Nope - I was bored out of my mind. Absolutely stupid film that was all over the damn place. I get the message he was going for but unless you make the film more interesting the concept has been done way better a lot of other times. The characters were shit as well. Pretty sure anyone who thinks this is the best movie of the year hasn’t seen anything else. I loved Get Out but Jordan Peele has been declining since he started with a huge hit.

Top Gun Maverick came back to our theater this weekend so my daughter who saw the original a few weeks ago wanted to go. Still pretty enjoyable on rewatch. It’s a simple story so I didn’t gain much from the second time around, but the kiddo liked it so win.

Aug 9, 2022 12:46:25 GMT System said:

Where the Crawdads Sing:

This was a fantastic film, it has the same cliches a lot of romance films based on novels have but the main actress was incredible in this.
They did a great job of making you feel sad for her situation while also envious of the freedom she had and made you understand why she lived in the marsh.

A lot of the supporting cast felt like caricatures but nothing too bad to take me out of the film overall.

EDIT: very surprised people are saying this looks like a TV movie, it looked gorgeous on the big screen

I didn't think it was completely terrible, but the pacing was shocking. They turned the corny Notebook vibe up to 11 and dragged out those aspects of the storyline, and then completely rushed the ending to the actually interesting part of the storyline. Compared to Gone Girl it was a huge fumble. I blame Reese Witherspoon - unfortunately her and Nicole Kidman are intent on producing painfully mediocre adaptations of every bestselling book.

As you allude to Daisy Edgar-Jones did a great carry job but I feel bad for her that this will be her introduction to a lot of people. She deserved a lot better for her first Hollywood movie after Normal People which was immaculate.

Prey:

The Predator movie you expected in current year. Boring characters, wooden dialogue and predictable plot even for its genre. I’m not even a huge fan of the franchise (I don’t even like the original that much) so was a hard sell to begin with and didn’t hook me at all, kills were disappointing.

Location shots are gorgeous though.

I've watched a few movies this week, as I've had some spare time...so here is a veery, very condensed review of what I've watched.



Elvis (2022)


Watched this movie the other night, and I enjoyed it for what it was. It got me listening to a few more Elvis songs again, which is always a good thing. One nit pick... Colonel never had an 'accent', well not to the extent of which Tom Hanks put on for the role, otherwise a good watch.


Minions: Rise of Gru

Decided to watch this at home through my Amazon Firestick, couldn't bear going to the cinema, when that weird trend was on......Decent family film, feels weird saying that when I don't have a family of my own. If you thinking there is a decent plot, there isn't.....its just jokes upon jokes..but you get what they give from these movies.


Rescue Rangers

Yeah, you remember that 90s cartoon based on Chip & Dale, well they've got a film on Disney+ now, which is a decent crime/comedy/Disney movie. Andy Samberg & John Mulaney voice the chipmunks in this, and some decent animation/CGI is used in it. Decked laughing when they got "Ugly Sonic" in the movie (Based off the ugly original Sonic design), and the film did draw some flak for their protagonist in the movie, with the real-life comparisons coming into mind. 

Aug 16, 2022 14:42:49 GMT System said:

Prey:

The Predator movie you expected in current year. Boring characters, wooden dialogue and predictable plot even for its genre. I’m not even a huge fan of the franchise (I don’t even like the original that much) so was a hard sell to begin with and didn’t hook me at all, kills were disappointing.

Location shots are gorgeous though.

I loved Stephen King wanting a crossover like this but with Children of the Corn.  And damn, that would be fucking hilarious.  

Prey: I thought it was entertaining enough, probably the 4th best Predator movie, could be 3rd. But I guess beyond the first movie the bar isn't exactly high. It was good though.

Lightyear: Of all the movies I've seen this year, this was absolutely one of them. Does everything sufficient animation is great, voice acting is great, story is a solid, nice twist on the material, but doesn't really set itself out in any way. It's a perfectly watchable movie, nothing more.

Day Shift: This was some good dumb fun, it's a totally stupid movie, but had a good time. Fox and Franco are funny together, I could watch a spinoff of the brothers (especially because it means more time Scott Adkins), and the action is pretty entertaining. It's schlocky, but it's fun.

The Northman: Jesus suffering fuck this one was kind of a clusterfuck. The preview really didn't portray how abstract and deep into mysticism the movie was, but for me all that gobbledygook just made the movie feel entirely disjointed. Like it gets off to a great start, but once he gets to his uncle's land I just felt like it fell apart. It looked amazing, the performances were pretty much all great, the action was top notch, but it's just all over the place in the home stretch. Everything about it was right up my alley, but I was thoroughly bored with it, just didn't do it for me AT ALL.

Dragon Ball Super: Superhero

No, that isn’t a typo.

Other than DBS: Brolly which like this I saw at a cinema on a whim, I haven’t watched Dragon Ball since the Cell saga let alone watch GT or Super.

So it was helpful the film filled me in a bit but it wasn’t great. Formula seems done to death, actions don’t have real consequences and things that were the subject of great reverence are used as a joke.

