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Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






The Haunting

Oh this is just Not Good.

Half way decent cast are game, and the visuals are pretty stunning. Yet it still manages to fall flat on its arse.

However, highlights? Catherine Zeta Jones remains easy on the eye. And we see Owen Wilson get his bonce knocked off.

I think the problem is Lili Taylor. She goes for a certain portrayal, but just doesn’t really land it. Fey and shy was the aim, damp squib and wet blanket was the outcome.

Go watch the far superior and actually scary House on Haunted Hill instead. And maybe Ghost Ship.

   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

Or the infinitely superior serial adaptation on Netflix.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in us
Nasty Nob




Crescent City Fl..

Ghost Rig! B movie with an interesting twist.

Sigh, Yet another doomed attempt by man to bridge the gap between the material and spiritual worlds 
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut





Oxfordshire

There are a number of films related to gun running, either the buying and selling or the politics. They may not all be perfect but they are usually very interesting and entertaining. War Dogs and Charlie Wilson's War are stand outs.

And then there's Lord Of War. It's got Nic Cage hamming it up with his best Max Payne noir voiceover, and Jared Leto not being insufferable. The writing hits the pitch perfect balance of comedy and hurt. Pacing and direction are excellent. And there are some fantastic side characters from the many countries he does business in.

You may have seen the bullet making intro sequence, or the "used gun" arms sale scene, but I highly recommend watching the whole movie if you haven't yet.
   
Made in at
Buttons Should Be Brass, Not Gold!





Vienna, Austria

Yeah, Lord of War was good.

The Haunting I was alright with. Certainly not something I'd watch in cinema, but years later I saw it on TV and it was alright. Never seen Ghost ship, all I know it starred Miss Marguiles(?) of ER fame. And some show thereafter, but who cares about tv shows after ER. Anyway, I heard that ghost ship was pretty good actually. I guess it would have stood out better if it had been released some other time, because IIRC around that time they did a ton of rarther inconsequential ghost films.




I'm watching Knocked Up, which I did a mini-review of years ago on Warseer. Anyway, it's perfectly OK. It stars everybody you'd expect to be in there (including - so I think - the Deanelganger. Or Doppeldeaner.). I'm not a HUGE fan of Seth Rogen, but he's ok. I like how everybody's got hair, but not annoying hairdos. I will give the film that the female figures aren't written that great. Heigl's character is incredibly OK with these people coming into her life. Heigl's sister comes across as pretty horrible, not the least because she's supposed to be angry at Paul Rudd. How can you win in that situation.

Somebody might come at me for generalizing again, but Apatow's films make me very much dislike Los Angeles. Or the idea of living in it. Not that i've been there. I'M sure it's lovely.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2022/09/24 00:00:43


   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

From what I remember, the sister is written as controlling and hypocritical, perhaps borderline abusive, yet the movie portrays her not in that light. It made for an uncomfortable watch.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/24 00:17:50


   
Made in us
Secret Force Behind the Rise of the Tau




USA

Nope

Pretty good. I didn't much like Peele's last fic I saw (Us) but this one was great. It reminds me so much of a classic Speilberg movie but modern and with so much in it that's just well crafted to make you think.This is a great movie. Even the seemingly odd picks in the film's presentation further its themes when you sit back and think about them.

   
Made in gb
Using Inks and Washes





The Punisher (Dolph Lundgren version)

Despite being a Punisher film in name only (Seriously, is it that hard to get a guy a t-shirt with a big skull on it?), it's the only one I like.
I think it has a lot to do with Mr. Lundgren looking half dead all the time, really sells him as a tortured soul.
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

In the Dolph version, I do have a soft spot for the Not-Teddy Ruxpin (sp) scene.

I saw: Thor: Love and Thunder. This is clearly the spiritual successor of Ragnarok in many ways. However, where Rags shed most of the "stuff" around Thor to make him a stand-alone character, you know stuff like the Warriors 3, Odin, Asgard, etc; this movie goes out of its way to ADD stuff back into Thor's character. However, in the epilogue and climax it tries to strip them out again? (I mean, even Korg gets married; out of nowhere; and all for a bad joke?) Just like comics, the movies are now going through a phase where they break every one apart and distill them down, only to build them all back up again. It will be interesting to see how long the franchise can get away with these old tricks.

