. Personally, I'd go for All Quiet.. or Banshees for best picture.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 28, 2023, 06:46:25 pm
Is Jung_E on Netflix in the UK?
 A very worthwhile bit of SciFi. Something the Koreans seem to do well. Notably released after the death of the actress, Kang Soo-Youn, who plays the lead role (or at least, the co-lead).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on January 31, 2023, 02:25:48 pm
I thought All Quiet on the Western Front was excellent. I was a bit tired when watching it so lazily opted for the dubbed version.

The Menu (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9764362/) has to be a contender for the worst film I've ever endured. What utter garbage!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: peewee on January 31, 2023, 03:17:52 pm
The Menu (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9764362/) has to be a contender for the worst film I've ever endured. What utter garbage!

Watch Llamageddon that'll alter your perspective of bad!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: fatneck on February 01, 2023, 04:56:45 pm
Watched Nobody (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7888964/) last night on a whim and it was very excellent! Kind of John Wick vibes so very violent but lots of humour too. Recommended!

Also, watched the Banshees etc the other day but whilst it looked lovely and the acting was great, it left me asking what the point was and overall, a little disappointed...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 02, 2023, 05:44:25 pm
The 70s classic Eiger Sanction is on iPlayer at the moment. Staggeringly politically incorrect cheesy assassin nonsense, and most enjoyable, if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on February 20, 2023, 03:57:58 pm
Couple of good ones I watched over the last week - VERY different extremes, both on All4


The Long Good Friday


Classic 70s British gangster film with Bob Hoskins. The last scene is well-known as a classic in film history but the story building up to it is well-woven. Some elements of it (notably attitudes to the LGBTQ+ community / non-white people) are very much "of its time" so I guess trigger warning needed.


Hereditary


Been meaning to pluck up the courage to watch since seeing Midsommar. Absolutely amazing film - creepy, scary, claustrophobic. Can't really go into any detail for fear of spoilers but I'll just say that having seen the trailer, it wasn't the film I thought it was going to be.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on February 20, 2023, 05:28:04 pm
The Whale, is a decent talky movie basically set in one room (betraying it's stage play origins). Strong performances from the slim cast. Didn't even recognise Samantha Morton till the credits. I see afterwards a slightly kneejerk reaction against Brendan Fraser and his fatsuit. I might be getting middle aged but the urge to only have legitimate actors who are themselves blind, deaf, fat, gay, trans, etc, play those parts, seems to have gone slightly too far for me. It's acting after all.

Low budget talky sci-fi - again mostly in one room - Coherence. Multiverse, parallel universe, Schrodinger's Cat shenanigans. Like one of those middle class dinner party movies before it gets odd, lots of improv, shaky camera, actors that only get a snapshot of that day's lines. No CGI. A few hindsight reveals made it all the more fun for me. Filmed for bugger all ($50,000) over 5 nights in the director's house with basically no crew - camera and sound. There's a car that gets a smashed window, turns out they were a couple of identical hire cars that had the windows replaced before handing back with an innocent look. Quote from the cast: "To be quite honest with you, I never really knew what was going on fully until I saw the movie done."
 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on February 21, 2023, 07:21:31 pm
Slim cast for the whale  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on February 21, 2023, 08:55:38 pm
Pretty sure I've watched Coherence and pretty sure it is great... However, I can't remember much of the plot. It's the one with the comet passing over during the dinner party?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on February 22, 2023, 11:03:47 am
Pretty sure I've watched Coherence and pretty sure it is great... However, I can't remember much of the plot. It's the one with the comet passing over during the dinner party?
That's the one, on Amazon currently. No explosions or CGI, just plot and people.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on February 22, 2023, 12:28:32 pm
The new Puss in Boots film was incredible and had no right being as good as it did. Went in with fairly medium expectations and left with s new favourite animated film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 27, 2023, 09:09:31 am
On iPlayer now is Gravity; I thought it was visually stunning, even on a home screen. I'm not quite sure if the rest of it lives up to that, but it not bad at all. I found it almost unbearably tense at times, and it's one of those disaster movies where you start thinking why can't anything go right? Still well worth watching though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on February 27, 2023, 09:27:04 am
Eagerly anticipating the first reviews here for "Cocaine Bear."
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on February 27, 2023, 09:42:05 am
The full film cant be as good as the trailer which is a work of art!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 27, 2023, 09:46:52 am
Dunno, looks like Attack of the Meth Gator might eclipse it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 27, 2023, 08:03:07 pm
Watched two Indie flicks on Mubi over the weekend.  Aftersun - really great film about a Dad and his daughter on a holiday in Turkey.  Alcarras - really great. About a peach farmer about to lose his (and his families) land to solar panel farm and all familial goings on around it. 

We thought Banshees was really good too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 27, 2023, 08:05:05 pm
One of the actors in Cocaine Bear is a standup comic who got famous on Twitter and TikTok for his very funny clips about being a retail assistant at IKEA. Just search IKEA retail assistant or thereabouts. If youve worked in retail at any point in your life theyre well funny and on-point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on February 27, 2023, 08:33:23 pm
Marcel the shell with shoes on, just wonderful.

Banshees was a great idea but lost its way towards the end for me.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on February 27, 2023, 10:20:27 pm
Marcel the shell with shoes on, just wonderful.


I second this. Would make a cute date night watch, or also be a good one to watch with youngsters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 19, 2023, 07:59:55 am
Black Sea on Netflix. It has pretty much critical reviews but I wasn't especially impressed, personally. It's not awful but it lacked a bit of spark and I didn't really root for the characters very much. It's worth watching, just about but not great unless you are a devoted fan of submarine movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on March 23, 2023, 04:29:53 pm
Watched the Netflix Luther film thing over course of last couple of nights.


Quite well-executed, the plot is pretty silly / ridiculous, Andy Serkis plays a good baddie. It's not exactly Chekhov but if you want a relatively brainless but entertaining couple of hours it's OK.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on March 23, 2023, 07:01:03 pm
I really liked Banshees.

Really disliked Everything Everywhere. From talking to others its a miracle I got all the way through it. A sort of trite two hour music video or jeans advert.

The Marcel trailer/ short version? was on before the Puss in Boots film, (which is good, for both the fours and forty fours in our party), anyway Marcel. I didn't get it. Just felt sort of, nothing. Couldn't imagine watching it at any considerable length.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: grimer on March 23, 2023, 10:06:19 pm
oi loiked A Pale Blue Eye (netflix) though mostlu the first 4/5s of it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on April 05, 2023, 06:02:24 pm
The Wind Rises
On Netflix, decent Studio Ghibli movie about the man who designed the zero fighter plane. It's different from the fantasy-like movies such as Spirited Away or My Neighbour Toro, but has a similarly whimsical edge to it . It's certainly good and worth watching, although I prefer some of the other Studio Ghibli offerings to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 02, 2023, 05:17:03 pm
School strike day so took my almost-6 year old to see the Mario movie. Brilliant fun for her and me. I had to leg it to keep up with her as she ran back through Bradford to the train station jumping between imaginary platforms, gobbling imaginary power-ups, and stomping imaginary koopas.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on May 02, 2023, 05:28:45 pm
@Will - some friends mentioned it was great, but then caveated that they're gaming / mario fans - reckon that's mandatory?

We watched https://mubi.com/films/ava on the weekend. Both really enjoyed it and it properly had me engrossed and wondering what might happen (rare these days).

PM if you want a free view.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on May 02, 2023, 05:43:23 pm
For the adults it probably helps. I've dipped in and out of Mario since childhood but I'm not sat in a house filled with Mario paraphernalia.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on May 04, 2023, 12:10:53 pm
Troll on Netflix. Fun escapist stuff about a Big ass Troll waking up in Norway.

Opens with a silly climbing section, but some amazing scenery, and some cool looking boulders on the archaeological dig about 5 minutes in. Google says it's filmed at Flo, looks like it might be this https://27crags.com/crags/flo
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 05, 2023, 07:02:10 am
Supernova
It's on iPlayer at the moment. A stunning film, although it's extremely melancholic. Beautiful scenery and well shot. The acting is brilliant.
Not one to watch if you want action but very much worth watching. It's also admirably concise (87min)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on June 05, 2023, 07:37:24 am
Agreed, a really excellent film. Firth and Tucci are superb.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 18, 2023, 09:02:00 am
The Forgotten Battle

On Netflix,  a Dutch WWII film about the battle of Antwerp and the liberation of the Netherlands.  Sounds extremely niche, but its very well made, with harrowing battle scenes and commendably unsentimental overall.  Its not too dark and depressing by the end though, and definitely worth watching if you want to see a war film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on June 20, 2023, 08:46:49 am
I saw "Citizen Sleuth" at Sheffield DocFest -- very good documentary about a true crime podcaster:

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/citizen_sleuth

It's having its first screenings at film festivals now (apparently we were the fifth ever audience to see it), but I'm betting it'll get picked up by Netflix or Storyville on the BBC or suchlike pretty quickly.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on June 20, 2023, 12:46:25 pm
Speaking of documentaries, at the weekend we watched "Harlan County, USA," which won the documentary Oscar in 1976. It tells the story of a 1973 strike at a coalmine in Kentucky. Brilliantly done, without narration, it's an incredible insight into working class life in the 'hollers' of Appalachia at that time - incredible poverty and just as amazing working class union militancy. 

I think it's on Hulu and well worth anybody's time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 21, 2023, 09:28:09 am
The Iron Lady; I just happened to see this on Netflix and thought it might be interesting.  Meryl Streep's performance is reliability good,  but the film really lacks a narrative structure. Though there are good scenes,  it ends up feeling disjointed,  to the extent that it barely held my attention.  I haven't quite got to the end of it yet, I'll probably try to finish it up but it's not something I'd really recommend.  This may be unfair given that I haven't finished it, but that fact says something about how much it grabbed me. .
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on June 28, 2023, 10:13:18 pm
Nobody... on the other hand is brilliant.  I absolutely loved this slightly strange mash up of the 90s (I think) 'falling down' and a comic book superhero movie with a bit of 'breaking bad' into the bargain.  The appearance of Doc from back to the future is bizarre but funny. Its not wildly clever or intricately plotted, it's just very violent and absolutely great fun. It's on Netflix. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2023, 08:50:57 am
I enjoyed it too, thought Bob Odenkirk was great in the role, and looked like he had fun making the film.

Mixed bag recently;

The Revenant (not the LDC one). Soldier dies in strange circumstance, comes back from the dead, wanders about drinking blood and causing mayhem. Very gory and pretty funny, with surprising finale.

13 Minutes - Tornado disaster movie. Too much human element, not enough special effects for my liking. Not recommended

Snowpiercer - the original movie. Put this off for a while as it didn't look great, but actually much better and much grimmer and gorier than I expected. Some very strange parts to it, but on the whole a fun ride. Assume the series follows on from the end of the film? I remember mixed reports on here about it, might give it a go.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: nik at work on June 29, 2023, 10:01:16 am
The new Spider-Man spiderverse animation is wonderful.

But its only part 1 of a 2(?) parter, which I dont remember trailers pointing out. Although if part 2 is anywhere near as good as this then no great hardship
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on June 29, 2023, 10:11:53 am
Does it not follow on from the first one? Agree, the animation in the first one was class, looking forward to this one.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on June 30, 2023, 06:34:12 pm
Does it not follow on from the first one? Agree, the animation in the first one was class, looking forward to this one.

I believe it follows on from Spider Man into the Spider-verse and is the middle film of an intended trilogy. Haven't seen it yet - hopefully will be seeing it next week  :popcorn:

There was some recent unrest from animators complaining that the expected release date of 2024 is completely unreasonable and an unrealistic timescale... So we'll see when the third part of the trilogy actually arrives.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 05, 2023, 08:59:53 am
Law of Tehran Iranian cop movie on iplayer at the moment.  Its pretty good,  although I found it slightly challenging to follow at times because of the rapid exchanges which are,  obviously,  subtitled.  It got very good reviews from critics,  I am not sure I thought it was as amazing as some of them did, but it's worth watching if you like a fast paced cop/drug lord battle.  The opening chase scene which has an interesting conclusion is certainly memorable. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 05, 2023, 09:06:41 am
Transformers - Rise of the Beasts - leave brain behind, lots of fighting, thin storyline. "best Transformers movie yet" - Kyle (13). Guess that's the audience that matters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Ballsofcottonwool on July 05, 2023, 11:45:05 am
Better than the original Transformers the Movie (1986) ?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 05, 2023, 12:08:43 pm
LOL, way better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 14, 2023, 10:10:02 am
Operation Finale An eminently worthwhile standard spy movie about an Israeli secret service operation in the 1960s to kidnap Adolf Eichmann from Argentina and fly him back to Israel to stand trial. I enjoyed it; it's not earth shattering or wildly innovative but a decent movie with a bit of tension, action and an attempt to bring Eichmann a bit of depth as a character, rather than just being a caricature of an evil Nazi. Critics were pretty lukewarm about it, but I think that's just that critics tend to  crave novelty and innovation rather than a couple of hours of easy entertainment. It's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on July 21, 2023, 12:30:05 pm
Watched Arrival last night which is on Netflix. Brilliant sci-fi.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on July 21, 2023, 12:37:44 pm
That's the one based on the Ted Chiang novella "Story of Your Life", right?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on July 21, 2023, 12:46:24 pm
It is.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on July 21, 2023, 01:20:10 pm
Watched Arrival last night which is on Netflix. Brilliant sci-fi.
This is the correct assessment  :yes:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on July 21, 2023, 01:27:32 pm
Following on the sci-fi theme, if you havent seen it, Annihilation is one of the best movies Ive watched in the genre, terrifying and breathtaking at the same time.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on July 21, 2023, 02:58:47 pm
Watched Arrival last night which is on Netflix. Brilliant sci-fi.
This is the correct assessment  :yes:
+ 1. Greatissimo. Love the short story as well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on July 21, 2023, 05:23:49 pm
Watched Arrival last night which is on Netflix. Brilliant sci-fi.

I watched this when it came out in the cinema. Agreed; in fact it was good enough I may watch it again now it's on Netflix.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on July 21, 2023, 05:42:30 pm
Following on the sci-fi theme, if you havent seen it, Annihilation is one of the best movies Ive watched in the genre, terrifying and breathtaking at the same time.

The books are brilliant.  Jeff Vandameer
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on July 21, 2023, 09:10:27 pm

The books are brilliant.  Jeff Vandameer

Love those books, some of the weirdest and amazing sci fi I've read. Only looking on the basis of this made me see he's working on a fourth!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on July 23, 2023, 10:52:25 pm
Those who hasnt yet seen Oppenheimer should do it. Saw it tonight and I am stunned and wrought out. Amazing.

Was Oppenheimer a psychopath? Discuss.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: edshakey on July 23, 2023, 11:46:21 pm
Agreed, brilliant film. To anyone put off by the length - it held my attention as well as any film, of any length. Well worth watching.

