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 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
If you like horror-comedies starring Famke Jansen, have you seen The Faculty?

(It’s even better if you like Dropfleet/zone.)

Of course! Excellent use of The Kids Aren’t Alright, coming a time in my life when that song was described the disintegration of a former social group in the very way the song describes!

The Pale Blue Eye (Netflix)

This is a pretty solid whodunnit. I never knew I needed a Edgar Allen Poe origin story.

Its the third teamup between Bale and writer/director Scott Cooper, first being the fairly decent Out of the Furnace and secondly the fairly excellent Hostiles.

As usual, Bale delivers start to finish. The actor who plays Poe was pretty good as well. The two were a pretty good team. Gillian Anderson and a near unrecognizable (to me at least, he felt familiar, but couldn’t place it until credits rolled) Robert Duvall make cameos. There were also quite a few familiar actors in minor roles, all played well.

Cleverly written story that had me guessing, with a great twist.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

Deep Rising

A cult classic creature feature that might’ve swim under your radar.

This is so, so close to being outright brilliant, but it just doesn’t quite cut the mustard. And I lack the film knowledge to be able of say exactly what it is that holds it back.

I think part of it is the tone is a bit wonky. The comedy bits jar with the action, and it swings between the two fairly randomly.

The good bits are good though. Creatures are decent, and despite being a late 90’s effort, kept mysterious and mostly off screen apart from the evidence of their attacks. And y’know? The CGI holds up pretty well overall. Though the guns they have are very, very silly indeed.

Oh and it has Famke Janssen. Just as you always get points for Danny Trejo, you always always get points for Famke Janssen.

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above. Got the DVD a few years ago. The German release is called OCTALUS, which means nothing, but is a more memorable title I think than Deep Rising and kinda reflects the tone of the film.

Either way - excellently good fun. The DVD comes with a making-of featurette.





Now a review, but I watched the first episode of Trigun Stampede. I'm not an anime guy, but I gave Trigun a try and it actually pushed my cut-off date for watchable anime shows back by two or three years. I watched the show twice, I enjoy it. It certainly isn't without faults, but it's fun and silly and stylish and anime here and there and it's got a banger of a soundtrack. So I watched the first episode of the new one now. It's a "reimagining". And it's rather interesting with how one could read into the different presentation how times have changed. The new one they start without the great intro track (are there even tv show intros any more?), instead we go right to tearjerky exposition. People who know the show recognize it as "the very emotional highlight of the kinda boring flashback part in which everything we never quite asked for is explained". People who don't know the original show are shown people they don't know being in a problematic situation. Are we're supposed to be so conditioned to care just because attactive figure A makes a teary face? I guess the story is so popular and well known in anime circles that they know what's going on without having watched the original show anyway. The first episode is so full of exposition, it's almost funny. The whole story, which only comes into play on the original show halfway through, is told right away in the first episode of the new show.

Another central character ist introduced, there's been an interesting (one might say backwards and anachronistic) change made.

But anyway. It's not for me. What I found interesting is how Western the whole thing looks for large parts. IIRC Trigun was a big hit in the US, so maybe they're strongly looking at that audience. Lots of the animation reminded me of the new Duck Tales show (of which I saw an episode a while ago). It's all very smooth, some is life-life too, and there even is some Dreamworks-eyebrow action going on (which is always off-putting of course). There just is not a single ounce of style to it. Everything is very round and smooth and softly filtered (to make up for the inherent problemns of CGI animation, I guess).

Anyway, that's my thoughts. Doesn't even really belong here, but oh well. Either way, Deep Rising is very entertaining. Watch it.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:


Deep Rising

A cult classic creature feature that might’ve swim under your radar.

This is so, so close to being outright brilliant, but it just doesn’t quite cut the mustard. And I lack the film knowledge to be able of say exactly what it is that holds it back.

I think part of it is the tone is a bit wonky. The comedy bits jar with the action, and it swings between the two fairly randomly.

The good bits are good though. Creatures are decent, and despite being a late 90’s effort, kept mysterious and mostly off screen apart from the evidence of their attacks. And y’know? The CGI holds up pretty well overall. Though the guns they have are very, very silly indeed.

