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That reminds me that I need to rewatch Legend. The Tom Cruise one. With the unicorn.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
That reminds me that I need to rewatch Legend. The Tom Cruise one. With the unicorn.

Squatting Cruise. The best Cruise.
And probably the absolute best goblins on film.
And Tim Curry, of course.


And for real fun trivia- the Hag that wants to eat Jack? Robert Picardo, the EMH from Star Trek Voyager.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
The Asphyx

One that in my now 42 years of life (get off my lawn, damn kids!) remains a relatively new discovery to me.

I’m not going to say much about this, other than it’s a film I greatly enjoy and have watched more than a few times.

It’s kind of Hammeresque, but isn’t a Hammer film so far as I know.

It’s well made, well acted and pretty bloody compelling. Pretty much everything about it demands your attention and appreciation.

It’s also free on Amazon Prime in the U.K.

Even if it’s not free in your area, it’s well worth paying for. Though when I said it demands your attention? I meant it. One for a settled evening indoors.

Trust me on this.

Is this one set in the "modern day" 1970s with Karen Black?

Watched The Crying Game for the first time last night, which was clearly inspired by a gag from The Pink Panther Strikes Again...

Bottom line it's a cracking thriller from Neil Jordan, with fantastic performances from all involved, but surprised that the "twist" was a shock to everyone. What is a shock to me is suddenly understanding all those comedy references that went right over my head over the years!

Shout out to Ace Ventura, Rush Hour 2, Naked Gun 33 1/3 and of course Return of The Jedi.

It is also funny that a generation later, and we still don't openly talk about what the "twist" actually is!

Mayor Quimby talks about it.

The twist also informed Stargate’s conception of Ra.

Top Gun Maverick.

Half sequel, half remake. It was surprisingly good. Not a masterpiece, but I think the original is god awful. This one at least doesn't look like a tool to recruit people for the army/navy/air force. And actions scenes are decent, they aren't as confused as they were in the original, but I think that was Tony Scott's style. Which is basically the same style of Michael Bay and I personally don't like it.

Overall it's a typical classic modern Tom Cruise's movie and I love the guy. I don't think there's a single movie that was released in the last 30 years of his career that I didn't like, and I'm pretty sure I've watched them all, barring one or two (I haven't watched Barry Seal for sure).

The Gentleman

First off and I forgot this put this in, bloody excellent soundtrack. As a big fan of Dave Rawlings, this was an instant hook with the intro cinematic.

I put off watching this movie for a long time, mainly because I was a bit sick of Guy Ritchie. All of his films are a bit blokey and a bit samey and a bit gak. I mean they are good films but they're a bit naff. I'm not sure if that makes sense but it does to me Worse than that, the people who stroke off to them all the time are the kind of people I really dislike. The same who obsess over Quentin Tarantino films. They just belong in a circle of tossers.

I like all the actors in the movie and after watching it I have to particularly enjoy Hugh Grant because he is great at making Fletcher into such a little weasel. He's definitely the driving force of the movie and he just oozes slime out of the screen. His rhythm and mannerisms in the monologuing come off extremely well and his back and forth with Charlie in the earlier scenes is really good. I also have to like Charlie Hunnam because he's a lercal lad like. I think the trouble is he's been so far away from the homeland for so long and his accent is well into decline bless him.

Jeremy Strong was enjoyable as well, certainly better than Matthew McConaughey who I rarely find doing an outstanding job. He's a good actor but I don't rate him that highly. I think maybe that is because the first movie I remember seeing him in was U-571 where they made it that the Americans cracked the Enigma code first and that has eternally soured it? I just think he's very samey. Not bad samey, just I want to see him do something a bit different.

I think my main dislike which is rather minimal is that it's so baited for an American / international audience. And you might say to that, well duh. Of course it is. But to me, this is how mythical Britain works. It's all posh pricks and then some cockneys randomly thrown in. They are the only two parts of Britain that exist. Like a shortbread tin with a red phonebox and when you open up the tin there's a weed farm. It's rare you get a good movie set in the UK and even rarer that it's outside of the bloody South. And a lot of Brits love that, they just scoop up that stereotype and think it's brilliant. I just hope to see some better stories from other areas. Like it would be nice if there was a movie shot in the North that wasn't centred on deprivation and misery.

51st State might fit that bill

Hugely entertaining and set in Liverpool. The list is pretty short though, I'll admit.

 Easy E wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
The Asphyx

One that in my now 42 years of life (get off my lawn, damn kids!) remains a relatively new discovery to me.

I’m not going to say much about this, other than it’s a film I greatly enjoy and have watched more than a few times.

It’s kind of Hammeresque, but isn’t a Hammer film so far as I know.

It’s well made, well acted and pretty bloody compelling. Pretty much everything about it demands your attention and appreciation.

It’s also free on Amazon Prime in the U.K.

Even if it’s not free in your area, it’s well worth paying for. Though when I said it demands your attention? I meant it. One for a settled evening indoors.