As to whether he was a psychopath... no clue, but he had issues of some sort. I suppose "geniuses" normally do?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on July 24, 2023, 08:11:26 am
I also watched it last night. And agreed it was incredible. As always, its a film so gotta take a lot of things with a pinch of salt as stuff can be embellished but Ill go out and say no, he wasnt a psychopath, psychopaths dont have emotions which he quite obviously did. I think it was more of a twisted genius thing going on, having to wrestle with the thing he created and considered his baby, knowing hed opened Pandoras box and changed the world forever, for the worse, I cant imagine what that would do to anyone.

I very much enjoyed the kangaroo court trial at the end the Strauss getting his comeuppance. The countdown to the detonation was ultimate anxiety and you could feel it in the cinema, Nolans use of time (which he does in all his films) was well served here to build up that incredible tension. All in all 10/10.

Also pretty cool that Kodak created a whole new IMAX film stock to shoot the black and white scenes!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on July 24, 2023, 09:11:32 am
Hey you know what's also fucking great

Barbie

Genuinely and honestly 5/5
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on July 24, 2023, 10:12:09 am
Hey you know what's also fucking great
Barbie
Genuinely and honestly 5/5

My daughter gave it a 5, she's a harsh marker.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on July 24, 2023, 10:26:24 am
I have not seen it, but everytime I hear 'barbie' I am thinking of this masterpiece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsE7H6YPfco
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on July 24, 2023, 11:57:56 am
Watched Arrival last night which is on Netflix. Brilliant sci-fi.

I watched this when it came out in the cinema. Agreed; in fact it was good enough I may watch it again now it's on Netflix.

Thanks for the recommendation - both myself and the wife thought it was great.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on July 25, 2023, 09:28:54 am
Hey you know what's also fucking great

Barbie

Genuinely and honestly 5/5

I'm keen to watch it, I think he was one of the more interesting Nazis (big wink ;))
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on August 01, 2023, 09:14:45 pm
Just back from seeing Barbie, a solid 5/5, havent laughed so much in ages. Lots of jokes that will go right over the kids heads but had me in stitches. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie are excellent and the soundtrack is spot on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on August 01, 2023, 10:11:42 pm
Just back from seeing Barbie, a solid 5/5, havent laughed so much in ages. Lots of jokes that will go right over the kids heads but had me in stitches. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie are excellent and the soundtrack is spot on.

Would kids enjoy it? Two girls, 10 and 7? Is it all in jokes that will go over heads or is there enough for everyone?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on August 01, 2023, 11:01:35 pm
I dont have kids so Im a rubbish person to ask! But its a certificate 12A if that matters and Im not sure it would be that thrilling to kids - yes there are dances* and play fights but there are also some longish speeches about the difficultly of being a woman and the themes are distinctly adult. Good luck explaining what Ken means when hes singing about tanned virginity.

A sharp 13 or 14 year old girl on the other hand would probably love it.



* The dances are brilliant, another thing I really enjoyed. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on August 03, 2023, 03:32:51 pm
Oppenheimer, good film. Great structure, and particularly pacing, doesn't feel like three hours. Great performances. Perhaps the biggest achievement has to be not making the phrase Tom Conti Einstein into a cringing farce, quite the opposite!

Like all of Nolans films, thats it. I realised they all stop short of emotionally involving me in a way that is hard to explain. A lack of charm? Je ne sais quoi. Technically brilliant, original etc but. Maybe my expectation is too high, I'm not sure what I'm looking for but its definitely missing that last fillip that would make him one of the greats.


Also had to cast around to book and travelled for the time slot we wanted - all booked out at several theatres in North London which has to be a real positive; people cramming in to see a three hour drama. Good for the game.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 03, 2023, 04:08:28 pm
Air - Basic story of rise of Nike following sponsorship of Michael Jordan. Hard to remember the days when Nike were minor league, but that's how it was. As expected, they nailed the 80s details spot on, which enjoyable from a nostalgia point of view. Low maintenance and fun.

Driven -  pretty much the same as above, only about John Delorean.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 04, 2023, 09:00:37 pm
It's not complex but I enjoyed Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (currently on Prime).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 07, 2023, 05:35:01 pm
I thought that Deepwater Horizon (Netflix) was worth watching and a reasonable disaster movie. It could have been better if it wasn't quite as dominated by an awful lot of fire, huge explosions and indecipherable shouting. Obviously thats a bit ironic, in that it's a film above an oil rig blowing up, but after a good hour or so of carnage you start to long for some dialogue, or just a bit more variety. The explosions are pretty visually impressive, however.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 07, 2023, 06:14:57 pm
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 - more of the same as 1 & 2, but story gets in a bit of a mess at times, could easily chop 20 minutes out. Still good fun though. Great songs as always.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on August 07, 2023, 10:10:48 pm
Agreed.

Although I thought Air was ok, I wasn't convinced by Chris Tucker's performance.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on August 07, 2023, 10:51:34 pm
Yeah, overdid it a bit, felt like he was channeling Bernie Mac in Oceans 11.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on August 08, 2023, 09:22:32 am
Watched No Country for Old Men the other night. No words, incredible film. A brilliant nihilistic view into the chaotic and violent descent of society. So many jarring moments which fully subverted my expectations. Excited to read the book too, Ive heard the movie sticks very close to the reference material.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: warmonke on August 08, 2023, 03:00:49 pm
Watched No Country for Old Men the other night. No words, incredible film. A brilliant nihilistic view into the chaotic and violent descent of society. So many jarring moments which fully subverted my expectations. Excited to read the book too, Ive heard the movie sticks very close to the reference material.
Absolutely amazing film and I can confirm the book is also really good, I'd say it's one of those rare occurrences where the film is as good as (or maybe even better than) the book, mainly because of Javier Bardem's performance.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on August 08, 2023, 05:41:09 pm
Watched No Country for Old Men the other night. No words, incredible film. A brilliant nihilistic view into the chaotic and violent descent of society. So many jarring moments which fully subverted my expectations. Excited to read the book too, Ive heard the movie sticks very close to the reference material.
Absolutely amazing film and I can confirm the book is also really good, I'd say it's one of those rare occurrences where the film is as good as (or maybe even better than) the book, mainly because of Javier Bardem's performance.

Cohen brothers movies are mostly pretty much as good as this in general, I've found.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on August 08, 2023, 08:18:49 pm
You know - for kids!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on August 09, 2023, 07:19:08 am
Watched No Country for Old Men the other night. No words, incredible film. A brilliant nihilistic view into the chaotic and violent descent of society. So many jarring moments which fully subverted my expectations. Excited to read the book too, Ive heard the movie sticks very close to the reference material.
Absolutely amazing film and I can confirm the book is also really good, I'd say it's one of those rare occurrences where the film is as good as (or maybe even better than) the book, mainly because of Javier Bardem's performance.

Cohen brothers movies are mostly pretty much as good as this in general, I've found.

Yeah, well, you know, that just like, uh, your opinion, man.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 06, 2023, 01:29:49 pm
Just re-watched Aliens for the first time in a while with my franchise-ignorant ex-gf (we did Alien last week). Bloody hell it is still good. Maybe better than I remember, I remember all the stand-out quotes and scenes but there's a lot of little bits that add up. Scarcely any dialogue or expressions are wasted.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 06, 2023, 05:53:59 pm
Just re-watched Aliens for the first time in a while with my franchise-ignorant ex-gf (we did Alien last week). Bloody hell it is still good. Maybe better than I remember, I remember all the stand-out quotes and scenes but there's a lot of little bits that add up. Scarcely any dialogue or expressions are wasted.

If you ever get a chance to see Alien on a cinema screen, definitely do it, as good as it is anyway, it's miles better and properly scary on a big screen.

Godzilla Vs Kong
If you can ignore the fact that it's a rubbish plot etc, the giant beasts are amazing. Very good scores on RT but I thought it was basically awful but visually incredible; perhaps better seen as a really good music video with the sound turned off and rage against the machine playing at high volume instead.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 07, 2023, 09:38:07 am
I thought that Deepwater Horizon (Netflix) was worth watching and a reasonable disaster movie.

Always wondered how they were happy to make a dramatisation of Macondo, but one has never been made about Piper Alpha (I know there's a docu). There were a lot more deaths on PA, but still, out of respect for those who died in Macondo, should it have been made? Or made so soon?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 11, 2023, 05:30:39 pm
Children of Men on iPlayer at the moment, I was watching it for the second or third time, although I haven't seen it for years. It's now (post pandemic and Trump etc) an awful lot more terrifying. I wonder if some of the Conservative Party are getting their asylum policy from it now.
I really rate this as excellent dystopian drama and as a very well adapted novel.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on September 13, 2023, 09:52:45 am
Good shout - I need to re-watch that.

Noticed iPlayer has Dunkirk which I also re-watched recently and I think improves with a second viewing. Not that I disliked it first time round, just you spot the interweaving of the stories better.

Watched Max Max: Fury Road on Prime the other day, didn't know what to expect but it was excellent - properly mad, OTT action stuff. Made the mistake of watching it on my phone though, think it would have benefitted more from the big TV.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on September 13, 2023, 11:09:58 am
I love children of men, the extended one shot scenes are excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 13, 2023, 11:26:16 am
Watched Max Max: Fury Road on Prime the other day, didn't know what to expect but it was excellent - properly mad, OTT action stuff. Made the mistake of watching it on my phone though, think it would have benefitted more from the big TV.

I watched in on a plane, thought the same, not the best way to see it. Good on Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult for doing something a bit different, must have been fun roles. Tom Hardy is always good value too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on September 13, 2023, 07:44:54 pm
Children of Men on iPlayer at the moment, I was watching it for the second or third time, although I haven't seen it for years. It's now (post pandemic and Trump etc) an awful lot more terrifying. I wonder if some of the Conservative Party are getting their asylum policy from it now.

Yeah it definitely felt a bit closer to home. The decayed London sets are brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 13, 2023, 09:44:59 pm
And Clive Owen's best role IMO. Perfect for the part.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 18, 2023, 10:07:57 am
Godzilla (2014) A much better movie than the Kong mash up mentioned above, there is more suspense and a less stupid plot. It also has Bryan Cranston in it; but, the main attraction is in watching huge monsters smash up cities and each other, it's hardly the Godfather, but it is an enjoyable couple of hours.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 18, 2023, 12:49:59 pm
We watched that on Saturday too. Great fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 18, 2023, 02:29:02 pm
Is it just a remake of the 1998 one, or does it follow on in any way? I know there have been numerous iterations before that.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on September 18, 2023, 05:35:57 pm
Is it just a remake of the 1998 one, or does it follow on in any way? I know there have been numerous iterations before that.

No, it bears little resemblance to that one; although they both have their merits. The 2014 Godzilla is probably more Japanese and a bit darker than the 1998 one. Jean Reno is always entertaining but the 1998 one is perhaps a bit camp and human interest focused; the 2014 one is more about the big nasty monsters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on September 18, 2023, 11:58:30 pm
Reason I asked is my son loved the 1998 version about 3 years ago. By the sound of it I expect he's ready for this version. Thanks.

Anyone excited by The Creator? Worth a rare cinema trip by the look of it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 19, 2023, 05:16:53 pm
The Covenant.

It may surprise some, but I dont really go in for War movies.
The blurb caught my eye, as the Afghan translator is the hero throughout the first half. Then I saw it was a Guy Ritchie flick, so I put it on.
Closest thing to Apocalypse now for the 21st century, I think.
On Prime.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on September 19, 2023, 08:28:57 pm
Still pondering feelings on El Conde, enjoyed but dragged a bit. Hope for more gags, more of What we do in the shadows and less The lighthouse, two possible parents. Theres an amusing slow reveal on one of the main characters, but overall the analogy felt a bit heavy handed.

Re: Children of men. Excellent, must rewatch. Re: Jean Reno, actually paid money to watch this again recently on daughters urging. Good stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on September 19, 2023, 10:02:08 pm
Godzilla (2014) A much better movie than the Kong mash up mentioned above, there is more suspense and a less stupid plot. It also has Bryan Cranston in it; but, the main attraction is in watching huge monsters smash up cities and each other, it's hardly the Godfather, but it is an enjoyable couple of hours.
Well after watching the trailer, I gave it a watch this evening and I agree, it's a good fun monster movie and done with a fair bit more seriousness and panache - at least in the earlier parts - than many. Could have been a bit more consistent towards the end and maybe there was a bit too much Not Godzilla and not enough Godzilla but definitely still good for what it is.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 19, 2023, 10:47:36 pm
I suspect it got a harsh edit in the last 1/4 of the film for the theatrical release so loses some continuity and feels a bit rushed compared to the first half.

Oppenheimer though - wow. Saw the 70mm print at the IMAX last week and loved it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on September 20, 2023, 05:52:00 am
The Covenant.

It may surprise some, but I dont really go in for War movies.
The blurb caught my eye, as the Afghan translator is the hero throughout the first half. Then I saw it was a Guy Ritchie flick, so I put it on.
Closest thing to Apocalypse now for the 21st century, I think.
On Prime.

Interesting, I started watching it after a recommendation on here and gave up about 45 minutes in. Perhaps I was in the wrong mood, but there were far too many "unerringly accurate heroes gun down uselessly wild-firing nameless minion" type moments. It just felt completely farcical / unrealistic in a way that say Lone Survivor, which is a very similar premise, somehow managed to avoid.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 20, 2023, 02:44:18 pm
The Covenant.

It may surprise some, but I dont really go in for War movies.
The blurb caught my eye, as the Afghan translator is the hero throughout the first half. Then I saw it was a Guy Ritchie flick, so I put it on.
Closest thing to Apocalypse now for the 21st century, I think.
On Prime.

Interesting, I started watching it after a recommendation on here and gave up about 45 minutes in. Perhaps I was in the wrong mood, but there were far too many "unerringly accurate heroes gun down uselessly wild-firing nameless minion" type moments. It just felt completely farcical / unrealistic in a way that say Lone Survivor, which is a very similar premise, somehow managed to avoid.

You are correct. Its one of the things that really puts me off War movies. On the other hand, the reality of combat would make for a very short movie
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: crzylgs on September 20, 2023, 10:53:38 pm
Oppenheimer though - wow. Saw the 70mm print at the IMAX last week and loved it.

Supremely jealous. What a treat!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on September 21, 2023, 11:07:04 am
How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Memory jogged by bin fantasist Sunak and Chris Packham's excellent thing on Channel 4 last night. Low budget (though like the best ones you kind of wouldn't know it) eco thriller based on Andreas Malm's book of the same name (who appeared on the CP thing incidentally), with a largely unknown cast (apart from Sasha Lane who is always brilliant) playing a disparate group of activists drawn together for various reasons who then attempt to, yes, blow up a pipeline. Lots of things are good - the friction between factions in the group, the dusty, burning sun, tumbleweed locations, etc - but the best thing is the insane amount of tension and impossible-to-see twists. It's very good...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on September 21, 2023, 01:32:09 pm
Oppenheimer though - wow. Saw the 70mm print at the IMAX last week and loved it.

Supremely jealous. What a treat!

