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Just watched Quantumania. Entertaining and on a similar level to Ragnarok. I find Paul Rudd to be entertainingly charming, and greatly enjoyed his schtick again.

Amazing visuals, little to no plot that makes sense and massive and constant deus ex machina. I can confidently say that some things happened and there was punching involved

I now want to 3D print some of the houses. They were so cute!

Puss in Boots: the Last Wish

A fun movie with heart. The animation sometimes reminded me of Into the Spiderverse. I would put it tied with Shrek 2 as the best in the franchise.

Fast X is fething awesome!

After the triple hit of Fast 5, 6, and 7 they've never been able to reach those heights. 8 was inferior to 7 in every way, and whilst 9 was perhaps better, it was almost the most ridiculous and insane.

Fast X dials the absurdity levels back to Fast 6 levels (Fast 7 for the final bit on the dam at the end), and gives us tons of returning character (even two you would not expect), a few new ones, kills a few off, and also gives us the series' best villain.

Momoa as Dante is just out of this world good. In fact, without him I doubt the film would work at all.

Action sequences are mind blowing, and Dom's invincibility aside (he's been a Terminator for a long time now, so this is noting new), the stakes are huge and the fights feel tense.

Fair warning: It ends on a huge cliffhanger. Something happens, we cut to Dom, and then we hit the credits. There is no resolution for this story, that'll have to be in the next one (or the next two, depending on what they do).

There is a mid-credits scene, and it's... so much fun. Totally answered my query about why Dante is just coming after Dom. He's not!

But yeah, blisteringly good thrill-ride from start to finish, some emotional moments, not enough Letty, a half-way decent arc for Roman this time around (I wish they'd give Tej more to do), Brie Larson's character isn't horrible, Alan Richardson is monstrously huge, there's a lot of Charlize Theron in this one - far more than I was expecting - but at the same time not enough Shaw (though I imagine we'll pick up with his story in Fast 11).

So much fun.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 - Electric Melody

Fine installment, a bit darker than the first two. A large part is about Rocket's origin and has some ghastly animal experimentation and Frankenstein-style animal creations. Glad I didn't bring the kids.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Puss in Boots: the Last Wish

A fun movie with heart. The animation sometimes reminded me of Into the Spiderverse. I would put it tied with Shrek 2 as the best in the franchise.

That one flew completely under the radar (at least for me), but I heard good things about it.



I kinda would have liked to go to the cinema to watch that new Three Musketeers film. That looked half-decent in the trailer (despite it being all brown. Sheesh.).

Instead I stayed in last night and for the first time in my life I watched a Fast and Furious film. Part 7.(2015)

I have no idea what the story was. Or the stories? Kurt Russel tells Vin Diesel and friends to recover a very pretty hacker lady from the grasp of evil people (one of whom is Tony Jaa! He's good, isn't he), so she can tell him where some sort of super-surveillance software is. And it's really, really funny how nobody ever even raised an eyebrow or asked questions about this central piece of software which basically does the same thing that Batman did in Dark Knight, where every single camera and bit of data is cross-referenced to keep tabs on pretty much anybody or anything in the world. Sure, they don't even pretend it's got anything to do with the real world, because the computer looks like what they use on the submarine in Matrix and the software doesn't come in a USB stick, but some futuristic looking plastic and metal thing (okay, that's a usb stick, but you know what I mean ).

That they do by means of cars and one-liners. I'm not sure if there even is any dialogue in that film, it's all an exchange of one-liners. There's lots of action going on, most of the "what will they do next?" kind rather than the "wow" kind. It's a bit like a jump scare vs. a built-up scare with context and such. The scariest thing in the film was when Vin Diesel stood at the very edge of a very tall building, because that was relateable.

Overall, this whole thing plays out like one of the bad AAA videogames which try to be like bad hollywood films. It's funny how these two genres seem to love each other.

There's several people in there whom I like, like Michelle Rodriguez, who improves every film she's in and Jason Statham. It was also rather nice seeing Kurt Russel again. With Vin Diesel I'm on the fence. I have yet to see a film I like him in (closest was the one in which he's friends with the mafia youngster played by the guy who's interesting and played John F.Kennedy's brother in the miniseries about the Kennedys, but it was still not that good), but I kinda like Vin Diesel as a concept. He's such an odd-looking man. He's not a good actor, he isn't likeable or charismatic, and yet he's still there. He seems to be kinda passionate about certain projects and roles, he seems to be a bit outside of Hollywood, but without getting or wanting any interesting roles, but he's not one of the direct-to-streaming c-action-stars either. "A different kind of cat", one might say, but not an interesting cat.

Funny thing is how careful the film is with its characters. Nobody ever dies. They fall off tall buildings or bridges or elevator shafts, but nobody dies, beause they have to show up in sequels again. So there are no real stakes, no connection to reality or anything else. There is no state, there is no society, there are no bonds outside of their little nerdy group of people who solve problems by means of car. Oh, and of course everybody is very trained and groomed, but nobody has sex. Michelle Rodriguez is around, but she's married to Vin Diesel and more of a secondary dad to the group. It's a weird dynamic.

That was the one during which Paul Walker died and the send-off was rather heart-warming.


Don't Watch.