Oh and it has Famke Janssen. Just as you always get points for Danny Trejo, you always always get points for Famke Janssen.

Deep Rising is one of those hidden gem B movies that keep me watching B movies. I quite enjoyed it despite its weaker points as noted above. A solid monster movie adventure that would make a decent RPG or tabletop wargame scenario.

Think I might plump for House on Haunted Hill tonight. That’s another decent b-movie of the same era.

Deep Rising wasn't exactly cheap, was it?

@Mad Dog Grotsnik: The Catherine Zeta Jones one? That one's alright, isn't it.





After I watched Trigun earlier today I thought I could just as well try the first episode of Chainsaw Man, because that's very popular these days. Made me realize how broad and lavish the production of Trigun Stampede is. Holy crap, why is all of that stuff so dreary? Is it because this resonates with young people? Neon Genesis Evangelion (the epitomy of everything, especially so in terms of appealing to young people) didn't do that. But oh well. I'm way less harsh in judging Chainsaw Man than I was with Trigun Stampede I'm sure. It is what it is. I just don't really care for some supernatural person fighting supernatural monsters each week. Which is odd, because Trigun kinda did that and Neon Genesis Evangelion (the epitomy of everything, especially so in terms of weekly foes to overcome) did that too. But in what sort of twisted world do we live in which Chainsaw Man has the way better end credits music than the new Trigun has? Oh well. I can't believe I'm turning into some sort of weeb in my old age.

You’re thinking of The Haunting, where CZJ’s bum and Owen Wilson getting decapitated are the only redeeming factors 😂😂

Yikes, my bad. Not sure i've ever seen that one. I may have to look it up.

It’s got Famke Jansen in it

It’s a bit hokey, but I really enjoy it.

The Price version is superior...... there I said it!

Quite possibly, doesn’t stop this version being solid as well!

 Easy E wrote:
The Price version is superior...... there I said it!

Well, that can be said for any film (even including House of Wax. )

Hmm. I haven’t watched The Frighteners for a long time. Might line that up again.

The Collection

Been on my watchlist for a while, and found it on Shudder this evening.

Initial impressions?

I am Saw! I AM HIM!, but with added Rube Goldberg.

The opening scene involves a pretty comprehensive massacre at a nightclub. I’ve been to nightclubs. They’re universally awful so I can’t help but feel the shredding, slashing and squishing might actually have proven an all round better experience compared to sweaty drunkards, underendowed angry men, god awful music and bloody expensive drinks. But that’s just me.


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Verdict? It’s…not quite alright. I don’t necessarily regret watching it, but I’m in no clamour to see the first one, nor wanting a sequel.

Saw did it all better, and did it first.

Now? Lords of Salem

I’m a proper sucker for Rob Zombie movies. I know I’ve watched this before, but don’t really remember it, only a loose outline of the plot.

I watched The Northman a few months back and it was decent, but forgettable. I can't see that there was anything wrong with it...but it was just not memorable.
I watched (read "skimmed") through Black Adam and thought it was decent (at least better than WW84), but I skipped the kid scenes. Pierce Brosnan definitely crushed his role regardless.
More recently I watched The Menu and thought it was beautiful, but almost pretentious in it's criticism of pretentiousness...it's a thin line to straddle.

The Menu is pretty good. The latest in a line of films where Filmmakers seem to be using some other industry as a metaphor for their own (others being Ford vs Ferarri and Knives Out Glass Onion).

I think Ford v Ferrari and House of Gucci are next.

Laaaaaaazy Sunday Afternoon! Got no time for worries!

But I do have time for Troma Movies. Because they’re proof positive no budget is no barrier to making entertaining movies, provided you don’t take yourself too seriously, and get inventive.

Class of Nuke ‘Em High is first up. If this film had its tongue any firmer in its cheek, it would be tasting the wall paper.

It’s daft, the plot is paper thin (nuclear contaminated weed causes high school anarchy). Whilst not good, the effects are inventive and somewhat original.

If like me you’re a fan of B-Movie nonsense, and you’re not already familiar with Troma Films? It’s high time you were getting familiar!

