Movies you've seen recently

[LadyCrimson]

Previous topic incarnation

This morning I tried to watch "Hours" while eating breakfast. It's kind of an interesting start, with some mild tension. But then I finished my breakfast and turned it off.

 

The omniscient Netflix tells me I'd probably rate it 4.5 stars tho, so maybe I'll try to finish it later. Maybe.

[Rostere]

I haven't seen Interstellar, but you criticize it for "characters, who are supposed to be scientists, often do not act and think like scientists at all" and then praise Prometheus? Did we watch the same Prometheus?

I never really thought that.

 

Does it also fix the scientist take off his helmet in an unknown atmosphere, the biologist playing peekaboo with an alien cobra giving obvious threat displays despite havig been terrified of the mere thought of alien life seconds before, and the geologist who mapped the cave complex being the only person who gets lost in said complex when everyone else comes out without his help? I've warmed up towards Prometheus on a repeat viewing but I'm still constantly irritated by how over the top idiotic every single character is. Well, that and the random, unnecesary zombie attack sequence in the middle of the movie that is never mentioned again.

The alien spaceship was mapped by some kind of probe, right?

 

Obviously if somebody takes off his helmet, that person has previously measured the surrounding atmosphere as being safe to breathe.

 

There are a lot of things which are not explained in Prometheus, I think that adds greatly to the mysterious atmosphere of the movie. Some things really are better when you get to fill it out with your own imagination. But for that to be a significant positive factor, the movie also has to drop a lot of interesting threads to follow. I think that Prometheus succeeded in doing that pretty well.

 

Secondly, we appear to have entirely different pictures of how scientists think I don't think it would be unrealistic for scientists to be reckless, or curious to such a degree that they hurt themselves or others. That is probably pretty close to the truth. On the other hand, I think it is more unrealistic when in Interstellar, pretty much all of the main characters are so very confused about their own and others struggle between utilitarianism and egoism. They drop a lot of lines which comes out terribly awful. There's too much drama.

 

 

 

There's also some things which feel wrong from a scientific point of view, but I hardly need to go into detail about that here. One thing is about the event horizon of the black hole, when they talk about getting useful readings while being "just inside it" or exactly at the border of it. Obviously that does not work out. Secondly, the speed he has when entering the black hole - even if we assume fantasy stuff happens inside it, he would pretty much need to be travelling very, very close to the speed of light if he doesn't want to be torn apart on a atomic level when entering it. The visualization of what happens inside the black hole is obviously wrong given the description of the movie for what it is, but I don't need to mention that. The word "tesseract" is thrown around carelessly when it has an exact mathematical definition which does not fit with what we saw in the movie. In short, if you try to make a "realistic" sci-fi movie instead of a "futuristic" one you get in a lot of trouble, when the things mentioned in the movie are issues of current science.

 

 

[sorophx]

 

well, it doesn't explain everything, still many plot holes in the movie, but a lot of characters have their motivations explained more clearly. the deleted scenes didn't do it for me, personally, still don't like Prometheus

correction: while the deleted scenes explain some things, others are explained in the original Alien: Engineers script. I did read the script, so I was mixing it up with content from deleted scenes.

[Maedhros]

I usually don't mind dumb scientists/science in films, as long as the film is redeemed by other qualities - but Promotheus didn't really have any strengths as a film.

At a certain point it was obvious that the girl was going to be the only human survivor, with the rest of them dying in stupid ways. Like in the end when the blonde woman runs in the same direction as the falling ship and is crushed by it. Why not just go sideways?!

It had maybe one or two good scenes. The intro scene with the engineer was brilliant, but it set a tone the film never managed to follow up on.

 

Interstellar was in a different league entirely. Even though it shares similar flaws with Promotheus, I was immersed in a whole different way. Pacing/acting/music(!), some breathtaking scenes, it was just all over a better film.

[Blarghagh]

Obviously if somebody takes off his helmet, that person has previously measured the surrounding atmosphere as being safe to breathe.

 

I don't remember the other bits too specifically, but this one happened specifically WHILE the other characters were still measuring. He was like "psheh why need measurements and data, live on the edge".

[ManifestedISO]

Scored all seven X-Men movies for thirty bucks over the holiday. Haven't seen First Class or Wolverine Origins or Wolverine or Days of Future Past yet, but the first three take a concerted fan-effort to enjoy. Kevin Feige was producer for those, and it feels like this is where he learned how not to make bad Avengers films.