The first half of the movie is really, really hammed up and delivered with terrible acting. I think this is intentional. It is not until Jane Foster shows up that things start to get a bit interesting. As the movie progresses, the acting becomes more serious.

Honestly, the Thor needs to find himself bit is really used up; but I guess that is Thor's whole schtick? They do make fun of the fact that all of Thor's adventures are basically the same, and therefore some what hollow.

The visuals in the shadow realm are really good. It gave me a 7th Seal vibe, and I was actually hoping they engaged Gor: The God Butch in a game of chess, or perhaps a Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey moment. It is all black and white, except for yellow, such as the weapon and Gor's eyes.

Overall, probably more along Thor II in my mind. Mostly forgettable, even if Jane Foster and Thor are RIPPED!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/26 14:03:18


Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





FWIW, the Shadow Realm just doesn't have any natural light. Any time we see color its from outside light sources the characters carry (the yellow comes from Zeus's bolt and Mjolnir casts some soft white light that brings out a little color around it)
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Having a Disney Day. Specifically Disney Channel made for TV, turn of the century, sort of spooky fare.

The Scream Team

Wee bit Goonies, wee bit Ghostbusters with a dash of other stuff. Has Eric Idle, and is probably better than it has any right to be.

Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire

Starting one of the Aunts out of Sabrina. It’s…alright, I guess. Pretty much the Diet Own Brand Cola Lost Boys if Lost Boys was Coca Cola.

For TV Movies they’re enjoyable enough. And being Disney you can guarantee they’re gonna be inoffensive enough for most audiences.

   
Made in at
Buttons Should Be Brass, Not Gold!





Vienna, Austria

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
...

Mom’s Got A Date With A Vampire
....


At first I thought that was the weirdest alternate tittle for Fright Night




Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Just watched it for the first time. It's good, that one, isn't it. I'm positively smitten.

Watch it

   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

Barbarian

I saw this because the reviews built it up as something more interesting than you would think from the trailers. That made me think it was going to be more creative and less …obvious? Conventional?

Anyway, the acting is good. Every performer is captivating, and more than the rest Justin Long gets some great material to work with. The tension and pacing are good if you like this kind of horror movie. Unfortunately, the characters have to act bizarrely stupid at key times for the movie to happen, which really detracts from the film. Also, there are times when slasher movie rules take effect, which really clashes with the feel of the first half of the film. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who isn’t hardcore into horror.

   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

Nope

Ever watch an episode of the Simpsons or Family Guy or similar, and spot they're making a reference but not necessarily understanding to what?

That more or less encapsulates my experience watching this film.

Alongside that sense of not getting "it" (I'm fairly sure there's not an "it" to get, it just feels that way,) there's a consistent confusion about what the film fundamentally is. It seems to want to be a comedy, but there aren't any jokes, it's also trying to be a horror, but it isn't scary. Aside from the Gordy subplot, which is not only chilling but also all too plausible.

Daniel Kaluuya mumbles his way through his dialogue, the plot wanders from side to side for large parts but doesn't seem to want to advance forward, and the climax lacks any impact because not only is it relatively predictable, you simply don't care by that point.


I think the idea of Jordan Peele as the next great hope for horror is now effectively dead. Get Out was a great debut, Us was a respectable follow up, but this falls far short of either. It would perhaps have made a reasonable episode of The Twilight Zone, another Peele project, but as a movie there's not a lot here to recommend.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in us
Nasty Nob




Crescent City Fl..

Hellbaby.

A young couple buy a house which my be haunted. Some priests are sent from Rome because the devil may be there.

I really enjoyed this movie, it has a few guys from the state( on MTV back in the 90's.)
It's fun with a few jump scares and some wacky characters.

Sigh, Yet another doomed attempt by man to bridge the gap between the material and spiritual worlds 
   
Made in us
Secret Force Behind the Rise of the Tau




USA



It seems to be a thing with Peel's films. Half the audience won't get it (I didn't get 'Us' at all, but other people apparently did).