Trust me on this.

Is this one set in the "modern day" 1970s with Karen Black?

Nah. It was made in the 70’s, but set in Victorian/Edwardian turn of the century type.

Man, I feel like I have seen this film!

 Flinty wrote:
51st State might fit that bill

Hugely entertaining and set in Liverpool. The list is pretty short though, I'll admit.

I've not seen that movie since I don't know 2005? But you are right it's a good one.

Speaking of good movies set in the UK, Get Carter has been digitally remastered and back out in some theatres.

 Olthannon wrote:

...
Speaking of good movies set in the UK, Get Carter has been digitally remastered and back out in some theatres.

Meh, I'm not too hot on Stallone's later works.

....

..

.

tee-hee-hee-hee


I might rewatch NYPD Blue. It may be the right time for it. I'll report back.

The Matrix Resurrections

After Ghostbusters was a hit I decided to have a go at another continuation/reboot, and over all it was much better than expected. The Matrix and Ghostbusters have a similar pedigree - a smashing first movie, both of which I will argue are still watchable today, followed by two further films of diminishing returns, with the third in each series being borderline unwatchable.

Resurrections is at heart a simple popcorn flick with nothing of great value to say. It shouldn't have any cultural impact as that isn't the movie it sets out to be. Where it succeeds is in exploiting the efforts of the previous films without getting bogged down in the lore of its own universe. Neo and Trinity are the core of the film as they were before. They aren't brought on show as a manipulative tool to hand over the story to new generation that we are being told we have to care about (a la Star Wars), or as one last hurrah for the fans (a la Ghostbusters). The film is unnecessary but it doesn't feel intrusive or diminishing of the universe.

Problems with the film? The action is not anything special. It isn't terrible but at times the wire work is obnoxiously poor and the choreography is simply dull. Reeves putting his hands in front of himself as the solution to every action scene is pretty lame. On the plus side at least they made the correct decision in not trying to force Neil Patrick Harris into a Kung-Fu situation. Speaking of which he does an excellent job as playing a new evolution of the machines. His character does have the rambling quasi-philosophical tones that marked those that cam before him but he delivers it in a manner that distinguishes him. The new Morpheus and Smith are also acceptably ok in their roles.

Reeves and Moss are both credible in picking up old characters and are at their strongest while in the simulation. But this leads to another problem as the parts where they are the best take up too much of the film. A tremendous amount of effort goes into building the simulation world so that when we finally leave it we are left having to pick up the pace somewhat to cram the rest of the film in.

But these are minor quibbles on a film that I'd rate as "not bad".

On the quasi-philosophical thing?

I’m yet to see Resurrections (wake me when I can legally stream it for free), so apologies if this is Really Flipping Obvious.

But what if the script for the AI’s philosophical ramblings is deliberately bad? As a way to show its nowhere near as smart or insightful as it likes to think it is?

Mortal Kombat

Kno Kthe Koriginal Kone.

Kam Ki Kmortal Kombattlng Kright?

You know. For a 90’s Kash In? It’s actually pretty fun. I’d argue superior to its Street Fighter Kontepery.

Goro in particular is rather well realised. Though I remain broadly unconvinced by Lambert’s Raiden.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Mortal Kombat Annihilation

And why not.

Because I’m only a few minutes in and oh my good gravy what a frankly staggering drop in kwalitee.

I’m telling you, The Last Dragon, aka Barry Gordy’s The Last Dragon. It’s a good time.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Mortal Kombat

Kno Kthe Koriginal Kone.

Kam Ki Kmortal Kombattlng Kright?

You know. For a 90’s Kash In? It’s actually pretty fun. I’d argue superior to its Street Fighter Kontepery.

Goro in particular is rather well realised. Though I remain broadly unconvinced by Lambert’s Raiden.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Mortal Kombat Annihilation

And why not.

Because I’m only a few minutes in and oh my good gravy what a frankly staggering drop in kwalitee.

To this day Mortal Kombat most probably is the best video game adaptation I know of. Refused to watch the Street Fighter film. I'm rather sure I mentioned this on here before, but back then that may have been the first time I was actually angry at a film trailer/film. Because somehow I care(d) about Street Fighter.

Funnily enough, the Dead or Alive film wasn't all bad, because I felt like it captured the spirit of the games rather well (if not anything else ).



Today I idly watched most of Zärtliche Chaoten and Zärtliche Chaoten 2. A mere footnote in trashy German late 80s film comedy, but they had Michael Winslow as a leading man alongside a German radio host / tv presenter and a folk actor (not sure there's an actual English term for it. An actor who's known for connect very well with the people, usually comes with some local dialect, very down-to-earth and relateable. Stuff like that).