I’ve guess I’ve just outgrown enjoying stuff like this I guess as the formula hasn’t changed that much. Reviews are all positive so maybe it’s better for those still actively watching the series.

SPOILER: Click to show

Minor villains come along, turn baby face and defeat big bad at the end.
All friends now, previous deeds are forgiven

On to the next adventure

Northman def fell apart in the final act. It still liked it overall though. Great brutal take on Hamlet.

Where The Crawdads Sing
Brilliant film, the lead actress was amazing in this film (including the young version of her too), I was enthralled by her presence consistently. I really enjoyed the characters and their portrayal of Chase and Tate too, and how their story unfolded as well as hers.
It was almost easy to forget it was a murder mystery and just think it was a romance film.

The narration, and the cinematography was completely gorgeous.
I am still shocked by how it played out and I would love to watch it again and simply enjoy the journey again.

I bought the book over a year ago now, really should get to reading it already!

Aug 22, 2022 8:59:06 GMT System said:

Dragon Ball Super: Superhero

No, that isn’t a typo.

Other than DBS: Brolly which like this I saw at a cinema on a whim, I haven’t watched Dragon Ball since the Cell saga let alone watch GT or Super.

So it was helpful the film filled me in a bit but it wasn’t great. Formula seems done to death, actions don’t have real consequences and things that were the subject of great reverence are used as a joke.

I’ve guess I’ve just outgrown enjoying stuff like this I guess as the formula hasn’t changed that much. Reviews are all positive so maybe it’s better for those still actively watching the series.

SPOILER: Click to show

Minor villains come along, turn baby face and defeat big bad at the end.
All friends now, previous deeds are forgiven

On to the next adventure

I've been wondering where the new Cell design came from, it reminded me of those fake DBAF designs that were all over late 90s early 00s internet.

I'm pretty sure the artist was SSJ Baker...

Reading through the plot now, it sounds like it pandered to the fans. Goku takes a back-seat and the movie pushes Gohan and Piccolo who as far as I know barely got anything to do in Super. So that's probably why it has such a positive reception among the fans.

Watched Lost City today. Didn’t have high hopes. It was actually a cute and funny rom-com, with minimal schmaltz.

Nope was alright, but really feeling diminishing returns from Peele, the first hour was pretty stiff, but home stretch it does become a decent watch. Not something I’d return to, Get Out is still his best.

Nope

The movie really is a strange enigma that's better to experience with less knowledge going in.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}
I really enjoyed it in the sense that I had no idea where the story was going to go. I had actually heard some talk about it and how different the third act is and how divisive it is. I was expecting something crazy about aliens making animals go crazy for their own viewing pleasure and it'd be some form of 'Funny Games' we enjoy violence way too much.

I didn't expect the movie to become a western/sci-fi take on Jaws and play it absolutely straight.

I actually enjoyed it, the movie just became an out and out Spielberg tribute and it was just enjoyable to get wrapped up in the spectacle instead of the movie trying to subvert expectations.

I thought the rodeo scene was great as well and did an amazing job of establishing the threat. I love the tragedy as well with the two sit-com 90s actors surviving a brutal attack in studio, the lead taking the wrong advice and getting his (or becoming) his just desserts (or is it deserts, pi?)

Aug 26, 2022 7:36:07 GMT Big Pete said:

Nope

The movie really is a strange enigma that's better to experience with less knowledge going in.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}
I really enjoyed it in the sense that I had no idea where the story was going to go. I had actually heard some talk about it and how different the third act is and how divisive it is. I was expecting something crazy about aliens making animals go crazy for their own viewing pleasure and it'd be some form of 'Funny Games' we enjoy violence way too much.

I didn't expect the movie to become a western/sci-fi take on Jaws and play it absolutely straight.

I actually enjoyed it, the movie just became an out and out Spielberg tribute and it was just enjoyable to get wrapped up in the spectacle instead of the movie trying to subvert expectations.

I thought the rodeo scene was great as well and did an amazing job of establishing the threat. I love the tragedy as well with the two sit-com 90s actors surviving a brutal attack in studio, the lead taking the wrong advice and getting his (or becoming) his just desserts (or is it deserts, pi?)

Having seen zero Peele movies, what order should Wife & I watch 'em, o Bigsby Bear brethren of ours, Big Pete, good sir?

Us and Get Out were pretty great. Dunno about the rest, but it's not a PCU is it?

I mean I'm all for forcing connections even if it doesn't exist.

Aug 28, 2022 15:01:42 GMT @ness said:

Us and Get Out were pretty great. Dunno about the rest, but it's not a PCU is it?

I mean I'm all for forcing connections even if it doesn't exist.

No it isn’t. there’s only Get Out, Us and Nope so not a huge filmography to watch.

Aug 26, 2022 7:15:05 GMT RagnarokMike said:

Nope was alright, but really feeling diminishing returns from Peele, the first hour was pretty stiff, but home stretch it does become a decent watch. Not something I’d return to, Get Out is still his best.

Feeling this too.  Get Out was amazing, but it has not really released another hit.  Feels like he would be great with a TV show, but his movies are falling flat.  