 

Logan has been cool so far, but Kitty Pryde, ever so briefly in Last Stand, really stood out. I was like, wait, I think that's Ellen Page.  

[Oerwinde]

Scored all seven X-Men movies for thirty bucks over the holiday. Haven't seen First Class or Wolverine Origins or Wolverine or Days of Future Past yet, but the first three take a concerted fan-effort to enjoy. Kevin Feige was producer for those, and it feels like this is where he learned how not to make bad Avengers films.

 

Logan has been cool so far, but Kitty Pryde, ever so briefly in Last Stand, really stood out. I was like, wait, I think that's Ellen Page.  

 

X-Men was decent, X-Men 2 was good, 3 was bleh. You can skip Origins, its just plain bad, but The Wolverine is probably almost on par with X2. First Class and Days of Future Past are the best ones.

[Labadal]

Guardians of the Galaxy.

 

It was fun but there was no really intense story moments that made me go "holy ****"!

 

I liked Peter Quill, Rocket and Groot. Everyone else was forgettable, including the easily defeated villain. Drax and Gamora didn't get any real character development.

[Longknife]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjiJahRPU8

[Orogun01]

I love MST3K

[Longknife]

I love MST3K

 

Space Mutiny gets my vote for best episode.

 

Though their more recent work with their Rifftrax cover of Birdemic definitely deserves praise as well:

 

 

[Keyrock]

 

I love MST3K

 

Space Mutiny gets my vote for best episode.

 

Space Mutiny is a pretty spectacular episode.  Punch Rockgroin!  Dirk Hardpec!  Flint Ironstag!  Big McLargeHuge!

 

My vote for best episode goes to The Final Sacrifice.  Zap Rowsdower is legendary.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Keyrock

[Longknife]

 

 

I love MST3K

 

Space Mutiny gets my vote for best episode.

 

Space Mutiny is a pretty spectacular episode.  Punch Rockgroin!  Dirk Hardpec!  Flint Ironstag!  Big McLargeHuge!

 

My vote for best episode goes to The Final Sacrifice.  Zap Rowsdower is legendary.

 

 

 

 

 

Chuck Norris wishes he were as amazing as Rowsdower.

 

 

 

Pumaman was another absolutely ridiculous one:

 

[obyknven]

Mr. Dragon (yep this is his official nickname in my homeland) in Iron Sky.... Must watch

http://youtu.be/OSHaVH9HhfI

[Amentep]

For my movie watching I viewed

 

FREE BIRDS (2013) - I didn't have any real expectations (other than having liked Reel FX's BOOK OF LIFE in October); thought the film was fun. It takes its concept (which even it seems to admit is goofy) and just runs with it. George Takai (as the voice of S.T.E.V.E the time-travel machine) steals several scenes.

 

THE LAST OF SHEILA (1973) - Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins were both fans of puzzles, games and mysteries. They were also friends who held scavenger hunts in Manhatten for their shared film/theater friends when in town. So its not surprising the two would try their hands at writing a mystery. This is a particularly good one - a slow burn of a story that throws puzzle pieces both obvious and obscure and dares you to put together what has happened and who is the killer. Lots of 70s star power (Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, Raquel Welch, Ian McShane, James Mason, James Coburn and Joan Hackett (with Yvonne Romain in a small part as the character Sheila)) and clever directing from Herbert Ross keep the subtle layers going on.

 

One criticism of the film might be fair - that unlike other classic "drawing room" mysteries there isn't a really likeable character involved to root to solve the mystery, and yet it fits this film (which somewhat satirizes the film business on the side). Coburn in particular seems to delight in playing the game obsessed film producer who - because he's still a success - has the others at his beck and call.

 

A day after the film was viewed I was still puzzling some of the elements - realizing I'd missed some connections

 

WITCHCRAFT (1964) - UK Horror film starring Lon Chaney Jr. A cult brings back a witch (who was buried alive instead of burned) and trouble brews. More creepy mood than out and out fright; some scenes are quite effective but the story becomes a bit of a run around at the end. Also seems to have trouble deciding what role Chaney's niece has in the whole thing. Directed by Don Sharp who directed a few films for Hammer.

 

KRULL (1983) - I've seen Krull numerous times, but oddly this is the first time I've ever seen it in wide-screen. To some benefit because I felt the story was better connected in its delivery while not trying to figure out what I was looking at in a pan-and-scan version. The themes that true love was the strongest thing there was makes more sense when you can see the parallels in the story (the Beast doesn't try to stop Colwyn from getting the glaive even though its a legendary weapon because the bond between him and Lyssa is more powerful which is what he focuses on breaking; Ynir and the Widow of the Web as a cautionary tale for Colwyn and Lyssa). Plus there's lasers and swordfighting.