I found this one straightforward though. There's at least two big messages in it;

-Exploitation is bad and unhealthy, made manifest by the way animals, personal tragedy, and crises are exploited by people throughout the film in search of fame or money often with complete disregard, or sheer ignorance, of obvious risks. I.E. an animal is still an animal, even if domesticated or trained and it should be respected as such.
-The film would seem, IMO, to propose that the way many blockbuster films are made is shallow, devoid of meaning, and empty of soul or passion. It's all just made on the backs of professionals and creatives who take their work seriously but have to constantly deal with the pursuit of money stopping them from doing things the way they want. This same theme was also featured in Ford vs Ferrari (which used sports racing as a metaphor for film making IMO).

This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2022/09/29 01:28:12


   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

I got most of that, don't get me wrong, there is, after all, little subtlety to the way those themes are presented.

I guess it's more I felt like there was something.. deeper going on? Because I was being hit so relentlessly in the face with "the message" I guess part of my brain was looking for something more sophisticated, like because I'm as far away, culturally speaking, from the characters in the film as one can get that there was some deeper nuance I wasn't privy to.

I'm convinced there is a deeper meaning to the nature of the threat, but honestly it might just be wishful thinking.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I saw a Mark Kermode quote which I think sums it up more succinctly than anything I would likely conjure "the film is more interesting to talk about than it is to watch."

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/29 04:37:06


We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in us
Battlefield Tourist




MN (Currently in WY)

Is it better to have a movie that causes engagement past the end credits, or a movie that is really good on the screen; but diminishing returns after?

I.e. is it better to have an enjoyable movie to watch for 90+ minutes, or better to have a movie you can engage with after the 90+ minutes is over?

That in itself is a good question about the nature of cinema.

Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Both are valid. And they aren’t mutually exclusive.

Robocop is an easy and hopefully indisputable example of Having That Cake And Eating It.

On the surface? It’s completely standard 80’s shooty bang bang action dumb brain flick, and a good example of that peculiar genre.

And if that’s all you were wanting, it delivers in style.

But…there’s so much more to it in terms of subtext if you want to dig a bit deeper. From the American Jesus thing, to its critique of capitalism, some of the word play (dead or alive, you’re coming with me works as a dumb catch phrase, a witty retort to Emile when he says “we killed you man, there ain’t no coming back”, and indeed as a question about the very nature of Robocop Alex Murphy). Heck, even the soundtrack plays with the audience. That iconic theme tune? When it’s Alex Murphy, heavy on the brass and strings. During his first outings as Robocop? The Anvil features adding an inhuman, industrial robotic percussion - only for that bit to be dropped once Robocop rediscovers his humanity and remembers his own murder etc.

Oh sod it Robocop is going on again. Bloody love that film!

   
Made in gb
The Daemon Possessing Fulgrim's Body





Devon, UK

 Easy E wrote:


I.e. is it better to have an enjoyable movie to watch for 90+ minutes, or better to have a movie you can engage with after the 90+ minutes is over?


If the discussion is, as I feel it is with this film, "is that all there is to it? Surely there's more to it than that?!" Then firmly the former.

We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't. - Frank Howard Clark

The wise man doubts often, and changes his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubts not; he knows all things but his own ignorance.

The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense!” Professor Brian Cox

Ask me about
Barnstaple Slayers Club 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






And after 29 years of patience?

Hocus Pocus 2

It started really strongly!

   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran



South East London

I watched Lou (2022) on Netflix.

This is very much a "by the numbers" thriller, but competently done, even if I did guess the "reveal" within minutes of the movie starting. Very solid performance from Allison Janney as the titular Lou, the crotchety, mysterious, old lady that lives next door, and Matt Craven who seems to be forever cast as the local Sheriff for some reason. However, the rest of the cast sadly ham it up or phone it in, but it's a watchable movie, if a little over long. They spend a huge amount of time bigging up the "storm of the century" which turns out to be a bit of light rain.....