It was quite something. In a packed cinema only one person got up to go to the loo throughout the whole thing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on September 28, 2023, 02:16:56 pm
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is worth a look if you like Wes Anderson, works well as a 40 minute short and doesn't outstay its welcome. Breaks the 4th wall in a very knowing way and very theatrical in the scene changes. First of a set of 4 shorts dribbling out with a mostly interchangeable cast. Plus bonus Jarvis.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on September 29, 2023, 08:11:06 am
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is worth a look if you like Wes Anderson, works well as a 40 minute short and doesn't outstay its welcome. Breaks the 4th wall in a very knowing way and very theatrical in the scene changes. First of a set of 4 shorts dribbling out with a mostly interchangeable cast. Plus bonus Jarvis.

That was really, really, good.
Its a story that has stuck with me, since I read it (probably still in Primary, I would guess and not long after publishing. The book of short stories possibly being the first adult book Id read, having selected it from the travelling library, based on author (and, mistakenly); one Wednesday morning of a long summer holiday).

I dont think Ive been without a book or two in progress ever since.

Glad you wrote that. I generally find film adaptations desperately disappointing.
That was just a wonderful bit of theatre.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 07, 2023, 10:19:33 am
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.
Slight possible spoiler but not really:

Essentially, invincible aliens can control time and want to eliminate humanity, for some reason. Tom Cruise can perhaps save humanity by dubious time tricks. Think Groundhog Day, crossed with district 9.

It is derivative etc but I think it's unfair to criticise it for this as it doesn't pretend to be anything more than the fun action movie that it is.

It's on netflix now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stabbsy on October 07, 2023, 10:46:04 am
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is worth a look if you like Wes Anderson, works well as a 40 minute short and doesn't outstay its welcome. Breaks the 4th wall in a very knowing way and very theatrical in the scene changes. First of a set of 4 shorts dribbling out with a mostly interchangeable cast. Plus bonus Jarvis.

That was really, really, good.
Its a story that has stuck with me, since I read it (probably still in Primary, I would guess and not long after publishing. The book of short stories possibly being the first adult book Id read, having selected it from the travelling library, based on author (and, mistakenly); one Wednesday morning of a long summer holiday).

I dont think Ive been without a book or two in progress ever since.

Glad you wrote that. I generally find film adaptations desperately disappointing.
That was just a wonderful bit of theatre.
Have to disagree on this one. Wes Anderson can be a bit hit and miss for me and this was definitely in the miss column. I vaguely remembered the story from reading the book so had reasonably high expectations. Similar to Fantastic Mr Fox, it didnt live up to them. Maybe the Dahl/Anderson combination doesnt work for me and I wont be rushing to watch the others that have landed.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 07, 2023, 11:02:12 am
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.

It is derivative etc but I think it's unfair to criticise it for this as it doesn't pretend to be anything more than the fun action movie that it is.

Agree with this - enjoyed it more than I expected when I watched it.

Tomorrow War is similar, with Chris Pratt who is good value.

I guess the idea is loosely based on the excellent Forever War novel by Joe Haldeman, and I hoped it would match the bleakness and idea of the novel, but doesn't really and there is some inevitable cheesiness. Still good fun though. On Prime (or was).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 07, 2023, 11:04:15 am
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.
:agree: loved this, one of the best "fun romp" sci-fi action films in the past decades (obviously quite different to stuff like Interstellar / Arrival / Annihilation etc). When I saw the trailer I thought "This looks like a really cool sci-fi action film, surely there must be some catch that makes it toss", and then there wasn't and it was really cool, and I actually ended up seeing it twice at the cinema (2nd time in 3D I think?).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 07, 2023, 05:39:19 pm
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.
:agree: loved this, one of the best "fun romp" sci-fi action films in the past decades (obviously quite different to stuff like Interstellar / Arrival / Annihilation etc). When I saw the trailer I thought "This looks like a really cool sci-fi action film, surely there must be some catch that makes it toss", and then there wasn't and it was really cool, and I actually ended up seeing it twice at the cinema (2nd time in 3D I think?).

I thought the battle suits, weaponry, design of the aliens and battle scenes all seemed to bear a fairly close relationship with Warhammer 40k; so perhaps you were predisposed to like it? ;-)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 07, 2023, 06:36:38 pm
I deny everything!! And IMO, they don't, apart from the battle scenes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyxyQ0tixFk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj3ENSVogTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ZgyNoHtjw

(Apologies to everyone else  :P )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on October 07, 2023, 08:32:03 pm
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.
:agree: loved this, one of the best "fun romp" sci-fi action films in the past decades (obviously quite different to stuff like Interstellar / Arrival / Annihilation etc). When I saw the trailer I thought "This looks like a really cool sci-fi action film, surely there must be some catch that makes it toss", and then there wasn't and it was really cool, and I actually ended up seeing it twice at the cinema (2nd time in 3D I think?).

+1 for Edge of Tomorrow - lots of plot holes I'm sure - but acknowledging them would be a killjoyish missing the point - like pointing out impossibilities in Godzilla's ecological niche, or pointing out that a Wiley Coyote stunt would need planning permission (which a friend of mine once did and was deeply offended by!).  Emily Blunt is great - Sigourney / Ripley levels of badassery. 

Currently watching Nobody on Netflix.  Promising so far, if like me, you are in the mood for Saturday night violence.  It's one of those middle-aged-man-goes-amok films - in the vein of Taken or John Wick (the scriptwriter did JW).  But it's showing an edge unlike those films.  Slight spoiler - although it's soon apparent - the protagonist (Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul etc.) is not a man unwillingly pulled back into chaos and violence... so far, he seems a nasty piece of work who's been longing for it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 07, 2023, 10:36:45 pm
good fun, wait for the cameos.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 07, 2023, 10:36:58 pm
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.
:agree: loved this, one of the best "fun romp" sci-fi action films in the past decades (obviously quite different to stuff like Interstellar / Arrival / Annihilation etc). When I saw the trailer I thought "This looks like a really cool sci-fi action film, surely there must be some catch that makes it toss", and then there wasn't and it was really cool, and I actually ended up seeing it twice at the cinema (2nd time in 3D I think?).

+1 for Edge of Tomorrow - lots of plot holes I'm sure - but acknowledging them would be a killjoyish missing the point - like pointing out impossibilities in Godzilla's ecological niche, or pointing out that a Wiley Coyote stunt would need planning permission (which a friend of mine once did and was deeply offended by!).  Emily Blunt is great - Sigourney / Ripley levels of badassery. 

Currently watching Nobody on Netflix.  Promising so far, if like me, you are in the mood for Saturday night violence.  It's one of those middle-aged-man-goes-amok films - in the vein of Taken or John Wick (the scriptwriter did JW).  But it's showing an edge unlike those films.  Slight spoiler - although it's soon apparent - the protagonist (Bob Odenkirk - Better Call Saul etc.) is not a man unwillingly pulled back into chaos and violence... so far, he seems a nasty piece of work who's been longing for it.

I really liked Nobody.  Odenkirk is great in anything I've ever seen him in to be honest. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Steve R on October 09, 2023, 11:26:03 pm
Enjoyed Submarine on netflix.  Written and directed by Richard Ayoade.  Very Wes Anderson in stlye.

Also in the Wes Anderson style, been really enjoying a series of short film things by, er, Wes Anderson over the last couple of nights.  Adapted from Roald Dahl stories: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan and The Rat Catcher  have all been great.  Still have poison    to watch.  Ralph Fiennes is just so good. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on October 10, 2023, 07:13:37 pm
Yes whatever else you think about those Anderson/Dahl films; Fiennes is brilliant.

Funny career really, he's always brilliant and has some real big markers on his CV but I feel like he sort of gets overlooked/ isn't considered to be a star .

I guess I feel like he's as good as Day Lewis or J Phoenix, but isn't getting those big parts. In practice he's probably just doing exactly what he wants, and nothing more.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 13, 2023, 10:21:47 am
Mortal Engines is on Netflix at the moment. I was watching it for the second time as it's about 5 years since I saw it at the cinema. It's really enjoyable, although slightly cheesy and with a couple of amusingly clumsy political (and star wars) references. The CGI mobile cities are pretty impressive; you can see that Peter Jackson had a hand in making it. Recommended as a couple of hours of unserious fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 13, 2023, 10:29:25 am
It's good fun, shame they never made any more. I wondered if the rest of the story would get serialised like Snowpiercer, but doesn't look like it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 13, 2023, 05:03:43 pm
It (mortal engines) certainly seems as though it's being set up for a sequel at the end. I'd imagine perhaps that was planned but possibly scuppered by the pandemic?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 14, 2023, 03:12:23 pm
The Edge of Tomorrow

I thought this was hugely enjoyable, it's sufficiently good humoured with plenty of action to make the fairly silly plot and dubious science-y bits work okay.

Watched this last night. Very enjoyable.  Thanks for the recc.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 14, 2023, 03:34:57 pm
Yes whatever else you think about those Anderson/Dahl films; Fiennes is brilliant.

The Menu (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9764362/) is possibly the worse film I've watched.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 15, 2023, 10:56:36 pm
It (mortal engines) certainly seems as though it's being set up for a sequel at the end. I'd imagine perhaps that was planned but possibly scuppered by the pandemic?

There are 7 books, so more were no doubt planned, but seems to be it wasn't that popular / successful so was never continued, a bit like the original Golden Compass movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 22, 2023, 06:05:37 am
We watched Killers of the Flower Moon last night: Scorsese at his very best and in some ways deep in the territory he's best known for: bad men doing bad, grubby things according to skewed moral compasses, only switched to the plains of Oklahoma. Apparently the book it's based on makes it a whodunit, but Scorsese makes the whodunit obvious from the very start, making it much about how and why. So in some ways there's no suspense but he keeps it absolutely compelling throughout and deeply troubling. Many very good or great performances but Lily Gladstone stands out. It's long (three and a half) but brilliantly paced I thought. Didn't think about the time once.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on October 23, 2023, 09:59:36 am
It (mortal engines) certainly seems as though it's being set up for a sequel at the end. I'd imagine perhaps that was planned but possibly scuppered by the pandemic?

There are 7 books, so more were no doubt planned, but seems to be it wasn't that popular / successful so was never continued, a bit like the original Golden Compass movie.

Perhaps; although I thought the golden compass movie was mediocre at best but mortal engines was great. The BBC adaptation of HDM on the other hand was absolutely brilliant.
Maybe mortal engines is best left unsequelled, sequels too often detract from the original rather than adding to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 23, 2023, 11:08:52 am
Shout out for Film4 (so on the Channel 4 app, whatever it's calling itself this week) and their Halloween selection. Amongst others they have Midsommar, Hereditary, Kill List and Event Horizon.

Watching that lot back to back would probably stop you sleeping properly for about a month!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on October 23, 2023, 11:18:21 am
Get Out on iPlayer. Daniel Kaluuya is really good. Great film, both unsettling and deeply awkward in a Peep Show sense. Its marketed as a horror but I thought it was more of a scary thriller, it only gets a bit gory at the end. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on October 23, 2023, 12:24:40 pm
We watched Killers of the Flower Moon last night: Scorsese at his very best

Does it need to be 3h25 long?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 23, 2023, 07:07:48 pm
We watched Killers of the Flower Moon last night: Scorsese at his very best

Does it need to be 3h25 long?

When I say at this very best, I mean I thought it was in the very top flight of his films (not necessarily the best). Does it need to be that length? I guess not, but I honestly thought it perfectly paced and never over long.  There was nothing I wished we'd done without. Obviously many people will disagree and find it much too long.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on October 23, 2023, 07:41:00 pm
We watched Killers of the Flower Moon last night: Scorsese at his very best and in some ways deep in the territory he's best known for: bad men doing bad, grubby things according to skewed moral compasses, only switched to the plains of Oklahoma. Apparently the book it's based on makes it a whodunit, but Scorsese makes the whodunit obvious from the very start, making it much about how and why. So in some ways there's no suspense but he keeps it absolutely compelling throughout and deeply troubling. Many very good or great performances but Lily Gladstone stands out. It's long (three and a half) but brilliantly paced I thought. Didn't think about the time once.

Was the film more focussed on the treatment of the natives? When I read the book to me it never read like a whodunit but more around how the white people treated the native community before and after the oil. The first half reads like a novella but about halfway it becomes a full on investigative journalist article, its a very, very good book and worth a read even if youve seen the film!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on October 24, 2023, 06:42:35 am
It's hard for me to comment as I've not read the book, though I would very much like to; I've only heard good things about it. My comment came from the fact that just about every single review mentions that the film is much less investigative than the book. But like I said, I'm not really able to judge.

Back to the length; the obvious comparison is The Irishman, another recent Scorsese that is also very long. I quite enjoyed The Irishman because its Philly and features lots of places I know well, but it's not great by any means and definitely too long. It felt like a swansong. In comparison KOTFM is an infinitely better film, full of new energy, and the running time doesn't feel like an indulgence.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: slab_happy on October 24, 2023, 09:03:25 am
Haven't seen the film or read the book, but I've read some articles on how closely the Osage Nation worked with Scorsese on the film -- apparently he made a decision in the process that he didn't want to be "making a movie about all the white guys", so it's less focused on the FBI investigation:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/21/entertainment/killers-of-the-flower-moon-osage-nation-cec/index.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-180983094/

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on October 24, 2023, 09:29:36 am
Haven't seen the film or read the book, but I've read some articles on how closely the Osage Nation worked with Scorsese on the film -- apparently he made a decision in the process that he didn't want to be "making a movie about all the white guys", so it's less focused on the FBI investigation:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/21/entertainment/killers-of-the-flower-moon-osage-nation-cec/index.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-180983094/

Thats good to hear, the thing that captivated me most when reading it was the treatment of the Osage by their, what is essentially white owners who were assigned to manage their money and assets as apparently they couldnt be entrusted to handle their own finances also just generally how a lot of them would fall into pits of alcohol and drug addiction. Its so sad and infuriating even more so when you realise it didnt happen that long ago.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 24, 2023, 03:51:34 pm
1984 on Prime - released back in 1984 and staring John Hurt and Richard Burton. A rather strange film. Its half relentless realism, all decaying flats and announcements about pig iron production, and half a fantasy dreamscape of pastoral England. Its a good watch, theres something missing or misplaced about it but I cant put my finger on exactly what.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 27, 2023, 10:09:39 am
Have you read the book? Follows it reasonably closely I seem to recall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 27, 2023, 12:51:39 pm
Have you read the book? Follows it reasonably closely I seem to recall.

Several times. I agree the order of events in the film is very faithful to the book, it just feels different. In the book Winstons struggles with memory are very important, less so in the film, but thats just the nature of the medium I guess.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 27, 2023, 01:20:08 pm
I should probably get onto both again. I haven't read the book since... well, 1984.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on October 27, 2023, 03:13:55 pm
I should probably get onto both again. I haven't read the book since... well, 1984.

 ;D Recommend the film for sure.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 27, 2023, 03:29:14 pm
Sure I saw it about the same time. Going off Prime in 5 days, better grab a rewatch now!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on October 30, 2023, 05:51:40 pm
Massive Talent is on Netflix. We watched last night and it was great fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on October 30, 2023, 07:04:40 pm
Hell or High Water

On Netflix. Has a bit of a No Country for Old Men / Coen Brothers feel to it at times, in a really good way, although by the end it settles back into some classic action tropes. Certainly doesn't tread much new ground but what it does it does very well indeed.

