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Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Yes again, because I bloody love this film.

Latter Day Sequel, but one of the Genuinely Good Ones.

Part love letter from a son to his father, it has plenty of the original’s DNA, but isn’t afraid to be its own thing as well.

The young cast are particularly good in their roles, being convincing and charming. And the movie takes just enough time to show us their Special Skills And Abilities without bludgeoning anyone around the head with it.

The cameos are spot on. No tacked on “hi kids, it’s meeeee” type ‘member berries, no hand wringing modernisation of their personalities. And boy did they do right by Harold Raimis. It’s about as tasteful as digital resurrection can be, and like the other cameos doesn’t feel superfluous or tacked on, but a necessary part of the story, so far as such things can be described as necessary.

Post credit scenes are also fun, serving as part closure, part leaving the door open for further spooky adventures. Particularly Janine and Winston’s scene. Part tease, part genuine old friends having a catch up, in and out of universe.

We can only hope the next film (theoretically out at the end of the year) continues the trend. God knows I want more.


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Gods of Egypt

Nevermind Horus’ eyes. I wanted my eyes gouged out just minutes into this bloody awful movie.

It’s as if the cast took part due to some debt, but in an act of Faustian rebellion gave terrible performances an act of artistic dirty protest.

Terrible. Utterly without any redemptive qualities. It of course got an awful lot of flak for near completely white washing the Egyptian Pantheon. But if anyone is wondering if it got panned by “woke” rest assured it got panned because it’s crap.

Oooh.

Wakanda Forever is coming on Disney+ tomorrow. Saw it in the cinema, with mild disruption from teenaged idiots who seemed to have confused the auditorium with a debating chamber.

I look forward to a one man showing tomorrow evening.

Vibes

Starring Jeff Goldblum, Cyndi Lauper, Peter Faulk, Julian Sands, and with a small roll for Steve Buscemi, it’s worth seeing just for the cast bouncing off each other.

It’s an adventure comedy about a con man (Faulk’s Harry) tricking psychics Nick and Sylvia into traveling to South America in search of a lost city. The rapid one-liners and limitd action out it closer to Ghostbusters than Indiana Jones. While there aren’t a whole lot of laugh out loud moments, the movie is amusing enough to keep a smile on your face the entire way through.

Also, the end credits feature Lauper‘a second-best tie in song after Goonies ‘R’ Good Enuff.

The King's Man

Someone actually did some homework on Pre-WW1 history and made the story fit in with it. Bravo. To bad, the movie is kind of dull.

The Editor
The blurb says: A film editor is linked to a series of murders

As a plot summary, that sums it up nicely. However, that blurb is a trap! This movie's plot summary needs to add: A film editor is linked to a series of murders. This film was made by someone who had mainlined too many Giallo and Italian horror films, after reading all of Lovecrafts works. Therefore, it is full of WTF moments, odd sexual fetishes, and what is the nature of reality moments. Oh, it also has an Udo Kier cameo."

That would be a better summary of the movie.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Vibes

Starring Jeff Goldblum, Cyndi Lauper, Peter Faulk, Julian Sands, and with a small roll for Steve Buscemi, it’s worth seeing just for the cast bouncing off each other.

It’s an adventure comedy about a con man (Faulk’s Harry) tricking psychics Nick and Sylvia into traveling to South America in search of a lost city. The rapid one-liners and limitd action out it closer to Ghostbusters than Indiana Jones. While there aren’t a whole lot of laugh out loud moments, the movie is amusing enough to keep a smile on your face the entire way through.

Also, the end credits feature Lauper‘a second-best tie in song after Goonies ‘R’ Good Enuff.

Oh, I once watched the first third or so of that film! I like Cindy Lauper. She's got pluck and moxie to equal measures. And of course one heck of a voice, but that's a given.

(second-best tie in song of hers of course is Taffy Butt)

edit: I gave the song (Hole in my heart, Vibes Version) it a listen now. It does rock.

Star Trek Insurrection andNemesis

Not great movies. Both kind of play out as extended, two parter TNG episodes.

But. In recent, post-Picard years? They kind of find more of a place.

The Federation Admiral’s kind-of dodging the Prime Directive to claim the planet. Why the Son’a were given help. All dovetails into the losses suffered against the Borg and Dominion.

Nemesis showing the beginning of the downfall of Romulus, and telling us more about post-Dominion war Quadrant Politics.

They’re not suddenly elevated to being more than passable at best. But they have found more of a footing now they’re not the tail end of Trek.


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On The Line

Straight to Streaming Mel Gibson thriller vehicle.

Whilst it seems to have a pretty dire rating on IMDB et al, I rather enjoyed it. It’s not massively original in itself, but it does have a fairly simple premise.

HEAVY SPOILERS



Probably worth a watch as a freebie.

Glorious (2022)

Wes ends up at a remote rest stop after a breakup and finds himself locked inside the bathroom. When a mysterious figure begins speaking from an adjacent stall, Wes soon realizes he's involved in a situation more terrible than he could ever imagine.

