See How They Run:

It’s a one trick pony “hey look how meta this is” style film but it’s executed really well, not familiar with Agatha Christie at all but that would probably help. Saoirse Ronan was great, as were most of the cast.

Smile:

Definitely exceeded expectations, trailer and premise made it seem like it was going to be on par with stuff like “Truth or Dare” but it was fantastic.

Way darker in terms of content than I was expecting also, I know it’s made a ton at the box office but selfishly I’d have preferred an R18+ rating as teenagers talked non-stop through this entire film, even after staff told them to keep quiet. Guess “This Film is not yet rated” is still right about puritanical mindsets when it comes to ratings.

Rewatched the Martian. Since doing grad school have a completely new appreciation for the film in how it adapts to problem solving when shit constantly does not go as expected and how far ideal plans and reality actually are.

Oct 7, 2022 2:19:55 GMT c said:

Rewatched the Martian. Since doing grad school have a completely new appreciation for the film in how it adapts to problem solving when shit constantly does not go as expected and how far ideal plans and reality actually are.

Weren't you through grad school already when Martian first came out?

Oh shit that is right. I read the book before grad school when it was still a free download off the author's website because publishers did not want anything to do with it.

Sonic 2

Fun! It was more action and less buddy comedy than the first movie - there was still some comedy in this one, but most of it wasn't really very good TBH (maybe kids would find it funny or maybe it's some kind of ironic not-supposed-to-funny stuff...?)

Knuckles and Tails are good additions, Jim Carrey is Jim Carrey and there's a cool mid-credits scene.

This movie is definitely more exciting and action packed than the first one - but I think I liked the first a little more for the buddy element. I still liked this one though!

Don’t Worry Darling:

It’s very derivative of other films but not the type of film that’s had mainstream attention for years. Which is more so due to the behind the scenes drama and (re)casting of Harry Styles more than its premise but it’s still publicity. Comparing Olivia Wilde to Kubrick and Jodorowsky wasn’t something I’d think I’d be writing about in 2022 but here we are.

I thought the first half of the film was really ambitious and presented in a very original and unique way despite being similar to many stories that have told before. The disses towards Jordan Peterson were as subtle as a brick and disappointing that Wilde thinks his message is “women need to stay on the kitchen”.

The second half

SPOILER: Click to show

They over explain the plot and spell everything out for you really dampened it, especially with the film answering very little questions in the first half.

The explanation doesn’t hold up to questioning much either so would rather they kept it vague. I understand that a lot of people are just going see this for Harry Styles and expect something else entirely as the marketing for this movie is as vague as the first act but it sucks some filmmakers still have to spell it out for people

Really ambitious even if not executed perfectly


Amsterdam:

Great story and dialogue complimented by great performances that keep you interested to see how all the subplots will tie together in the end and it does exactly that. Preaching a great message of love,anti-ableism, acceptance and freedom… no word about not groping your niece though.

Jungle Cruise

The Rock (playing The Rock) is in a jungle. This sounds familiar.

Anyway, it was a nice movie. It's exactly what you'd expect - some funny bits, fights, The Rock being The Rock.

It's pretty much Indiana Jones meets Pirates of the Caribbean - nothing groundbreaking, but it's harmless fun and probably one of the best Rock movies I've seen (not that that's saying much).

Would've been way better if Emily Blunt did not wear pants.

Oct 11, 2022 19:41:48 GMT @ness said:

Would've been way better if Emily Blunt did not wear pants.

But then The Rock couldn't call her "Pants" every five minutes!

I started Hostel. Dude I was feeling it, just being the invisible fourth man having a great time. And then it happened. I almost forgot what type of movie I was watching. No more bros trip.

Oct 12, 2022 0:08:38 GMT @ness said:

I started Hostel. Dude I was feeling it, just being the invisible fourth man having a great time. And then it happened. I almost forgot what type of movie I was watching. No more bros trip.

I always liked the first half of Hostel - the boys backpacking through Europe, with the tension building. Then, the gore-porn kicks in, and I lose all interest. I could care less about that sort of movie.

Halloween Ends:

Spoiler review incoming soon but a massive misstep and hugely disappointing ending to the new trilogy. Nothing to do with its rumoured ending.

Other than the subtle nods to the original there isn’t much at all to praise here. Much like “Nope” I understand what they were going for but it wasn’t in a way I wanted.

Reading your review I assume more will be speaking out against the way the trilogy ends. Sounds like they should have ended it with the second film.

Caught the Hellraiser reboot, it's top 5 Hellraiser, but Hellraiser sucks after part 4 so that's really not much of an accomplishment, though I'd say 3rd or 4th, not 5th. It was solid, what you'd want from a Hellraiser, new chick was no Doug Bradley, but works well enough, doesn't get a whole lot of time.

