What films have you watched recently?

Hurling_Fruitmig

Blackberry on Sky; a fictionalised account of the rise and fall of the ubiquitous communication device. A frustrated and morally dubious businessman sees an opportunity to get rich and a couple of tech geniuses get taken for a lucrative (up to a point) ride.

I have to admit that I’d never stopped to wonder why the clunky things had disappeared from the market but this film did an amusing job of explaining what went wrong. I also enjoyed the postscript that the tech geek friend who got dumped in favour of greed was the only one who made any money when everything went pear shaped. Also full of ‘I remember that!’ tech nostalgia for older viewers.

Haych

Where the Crawdads Sing

Part courtroom drama, set in 1969 in South Carolina. When the body of a young man is found in the coastal marshes the finger points to a young woman living alone in the marshes. 

Kya, known locally as The Marsh Girl, an outcast from society and who has been fending for herself from a young age, is put on trial for first degree murder. 

I really enjoyed this one. The story is quite complex and well told as it flits back and forth between the now and the then, the then filling in the gaps as Kya is on trial for murder. 

Performances are perfectly done, characters are well written and portrayed, and nothing is wooden or overplayed. I also found myself drawn in by the stunning scenery. 

8/10 - Netflix

TeleMaster

robgilmo said:

Civil War.

I thought this was going to be pants, Murica Fuck Yeah type film, I was wrong, its really quite good, not exactly 'The Killing Fields' but not bad at all. Its quite realistic in that it didnt screen anything that you might think 'yeah, like that can happen' , instead it kept within the boundries of realism however it also kept me immersed. There is some action and gore however not really anything to get the emotions running, nothing really hits you in the feels. I am not sure why they stuck a kid in the middle of it, seems odd that they did that, perhaps to target a younger audience, who knows, good movie though.

Lots of people seem to think it's a film about a civil war in America but that's really just the setting, not the story. Really it's a film about the experiences of photojournalists in wartime with a setting based on a not unrealistic modern dystopia. The younger girl and the older woman represented the 'passing the torch' trope, essentially showing us what Dunst's character went through to get to where she is and what the toll will be on the younger one. They're both central to each other's story. 

TeleMaster

Planet of the Apes was good, but a bit predictable. The ending was good, some poignant points made. 

Furiosa was amazing. Just great from start to finish. 

ICBM

The Devil’s Men (AKA The Land Of The Minotaur)

1976 Greek/British occult horror with Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasance plus supporting (mostly Greek) cast. Filmed in Greece with some spectacular scenery and nicely atmospheric sets.

It’s absolutely terrible, of course . Cushing is as magnificent-looking and arrogant as ever, Pleasance is OK but seems a bit lost, the plot is more or less non-existent other than being very basic, and it’s the 1970s so there’s gratuitous nudity, awful dialogue - so heavily dubbed that even Cushing and Pleasance are often out of sync! - and laughably clumsy characterisation, especially for the women. The original X certificate title card is retained, which is quite amusing given how tame it all is.

Either 2/10 or 7/10 - mostly for Cushing - I can’t quite decide .

It may be the low point of Cushing’s career - he did make a few stinkers around that time, and although this might not be the worst, the next film he made was…

Star Wars.

(Netflix)

BigBearKris

TeleMaster said:

robgilmo said:

Civil War.

I thought this was going to be pants, Murica Fuck Yeah type film, I was wrong, its really quite good, not exactly 'The Killing Fields' but not bad at all. Its quite realistic in that it didnt screen anything that you might think 'yeah, like that can happen' , instead it kept within the boundries of realism however it also kept me immersed. There is some action and gore however not really anything to get the emotions running, nothing really hits you in the feels. I am not sure why they stuck a kid in the middle of it, seems odd that they did that, perhaps to target a younger audience, who knows, good movie though.

Lots of people seem to think it's a film about a civil war in America but that's really just the setting, not the story. Really it's a film about the experiences of photojournalists in wartime with a setting based on a not unrealistic modern dystopia. The younger girl and the older woman represented the 'passing the torch' trope, essentially showing us what Dunst's character went through to get to where she is and what the toll will be on the younger one. They're both central to each other's story. 

This is brilliant summary Telemaster - I watch it last night and took it exactly as such. 
I liked it. It was but raw and well acted I thought.

Jfingers

Haych said:

Where the Crawdads Sing

Part courtroom drama, set in 1969 in South Carolina. When the body of a young man is found in the coastal marshes the finger points to a young woman living alone in the marshes. 

Kya, known locally as The Marsh Girl, an outcast from society and who has been fending for herself from a young age, is put on trial for first degree murder. 

I really enjoyed this one. The story is quite complex and well told as it flits back and forth between the now and the then, the then filling in the gaps as Kya is on trial for murder. 

Performances are perfectly done, characters are well written and portrayed, and nothing is wooden or overplayed. I also found myself drawn in by the stunning scenery. 

8/10 - Netflix

We watched that the other night and enjoyed it, I'd also give it 8/10.

VimFuego

tried about 15 mins of Atlas, just sooo many cliches, it was unwatchable. Laughingly, netflix puts it in the high brow sci fi category!!! I may try finishing it later, when I'm deep into my cups.

Philly_Q

VimFuego said:

tried about 15 mins of Atlas, just sooo many cliches, it was unwatchable. Laughingly, netflix puts it in the high brow sci fi category!!! I may try finishing it later, when I'm deep into my cups.

As opposed to the low brow sci fi category?  I didn't realise they fine-tuned the categories that much.  I must look later.

robgilmo

TeleMaster said:

robgilmo said:

Civil War.