NSFW  :
That said, the final bank robbery being undone by the legions of concealed carry firearm toting Texans is absolutely classic, a brilliant little microcosm of the firearms debate and, from a British perspective, clear evidence for why it's so stupid.

I'd never heard of it before stumbling across it today but it picked up a bunch of deserved award nominations when it came out. Morally ambiguous (in a fairly simple kind of way) and with some great performances, snappy dialogue, Jeff Bridges in particularly fine form. Written by the same person who did Sicario not that it's as stylishly done / directed and nowhere near as violent. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on October 30, 2023, 07:40:41 pm
Great movie. Ive watched it twice. Good recommendation.

We watched The Burial last night. A proper classic courtroom drama. Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx. Foxx is ace in it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on October 31, 2023, 03:49:11 am
I love hell or high water the casting in it is perfect.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: warmonke on October 31, 2023, 02:03:21 pm
Watched Memories of Murder and Barking Dogs Never Bite by Bong Joon-ho this week; both incredible (Barking Dogs is slightly more light-hearted despite the animal cruelty) and both on Channel 4 streaming atm! Would highly recommend
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 31, 2023, 03:01:47 pm
Watched The Hitman's Bodyguard with son the other day, low maintenance, and a lot of fun, we both thought it was great.. be warned, a lot of swearing though, even for a 15 rating.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on October 31, 2023, 03:23:57 pm
I've posted similar on social media but there's a good crop of horror / thriller stuff knocking about with it being that time of year...

Hereditary, Midsommar on C4 (also Kill List and Under The Skin, not strictly horror but both bloody unsettling)
The Shining, Us, Get Out on BBC
Scream, various Saws on Netflix
Blair Witch, Suspiria on Prime
28 Days / Weeks Later and all the Alien stuff on Disney +
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on October 31, 2023, 03:32:22 pm
Also

The Revenant (not the LDC one). Soldier dies in strange circumstance, comes back from the dead, wanders about drinking blood and causing mayhem. Very gory and pretty funny, with surprising finale.

As i posted earlier.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on October 31, 2023, 07:10:16 pm
Checked the trailer of that (2009), looks quite fun.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Dingdong on October 31, 2023, 07:45:20 pm
Not quite a film per se but can be watched as a film… Over The Garden Wall was a 10 part miniseries animation but can be watched in one go as a film, I put on a screening of it once, Cartoon Network even sent me a supercut and was a huge hit at the cinema selling out, it’s in my opinion the greatest autumnal animated show ever created and me and my partner watch it every year around Halloween.

Oh and the voice cast is incredible to boot.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VOBTwb59Fp6T11HevotGwMUhhd5xcqxp/view?usp=drivesdk
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on November 02, 2023, 11:10:28 am
Saw Killers of the Flower Moon last night. Brilliant film. I was apprehensive about the length but it didn't feel overly long. It's not fast-paced but there also isn't really any filler in there.

I didn't know anything about the events it covers and there's a couple of terms up front that threw me, so if anybody wants a primer then I've copied this one below:

NSFW  :
Scorseses movie assumes that viewers are familiar with a few legal terms and conditions from the 1920s up front. Its helpful to have a short primer going in, though, particularly to understand the movies early scenes, if you havent already read the book. Key to the story: The Osage group seen in the movie were repeatedly forced off their land by white settlers expanding westward in the 1800s. While this group of Osage had been deeded land in Kansas by government decree, they were eventually pushed off that property, and they moved to an undesirable area of Oklahoma, where they legally bought the land and its mineral and oil rights.

The headrights repeatedly referenced throughout the film can be a little confusing, since the term more commonly refers to a deed of land granted to a sponsor who brought an immigrant into areas the government was trying to settle. In this case, though, they amount to a share in the financial trust run by the government to manage the oil profits from the Osage lands.

The film notes in passing that the government considers some Osage competent, meaning they can receive and manage their headright money allotment without a sponsor or overseer. Other tribe members, like Mollie, are considered incompetent, and need permission from a white bank officer to withdraw or use their money, which is handed out like an allowance. What the movie doesnt state is that this system was effectively a racist way of controlling Native Americans as the New York Times notes in covering Granns book, incompetent often meant full-blooded Native, while competent status went to mixed-race Osage.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 02, 2023, 01:54:43 pm
Reminiscence on Prime. Great sci-fi concept and setting, but story wasn't that great, and some highly improbable events make it a bit hard to completely enjoy (one terrible fight scene particularly). Hugh Jackman is good though, as is Thandie Newton. Rebecca Fergusson underwhelming as usual. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on November 04, 2023, 08:25:25 pm
'71

On Netflix. Been meaning to watch this for ages. Brilliant film. Tense and nerve-wracking, has an on-foot chase scene as exciting as any car based chase I've ever seen. Seems really grounded and realistic (not that I'd know of course), and seems to give a decent representation of just how awful it must have been to live in Belfast during the Troubles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on November 06, 2023, 01:11:44 pm
'71

On Netflix. Been meaning to watch this for ages. Brilliant film. Tense and nerve-wracking, has an on-foot chase scene as exciting as any car based chase I've ever seen. Seems really grounded and realistic (not that I'd know of course), and seems to give a decent representation of just how awful it must have been to live in Belfast during the Troubles.

Totally agree. I was surprised when I checked that it was released in 2014 yet I'd not heard of it. Looking at the cast list, there are quite a few actors/actresses that I thought have been great in more recent productions (Fortitude, Happy Valley, Blue Lights etc.) and their quality shone through even in smaller roles (Richard Dormer for instance).

It also reminded me how good I remember 'Starred Up' to be (with the same lead, Jack O'Connell):
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2567712/?ref_=nm_knf_t_3

Massive Talent is on Netflix. We watched last night and it was great fun.

I struggled with this and couldn't work out if that was mainly my mood, the film or the fact that Cage has messed with his face so much it's distracting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on November 06, 2023, 01:29:22 pm

It also reminded me how good I remember 'Starred Up' to be (with the same lead, Jack O'Connell):
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2567712/?ref_=nm_knf_t_3


Such a great low profile talent. Been brilliant since Skins.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 04, 2023, 06:33:20 pm
Went to see Napoleon at the massive iMax, fittingly in Waterloo, last night.

Its awesome. Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic, as is Vanessa Kirby as Josephine.  The battle scenes are totally epic and there are some brilliant supporting roles from Rupert Everett as Wellington and other familiar faces.

It ends a bit abruptly and the aftermath of Waterloo is given short shrift but Scott has already said theres a 4.5 hr Directors cut for the Blu Ray release. 

Its brilliant, go see it at a cinema or even better, iMax if you can.

On a completely different note, we watched a lovely little independent British flick called Scrapper on Mubi last weekend.  Its beautiful, funny and very moving about a young girl on an estate in East London whose mum has sadly passed away and shes somehow managed to swizz the social that shes not on her own. I wont give the plot away but its well worth watching.

Ive gone back to getting DVDs rented and delivered (from Cinema Paradiso) because of the lift in prices (and lack of anything very good) on Netflix and the amount of films on prime that you have to rent or buy and the back catalogue of stuff actually available to watch seems to be getting smaller all the time.  Cinema Paradiso have pretty much everything Id like to watch plus all the series like Succession etc that are on Sky (which we dont have) for 12 a month and one DVD at a time. Worth looking at if youre shelling out for multiple streaming platforms and/or paying individual rental fees on top.

 https://www.cinemaparadiso.co.uk/catalog-w/ (https://www.cinemaparadiso.co.uk/catalog-w/)

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 08, 2023, 08:00:53 am
A couple of films I've enjoyed from Netflix recently:

Our kind of traitor is a nicely paced adaptation of a John Le Carre novel about Russian money laundering in London with a credible cast. A great TV film, although unremarkable in that it doesn't really break any new ground.

Terminator 3, speaks for itself really. It's not as good as the original but I still found it pretty entertaining.

Pan's Labyrinth is a brilliant film, on the other hand, original and affecting fantasy - reality.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 08, 2023, 09:38:40 am

Terminator 3, speaks for itself really. It's not as good as the original but I still found it pretty entertaining.


You mean not as good as Terminator 2?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 08, 2023, 08:42:57 pm

Terminator 3, speaks for itself really. It's not as good as the original but I still found it pretty entertaining.


You mean not as good as Terminator 2?

Which in turn is not as good as The Terminator ( This is my hill to die on ).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Davo on December 09, 2023, 09:40:36 am

Terminator 3, speaks for itself really. It's not as good as the original but I still found it pretty entertaining.


You mean not as good as Terminator 2?

Which in turn is not as good as The Terminator ( This is my hill to die on ).

Personally I find Terminator and Terminator 2 equally as good but in different ways.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 09, 2023, 11:45:54 am
Like Alien and Aliens innit, both great but different. And similarly the less said about the rest of the franchise the better!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 10, 2023, 11:12:00 am
Which in turn is not as good as The Terminator ( This is my hill to die on ).

Painful place to die. My son is now of an age where he can appreciate the classic films, so far Aliens got the vote over Alien (hard to believe it was released in 1979), Predator over Predator II, Terminator/2 is next...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 10, 2023, 01:02:08 pm
Just remember that kyle reese and sarah connor are the heroes of the first film and john connor and sarah connor are the heroes of the second film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on December 11, 2023, 06:36:37 pm
Watched what I thought was a great film on Saturday - "Minari" (2020) focuses on an immigrant Korean family trying to make it as small farmers in Arkansas in the 1980s: funny, sweet, poignant, and some great characters and acting. Highly recommended if you're looking for something at the gentler end of the spectrum.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Hoseyb on December 11, 2023, 10:55:41 pm
Predator over Predator II,

I thought Prey was far superior to the previous predator movies
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Snoops on December 11, 2023, 11:10:35 pm
Original terminator the best for sure.

Predator is an all time favourite that has aged brilliantly....thx god they haven't done a 'new' remake

Alien/Aliens both superb

Why we in the subject of old classics...Rambo first blood part 1 f awesome
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 12, 2023, 08:46:18 am
I thought Prey was far superior to the previous predator movies

I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting to, but it's still just a different take on the originals.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 12, 2023, 10:20:54 am
The Covenant.

It may surprise some, but I dont really go in for War movies.
The blurb caught my eye, as the Afghan translator is the hero throughout the first half. Then I saw it was a Guy Ritchie flick, so I put it on.
Closest thing to Apocalypse now for the 21st century, I think.
On Prime.

Interesting, I started watching it after a recommendation on here and gave up about 45 minutes in. Perhaps I was in the wrong mood, but there were far too many "unerringly accurate heroes gun down uselessly wild-firing nameless minion" type moments. It just felt completely farcical / unrealistic in a way that say Lone Survivor, which is a very similar premise, somehow managed to avoid.

Agree it was a bit overkill, and unnecessary as it added nothing to what is (apparently) a true story. They could have killed half of what they did. That aside, I still enjoyed the film if you don't think too hard.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 17, 2023, 04:33:12 pm

Terminator 3, speaks for itself really. It's not as good as the original but I still found it pretty entertaining.


You mean not as good as Terminator 2?

Which in turn is not as good as The Terminator ( This is my hill to die on ).

The first Terminator is the best one, in my opinion. I've actually enjoyed all the subsequent ones that I've seen; I'm not denying that they are total trash but I still got something out of them. As a series, I think they're a bit different to the alien saga, in that those are actually pretty different films from each other (e.g.: alien is essentially a horror - haunted house movie in space, whereas aliens is a war movie in space.)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on December 17, 2023, 04:38:38 pm
I thought Cold Pursuit (Netflix) was considerably better than I was expecting. It's pretty funny in a cartoon violence kind of way. Liam Neeson does a fine job of keeping a straight face as almost everyone else in the film gets shot or a variety of other interesting methods of meeting their demise. It's a really silly self parody, but carried off quite well.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 17, 2023, 04:56:35 pm
Really enjoyed Leave the World Behind on Netflix from Sam Esmail of Mr Robot fame, adapting a book of the same name (which I havent read). Great cast and premise, Id recommend not reading around it before watching as I think the less you know the better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 17, 2023, 09:29:46 pm
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2023, 08:33:57 am
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is pretty much what you expect, the kids loved it, I thought it was a bit by the numbers, but I guess a lot of people want that. Some of the CGI looks a bit low quality compared to what is available out there.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 18, 2023, 10:06:19 am
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.

Got this lined up for the Christmas break with the kids. Looking forward to it.

I watched Home Alones 1 and 2 with them over the last couple of weekends. Old but gold. I've never seen them laugh so hard, it was almost physically too much for them.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: mark20 on December 18, 2023, 10:25:57 am
Also enjoyed the new Chicken Run. When the original came out, my cousin aged 10ish at the time, was totally traumatised by the axe wielding chicken murderer and has been veggie ever since!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2023, 10:51:15 am
Our kids watched the first one quite a few times, along with Early Man when they were little, but now have no recollection of either whatsoever.
However, they watched the Ninjago Movie loads at around the same time (it's ace btw, some really funny scenes) and can recall that practically line for line. So we might have to track down first one for a rewatch, before the second. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2023, 10:52:18 am
I watched Home Alones 1 and 2 with them over the last couple of weekends. Old but gold. I've never seen them laugh so hard, it was almost physically too much for them.

Be warned, quality drops off a cliff with no 3, not the same without 3 main characters.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Rocksteady on December 18, 2023, 10:56:39 am
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.

Got this lined up for the Christmas break with the kids. Looking forward to it.

I watched Home Alones 1 and 2 with them over the last couple of weekends. Old but gold. I've never seen them laugh so hard, it was almost physically too much for them.

How old are your kids Will? I am considering letting my oldest watch Home Alone age 5 (nearly 6 he would probably like me to emphasise). I do remember it being quite violent in a slapstick/pratfall way and there are some words I'd prefer he didn't start saying back to me ("butthead") but thought he could probably handle it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 18, 2023, 11:09:24 am
Depends on the child, my eldest, at 10, really hates the idea of being left and still refuses to watch it, the youngest very much enjoys physical harm to "baddies".

Wonka is very good though, we all enjoyed it, especially after the awful Johnny Depp effort. Great songs (Neil Hannon), cast and writers aka Paddington with a sprinkling of horrible histories (Simon Farnaby).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 18, 2023, 11:12:34 am
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.

No Julia Sawalha though!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 18, 2023, 11:19:38 am
How old are your kids Will? I am considering letting my oldest watch Home Alone age 5 (nearly 6 he would probably like me to emphasise). I do remember it being quite violent in a slapstick/pratfall way and there are some words I'd prefer he didn't start saying back to me ("butthead") but thought he could probably handle it.

My son has always loved it, but my daughter used to hate seeing anyone get hurt, and wouldn't watch it at that age. She loves it now though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on December 18, 2023, 12:23:52 pm
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.

Got this lined up for the Christmas break with the kids. Looking forward to it.

I watched Home Alones 1 and 2 with them over the last couple of weekends. Old but gold. I've never seen them laugh so hard, it was almost physically too much for them.