Saw M3GAN yesterday and it was pretty good fun. Bit like Child's Play meets Robocop, and already looking forward to a sequel.

I also watched The Pale Blue Eye and really enjoyed it. Not quite sure why critics have given it a low score. Pleasantly surprised by the plot twist, some excellent acting. Gillian Anderson played her role to a tee. Harry Melling was great casting for the young Poe, genuinely looks like him. I thought the costume work was spot on, not often you get cinema set in the 1830s. Quite a smart direction to use a mainly British cast. Surprisingly this is one of the criticisms of the movie, that they don't sound American enough.

 Olthannon wrote:
I also watched The Pale Blue Eye and really enjoyed it. Not quite sure why critics have given it a low score. Pleasantly surprised by the plot twist, some excellent acting. Gillian Anderson played her role to a tee. Harry Melling was great casting for the young Poe, genuinely looks like him. I thought the costume work was spot on, not often you get cinema set in the 1830s. Quite a smart direction to use a mainly British cast. Surprisingly this is one of the criticisms of the movie, that they don't sound American enough.

IMO, because the ending of the movie isn't up to snuff with the rest of it. It does a really good job with its characters and actors and the mystery, but the big reveal of the end was a bit out of the blue IMO. It needed better groundwork.

That said, I don't think it's as bad a movie as the reviews said.

@MDG- Did you get around to Lords of Salem?

I have seen it myself, but was curious about your impression of it.

Part way through, to be picked up this evening.


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Most of the way through.

I kind of like it. It’s an odd fish, and probably not for everyone. But for what it is, it’s fun. And importantly whilst still a Horror Film, a welcome change from Rob’s previous fare.

 LordofHats wrote:
The Menu is pretty good.

I think I saw it pop up on HBO Max. I plan to check it out tonight.

Anything for Jackson

Well. Blimey. This is something new to me.

A supernatural thriller of reverse-exorcism. Backstory is an elderly couple hold a pregnant woman prisoner, using Satanism to swap her child’s soul for that of their deceased grandson’s (the Jackson of the title).

This is really quite good. Decent scares, and a wonderful atmosphere. It’s also quite dialogue heavy, with weird and unsettling hallucinations interspersed.

I’ve certainly never seen anything quite like it, but there are bits and bobs of other films showing as influence.

Definitely give it a watch if you like fairly cerebral horror.

Just finished “The Menu”.

It was something. I think I loved it.

Ford v Ferrari is one of my favourite motorsport films: excellent cast, brilliantly filmed and a riveting story, I try and recommend it whenever I get the opportunity. You don't even need to be a petrol head to enjoy the film I think.

Quite enjoyed Barbarian (2022). I still find it so funny that films like this are front page on Disney+.
Quite a good mid-film swerve, its not the sort of film you expect it to be when you start watching. Had it played it straight it would have been pretty forgettable, as it is I'll say its a good Friday night film to watch if you're tired from the week, have a beer in hand and just want something fun to watch.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
True Lies

Well here’s a film I first saw years ago, popped up on Disney+.

And it’s just about perfect. Ahnald and Jamie-Lee Curtis both on top form. The comedy is solid. The action is solid, and the two sit together far better than you might expect.

Bill Paxton is a great sleazeball, and I still can’t believe that’s Eliza Dushku.

Definitely watch this one.

For me True Lies is the ultimate footnote to the action movie era. It just has absolutely everything, its an incredibly entertaining film.

GI Joe Origins - Snake Eyes

A film which like the scarlet pimpernel himself, came and went barely noticed.

I know I’ve seen this before - but like Underworld 2, I couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about it.

Maybe Mr Brain will break for the border again on this rewatch.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
GI Joe Origins - Snake Eyes

A film which like the scarlet pimpernel himself, came and went barely noticed.

I know I’ve seen this before - but like Underworld 2, I couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about it.

Maybe Mr Brain will break for the border again on this rewatch.

I'm not sure why this was needed, as the first G.I. Joe movie pretty much tells us Snake Eyes origins.

Oh this one rips that up and stuffs it up your jumper right off.


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It’s no good.

Got as far as the giant snek appearing and bailed.

What an awful film.