Rented from I-tunes because of this blurb, otherwise went in blind, other than knowing JK Simmons and Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) were in it. Seemed like something different and man... it was something different.

A seemingly heartbroken man down on his luck, an inescapable rest stop bathroom(horrifying enough on its own), a mysterious all knowing voice, eldritch horrors bent on the destruction of all life in the universe and... a glory hole. A low budget dark sci-fi comedy. Ryan Kwanten was adequate (he's like a discount store brand version of Ryan Reynolds) and JK Simmons as the mysterious voice was great.

Kind of ran a bit longer then it should have, given the relatively simple premise, but it was vulgar/witty funny most of the time.

I knew a glory hole would be involved. I just knew it.

The description reminds me of the time I was using the stall in Sproull Hall, looked over and saw the glory hole and the scrawled “3:00”, then checked my watch and saw it was 2:50.
You ever see a video of a squid jettison its ink and get tf out of there?

A Man Named Otto

Maybe the best movie out in the cinema at the moment. That said, if you want a feel-good movie starring Tom Hanks; go find the Mr. Rogers bio-pic instead. This is passable, but nothing special.


In the Mouth of Madness

Now this.... this is something that you should see.

Uncharted

Not bad for a computer game adaptation, but a so-so movie.
I think the main problem was I just don't buy Tom Holland as an action hero outside of playing Spider-man.

Tom Holland was the wrong actor to play a rugged bad boy version of Indiana Jones.

Top Gun: Maverick

It's literally just Star Wars Episode 4.......

I’ve not watched it recently, but pretty sure I have it on DVD.

Children of Men

What a film. What. A. Film.

It’s satirical. It’s bleak. It’s an unpleasant mirror thrust in our face.

Everything about this hits home for me. Everything.

It can be incredibly uncomfortable viewing. It can be genuinely upsetting. But not in a gratuitous way.

And just like Idiocracy as we head into an ever more worrying future? Its message grows ever stronger and more relevant.

Plus it has a truly fantastic, touch stone single by Jarvis Cocker.

The film made me sad, the book made me cry. Definately not one to watch if you are in a low place, but it is so well done.

And if you are the last, remember to switch off the lights…

'Threads'

This movie came out in 1984, and while some elements of it hasn't aged well. And it comes off a bit low budget by todays standards. I pity anyone who survives a nuclear war. Must watch if you're looking for anxiety fuel.

 Thargrim wrote:
'Threads'

This movie came out in 1984, and while some elements of it hasn't aged well. And it comes off a bit low budget by todays standards. I pity anyone who survives a nuclear war. Must watch if you're looking for anxiety fuel.

I remember watching Threads when it came out in 1984 - it was shocking and controversial at the time, haven't watched it for years though so might give it a re-watch.

 Thargrim wrote:
'Threads'

This movie came out in 1984, and while some elements of it hasn't aged well. And it comes off a bit low budget by todays standards. I pity anyone who survives a nuclear war. Must watch if you're looking for anxiety fuel.

I also re-watched this and The Day After late last year.

It is easy to forget, that there is no reason to believe that the threat of Nuclear Warfare has passed. Yet here we are, acting like it has passed because the Cold War is over.

Euro Trip

Because we can’t watch objectively good films all the time.

So far, so turn of the century saucy romp flick.

It’s not awful, but it’s not good. I’d say it’s perfectly serviceable brain bubblegum, and I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with that.

Plus it’s got Vinny “a surprisingly good actor, all things considered” Jones in it.


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The Basement / The Hoarder

2015 Mischa Barton horror movie, set in a Self Storage.

It’s…good enough. Somewhat tropey, but an enjoyable bit of silliness.


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World War Z

Oh what a wretchedly uneven movie. It’s few bright spots buried under a mountain of tripe and internal inconsistencies.

For instance…..we’re shown infection takes mere seconds to complete. Yet we’re told it started somewhere near South Korea and India.

So….how did it get to the USA and catch everyone with their pants down? The usual Zombie thing of hiding your bite doesn’t work. And how did a Zombie get aboard the plane out of Israel without anyone noticing, and successfully stash itself for the flight to Wales?

Brad “The Jinx” Pitt says he needs to get to the nearest WHO facility - and knows why, but apparently “doesn’t have time to explain”. Cobblers! He’s on a plane! He’s got nothing but time. He hands over no useful information at all.

God this is bloody awful.

Into Darkness Part 3

The final part of the.. comprehensive? seems inadequate, but will have to suffice, documentary on 80s horror.

Much like parts 1 and 2, this is only for those with a genuine interest, collectively I think all 3 approach 15 hours. The going isn't heavy, with the run time neatly parted up by year, and with each movie given a few minutes of discussion before moving on to the next.

Consequently the viewer is never bombarded by too many strands of information to keep track of, and is also offered plenty of "out points" in which to take a break and return later. (All in all it probably took me 4 days to a week to watch each part.)