How old are your kids Will? I am considering letting my oldest watch Home Alone age 5 (nearly 6 he would probably like me to emphasise). I do remember it being quite violent in a slapstick/pratfall way and there are some words I'd prefer he didn't start saying back to me ("butthead") but thought he could probably handle it.

This is where I look like a terrible parent! The elder is 6 and a half, the younger has just turned 4...
I saw it was on Disney and rated 6+ on there. I wouldn't put it on and leave them to watch it on their own but I think it was OK with parental supervision. There's definitely some dialogue in there which is PG but it's fairly fleeting and is not the focus - they didn't pick up on it.
The violence is all incredibly slapstick and silly.

Going by how my kid's behaviour is negatively affected after watching, I'd give Bluey a higher age rating.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on December 18, 2023, 12:39:31 pm
The new Chicken Run is really very good indeed. Far surpassed my expectations of a pointless reboot.

No Julia Sawalha though!

Or Mel Gibson... Honestly, I thought missing both of them would bother me but after about 2 minutes I realised I didn't care. The bloke playing Rocky is nowhere near as good but it's easy to overlook.

My wife can often be even more cynical about these things than I can, and early on she said "it's already not as good is it". I said to just give it a chance, and in a few minutes she was laughing away and said after how good it was (insert joke about how she says the same about....etc.)

That said, I read somewhere that the director had claimed not casting Sawalha was because it was a "reboot" more than a sequel. This is pure bullshit. It's a sequel in every way, shape and form. I presume the reboot claim was to try to excuse not casting her because doing so might have been weird without Mel Gibson (I forget why he's now cancelled).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: galpinos on December 18, 2023, 02:05:25 pm
No Julia Sawalha though!

Or Mel Gibson... Honestly, I thought missing both of them would bother me but after about 2 minutes I realised I didn't care. The bloke playing Rocky is nowhere near as good but it's easy to overlook......

That said, I read somewhere that the director had claimed not casting Sawalha was because it was a "reboot" more than a sequel. This is pure bullshit. It's a sequel in every way, shape and form. I presume the reboot claim was to try to excuse not casting her because doing so might have been weird without Mel Gibson (I forget why he's now cancelled).

Julia Sawalha lost out because she's too old/wasn't the right/big enough "name" for the re-boot. Gibson lost out due to the domestic violence, antisemitism, racism and sexism.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 19, 2023, 08:54:13 am
I thought Cold Pursuit (Netflix) was considerably better than I was expecting. It's pretty funny in a cartoon violence kind of way. Liam Neeson does a fine job of keeping a straight face as almost everyone else in the film gets shot or a variety of other interesting methods of meeting their demise. It's a really silly self parody, but carried off quite well.

We enjoyed it too.  Its also a remake of the 2014 Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance which is well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 19, 2023, 02:52:03 pm
Recommending again - "Rare Exports - A  Christmas Tale". Just about as unChristmas movie as you can get - gets pretty grim and weird in places. These Fins are a bit nuts. On Freevee.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on December 19, 2023, 08:39:37 pm
We've just seen and really enjoyed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riders_of_Justice

It's quirky and, though in principle it's violent, it feels more like a heartwarming Xmas tale about friendship, family and the random nature of life.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 20, 2023, 05:35:25 pm
Yeah its great Stone. Top reccomendation 👍🏼
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on December 23, 2023, 10:46:29 pm
Not many days left to watch Our Ladies on C4.
Fabulous little coming of age tale based on Alan Warner's novel The Sopranos.
Scenery & soundtrack look wonderful.
Breaks my heart every time I watch it.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 24, 2023, 08:59:39 am
Dumb Money - About the GameStop share price saga. Great fun and enjoyable.

Equalizer 3 - Ill watch anything with Denzil in it and this one doesnt disappoint. Predictable but still ace. Dakota Fanning has a leading role as a CIA agent which warmed my heart cos Man on Fire (with her as a child and Denzil as her bodyguard) is one of my all-time favourite films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on December 24, 2023, 11:49:17 am
Had to stop watching rebel moon last night when the shirtless oiled principled convict was asked to tame the space gryphon in exchange for his freedom which could of happened at any time before the events of the film rolled into his life.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: teestub on December 24, 2023, 12:29:40 pm
Had to stop watching rebel moon last night when the shirtless oiled principled convict was asked to tame the space gryphon in exchange for his freedom which could of happened at any time before the events of the film rolled into his life.

A truly terrible film, the fact that people keep giving Snyder vast sums of money to make movies is totally bewildering to me. I know new IP sci fi is hard, but this is Jupiter Ascending bad.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on December 24, 2023, 12:36:17 pm
I had to endure the newest Indiana Jones film "Dial of Destiny" last night (because "family" etc.). I thought it was truly dreadful but not quite as dreadful as its predecessor.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on December 24, 2023, 02:37:54 pm
Leave the World Behind - a "start of the apocalypse" film on Netflix with Mahershala Ali and Julia Roberts. A solid three star movie that is perfectly acceptable for that quiet time between Christmas and New Year.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 25, 2023, 12:32:27 pm
The Creator - Wow! We both loved it and wish wed gone to the cinema when it was out. Its absolutely brilliant.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on December 25, 2023, 01:24:16 pm
The Creator - Wow! We both loved it and wish wed gone to the cinema when it was out. Its absolutely brilliant.

Interesting. Both that and Indiana Jones were playing on the ferry (we skipped both in the end). They get similar review scores!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on December 26, 2023, 11:47:06 am
Leave the World Behind - a "start of the apocalypse" film on Netflix with Mahershala Ali and Julia Roberts. A solid three star movie that is perfectly acceptable for that quiet time between Christmas and New Year.

Thanks Sean.  Did the job last night for us both. Enjoyable Christmas Day end-of-the-world drama.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on December 27, 2023, 10:30:51 am
The Creator - Wow! We both loved it and wish wed gone to the cinema when it was out. Its absolutely brilliant.

I wish I had too, fully intended, then completely forgot.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on December 31, 2023, 06:37:12 pm
Anatomy of a fall - is really good.

Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on December 31, 2023, 09:24:01 pm
Anatomy of a fall - is really good.

Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.

I googled Anatomy of a fall and it does sound good -thanks.

I also googled your second sentence to try and understand because that sentence went totally over my head. I failed even with google. I guess it would be tedious for you to explain, but I'm intrigued.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on December 31, 2023, 10:42:17 pm
Anatomy of a fall - is really good.

Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.

I googled Anatomy of a fall and it does sound good -thanks.

I also googled your second sentence to try and understand because that sentence went totally over my head. I failed even with google. I guess it would be tedious for you to explain, but I'm intrigued.
Yeah, I'm sort of lost too  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Teaboy on January 01, 2024, 12:01:41 pm
Saltburn on Amazon Prime is getting a lot of hype, probably undeserved. Drags a little and then rushes an ending.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on January 01, 2024, 05:44:30 pm
Anatomy of a fall - is really good. Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.
I also googled your second sentence to try and understand because that sentence went totally over my head. I failed even with google. I guess it would be tedious for you to explain, but I'm intrigued.

That they talk a lot in the film.

Followed by a dose self-satire so that you don't mistake me for the kind of person that likes that sort of thing.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 01, 2024, 06:41:22 pm
 :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 01, 2024, 08:39:01 pm
Anatomy of a fall - is really good. Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.
I also googled your second sentence to try and understand because that sentence went totally over my head. I failed even with google. I guess it would be tedious for you to explain, but I'm intrigued.

That they talk a lot in the film.

Followed by a dose self-satire so that you don't mistake me for the kind of person that likes that sort of thing.

What on earth are you on about?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on January 01, 2024, 09:45:42 pm
Usual disclaimer bc no one gets shot in the face but I've got Jew-Twitter for that, fortunately.

Running this through ukb's translate function gives me:

It's not the kind of violent movie that some of you seem to like. I'm currently seeing plenty of violent imagery posted by the Jewish people I follow on Twitter.


I've just seen the latest Studio Ghibli: The Boy and the Heron.

It starts with what feels like a scene from Grave of the Fireflies and the death of the central character's mother. The rest of the film is a physical and psychological search for her. The first act is almost naturalistic, the second and third a quest (or buddy movie) through increasingly psychedelic worlds. Or is it an extended dream sequence after a bang on the head?

It's got many of Miyazaki's favourite themes: an adolescent as central character, world war two, flying, natural disasters, the sea, pantheism, man-made structures reclaimed by nature, and - most of all - a supernatural world hidden in plain sight. It's also got a Fascistic parrot, nods to Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland, a supreme being that looks like Friedrich Nietzsche whose power derives from a floating rock straight out of Magritte. It's a bit chaotic with too many ideas but also a glorious feast of the imagination and frequently visually stunning. Middle rank Ghibli which still makes it better than 95% of animation.


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on January 03, 2024, 04:39:45 pm


I've just seen the latest Studio Ghibli: The Boy and the Heron.


I'm so glad you posted this, so that I don't have to try to explain what the hell it was about! Much if it went right over my head, it was pretty mental.

I think the only message I actually got was: "trying to maintain an unrealistic perfection is fallacy, embrace the real world, warts and all" or something like that....

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 04, 2024, 10:12:57 am
I recently watched venom on Netflix; despite the fact that I generally dislike marvel films, this one is a bit more like Deadpool than the ones I find unbearable.
Basically, plenty of cartoon violence and puerile humour with some nicely choreographed action and absolutely no intellect. If you're in the mood for something like that, it's great. If you're after something more cerebral or engaging, it's not this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 05, 2024, 08:03:08 am
We watched Maestro last night, the Bradley Cooper (co-writer, director, star) film about Leonard Bernstein. Biopics are normally pretty much one of my least favourite genres but I really enjoyed this. I would say its more of a character study than a biopic, even if its largely chronological. Hugely energetic, some bravura directing and set pieces, great performances from Cooper and Carey Mulligan, and doesnt shy away from confronting the complexities of its central subject.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 05, 2024, 09:29:05 pm
Yeah we loved it too. Carey Mulligan is outstanding in it. Great movie.

We also did Tr a few days ago.  Duncans already done a great write-up. Its brilliant and Cate Blanchett is extraordinarily good.

The Night of the 12th is another good one.  French film, set in the Brianon valley. A girl is murdered and the police dont really know what to do.

I bought a copy of the new print of  Dersu Uzula (https://amp.theguardian.com/film/2012/jan/08/akira-kurozawa-dersu-uzala-dvd) on Blu-Ray and had a quiet afternoon by myself thoroughly immersed in this magnificent, quiet classic.

The Railway Children (on iPlayer) was a big hit with W on Christmas Day.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Lopez on January 06, 2024, 03:46:23 pm

It's got many of Miyazaki's favourite themes: an adolescent as central character, world war two, flying, natural disasters, the sea, pantheism, man-made structures reclaimed by nature, and - most of all - a supernatural world hidden in plain sight. It's also got a Fascistic parrot, nods to Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland, a supreme being that looks like Friedrich Nietzsche whose power derives from a floating rock straight out of Magritte. It's a bit chaotic with too many ideas but also a glorious feast of the imagination and frequently visually stunning.



I think the only message I actually got was: "trying to maintain an unrealistic perfection is fallacy, embrace the real world, warts and all" or something like that....


Watching a trailer of the movie on youtube after seeing it mentioned here led me to a biography/documentary on Miyazaki which i found very compelling, so much so that instead of the usual "watch 2 minutes, skip, skip, close tab" SOP i follow with anything over 3 minutes long on youtube i ended up watching the whole 1 hour and 20 minutes glued to the screen.

While it probably doesn't help understand the film itself, it gives a very good understanding on how the film came to be, its themes, Miyazaki's train of thoughts, and maybe its message (haven't watched the film yet)

Defnitely worth a watch for anyone with any interest in his films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kJM7hfdeSI


Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 07, 2024, 08:49:32 am
The Killer  Really good,  I thought,  and not just good for a Netflix movie either.  It develops nicely and was a nice angle on the revenge drama genre. It is quite violent,  but not gratuitously so. Plenty of the director's trademark bleak, lonely cinematography.  (David Fincher)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 07, 2024, 11:50:57 am
Sounds good Toby.

I watched Sisu on Friday night. Superb schlocky grindcore with several laugh out loud moments. Well worth the ninety minutes.

On the other hand, Boondock Saints is absolutely awful. I stuck with it for over an hour until switching off. Complete crap.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on January 07, 2024, 12:07:08 pm
The Killer  Really good,  I thought,  and not just good for a Netflix movie either.  It develops nicely and was a nice angle on the revenge drama genre. It is quite violent,  but not gratuitously so. Plenty of the director's trademark bleak, lonely cinematography.  (David Fincher)
Watched this twice in two days, obviously thought it was excellent!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on January 07, 2024, 04:41:21 pm
The Fabelmans - a drama about a boy growing up in 1950s and 60s America, who discovers his passion for movie making whilst his family slowly falls apart. The Fabelmans are really the Spielbergs, barely fictionalised, so this is as lovely and as schmaltzy as youd expect from that director. I really enjoyed it, but Im a sucker for mid-century America as a setting and when hes good Spielberg makes such pleasurable movies.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 07, 2024, 08:29:46 pm
 Finally got round to watching Oppenheimer. I thought it was good but not the the "film of the decade" it was touted to be. It seemed to me to be a good solid film that suffered through a combination of that awful American "rat a tat tat" style dialogue where everyone delivers one line responses to everything with extreme rapidity, along with an overly rushed first 40 minutes, which may have set the scene but basically felt to me like they just tried to fit too much in. Ultimately I think they were slightly hamstrung as the aftermath of the war, various hearings etc is simply too dry to be made into a series so film is the best medium and that entails limited time. The test detonation sequence was really excellent, bet that was good in a cinema. Anyway, good film, well acted by everyone throughout, but I'd have stood no chance without subtitles in terms of following the dialogue.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 08, 2024, 08:32:30 am
Boondock Saints is absolutely awful. I stuck with it for over an hour until switching off. Complete crap.

I thought it was quite good fun when I watched it about 20 years ago. I think it was a time when that sort of thing was quite popular, but I don't think I am target audience anymore and would probably get annoyed by it now.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 12, 2024, 04:17:53 pm
Ondra

Ondra (2023) is a musical fantasy film which tells the origin story of Adam Ondra (Timothe Chalamet), featuring his early days as a sport climber.

Plot

The young Adam Ondra arrives in Catalunya on a determined mission to repeat hard routes and put up some new ones of his own. With meagre savings and little in the way of sponsorship, he is forced to belay for money and degrade himself by providing coaching to visiting groups from British climbing walls, including the Westway and the Castle. As a result, he faces mockery from three rival sport climbers - Alex Megos (Jack Gleeson), Chris Sharma (Jake Gyllenhaal), and Daniel Woods (Austin Butler) - all of whom have generous sponsorship deals which allow them to climb full-time.