Lots of comparisons to Liam Neeson's "Taken", which I didn't really get. Closest comparison would be Jeff Bridges' "The Old Man".

So, all in all, not a bad movie if you have a spare couple of hours but it didn't set my world alight.

"Dig in and wait for Winter" 
   
Made in at
Buttons Should Be Brass, Not Gold!





Vienna, Austria

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Both are valid. And they aren’t mutually exclusive.

Robocop is an easy and hopefully indisputable example of Having That Cake And Eating It.

On the surface? It’s completely standard 80’s shooty bang bang action dumb brain flick, and a good example of that peculiar genre.

And if that’s all you were wanting, it delivers in style.

But…there’s so much more to it in terms of subtext if you want to dig a bit deeper. From the American Jesus thing, to its critique of capitalism, some of the word play (dead or alive, you’re coming with me works as a dumb catch phrase, a witty retort to Emile when he says “we killed you man, there ain’t no coming back”, and indeed as a question about the very nature of Robocop Alex Murphy). Heck, even the soundtrack plays with the audience. That iconic theme tune? When it’s Alex Murphy, heavy on the brass and strings. During his first outings as Robocop? The Anvil features adding an inhuman, industrial robotic percussion - only for that bit to be dropped once Robocop rediscovers his humanity and remembers his own murder etc.

Oh sod it Robocop is going on again. Bloody love that film!



Right on! I can't stop going on about how efficient that film uses its time and characters. But it's due to all of this and the above that Robocop sticks with you.

And that's one of the problems with the re-hashes of old stuff (the Starwarses and the Marvels) - Disney figured out that formula for making a film that feels fun for at least 60% of the 2 hours run time (in the cinema at least and if you're at least somewhat okay with the franchise), but once you step out all you think of is "well, that's off the list now". At least that's my more recent experiences with those films.

If a film is just enjoyable to watch for the run time and gives nothing to talk or think about beyond that I think they also start to deteriorate in terms of looking back at the experience rather fast. Instead of talking about stuff like "geez, imagine that could happen in our near future. No wait, it's like that already" or "why the heck did that historical mystery whodunnit into Soul Calibur in the end?" you think "ya, it was okay. The ending was a bit tame and that scene in the spaceship was unnecessary, but oh well.".

Maybe it comes down to doing it by the numbers and having something wrung through test audiences of people who the marketing people chose based on the most basic around so 'everybody gets it' versus a tiny ounce of creativity and daring to do at least something. The former producing something that's "okay while it lasts" and something that maybe has you raise an eyebrow at some point but at least will have a little impact.




Unrelated: I got to watch the first 30 minutes of the Paw Patrol film. Seems harmless. Weird how the politician is the bad guy (but it's made clear that he is a bit of a gakker really and fixed the elections) and that privately run emergency services company who apparently run on merchandise sales alone are policing the city. But overall it's OK.

Also watched 15 minutes of the Shaun the Sheep film. Yeah, seems alright.

If that's of help to anybody. Do watch Breakfast at Tiffany's though!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/30 10:28:56


   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Star Wars is almost an exception there, because it’s grown so far beyond its original roots.

A point I always make when people accuse the the sequels of Not Explaining Something, is how little explaining the OT did.

Prime example is Luke, a Farmboy, jumping in an X-Wing and not just being able to fly it, but able to be an effective combat pilot, compared to Rey being able to do the same with the Falcon.

In both instances we get very little exposition. For Luke? “I used to Bullseye Womprat’s in my T-16 back home”. Granted that shows he’s some kind of pilot, backing up his earlier claim in the Cantina. But we’re left with no idea what a T-16 is, let alone that Incom made both that and ghe X-Wing with largely shared controls. That info is purely Expanded Universe.

Rey? As they’re legging it away from the TIEs, she replies to Finn’s concern about needing a pilot with “we’ve got one!” - referring to herself. We then get further exposition once Han reclaims the Falcon, where Rey shows quite detailed knowledge about the ship, and Unkar’s dubious upgrades.

Yet elements of the fan base only got out of their pram over Rey being a decent pilot, subjecting that film to a level of scrutiny the originals got a pass on.