I thought this was going to be pants, Murica Fuck Yeah type film, I was wrong, its really quite good, not exactly 'The Killing Fields' but not bad at all. Its quite realistic in that it didnt screen anything that you might think 'yeah, like that can happen' , instead it kept within the boundries of realism however it also kept me immersed. There is some action and gore however not really anything to get the emotions running, nothing really hits you in the feels. I am not sure why they stuck a kid in the middle of it, seems odd that they did that, perhaps to target a younger audience, who knows, good movie though.

Lots of people seem to think it's a film about a civil war in America but that's really just the setting, not the story. Really it's a film about the experiences of photojournalists in wartime with a setting based on a not unrealistic modern dystopia. The younger girl and the older woman represented the 'passing the torch' trope, essentially showing us what Dunst's character went through to get to where she is and what the toll will be on the younger one. They're both central to each other's story. 

SPOILER ALERT.

























I did get that, the problem I have with it is this, the young girl is in her home country, so perhaps she was thrust into this situation rather than it being a right of passage, I dont think war time photographers as young kids just grabbed a camera and flew into the nearest war zone to take photos as a way into the industry, I could be wrong though.
Dunst should have known better as any adult would have and not taken the child, for the childs own safety. 

I got the feeling Dunst had serious issues to do what she did, I got the feeling she was battling some inner demons that were materialising in this selfish notion that she wasnt responsible for the child, even though it wasnt her decision to take her along in the first place, I think she was angry at herself for something in her past. 

The guy who did invite the kid was apparently drunk at the time but it did seem that dunst had more sense and should have used it.

If you like films like this I can recommend 'The Perfect Day', although there is a kid in this too, lol.

Philly_Q

@robgilmo could you hide the spoilers please?

robgilmo

Philly_Q said:

@robgilmo could you hide the spoilers please?

Can do a spoiler warning?

Philly_Q

robgilmo said:

Philly_Q said:

@robgilmo could you hide the spoilers please?

Can do a spoiler warning?

Thanks, it's an improvement.

Philly_Q

Cold Pursuit (Netflix)

I was really struggling to find something to watch, so I took the last resort... a Liam Neeson revenge thriller.

Here he plays a Colorado snow plough driver who goes to war with drug dealers when his son is killed.  The film is played as a black comedy in the tradition of Fargo... which works best when Neeson is offscreen; and thankfully that's quite a lot of the time, as there is a large and rather good supporting cast.

I realised after a few minutes that this is a remake of the Norwegian film In Order of Disappearance.  I saw that a few years ago and although I don't remember all the details, I reckon the remake is at least as good.  A pleasant surprise.

Haych

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Comedy drama with Cate Blanchett and Billy Crudup.

Bernadette (Blanchett) is a celebrated architect who moved from LA to Seattle and seemingly can't get along with anyone.  Her husband, Elgie, (Crudup) is a software engineer at Microsoft working on some mind bending AI tech.

As a family trip to Antarctica approaches, that Bernadette isn’t so lit up about, she starts to unravel forcing her husband to intervene. 

I thought this was really good. Blanchett is the star of the show and Crudup is the perfect balance to allow Blanchett to spread her wings. 

Some great support from Kristen Wiig as the busy body neighbour who Bernadette seems to love to hate. 

7.5/10 Netflix

Haych

Like Father

Easy watching chick flick with Kelsey Grammar and Kristen Bell.

Rachel (Bell) is a driven workaholic and on her wedding day not only does she get jilted at the altar (because hubby to be realises work will always be #1 priority) but her father, Harry (Grammar), who she hasn't seen in over 25 years, turns up to witness the spectacle.

Harry takes Rachel out to reconnect and the get blind drunk together and the next morning they wake up in a suite of a cruise ship that was meant to be for Rachel's honeymoon.

Forced to spend time together Harry tries to build bridges with the daughter he abandoned decades earlier, while Rachel only seems concerned with what's happening back at the office.

Bubblegum for the mind.  Entertaining rather than funny, although it has its moments, and quite heartwarming in places.

6.5/10

equalsql

VimFuego said:

tried about 15 mins of Atlas, just sooo many cliches, it was unwatchable. Laughingly, netflix puts it in the high brow sci fi category!!! I may try finishing it later, when I'm deep into my cups.

I enjoyed the visuals, but J. Lo's constant gurning got a bit tedious and the script is cringing. It's the sort of scifi film you'd see featured in another film about an actress being in a scifi film.. (think Notting Hill).

rze99

Casino Royale

Film 2006 ITV

Hadn't seen this since it was out. It stands up. Craig's Bond is tougher, darker, moodier, more ground albeit still with superhuman physicality (the opening scene is tremendous but ridiculous). The humour isn't there which I missed a bit. No Miss Moneypenny no Q no gadgets except life saving kit in the DB9. The film flags with he gambling scenes because they are so intrinsically boring (to a non-card gambling guy like me at least). The product placement is crude (Ford group cars everywhere). The Venice finale is a bit silly and the effects looked dated, but the scenery was fabulous.


7/10

RocknRollDave

Chicken Run 2


Some fun moments, but overall a pretty weak film .

DrCornelius

rze99 said:

Casino Royale

Film 2006 ITV

Hadn't seen this since it was out. It stands up. Craig's Bond is tougher, darker, moodier, more ground albeit still with superhuman physicality (the opening scene is tremendous but ridiculous). The humour isn't there which I missed a bit. No Miss Moneypenny no Q no gadgets except life saving kit in the DB9. The film flags with he gambling scenes because they are so intrinsically boring (to a non-card gambling guy like me at least). The product placement is crude (Ford group cars everywhere). The Venice finale is a bit silly and the effects looked dated, but the scenery was fabulous.


7/10

Eva Green is absolutely fabulous too