Unable to afford the exorbitant prices at the grocery shop in Margalef, Adam reluctantly agrees to coach a group from Mile End for the next fortnight. As he coaxes the visiting Londoners up mid 6s at Can Torxa, Adam finds his competitive frustrations begin to melt away, partly aided by the provisions of Hackney-based organic weed entrepreneur and Fr6b onsighter Joshi (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Galvanised by the profound effects of his spiritual awakening, and with the help of Joshi and Dalstonian baker Sienna (Ophelia Lovibond), Adam knocks up a prodigious batch of edibles and delivers them to the house in Bisbal where his three rivals are staying. The show him in, and introduce him to guests Dave Graham (Andrew Garfield) and Alex Honnold (Finn Wolfhard). Adam shares out the delicious-looking brownies.

Things do not go to plan. Alex Megos has a massive whitey, is sick in the bath, and leaves in a taxi for the airport. Dave Grahams dog bites Honnold before chasing him most of the way to Lleida, with Dave in hot pursuit. Daniel Woods goes all-out, uncorking a bottle of psilocybin-infused Sonoma County zinfandel hed smuggled out to Spain which he ploughs through determinedly along with a bowl of cargols a la llauna and esqueixada de bacall.

Whilst Daniel staggers around the house muttering about the curse of the spiders eyes, Adam and Chris reconcile their differences and agree to combine forces. In between bouts of uncontrollable giggling, they pack rucksacks, then hitch a ride on the back of an olive farmers tractor to Oliana. Chris shows Adam a line hed bolted back in 2009, and offers him a belay on what will one day become La Dura Dura.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 12, 2024, 04:31:49 pm
this has made my day
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on January 12, 2024, 05:05:35 pm
 Yoss did you write that Si OConner spoof back in the day when he claiming all those V14s.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 12, 2024, 05:20:21 pm
Alas no. Intricate Gaelic punctuation isn't really my forte...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: webbo on January 12, 2024, 06:00:11 pm
I wonder if it still exists on here?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 12, 2024, 06:11:20 pm
Just back from seeing Barbie, a solid 5/5, havent laughed so much in ages. Lots of jokes that will go right over the kids heads but had me in stitches. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie are excellent and the soundtrack is spot on.

Yup. Very funny.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on January 12, 2024, 07:18:31 pm
Ondra

Ondra (2023) is a musical fantasy film which tells the origin story of Adam Ondra (Timothe Chalamet), featuring his early days as a sport climber.

Plot

The young Adam Ondra arrives in Catalunya on a determined mission to repeat hard routes and put up some new ones of his own. With meagre savings and little in the way of sponsorship, he is forced to belay for money and degrade himself by providing coaching to visiting groups from British climbing walls, including the Westway and the Castle. As a result, he faces mockery from three rival sport climbers - Alex Megos (Jack Gleeson), Chris Sharma (Jake Gyllenhaal), and Daniel Woods (Austin Butler) - all of whom have generous sponsorship deals which allow them to climb full-time.

Unable to afford the exorbitant prices at the grocery shop in Margalef, Adam reluctantly agrees to coach a group from Mile End for the next fortnight. As he coaxes the visiting Londoners up mid 6s at Can Torxa, Adam finds his competitive frustrations begin to melt away, partly aided by the provisions of Hackney-based organic weed entrepreneur and Fr6b onsighter Joshi (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Galvanised by the profound effects of his spiritual awakening, and with the help of Joshi and Dalstonian baker Sienna (Ophelia Lovibond), Adam knocks up a prodigious batch of edibles and delivers them to the house in Bisbal where his three rivals are staying. The show him in, and introduce him to guests Dave Graham (Andrew Garfield) and Alex Honnold (Finn Wolfhard). Adam shares out the delicious-looking brownies.

Things do not go to plan. Alex Megos has a massive whitey, is sick in the bath, and leaves in a taxi for the airport. Dave Grahams dog bites Honnold before chasing him most of the way to Lleida, with Dave in hot pursuit. Daniel Woods goes all-out, uncorking a bottle of psilocybin-infused Sonoma County zinfandel hed smuggled out to Spain which he ploughs through determinedly along with a bowl of cargols a la llauna and esqueixada de bacall.

Whilst Daniel staggers around the house muttering about the curse of the spiders eyes, Adam and Chris reconcile their differences and agree to combine forces. In between bouts of uncontrollable giggling, they pack rucksacks, then hitch a ride on the back of an olive farmers tractor to Oliana. Chris shows Adam a line hed bolted back in 2009, and offers him a belay on what will one day become La Dura Dura.

:lol: I think I just broke a rib.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 12, 2024, 11:13:19 pm
Genius. Title should be On Dura Dura though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 12, 2024, 11:26:38 pm
Wonka innit
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on January 13, 2024, 08:56:57 pm
Gave up trying to find something to watch on Netflix and started to browse Disney Plus. I was pleasantly surprised to find Nomadland lurking in there, which is as good as they all say.
hmmm....I sort of thought I was very receptive to quiet, nothing much happens type films. I liked "Cow" for instance and "Land". I have also enjoyed films with a setting in down-at-heel US society. I thought "The Florida Project" was brilliant. But both me and my better half were utterly flabbergasted to find out Nomadland was multi-Oscar winning etc. My better half summed up Nomadland perfectly IMO saying "it's like "Cow" but without the cow" . Presumably we're  Philistines  :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 14, 2024, 05:27:32 pm
I really liked Nomadland when I saw it at the cinema, it's also available on 4od at the moment for free if you don't pay for Disney.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on January 14, 2024, 08:25:13 pm
Was the van life setting key to what you liked about Nomadland or was that just incidental?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 14, 2024, 08:52:53 pm
Nomadland is great. And what's van life (tm) got to do with it?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2024, 10:46:32 pm
Wonka innit

I can see a musical theme;
"Adam On Dura Dura
On Dura Dura
On Dura Dura
On "
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 15, 2024, 09:59:40 am
The Mercy A worthwhile watch for Devonians because half of it is shot in Teignmouth.  Even then,  I was pretty underwhelmed by this film. It starts promisingly and Colin Firth puts in a reliable,  solid performance.  But it really dragged for me in its latter half and felt like little more than an exhibition of a man going to pieces without a great deal of exploration of it. However its not awful,  and is short by modern standards so worth a go if you really like sailing/ Devon/ Colin Firth,  otherwise there are better things on Netflix. 



Was the van life setting key to what you liked about Nomadland or was that just incidental?

Nothing to do with it,  I liked the exploration of the main character,  and the cinematography from memory,  though it is a few years since I saw it. It was the first thing I saw at the cinema after the covid closures,  so I may have been more positive about it for that reason. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on January 15, 2024, 11:10:43 am
One from the archive this weekend, Dennis Villeneuve's Prisoner from 2013. About 20 mins too long but very watchable and a knotty moral dilemma - this guy is behaving appallingly but you can see how he got there - multiple good performances.

Think I'm slowly becoming a Villeneuve fan, was a bit so, so on the Blade Runner reboot, possibly because the original is so good. Didn't expect to like Dune, but did (sorry David Lynch). Sicario is excellent. Can't remember too much on Arrival, maybe a rewatch due.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 15, 2024, 08:53:31 pm
Saltburn on Amazon Prime. Been panned by critics but decent audience reviews. I rated it, particularly enjoyed seeing Richard E Grant of withnail and I fame. Solid fare.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 15, 2024, 09:53:18 pm
Prospect

Decent indie sci-fi, much better than most of the dross constantly pumped out by Netflix and Amazon these days
Mmmm it's almost okay. Main characters are decent but it really lacked world logic and consistency.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 17, 2024, 10:12:18 pm
Pandorum.

Dunno if was mentioned here, the search doesn't turn up anything. Sci-fi action thing vague hints of Event Horizon lite mixed sorta with zombies-ish. Not sure what to make of it, some bits were kinda good, some bits were crap, lots of the usual lack of any world consistency / logic, some of it was annoying / boring, some of the psychological concepts were good, also i quite liked the ending. Okay-ish but I think there was the concept to be a lot better.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on January 18, 2024, 01:36:27 pm
The Creator.

Definitely worth a watch, if you like SciFi at all.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 18, 2024, 07:35:04 pm
I love sci fi and thought it was formulaic sub star wars tosh. 5 or 6/10 at best
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 18, 2024, 08:14:53 pm
You not thinking of Rebel Moon?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 18, 2024, 10:40:56 pm
I only got half an hour in to rebel moon before turning off. I did stick creator out for the whole 2+ hrs so maybe 6/10 is fair
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 19, 2024, 12:09:47 am
Gutted, I was looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on January 19, 2024, 07:43:13 am
I only got half an hour in to rebel moon before turning off. I did stick creator out for the whole 2+ hrs so maybe 6/10 is fair

Thoroughly enjoyed the Honest Trailer for Rebel Moon

https://youtu.be/mvaXqRS29cw?si=F5fu4OF726B6ggs7
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on January 19, 2024, 09:36:53 am
Class
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on January 19, 2024, 10:44:20 am
lol!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 20, 2024, 09:13:04 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkmSNt4moNg

The Void.

Probably a fairly different experience to The Creator. I thought this was pretty good. A straight up, no bullshit, no messing around traditional horror film. Gruesome in places but no more so than the trailer, and I quite liked the characters. OTOH the pacing was a bit mixed and the so-called Lovecraftian bits weren't as well integrated as they could be, but it still hits the mark overall.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 21, 2024, 08:14:34 am
The Holdovers - three very different people (a pupil, a classics teacher, and the school cook) have to spend Christmas alone at New England boarding school after everyone else has gone home for the holidays. And that's about it. I guess I would say this gentle, wry film is about the choices we make in life. I loved it. The three leads - Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa - are all absolutely superb and raise it to another level.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on January 21, 2024, 10:50:02 am
American Splendour - another Paul Giamatti movie, this one from 2003 in which he plays underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar. For those whove never heard of him (including me before watching the film) Pekar was a real loser of a guy living in Cleveland, Ohio, who worked a dead end job as a clerk and scratched around collecting records and writing reviews on the side. Working with artists like Robert Crumb he turned his down at heel, unhygienic lifestyle into the successful comic book series of the films title. The real Pekar narrated and appears in some scenes, its all a bit nicely post-modern which suits the subject matter. Im writing my autobiography as Im living it, as Pekar put it. Great jazz soundtrack. Recommend this.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 22, 2024, 10:21:54 am
Saltburn on Amazon Prime. Been panned by critics but decent audience reviews. I rated it, particularly enjoyed seeing Richard E Grant of withnail and I fame. Solid fare.

Im a bit conflicted about Saltburn. I kind of wanted to love it and did enjoy it quite a lot, but does anyone ever get that thing where you kind of want / expect something to go in one direction and then it goes in another? I had that v badly with The Secret History / Donna Tartt, and I did with this too.

Anyway, the reviews have been all over the place. Mark Kermode quite liked it. A lot of them have been coloured by the fact that Emarald Fennell (who directed it) is the daughter of South Ken jeweller and mate of Liz Hurley Theo Fennell and thus isnt allowed to make films with this sort of social commentary. Its also apparently a poor mans Patricia Highsmith and a Poundshop Brideshead.


I would ignore all of that because, as SM points out it has a great cast, inc as well as REG, Rosamund Pike who is brilliant. But mainly because Barry Keoghan is, I think, the most exciting actor in the world and Id frankly watch a 5 hour Marbella-based coke and gangsters monstrosity by Nick Love if Barry had a part in it.

On the subject of female British directors though, I think that Charlotte Wells Aftersun is / was the most impressive debut film by any British director recently.


Has anyone seen Poor Things?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: spidermonkey09 on January 22, 2024, 10:27:05 am
I got huge Secret History vibes through it as well, but I did enjoy SH, so no bad thing for me. I think its kind of the point you're expecting it to go one way and then it goes the other, no? spoilers below

NSFW  :
I certainly felt like the film was leading you to think that there was going to be some horrific secret in Felix's family but then it turns out to be the other way round. Surprise!

Aftersun is absolutely awesome. Highly recommended. Watched it on the plane back from India and was rapt.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on January 22, 2024, 03:19:50 pm
Scrapper, directed by Charlotte Regan is another recent and brilliant film with strong Aftersun vibes.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8649252/

Ive not seen it yet but How to have sex directed by Molly Walker is getting rave reviews.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy popp on January 22, 2024, 03:54:07 pm
Ive not seen it yet but How to have sex directed by Molly Walker is getting rave reviews.

Was going to say the same, haven't seen it but rave reviews. I also loved enjoyed Aftersun.

Fwiw, my daughter (25) hated Saltburn with a fiery passion. Though obviously middle-class (child of an academic etc.) she went from state schools in Widnes and St Helens to Edinburgh University, where she often felt treated as little more than an object of curiosity simply for being northern and state school educated. I think she saw a lot of that attitude in the film.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on January 22, 2024, 04:13:37 pm
I thought Saltburn was pretty shit myself
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on January 23, 2024, 08:00:59 am
The shadow of the Moon: initially promising but overall I found it dragged a bit and was ultimately unsatisfying. Not an awful film but not great either. It's on netflix if that interests you anyway...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duncan campbell on January 23, 2024, 01:26:39 pm
I watched Pain Hustlers the other week on Netflix, about some pharma company in the US that developed a breakthrough cancer pain med that contained fentanyl and the snowballing of the business and the underhand tactics they used (like loads of pharma companies)

Based on a true story and has Emily Blunt in it who was great!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on January 23, 2024, 02:00:33 pm
I think we spoke about Aftersun when it was in the cinemas, it's a delight.

One Life at Camden Parkway Odeon. Dear me, that cinema has deteriorated a fair bit over the decades.

It's the story of Nicholas Winton and his pals who saved about 660 children from the grill just before the beginning of the war.

The cinema didn't sound overly happy when they realised that, though a decent British citizen, his antecedents were considerably less embarrassing .

Best thing: Helena Bonham Carter as the Grande Dame of European Jewry, which she is, of course.

Then a horridly sentimental ending but the rest is fine.

Duncan will be along in a minute to translate.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on January 23, 2024, 02:24:42 pm
Ive not seen it yet but How to have sex directed by Molly Walker is getting rave reviews.

Was going to say the same, haven't seen it but rave reviews. I also loved enjoyed Aftersun.

Fwiw, my daughter (25) hated Saltburn with a fiery passion. Though obviously middle-class (child of an academic etc.) she went from state schools in Widnes and St Helens to Edinburgh University, where she often felt treated as little more than an object of curiosity simply for being northern and state school educated. I think she saw a lot of that attitude in the film.

Thats kind of what I meant when I said it wasnt quite the thing I wanted / expected it to be, which I Donny explain very clearly. And perhaps EF wouldnt have been the right person to tell that sort of story

I spent a year at Imperial in the mid 90s and met a load of insanely impressive people who didnt get into Oxbridge for reasons which seem ludicrously unfair now. Conversely, I knew at least one person who failed to get in the first time, who then suddenly got accepted thanks to him pointing out that his dad had gone to the same college. When my sister was at Oxford in the early 2000s they were still having chav-themed college discos.

I think a superior film wouldve maybe made more of that sort of thing.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on January 23, 2024, 03:08:46 pm
Re: Saltburn. Haven't watched, will watch. A good friend of mine went to Christ Church and I spent a year working in Oxford (on next to no money). It was quite an eye opener to a suburban northern lad, seeing the end of year champagne and boat burning antics. On the plus side I did get smuggled into college dining room a few times. And I got a new lifelong friend out of the year, looking forward to a rocky retirement together at some point.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on January 24, 2024, 09:49:30 am
Know Saltburn is the streaming movie on everyone's lips but Netflix also released The Kitchen the other week.