But going back to my point? The longevity of Star Wars has always been the depth of its universe. And for my money? That genuinely starts with the Kenner toy range. And not just because that range was the accidental birth of Modern tie in marketing.

See, that was before Home Media really took off. And the range didn’t just include the heroes and villains, but lots of background characters. Jawa, Gonk Droids, R5-D4, Death Star Droid. Alongside the comics, it encouraged kids to come up with their own stories in the universe. So it’s always been expanding out with its original celluloid borders.

That almost certainly lead to the first Star Wars RPGs. The brains behind Knights of the old Republic (which I’ve never played, but await the Ps5 version) almost certainly started off down that path grubbing about on the platform making up stories for their Star Wars toys.

And so….the sequels also played with that, leaving deliberate narrative gaps between the ages to be filled in later, and backgrounds to be explored as and when. Sure it was a bit hamfisted, and perhaps it’s really not something you can force (Phasma for example. I love her, but she’s no Boba Fett). But that’s still the route of it for me.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
OK doke.

Hocus Pocus 2

This is joining the Church of Latter Day Sequels, the repository of resurrected franchises which are actually worth the effort.

Now, I’ll preface that if you didn’t enjoy Hocus Pocus

1. What’s wrong with you?
2. Nothing here for you.

But for everyone else? There’s a lot to enjoy. Whilst a Disney+ release, I’d have been happy to have seen this in a cinema, myself.

Tune in next week to see what I think of Hellraiser, and whether it is gains admission to the Church of Latter Day Sequels.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2022/09/30 10:56:54


   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

So, about Hocus Pocus…

I remember seeing the first one in the theater. I was too old for it to become a part of my childhood, so it became one of those films I enjoyed during the run time and never thought about again except when a Bette Middler song came on the radio. And that was rarely.

I suggested it for Halloween viewing last year because of all the internet hype and my remembering it as harmless. Well, it turns out it’s a bit more 80’s than I remember in that my young niece was traumatized by the first attempted soul-sucking scene. My wife and I finished it later with my son, but the magic wasn’t there for any of us.

This year I’m thinking Ernest Scared Stupid.

   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






It can be tricky with kids. God Sprog was around 5 when I first showed her Labyrinth, and she wasn’t a fan. We put something else on about 20 minutes in.

A year later, she tried again and loved it.

   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

Murder on the Orient Express

As residents of Egypt we saw Death on the Nile first. This is also a very pretty classic whodoneit and everything is competently done. Plot wise (without spoiling) I would say the plot in Orient Express makes more sense but Nile was prettier.

Lots of cool 30s style and music if you're into that.

 
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Alien vs Predator

Poor Spud. Should’ve stayed on the smack.

   
Made in gb
Been Around the Block




Mississippi Grind

Ryan Reynolds plays the only role he can, so forget about that. Watch this for Ben Mendelsohn playing a gambler that's born to lose. You've seen that person in pubs, on street corners and in alleyways handing over money, in your own life. He acts it so well, you think he must have been this person once. Exceptional.


Athena

Gang warfare on a French council estate. Directorship stamped all over it in the form of lengthy and tense scenes of running and rioting youths fighting the police who are trying to storm their kingdom. Brutal and stylish. In the end I felt that the plot was being forced into the mould of a classical tragedy, and the character development suffered a bit from it.
   
Made in us
Legendary Master of the Chapter





SoCal

Top Gun

Still fun. My wife started snickering about fifteen minutes in, openly laughing by the volleyball game, and laughing every one of the many, many times the guys were all just hanging out in towels or briefs. We had to explain unintentional homoeroticism to our son, which was a bit awkward.
Watch it.


Tremors

A well-written, well-executed comedy thriller.
Watch it!

Tremors 2

This movie is a ton of fun. More of a comedy-adventure than comedy-thriller. Some amazing one-liners.
Watch it!

Tremors 3

The budget is clearly a fraction of Tremors 2’s, but it’s still a lot of fun. I really want that “Shriekers Vs Graboids” comic.

   
 
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