Aug 28, 2022 15:06:18 GMT System said:

Aug 28, 2022 15:01:42 GMT @ness said:

Us and Get Out were pretty great. Dunno about the rest, but it's not a PCU is it?

I mean I'm all for forcing connections even if it doesn't exist.

No it isn’t. there’s only Get Out, Us and Nope so not a huge filmography to watch.

He did Candyman too right?

Get Out is great. Us at least has an interesting premise but I was pretty bored by the content.

Emperor

He wrote it but it’s directed by Nia DiCosta.

A lot of people think he directed Antebellum as well, which he didn’t.
(It’s awful)

I want, no, DEMAND we get more Shock the System Film Snobbery Takes.

Aug 28, 2022 14:57:37 GMT 🤯 said:

Aug 26, 2022 7:36:07 GMT Big Pete said:

Nope

The movie really is a strange enigma that's better to experience with less knowledge going in.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}
I really enjoyed it in the sense that I had no idea where the story was going to go. I had actually heard some talk about it and how different the third act is and how divisive it is. I was expecting something crazy about aliens making animals go crazy for their own viewing pleasure and it'd be some form of 'Funny Games' we enjoy violence way too much.

I didn't expect the movie to become a western/sci-fi take on Jaws and play it absolutely straight.

I actually enjoyed it, the movie just became an out and out Spielberg tribute and it was just enjoyable to get wrapped up in the spectacle instead of the movie trying to subvert expectations.

I thought the rodeo scene was great as well and did an amazing job of establishing the threat. I love the tragedy as well with the two sit-com 90s actors surviving a brutal attack in studio, the lead taking the wrong advice and getting his (or becoming) his just desserts (or is it deserts, pi?)

Having seen zero Peele movies, what order should Wife & I watch 'em, o Bigsby Bear brethren of ours, Big Pete , good sir?

Chronological, but feel free to stop at Get Out if you're not feeling it. His other movies are very similar in tone.

Emperor

He wrote it but it’s directed by Nia DiCosta.

A lot of people think he directed Antebellum as well, which he didn’t.
(It’s awful)

He also developed the new Twilight Zone series and wrote one of the episodes as well. I heard pretty mediocre things about it though and never got around to watching it despite the original being my favourite TV show of all-time.

There's a slew of movies that felt inspired by Get Out. I'd say one of the best immitators was the Teddy Perkins episode of Atlanta.

What I’ve seen of the new Twilight Zone wasn’t terrible, just too long. The ideas don’t work as well with 35-40 minutes.

Aug 28, 2022 16:19:27 GMT Emperor said:

Aug 28, 2022 15:06:18 GMT System said:

No it isn’t. there’s only Get Out, Us and Nope so not a huge filmography to watch.

He did Candyman too right?

Get Out is great. Us at least has an interesting premise but I was pretty bored by the content.

He wrote it.  Nia DaCosta directed it.  

The latest Weird Al trailer gives me hope that we may have a new Dewey Cox esque story. I hope it's not a case of the trailer showing all the best bits, but I hope it continues down the Adaptation route and just goes for a complete hard left with Al and Madonna starting a cult or something nuts.

Never saw Battle of the Five Armies, so I rewatched the first two and completed the Hobbit Trilogy, and when I was done I figured "Fuck it." and watched the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions for the first time (I literally haven't watched since seeing Return of the King in the theater opening week).

And holy hell, it's crazy how much better the Lord of the Rings is, the extended trilogy are near or over 4 hours a piece, and they watch so much easier than the Hobbits. They really hamstring themselves with CGI, stuff in the LotR's still holds up incredibly well with the practical effects, but weirdly enough, a lot of the CGI also looks better. I think the high definition of new CGI makes it standout more. And some things were stupid to do CGI, instead of practical, one entire dwarf was CGI for some reason, and he stood out like a sore thumb, like, y'all mastered dwarf technology in the first movie with Gimli, why does this look so bad? And the main antagonist just isn't as frightening as the tangible monstrosities from the main trilogy.

That being said, the Hobbits are fine films, I didn't outright hate them like others, just in comparison to the main trilogy. Kind of helps that they're prequels, since you'd watch them earlier, since the Lord of the Rings is superior in every possible way. But main trilogy is 10/10 compared to the 7/10 Hobbitses.

I don’t know even if anyone else remembers the High Frame Rate (HFR) fad that died quicker than the Ouya but I saw the first Two Hobbit movies in this and it was so incredibly jarring and “video gamey” it took me out of the films completely.

What is it about the movie RED -and to a lesser extent RED 2? It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, if it's on I'm watching.

It really has everything. And John Malkovich is just amazing in both.

Sept 2, 2022 16:07:31 GMT iron maiden said:

What is it about the movie RED -and to a lesser extent RED 2? It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, if it's on I'm watching.

It really has everything. And John Malkovich is just amazing in both.

John Malkovich is just amazing in everything.

But especially Being John Malkovich.

Yes, that's a favorite of mine as well. He's also great in Space Force on Netflix which is good, but not as great as I wanted it to be.