Watched it last night and it's OK, but only that - visually very impressive for a "near future" type story, but despite looking like it's got some interesting things to say about the gap between the rich and poor, the benefits of community etc, I didn't feel it really got round to making them. Thought the main narrative was good, if predictable, but kind of lost its way towards the end of the second act though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on January 28, 2024, 10:06:32 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIlE9R00ik

Aniara.

Can't believe this hasn't been mentioned here as I'm sure it's the sort of thing some discerning UKBers would like. Large, luxurious colonisation ship goes off course into deep space, nihilistic melancholy ensues. One of those "human story in sci-fi context" things, a real slow burner, pretty cool and a bit haunting too.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on February 04, 2024, 01:14:46 pm
Zone of Interest

This film takes us into the domestic life of Rudolf Hss, commandant of Auschwitz, which he shares with his wife Hedwig and his five boisterous Aryan children. Hss has a large, modern house with a beautiful garden whose high walls are topped with barbed wire. Beyond the wall just the tops of barracks are visible, and a square chimney pours out black smoke. The camp itself remains almost invisible throughout the film, but shouts, barks, gunshots and a low mechanical grind percolate the Hss familys domestic life. Hedwig gets a parcel of underclothes and tries on a luxurious fur coat, in which she finds the previous owners lipstick. One of the Hss boys lays on his bed with a torch, examining his collection of gold teeth. The house and children are immaculate, they clean and they clean and they clean. Hss plays with his children, goes fishing, discusses technical details with a delegation from an engineering firm.

Very controlled, very stylised, really no plot to speak of, it felt like some kind of fever dream. I suspect whether you appreciate it or find it pointless will very much depend on how you feel about the subject matter being approached in such a way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on February 04, 2024, 05:21:24 pm
Thanks Sean. Great review. I shall be watching.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Mike Highbury on February 04, 2024, 06:12:33 pm
Zone of Interest

Yes, saw it today.

Edited, I was unreasonably mean about the film
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fultonius on February 04, 2024, 07:36:15 pm
Last night was a toss-up between Zone and American Fiction - went for the latter, brilliant!

Proper laugh out loud funny, good pace, length, acting.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 06, 2024, 08:35:54 am
Behind the Wire
A decent film as it's on Netflix,  some interesting ideas and I felt as though it could have been great but, though entertaining,  it's ultimately pretty forgettable.  Worth watching if you have Netflix and want a scifi war movie to watch. 
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on February 15, 2024, 10:27:51 am
The Straight Story is on C4 currently, as gentle a road movie as you'll ever see. Not sure it's on anywhere but Lucky would make for a good companion piece. It was on Prime recently.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-straight-story
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 15, 2024, 05:37:51 pm
The Monuments Men is currently on iPlayer and imminently on netflix as well.
I started watching it hoping it might be a bit like Inglorious Bastards, which I thought would be not that good but thought was hilarious, and actually pretty good as well. Sadly, MM is pretty bad, especially considering the very starry cast. It starts a little like an extremely camp Dirty Dozen movie, then goes drastically downhill (believe it or not), especially when it tries to be serious. It's not quite unwatchable but it's like the sort of thing that might have been on the TV on a Sunday afternoon in the 1980s. (IE good to doze off in front of).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: lukeyboy on February 16, 2024, 08:41:59 am
NYAD (not NIAD!) is currently on Netflix and I thought it was great.

It's about a lady who attempted to be the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida in her youth in the 1960s (I think?), failed, gave up swimming, and then has another go in her sixties. The whole thing is amazing and inspiring (it's over 100 miles, takes 3 days, sharks and jellyfish) but I most enjoyed the friendship between Nyad and the character played by Jodie Foster, and having a sixty-something woman as the protagonist - a rather forgotten and overlooked demographic. The backstory and past traumas also add to the tale, without defining it or her.

Includes Rhys Ifans as a salty old sea dog.

Would definitely recommend, let me know if you've seen it and what you thought.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 16, 2024, 09:53:58 am
We found it watchable but a bit predictable and formulaic. Sportsperson has comeback, tries, tries again, eventually succeeds, fin.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 16, 2024, 10:15:59 am
Were you expecting a nailbiting thriller where the outcome is uncertain 'til the last second, but the hero saves the day?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: T_B on February 16, 2024, 11:52:43 am
NSFW  :
Well I didnt know the outcome in advance and thought she might die on the last attempt

The acting was outstanding I thought.

Will might enjoy The Deepest Breath, if hes not already seen it? Or The Usual Suspects.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 16, 2024, 12:03:06 pm
Were you expecting a nailbiting thriller where the outcome is uncertain 'til the last second, but the hero saves the day?

Nope, I got exactly what I was expecting! We picked it as an easy watch. I didn't dislike it, but didn't think it stellar.

Deepest Breath looks good.

This prompted a funny conversation with Daisy when I asked her what she thought about the swimming film we'd watched.
"Heartbreaking, harrowing".
"Really? It wasn't that bad for her was it? It all worked out in the end?"
She looks at me like I've declared I'm voting BNP. We went back and forth a few more times with her getting more agitated at my blas attitude.
She thought I was talking about The Swimmers (2022).
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Stu Littlefair on February 16, 2024, 01:54:12 pm
Funny thing about NYAD is that when you look into the story it turns out she's potentially a bit of a Rich Simpson!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Plattsy on February 17, 2024, 09:24:34 pm
Interestingly all the sea in NYAD is CGI.  8)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on February 18, 2024, 09:49:41 pm
Fwiw, my daughter (25) hated Saltburn with a fiery passion. Though obviously middle-class (child of an academic etc.) she went from state schools in Widnes and St Helens to Edinburgh University, where she often felt treated as little more than an object of curiosity simply for being northern and state school educated. I think she saw a lot of that attitude in the film.
I also went to Edinbrugh Uni but 30years before your daughter. My impression then was that most people there had a background like mine -ie had been the kid in their state school who was teased for being posh. Then at Edinburgh Uni they found a bunch of folk posher than them who they in turn could turn all of that crap onto -pretty unedifying.

Leeds Uni seemed mercifully free from such "class conciousness" - felt like a breath of fresh air to me after Edinbrugh.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on February 22, 2024, 05:50:04 pm
Bloodshot I thought I'd pick something pretty random from Netflix, so watched this. If we start from the point that it's ultimately a shit film with no artistic value or intelligence, I'll say some positive things about it. Most of the (very extended) action scenes are quite good; the main bad guy is a bit like Elon Musk; you don't invest anything in any of the characters so it's not stressful to watch in any way; there's no need to follow it terribly closely as there's not really much of a plot anyway.
It's sort of entertaining in a sort of 2/10 kind of way.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: CrimpyMcCrimpface on February 28, 2024, 11:51:17 am
The Outfit is currently on Netflix for anyone interested, mentioned a few times on this thread. Watched it again the other night and still thought it excellent.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on February 28, 2024, 12:06:12 pm
Everyone is psyched for Dune: Part Two, right? It's out on Fri.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on February 28, 2024, 12:12:15 pm
Everyone is psyched for Dune: Part Two, right? It's out on Fri.

I'll have tickets for Friday. IMAX + original soundtrack proved impossible though... but I found a screening of it with OS in a huge theatre.

Pretty psyched even though I remember the book well.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 28, 2024, 12:19:12 pm
Yes! Just rewatching part 1 with my son in anticipation.

Took him to watch Blade Runner Final Cut which is being rerun in the cinema at the moment. Forgot how good it is.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 28, 2024, 01:08:48 pm
Everyone is psyched for Dune: Part Two, right? It's out on Fri.

Yup! Saw the first in Imax and the austere sparseness of the spectacle worked great - it wasn;t too overwhelming.

I think I need to rewatch the first beforehand...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on February 28, 2024, 01:09:51 pm
Got tickets for Friday evening, very psyched for it
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on February 28, 2024, 02:34:25 pm
Got tickets for friday evening too. Frothing.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Will Hunt on February 28, 2024, 02:48:48 pm
I will be rewatching the first on Friday. Going to the cinema next Wednesday. No spoilers!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on February 28, 2024, 03:43:01 pm

SPOILER:

NSFW  :
Sandworms 'n' shit yo!!!  :tumble: :worms:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on February 28, 2024, 04:19:11 pm

SPOILER:

NSFW  :
Sandworms 'n' shit yo!!!  :tumble: :worms:

Spicy!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on February 29, 2024, 03:34:12 pm
The Outfit is currently on Netflix for anyone interested, mentioned a few times on this thread. Watched it again the other night and still thought it excellent.
I'd been swithering over this, watched last night and it is indeed excellent.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on March 01, 2024, 07:44:03 pm
This might not come as a surprise, but Dune 2, or D'une as my autocorrect likes to call it, is good. I don't think I'll see another movie in a good while. I'd just be disappointed
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on March 01, 2024, 10:19:53 pm
Its uh, fucking incredible really
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on March 03, 2024, 08:35:06 am
My father-in-law was visiting and we took him to see Dune 2. He had neither seen the first dune movie nor read the book but still enjoyed it.

Villeneuve cut out a lot of story-lines from the book, and foucsed strongly on the Bene-Gesserit/Imperial power-play angle. This cut down on exposition and made it possible to see the movie without having seen part 1. I think that also makes Frank Herbert's intended warning about charismatic leaders slightly harder to miss, even though I am quite confident that 90% of movie-goers will see Paul as the 'good guy'.

Christopher Walken wasn't great in the movie, the score was a bit meh, and like all modern american movies I had some issue to clearly hear the dialogue* at places (but I heard it better than most recent movies since English, Swedish, Spanish, Swiss and French actors apparently somehow have learned how to articulate; I only checked the subtitles 2-3 times in the entire movie). Otherwise an almost perfect science-fiction/adventure movie. Better than all Star Wars movies, worse than Blade Runner.


---
* old man shouting at the clouds, I know.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on March 03, 2024, 08:52:59 am
The whole mumbling actors thing is interesting. If it means that good subtitles become ubiquitous, then I'm all for it since I need subtitles anyway because of my hearing  ;D
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/28/mumbling-actors-bad-speakers-or-lazy-listeners-why-everyone-is-watching-tv-with-subtitles-on
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 03, 2024, 10:39:24 am
the score was a bit meh

Wow, ok. I thought the absolute opposite on this and was actually glad that I'd forked out 16 for a ticket to have a sound system inject it into my spine via the outrageous bass!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Fiend on March 03, 2024, 11:18:47 am
---
* old man shouting at the clouds, I know.

Mumbling at clouds and the score slightly overwhelms you, so I'm glad we've got subtitles.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: seankenny on March 03, 2024, 06:10:27 pm
Im some kind of inbred who found the first Dune film very boring, but for those more interested in the Duniverse this piece on its political economy may be worth a read:

https://www.markkoyama.com/p/the-political-economy-of-dune?utm_campaign=post

(Or it may be hideously niche  :tumble: )
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 04, 2024, 05:41:47 pm
Im some kind of inbred who found the first Dune film very boring

You're not alone, I wasn't particularly excited by it either, other than it looking very nice
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: remus on March 04, 2024, 06:27:33 pm
...but for those more interested in the Duniverse this piece on its political economy may be worth a read:

https://www.markkoyama.com/p/the-political-economy-of-dune?utm_campaign=post

(Or it may be hideously niche  :tumble: )

Thanks for the link, interesting read, and impressively geeky.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SamT on March 05, 2024, 08:53:47 am
The whole mumbling actors thing is interesting. If it means that good subtitles become ubiquitous, then I'm all for it since I need subtitles anyway because of my hearing  ;D
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/28/mumbling-actors-bad-speakers-or-lazy-listeners-why-everyone-is-watching-tv-with-subtitles-on

Glad to hear (ha!) I'm not alone then.. finding it increasingly difficult to understand the dialogue on the telly.  Assume its my hearing (but then not sure I'm that hard of hearing), or maybe the shit sound system of my telly, but then it seems I'm not alone.  Maybe like with iphones, so much extra stuff is packed in with tellys or even the process of film making, that some of the basics are being forgotten about. Like clear dialogue.  The phone app on my mobile is by far and away the shittist app on my phone.  :slap:

Just wish they had a 'dialogue only' option for the subtitles.  It pisses me off when you constantly get [tense music plays] .. [a door creeks] etc etc.  :wall:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 05, 2024, 09:00:42 am
Added to Nolan's deliberate "bad" sound mixing and my knackered hearing I've got no chance.

https://www.looper.com/1340779/every-christopher-nolan-movie-exact-same-problem-audio-sound-mixing-oppenheimer/

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: shurt on March 05, 2024, 12:28:59 pm
Added to Nolan's deliberate "bad" sound mixing and my knackered hearing I've got no chance.

https://www.looper.com/1340779/every-christopher-nolan-movie-exact-same-problem-audio-sound-mixing-oppenheimer/

Even as far back as the last Batman film I just got so pissed off with not being able to hear what anyone was saying especially Tom Hardy as Bain, virtually unintelligible for most of the film

I love his films fwiw but this pisses me off
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: tommytwotone on March 05, 2024, 12:44:37 pm
The whole mumbling actors thing is interesting. If it means that good subtitles become ubiquitous, then I'm all for it since I need subtitles anyway because of my hearing  ;D
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/28/mumbling-actors-bad-speakers-or-lazy-listeners-why-everyone-is-watching-tv-with-subtitles-on

Glad to hear (ha!) I'm not alone then.. finding it increasingly difficult to understand the dialogue on the telly.  Assume its my hearing (but then not sure I'm that hard of hearing), or maybe the shit sound system of my telly, but then it seems I'm not alone.  Maybe like with iphones, so much extra stuff is packed in with tellys or even the process of film making, that some of the basics are being forgotten about. Like clear dialogue.  The phone app on my mobile is by far and away the shittist app on my phone.  :slap:

Just wish they had a 'dialogue only' option for the subtitles.  It pisses me off when you constantly get [tense music plays] .. [a door creeks] etc etc.  :wall:

Not so much films, but I get this with a LOT of modern TV. Recently while watching Kin on BBC and the new True Detective on Now I've had whole scenes where I've not followed a word of it!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on March 05, 2024, 02:56:08 pm


Just wish they had a 'dialogue only' option for the subtitles.  It pisses me off when you constantly get [tense music plays] .. [a door creeks] etc etc.  :wall:

Foreign subs! They usually just translate the dialogue.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: sherlock on March 05, 2024, 03:45:00 pm
 :off:
The whole mumbling actors thing is interesting. If it means that good subtitles become ubiquitous, then I'm all for it since I need subtitles anyway because of my hearing  ;D
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jan/28/mumbling-actors-bad-speakers-or-lazy-listeners-why-everyone-is-watching-tv-with-subtitles-on

Glad to hear (ha!) I'm not alone then.. finding it increasingly difficult to understand the dialogue on the telly.  Assume its my hearing (but then not sure I'm that hard of hearing), or maybe the shit sound system of my telly, but then it seems I'm not alone.  Maybe like with iphones, so much extra stuff is packed in with tellys or even the process of film making, that some of the basics are being forgotten about. Like clear dialogue.  The phone app on my mobile is by far and away the shittist app on my phone.  :slap:

Just wish they had a 'dialogue only' option for the subtitles.  It pisses me off when you constantly get [tense music plays] .. [a door creeks] etc etc.  :wall:

Not so much films, but I get this with a LOT of modern TV. Recently while watching Kin on BBC and the new True Detective on Now I've had whole scenes where I've not followed a word of it!
This is a genuine relief for me! I just thought it was another part of me breaking down.
I mention it to Mrs.S and she doesn't know what I'm on about but then she's got ears like a bat - I mean pin sharp hearing, not pointed and furry of course.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: cowboyhat on March 05, 2024, 03:52:18 pm
With Nolan I've come think his method of audio mixing is to hide the fact that the dialogue is nonsensical.