So these three are the leading men, and much of the supporting cast also are a mix of audience favourites from Southern Germany or Austria, mixed with US actors known at the time (people from Dallas, of course the had Hasselhoff in there for a small role, and so on). So there must have been a weird language mix going on, kinda like with the Italian productions in the 80s/90s. Very interesting, weird stuff. The humour is mostly horrible slap-stick with oddly sudden cuts, and there is no plot to speak of.

Anyway, Michael Winslow. That guy is good, isn't he. Few months ago I heard that he was somewhere on tv in the US and a whole generation who'd never heard of him were astounded by what this man can do. I'll not say that I'm a huge fan, but what have I been given to work with when I grew up? Zärtliche Chaoten 1&2 and Police Academy. That's not a great basis to build fandom for a comedian on, right? So if you're bored, look up Michael Winslow things on youtube. It's good for a while.

 Henry wrote:
The Matrix and Ghostbusters have a similar pedigree - a smashing first movie, both of which I will argue are still watchable today....

The Matrix and Ghostbusters "still watchable" today? They're still leagues ahead the vast majority of the new action/fantasy movies.

 Blackie wrote:
The Matrix and Ghostbusters "still watchable" today? They're still leagues ahead the vast majority of the new action/fantasy movies.

Please read that with knowledge that I have the British habit of using litotes when showing approval.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Yes, the movie in which Nicholas Cage portrays a fictionalised version of himself. I've always considered him a pretty mediocre actor but a real nice guy who had the luck to star in some great movies and made a career out of the success of such movies. Or maybe it wasn't really luck but the fact that he is the nephew of one of the greatest filmmakers in history.

I was also very intrigued since the movie stars Alessandra Mastronardi, as Pedro Pascal's love interest, who is a very famous actress here.

Well, the movie was surprisingly hilarious and it made me change my mind about Cage, he actually has a massive talent! Seriously, I laughed the entire movie. It's a great comedy.

Spy

A Melissa McCarthy comedy vehicle.

It’s actually pretty good fun! I mean I don’t think it’ll change anyone’s opinion on Melissa McCarthy, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

Spy definitely has some good laughs, at least with Jason Statham. Highlight of his career!

Aye, I vaguely remember positive reviews Spy got back when it was released.

I like Melissa McCarthy. I don't like most of her films, but i think she's way better than most of her films allow her to be actually. I'd like to see her in more serious roles.

She’s definitely go solid movie acting chops.

I think I was put off her due to Mike & Molly seemingly sourcing all its humour from “oh look, we’re both overweight, chuckle chuckle chuckle.

You know. Like Rebel Wilson’s career was before she lost lots of weight.

Sigur wrote:Aye, I vaguely remember positive reviews Spy got back when it was released.

I like Melissa McCarthy. I don't like most of her films, but i think she's way better than most of her films allow her to be actually. I'd like to see her in more serious roles.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:She’s definitely go solid movie acting chops.

I think I was put off her due to Mike & Molly seemingly sourcing all its humour from “oh look, we’re both overweight, chuckle chuckle chuckle.

You know. Like Rebel Wilson’s career was before she lost lots of weight.

If you’re interested in seeing Melissa McCarthy in a dramatic role, I’d recommend “Can you ever forgive me?”

She plays the lead in a biopic about Lee Israel who forged letters by notable historical figures. It co-stars Richard E Grant and is really quite good.

Men In Black

Can someone explain to me how so many of these older films still stand up to scrutiny? This film is a buddy cop / veteran schools rookie / the odd couple recycled mashup of cinema tropes. The jokes aren't particularly funny, producing more of a continuous smile than any laugh out loud moments. And one of the lead actors is one of those marmite characters whose self promotion is either endearing or a total turn off. Yet somehow it works.

The roles are perfect for the leads, one being boisterous who uses his cockyness to mask his nerves, the other being grumpy who uses his surliness to mask his emotions. The tells are there throughout the film without the director having to spoon feed the audience. And Vincent D'Onofrio (private Pyle!) is more than equal, playing the antagonist bug in a human suit with a praise worthy physical performance.

There's plenty to complement in this film but for me it all works due to the pacing and shot selection. The camera stays in the moment long enough for us to absorb the events then bounces to the next. It's quick enough to maintain momentum and slow enough to not cause headaches, and makes the best use of well framed action shots. And this constant beat plays into the schtick that, whether you like him or not, Smith excels at.

Now. I know I’ve watched Men In Black International

Couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about it.

As for Men in Black 2? Can anyone tell me what happened to Johnny Knoxville’s character, as he seems to just….exit scene right, and that’s it. Never seen nor referred to for the rest of the film?

I'm not planning on watching the follow on MIB like I've done with other movie series. I remember virtually nothing about MIB2, I think MIB3 is great and International is not awful (although I can't remember recall anything after she gets recruited).

And after I don’t know how many years….

Tenacios D in The Pick of Destiny

It’s amazing. Quite possibly a film of its time, and indeed of my time (metal head, comedy fan). There’s definitely stuff here which would put folk off, but for me it’s a poo load of fun!