The depth on offer is such that I'd honestly be surprised if even those that consider themselves dedicated fans have heard of, let alone seen, a significant percentage of the films covered, and, having failed to do so myself, I'd highly recommend keeping an app or notepad handy to make a note of those that catch your eye, you will not remember them later.

Film footage is interspersed with a dream cast of talking heads, ranging from specialist journalists working for the likes of Fangoria, to cast and crew who were there to big names like John Carpenter or Robert England, while the same caveat I applied to the earlier parts about runtime applies, if your interest is even slightly piqued by the topic you cannot fail to be educated and entertained by these films.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’ve not watched it recently, but pretty sure I have it on DVD.

Children of Men

...

Yeah, that film rocks. Bob's Burgers recently referenced it at length (in a slightly clumsy fashion though, I thought).



I greatly enjoy Vinnie Jones in films, Eurotrip I will not watch. Didn't even watch Road Trip. I did watch Boat Trip though. Well, about two thirds or so. Not that it matters.



Me, I watched the beginning of M (the Fritz Lang one). Loved it, love the way people talk, amazing stuff. Very soon though I got anxious and had to stop. But I'll give it another go soon once the weather's a bit more spring-like. Either way - supergood film, it's on youtube.

The only reasons to watch Eurotrip are the robot mime fight and the Matt Damon cameo (featuring Lana Lang). Both of these scenes are on YouTube.

And Vinny “a surprisingly good actor, all things considered” Jones.

He’s not great, but he’s game and enthusiastic!

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
And Vinny “a surprisingly good actor, all things considered” Jones.

He’s not great, but he’s game and enthusiastic!

That sounds like his courtroom defence

 Flinty wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
And Vinny “a surprisingly good actor, all things considered” Jones.

He’s not great, but he’s game and enthusiastic!

That sounds like his courtroom defence

Or his honest Tinder profile.

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

Daft title, but a pretty great horror flick.

Often claimed to be an exploitation flick, I’d say it’s more a horror.

The plot is a wee bit tropey, but plays with them in interesting ways. And for a late 70’s movie, pretty (oh no!) “woke” even by today’s standards.

Suffice to say the plot is of enough interest that I can’t really say much about it without risking spoiling some of its impact.

Definitely give this one a watch!


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Now?

Now I’m going to make a bold, but I expect not particularly controversial, statement of what I believe to be Fact.

Airplane! is the greatest comedy movie ever.

It is of course at heart a spoof of Airport, a curiously sort-of-forgotten disaster movie from the time when disaster movies and wearing an onion on your belt was the fashion at the time.

Yet…one doesn’t need to have seen Airport to get many of Airplane!’s jokes.

The whole thing is so incredibly densely packed. Visual gags. Verbal gags. Overly literal humour (adopt crash positions is probably my favourite joke ever). It’s genuinely so packed with jokes that every time you watch it, you spot something new.

And like a good spoof/satire, the more you see of the films and tropes it’s sending up, the more of its jokes you get. But as I said above, it has so many jokes you can watch it isolation and still wet yourself laughing,

The laughs are also varied. Groans. Giggle. Titters. Proper belly laughs.

I wouldn’t even call it a Jack Of All Trades comedy, becuase it’s the Master Of All Trades. Well, all the trades it embraces.

It’s smart. It’s dumb. It’s witty. It’s droll. It’s tongue in cheek, but plays it straight.

It’s just an absolute masterwork, tour de force of cinematic comedy.

I’d say the world needs more of that type of movie. But looking at its many, many imitators? We really don’t. Because most of them were crap.

Your first movie’s title got a Pat Benatar song stuck in my head.

As for Airplane!, everyone should see it. It’s an absolute classic. Then they should see Top Secret.

I do worry that Airplane! has been tainted by its inferior offspring. Even those made by the same folk never quite recaptured its brilliance.

Not to say all those in the same vein are inherently worthless. Some are very good indeed. Just that Airplane! being the first was an early zenith.

Agreed on Airplane! In my opinion it has the best sight gag ever committed to celluloid, when the pilot dramatically takes off his shades while declaiming about something AND HAS ANOTHER PAIR ON UNDERNEATH! And he does it in glorious deadpan.

Bullet Train

A delightfully silly slapstick action splatter fest. I haven't grinned this much for the entire duration of such a middling film since the first Kingsmen movie.

I found comparisons with another show that didn't spare the ketchup, The Hateful 8: a film I have previously raged about for it's amazing characters being thrown away by an incompetent finale. Bullet Train's cast of rogues aren't quite as good but the adventure they go on and the conclusion are much better.

I also thought of Hateful 8 while watching Bullet Train, but the difference for me is that I found H8 to be a boring slog of a borefest (QT just had his head up his own ass on that one) but Bullet Train? Bullet Train won't win an Oscar but who cares? Bullet Train is fun.

The only complaint I'd make is that it's runtime maybe is too long, but it's not like I didn't enjoy every minute of it.

It also made me think a lot of Smoking Aces, another movie with more style than substance but was just plain fun so only silly billys complained IMO