Definitely was a great reboot. Fused Barker vision very well with aspects of the community's extended universe. The new chick worked very well in bringing a theme from the extended universe to the big screen in that no one knows really what the purpose of the cenobites are, as they are so damn alien. Which was weird to see, since Barker's Scarlet Gospels settled that in they are the demonic priests of Hell that torture sinners. But this makes that non-canon for the films, which is so odd to see since Barker worked on this film.

Was the best Hellraiser film since the 2nd one IMO, and better than even Barker's own followup to Hellbound Heart.  On par with the community lit project Hellbound Hearts.  

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

The Rock is in the jungle again, playing The Rock. He looks a lot smaller than he did in Jungle Cruise.

I've got no idea how Vanessa Hudgens' shorts stayed up.

I've never seen Journey 1, but I don't think it really matters. A lot of the shots were obviously intended to impress people watching in 3D, but it's not 2012 anymore so some of it just looked...weird. It looked really cheap in parts, but it was still a fun adventure story. 

Not as good as the Jumanjis, but it's still harmless fun!

Thor: Love and Thunder

I wanted to like it. I think if I was a younger kid I would have. It just felt overly campy to me (even for a comic book movie). There were some enjoyable parts, but overall I felt it rushed a lot of the Lady Thor/Mighty Thor stuff and fell flat for me in a lot of areas.

House of Gucci

Another one I wanted to love and thought I would, but honestly it felt overacted - ironically not by Gaga. The accents and stereotypes were horrendous and there were some very drawn our parts of the movie I felt could have been eliminated all together. I think if I was part of the Gucci family I would be embarrassed by the portrayal of my family members. The soundtrack was fantastic though.

Yeah iron maiden, after Thor: Ragnarok which was great and the best Thor movie, I went into Love and Thunder with high expectations. I will say this, it was slightly better on a re-watch.

Hocus Pocus 2 is fucking legit

You Only Live Twice

I've been watching all the Bonds from the start. The first three were all excellent, Thunderball was OK and this one...wasn't very good TBH.

It's definitely the silliest one yet (but obviously not up to the wild levels of Roger Moore). The comedy gadgets are starting to creep in, the puns are getting worse and the whole thing just felt like a greatest hits compilation (or a parody) of the series so far.

There are some cool scenes (the fight at the docks and the car chase), but the whole thing dragged - especially in the last 30 minutes. I almost felt as bored as Sean Connery looked - he was 37 at the time this came out, but he looked about 50 and totally fed up with it all.

I absolutely hated the scene with Bond and Tiger getting bathed by the women. Was that cool in the 60s? Did people like it? Do people still like it? It was weird! And Bond saying  "Why do Chinese girls taste different from all other girls?" - it's weird!

It wasn't a horrible movie, but definitely the worst Bond in my watchthrough so far!

Aww all the reason you hate it are all the reasons I love it. I think You Only Live Twice is my favorite of the old Bond's. Definitely not PC though as very stereotypical protryal of Asians and of course the misogamy. I guess I just have a soft spot for these films as they are classics and I was raised on them.

@aaron I have also been trawling very slowly through the early Bond films.

I really liked Dr. No. From Russia With Love worse but still pretty good, and I didn't really like Goldfinger. Don't remember if I reviewed Goldfinger in this thread but I certainly did the other two.

Don't intend to watch any more, so you lasted longer than I did. Might skip ahead just to see what Roger Moore is like. Might not. The campiness doesn't really work for me so it feels like watching any more Bond would just be a waste of time. Does seem like a product of its time.

🤯 no more Good Dr. Bond reviews.

What the point is even life anymore?

Sad reality is, Bond blows.

Oct 16, 2022 23:20:02 GMT 🤯 said:

Sad reality is, Bond blows.

You blow and don’t swallow! $&@?&@

Bond is a product of its time. It’s like Star Wars. If you watch it now it seems campy and looks dated, but at the time it was revolutionary. You just have to enjoy the Bonds for what they are. And if you don’t care for the dated/campy ones, Daniel Craig does a decent job in his 5 films reviving the character and franchise and bringing them into the next millennium.

I haven't seen much Bond. One of those no sold franchises. Really liked the Austin Powers movies so I understand the main stuff based on the parody. Tried Craig's out and I liked CR and SF, which seems to be common. Didn't care for the other 2, which kinda sucks because I was HYPED for Batista and Waltz. Haven't seen the last one. One day I feel I'll go back through the catalog, but it's never been a priority for me.

Sad reality is, Star Wars is just a wholesale ripoff of Dune

If Duno knew how to make it entertaining there'd be no need for Star Wars. Everything needs that sports entertainment sizzle.

Oct 17, 2022 0:45:21 GMT 🤯 said:

Sad reality is, Star Wars is just a wholesale ripoff of Dune

Stop it!

Oct 16, 2022 23:20:02 GMT 🤯 said:

Sad reality is, Bond blows.

This, very much this.

Oct 17, 2022 0:45:21 GMT 🤯 said:

Sad reality is, Star Wars is just a wholesale ripoff of Dune

OK, you've gone to far with this madness.