[Orogun01]

Hey Amentep, have you ever told anyone that you're a cinephile and then they look at you like you're some kind of pervert?

[Blarghagh]

Van Helsing. It's my ultimate guilty pleasure. It's absolutely awful and I love watching it. It feels like an action comedy written by someone who has never seen an action movie or a comedy and has only ever heard them described to him. If nothing else, the music is stellar. One of the best scores I've ever heard.

[Hiro Protagonist]

Watched a few movies recently.

 

Saving Mr. Banks (2013). Really enjoyed it. Quite surprised how good it was. Loved all the references and the story.

 

Lucy (2014). A great ride I had with this. I love these types of action movies.

 

The Maze Runner (2014). Great start to the franchise. Can't wait to see the sequel next year.

 

The Giver (2014). Interesting movie. The ending was a bit meh.

 

The Purge: Anarchy (2014). Sequel was okay. First movie was good but this was still all right. Prefer the first movie though.

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). I'm thinking TMNT is a product of its time. Or I've just grown out of it. I would like to see a live adaption of Michael Zulli's 3 issue adaption from the early 90s (issue 31, 35 and 36) which I consider to be the best adaption I've seen with these characters. And seeing the trailer and how the turtles are portrayed gave me a sense of them doing the turtles right. And then I watched the movie... Prefer the original movie when it came out.

[Amentep]

Hey Amentep, have you ever told anyone that you're a cinephile and then they look at you like you're some kind of pervert?

I avoid the issue by saying the rather pedestrain "I like movies".

[Oerwinde]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). I'm thinking TMNT is a product of its time. Or I've just grown out of it. I would like to see a live adaption of Michael Zulli's 3 issue adaption from the early 90s (issue 31, 35 and 36) which I consider to be the best adaption I've seen with these characters. And seeing the trailer and how the turtles are portrayed gave me a sense of them doing the turtles right. And then I watched the movie... Prefer the original movie when it came out.

As a product of its time I'll disagree, the 2003 animated series retold the comic stories for a younger audience with updated references and such and was fantastic,and the current Nickelodeon series is like an updated version of the 80s cartoon and while not as good as the 2003 series from an adult perspective, is still way better than the 80s version and is a huge success with kids. It all depends on how the material is handled.

Edited December 4, 2014 by Oerwinde

[Blarghagh]

I do have to say that aside from the ridiculous 80's view of what juvenile delinquents are like, the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live action film still holds up remarkably well. There's just something really down to earth and appealing about a story about family and fatherhood. Also, Elias Koteas knocks it out of the ballpark as Casey Jones and some of the humor works very well for adults. Consider this exchange when Casey Jones is visibly uncomfortable staying in a sewer:

 

Donatello: "You're a claustrophobic!"

Casey: "Huh? You want a fist in the mouth, pal? I've never even look at another man before!"

 

That one went straight over my head when I was a kid, but now it cracks me up.

[Oerwinde]

Its a shame they weren't able to to recapture the magic of that first movie. I know they were limited with the budget, but what they did for the sequels just wasn't good. Nostalgia allows me to enjoy them, but the first one is the only actually good movie. The Imagi one from the 2000s was quite good though despite the wierd immortal monster storyline. The Raph vs Leo fight gives me chills whenever I watch it. Its so beautifully done.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdtM66SxZeI

[Hiro Protagonist]

As a product of its time I'll disagree, the 2003 animated series retold the comic stories for a younger audience with updated references and such and was fantastic,and the current Nickelodeon series is like an updated version of the 80s cartoon and while not as good as the 2003 series from an adult perspective, is still way better than the 80s version and is a huge success with kids. It all depends on how the material is handled.

 

I'm talking about the live action stuff.

[Blarghagh]

Its a shame they weren't able to to recapture the magic of that first movie. I know they were limited with the budget, but what they did for the sequels just wasn't good. Nostalgia allows me to enjoy them, but the first one is the only actually good movie. The Imagi one from the 2000s was quite good though despite the wierd immortal monster storyline. The Raph vs Leo fight gives me chills whenever I watch it. Its so beautifully done.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdtM66SxZeI

 

Ain't that the truth. If they had cut out the fantasy plot and dumped in the Shredder, that would be by far the best Turtles movie. It got the characters completely right.

[Malcador]

 

*yawn* Her line delivery is great.