Bain certainly, though it didn't bother me. With interstellar I got money back from the cinema, convinced I'd missed some crucial explanation of the whole plot a couple of times when the dialogue was overwhelmed. (i was sat off to the side and later read it had been mixed with some central bias which seems particularly dumb).

On re-watching at home it was revealed that; actually what Michael Caine or McCounghay say doesn't really explain anything after all. Because if it did maybe it would mean Nolan himself had solved the quantum/Relativity problem. Dealing with these big ideas, I just have to believe the actors know what they're talking about in the moment.

Subsequently I've enjoyed his movies much more, or least not been frustrated.

Tenet is the best example: its a time travel movie. All of the dialogue is nonsense so doesn't matter that you can't hear it. Simply an enjoyable romp, if a bit long.


On a general note we do watch a lot of stuff at home with subs, wag is foreign and can find it tiring.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy moles on March 05, 2024, 04:52:51 pm
With interstellar I got money back from the cinema, convinced I'd missed some crucial explanation of the whole plot a couple of times when the dialogue was overwhelmed. (i was sat off to the side and later read it had been mixed with some central bias which seems particularly dumb).

On re-watching at home it was revealed that; actually what Michael Caine or McCounghay say doesn't really explain anything after all.

It's tempting to say this ruined Interstellar for me, you know, the fact that the entire plot hinges on a completely ludicrous metaphysical device without exposition (which even more ludicrously also acts as the film's emotional climax), but I already thought it was a bit shit by that point. Possibly the most overhyped film I've ever watched.

Meanwhile I too am glad to hear it's not just me or my speakers that can't follow dialogue!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Paul B on March 05, 2024, 04:57:00 pm
So you're saying watching Oppenheimer on an in-flight entertainment system that for some ridiculous reason forces you to use the supplied headphones (rather than the vastly superior versions almost everyone has to hand) wasn't the best choice?
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 05, 2024, 05:15:54 pm
Sam T - I think you might have a particular type of subtitles (closed captions or something?) on as we managed to find the settings to switch those bits off.

Me and W watch virtually everything on Tele or films with subs on. Shes French so we started a while ago whilst she was still getting used to English films, but the speech is now so muffled and the dialogue much less theatrical than in old films we just leave them on.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on March 06, 2024, 05:58:17 am
With interstellar I got money back from the cinema, convinced I'd missed some crucial explanation of the whole plot a couple of times when the dialogue was overwhelmed. (i was sat off to the side and later read it had been mixed with some central bias which seems particularly dumb).

On re-watching at home it was revealed that; actually what Michael Caine or McCounghay say doesn't really explain anything after all.

It's tempting to say this ruined Interstellar for me, you know, the fact that the entire plot hinges on a completely ludicrous metaphysical device without exposition (which even more ludicrously also acts as the film's emotional climax), but I already thought it was a bit shit by that point. Possibly the most overhyped film I've ever watched.

Meanwhile I too am glad to hear it's not just me or my speakers that can't follow dialogue!

It worked for 2001, commercially and critically, and really isnt so different or more metaphysically ludicrous than Dune (at least theres some action in the latter).

If mankind ever reaches the stars, I think its going to prove vaguely disappointing and mundane, given our apparent expectations of spiritual enlightenment. :shrug:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on March 06, 2024, 08:11:03 am
Spaceman - on Netflix. Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan. Not what I expected but enjoyed a little indie sci fi. Doesn't matter to the story, but I enjoyed that they left the Czech/Korea from the book rather than the obvious switch to America/Russia/China etc
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 06, 2024, 10:06:40 am
So you're saying watching Oppenheimer on an in-flight entertainment system that for some ridiculous reason forces you to use the supplied headphones (rather than the vastly superior versions almost everyone has to hand) wasn't the best choice?

Bluetooth is coming to planes (slowly). I still have an old set of plug in phone headphones which are much better sound than the crap ones they hand out. And if you put them in under a pair of over ear noise cancelling headphones the sound is almost reasonable. Not 100% comfortable though.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: andy moles on March 06, 2024, 01:31:27 pm
It worked for 2001, commercially and critically, and really isnt so different or more metaphysically ludicrous than Dune (at least theres some action in the latter).

Come on, in Dune no protagonist enters a five dimensional tesseract (or whatever) and communicates with their past self through an impossibly convenient portal in a bookshelf.

2001 carries it off by owning its weirdness and giving no explanation at all, and by not trying to bundle theoretical physics together with mushy catharsis.

Arrival did the latter thing better.

I'll stop bashing Interstellar now  :)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on March 06, 2024, 01:40:16 pm
So you're saying watching Oppenheimer on an in-flight entertainment system that for some ridiculous reason forces you to use the supplied headphones (rather than the vastly superior versions almost everyone has to hand) wasn't the best choice?

Bluetooth is coming to planes (slowly). I still have an old set of plug in phone headphones which are much better sound than the crap ones they hand out. And if you put them in under a pair of over ear noise cancelling headphones the sound is almost reasonable. Not 100% comfortable though.

Surely your headphones also comes with an audio-jack? (Mine do at least)
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: SA Chris on March 06, 2024, 02:28:49 pm
My present ones do, my wife's older ones I used last time don't.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on March 06, 2024, 02:40:54 pm
2001 and Arrival are vastly better than Interstellar imo

Dune is also but then also a very different kind of movie
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Oldmanmatt on March 06, 2024, 03:26:29 pm
It worked for 2001, commercially and critically, and really isnt so different or more metaphysically ludicrous than Dune (at least theres some action in the latter).

Come on, in Dune no protagonist enters a five dimensional tesseract (or whatever) and communicates with their past self through an impossibly convenient portal in a bookshelf.

2001 carries it off by owning its weirdness and giving no explanation at all, and by not trying to bundle theoretical physics together with mushy catharsis.

Arrival did the latter thing better.

I'll stop bashing Interstellar now  :)

Not convinced the Kwisatz Haderach is any less the ludicrous metaphysical concept 😂. I suppose I still watch the films through the lens of the books, so filling in the spiritual stuff they gloss over in the movie (not seen 2 yet, to be fair).

Also, I really enjoyed all the mentioned films and quite liked Rebel moon too.

Im currently bingeing the entirety of Star Trek Voyager, so Im probably not a reliable Sci-fi critic :whistle:
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Wellsy on March 06, 2024, 03:30:41 pm
Voyager?!??! Jesus Christ...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 06, 2024, 05:41:58 pm

Also, I really enjoyed all the mentioned films and quite liked Rebel moon too.

The Netflix film that got appalling reviews? Not that I think that makes it bad though, it's funny how often Netflix stuff that's actually quite good gets critically panned.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Duma on March 06, 2024, 06:21:30 pm
It's fucking terrible
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on March 08, 2024, 10:02:30 pm
We've just seen "Cold Comfort Farm".

It seemed mystifyingly shit to both of us. I've just read the wikipedia page. Apparently it gets "universal acclaim" on rotten tomatoes  :shrug:

Evidently the famous actors in it also thought it worth their time. I'm baffled.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Herbert on March 08, 2024, 11:18:11 pm
The one with Rufus Sewell in? I remember enjoying it, but then I liked the book so perhaps that swayed me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: stone on March 09, 2024, 06:34:08 am
Yes, with Rufus Sewell.

We've presumably just got a blind spot and were missing it's charms.

I'm always interested in how some things work for some people and not for others. I sort of wondered whether people who like BBC Radio4 comedies might also be the people who like Cold Comfort Farm. I'm not sure why I thought there might be a connection other than both being blind spots for me.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Bradders on March 10, 2024, 05:10:47 pm
The Outfit

Another vote for this. Brilliant. Very much not what I was expecting, more of a play than a film but that's something I actually quite liked.

NSFW  :
Whilst the shears were always likely to be important the tailor's transformation at the end was particularly unexpected, and quite unsettling. I thought it was very well done.

A Most Violent Year

On ITVX. A slow burner, very light on action but heavy on tension, story and intrigue. Blackly comic in places. Well worth a watch although not something I'd stick on in the background.

American Fiction

Deservedly Oscar nominated. I'm still not entirely sure whether, as a fully paid up member of the white middle class, I'm actually the butt of the central joke but it had me fully engaged throughout and laughing out loud a lot. Jeffrey Wright is absolutely brilliant, loads of wonderful little moments of pure exasperation which he often communicates without saying a word.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: TobyD on March 14, 2024, 05:30:57 pm
The Outfit
Another vote for this. Brilliant. Very much not what I was expecting, more of a play than a film but that's something I actually quite liked.

Another strong vote for The Outfit from me. I see what you mean about a play but this wasn't really how I thought about it; it's a great piece of old school, classic film making which relies on beautiful, simple shots, character and dialogue.
In some ways it reminded me of reservoir dogs, or (in the relentless claustrophobic setting only) of apocalypse now.
Thanks to all for recommending it; if you haven't watched it, it's an absolute pleasure, quietly tense yet witty and surprising.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: kelvin on March 15, 2024, 11:20:39 am

Also, I really enjoyed all the mentioned films and quite liked Rebel moon too.

The Netflix film that got appalling reviews? Not that I think that makes it bad though, it's funny how often Netflix stuff that's actually quite good gets critically panned.

I really enjoyed Rebel Moon - didn't expect a lot and it was as good as most Star Wars films.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Moo on March 15, 2024, 03:31:15 pm
Another vote for American fiction, really enjoyed it. I thought it was very clever and had me in stitches a few times.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: duncan on March 21, 2024, 08:51:44 am
Perfect Days

Wim Wenders latest, Japanese with subtitles.

Kōji Yakusho is a toilet cleaner in a posh part of Tokyo. The film examines the repetition of his simple life and the joy he gets from his potentially mundane job in forensic detail. Yes its one of those arty films where nothing much happens very beautifully.

Yakusho is in his 60s but still handsome, his clothes are supposed to be poor and basic but he looks like hes modelling for Margaret Howell. He has rather intellectual literary tastes. His flat is a fantasy of old Japan, elegantly austere. Poverty or minimalism? All this seems unlikely for a toilet cleaner; later in the film there are hints as to why it might be somewhat plausible.

He leads a solitary, monk-like existence, with minimal interaction with the rest of the world. Snippets of music punctuate the silence: 60s and 70s rock and soul, mostly predictable (Lou Reed of course) with a couple of wild cards. There is some humour made with his choice of medium, currently achingly trendy cassette tapes. It slightly feels like wish-fulfilment for financially secure middle-aged blokes: abandon all ties, run away from home, live a simple life (in a cave at Siurana?). Perhaps this is what he has done.

A number of women interact with him obliquely. At one point I thought there might be an icky old-guy-cute-young-woman thing about to happen but fortunately Wenders has better taste. The only romantic interest hinted, more realistically, is a not much younger bar owner.

There is no resolution and you might think the whole thing is a two hour shaggy dog story. I really enjoyed it but I'm the kind of person who enjoys a Japanese-German art-house movie.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 21, 2024, 09:37:36 am
Perfect Days


Yakusho is in his 60s but still handsome, his clothes are supposed to be poor and basic but he looks like hes modelling for Margaret Howell.

Having just come back from a couple of weeks in Japan, that seems entirely plausible - a huge proportion of the people I saw there were strikingly stylish.  Nothing fancy, just simple, classy, well-fitted clothes - it was like everyone was auditioning for a part in a classic Hollywood film opposite Cary Grant.  I think I saw two slovenly Japanese people in two weeks (except obviously when I looked in a mirror).  It was a bit of culture shock when I transferred in Singapore to a flight back to Manchester...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Yossarian on March 21, 2024, 10:33:52 am

American Fiction

Deservedly Oscar nominated. I'm still not entirely sure whether, as a fully paid up member of the white middle class, I'm actually the butt of the central joke but it had me fully engaged throughout and laughing out loud a lot. Jeffrey Wright is absolutely brilliant, loads of wonderful little moments of pure exasperation which he often communicates without saying a word.

Started this last night and it's absolutely wonderful...
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: steveri on March 21, 2024, 10:41:50 am
Past Lives is on Netflix. Quiet, moving, great understated performances with sometimes fairly limited dialogue.
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: moose on March 21, 2024, 11:31:15 am
Perfect Days


Yakusho is in his 60s but still handsome, his clothes are supposed to be poor and basic but he looks like hes modelling for Margaret Howell.

Having just come back from a couple of weeks in Japan, that seems entirely plausible - a huge proportion of the people I saw there were strikingly stylish.  Nothing fancy, just simple, classy, well-fitted clothes - it was like everyone was auditioning for a part in a classic Hollywood film opposite Cary Grant.  I think I saw two slovenly Japanese people in two weeks (except obviously when I looked in a mirror).  It was a bit of culture shock when I transferred in Singapore to a flight back to Manchester...

* I think I saw two slovenly Japanese people in two weeks (except obviously when I looked in a mirror)

For the avoidance of doubt (and so as not to bewilder anyone who has met me), I am not Japanese!
Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: jwi on March 22, 2024, 08:25:11 am
That ryhmes with my experiences from fifteen years ago. I always felt a bit shabby for two years. After I left Japan, I stopped over in Stockholm and got a reverse culture chock when I thought that every Swedish man dressed like an unusually down-on-their luck homeless person.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 22, 2024, 04:56:18 pm

American Fiction

Deservedly Oscar nominated. I'm still not entirely sure whether, as a fully paid up member of the white middle class, I'm actually the butt of the central joke but it had me fully engaged throughout and laughing out loud a lot. Jeffrey Wright is absolutely brilliant, loads of wonderful little moments of pure exasperation which he often communicates without saying a word.

Started this last night and it's absolutely wonderful...

We watched it last weekend and loved it. Proper clever, very funny and tender too. Brilliant film.

We also watched BlackBerry (or whatever its called) about the the rise and fall of Research In Motion (RIM) and the device. Funny and a great story of perseverance and ultimately hubris and greed. Worthwhile.

Title: Re: Anyone seen any good films lately - Part the second
Post by: Falling Down on March 22, 2024, 04:57:42 pm
I really enjoyed it but I'm the kind of person who enjoys a Japanese-German art-house movie.

Added to the list Duncan  :popcorn:
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