I was thinking - is there still an equivalent to c-grade direct-to-video action films? What we see with streaming (especially Netflix) is those multi-million direct-to-streaming action films featuring three big names and a painfully by-the-numbers plot. Are those replacing the "crap action films"? Because to the consumer the investment is the same anyway.

Barun Rai and the House On The Cliff

Supernatural thriller made in Britain, but an Indian production.

It’s a bit by the numbers (haunting, possession etc) but they get a really solid dreamlike quality when it matters.

Shades of Evil Dead here and there, but a very enjoyable bit of movie, even if the effects are bit ropey.

The Hunger Games

I am sure just about everyone here as seen this or read it. I had not. This was brand new to me, but I knew the premise.

It was surprisingly engaging, and I can see why the main actress who's name is escaping me has become a big star. She is pretty good. Once the "Games" get going it is a bit by-the-numbers but the lead up is solid work.

Someone did their homework on the Roman Coliseum and why/how it worked within the context of Roman culture, and then tried to extrapolate it into a different setting. I also approve of the work they did on understanding totalitarianism and how it functioned in the few scenes we got with President Donald Sutherland.

I am actually looking forward to seeing the next one in the trilogy.

 Sigur wrote:
With Vin Diesel I'm on the fence. I have yet to see a film I like him in.

Did you not like Pitch Black? Far and away my fave Vin Diesel film (F&F leaves me cold, I'm afraid).

Vin diesel is in Saving Private Ryan although it’s a minor part. But I’d say his best film is the Iron Giant.

“Are there C-grade, direct-to-video action films?”

Yes. Only, it’s more complicated now.

There are a lot of absolute trash movies churned out to make a profit before any audience ever sees them, often starring big names like Bruce Willis. Studios like Asylum also put out cheap imitations of every big name film, and most are just terrible. They also make a lot of attempted so-bad-it’s-good films, trying to catch that Sharknado lightning in a bottle.

However, there are some that must’ve testing grounds for up and coming directors, because some of them are quite good. For example Netflix had a film with Pedro Pascal as a claim jumper with trust issues who teams up with a young woman in order to survive…in space.

There are also some micro budget films that use humor and self-awareness to their advantage, like Manborg, Kung Fury, Space Cop, and presumably Psycho Goreman and Kids vs Aliens.

Sometimes action movies with tiny budgets still make it to the big screen. Upgrade and Sisu can stand up with action films with 10x or 20x their budgets. I’ve heard good things about Gerard Butler’s latest action film, Plane, too. Even EEAAO probably counts, as it is a low budget Sci-fi-martial-arts-comedy.


Since Sturgeon’s Law still applies (95% of any genre is crap), I tend to look for films with at least some good reviews before just watching.

Re watching Candyman 2021.
I think I was unfair to this movie if I mentioned it before in one of these reviews. It's much better than I remembered. This is only the second time I have seen it. I missed part of the story the first go round and I think there are layers to it I am just now picking up on.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
There are a lot of absolute trash movies churned out to make a profit before any audience ever sees them, often starring big names like Bruce Willis.

Only in Bruce's case there was kind of a reason why he was doing those films, and not a happy one.

 Easy E wrote:
I am actually looking forward to seeing the next one in the trilogy.

The Hunger Games (and there are 4 films, don't forget, and a prequel on the way this year) is a series that I was predisposed to dislike. More YA garbage from a time when that type of film was everywhere. I also set it against the Harry Potter films, a series which I was predisposed to like.

I came out of both with the opposite view: I really don't like the Harry Potter films, and I really liked the Hunger Games films (they go to some dark places in parts 3 and 4!).

Heartily recommend them.

And Fast 7 is awesome.

I'm honestly fairly convinced The Hunger Games was meant to be a New Adult or just straight Adult novel, but the editors convinced the author to key the first book to YA, which is why subsequent books go incredibly dark places and are very different from the typical YA novel.

Maybe they were meant to be NA. The books came out around the same time publishers were waffling on trying to pitch NA as a genre and finding it easier to just age the books down slightly into YA instead.

I’ve seen all the Hunger Games movies. Couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about the plot of each.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’ve seen all the Hunger Games movies. Couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about the plot of each.

If only they were about blue aliens...
Couldn't resist.

Hunger Games 2: Catching Fire

Pretty much more of the same and suffers from Sequelitis. Everything in the first 1, BUT BIGGER!

However, any scene set in District 12 is good. Also, the dodgy "Victor's Village" was a nice nod to how the authorities really viewed the games and the winners.

Most of the plot points were telegraphed for me, a veteran movie watcher. That said, I couldn't help but feel engaged with the film and I do not know why. Perhaps it was Donald Sutherland as President Snow, Jennifer Lawrence's performance, the slow-growth and realization of what is happening due to the one act of defiance, or just the neo-Roman Dystopia setting. I do have a soft-spot for Gladiator flicks (Insert obligatory Airplane! reference here).

I am looking forward to watching the Mockingjay duology next.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’ve seen all the Hunger Games movies. Couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about the plot of each.

Lucky you, you're getting a prequel film in November

 Ghaz wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’ve seen all the Hunger Games movies. Couldn’t tell you a bloody thing about the plot of each.

Lucky you, you're getting a prequel film in November

Pretty sure a hottie I know wants me to go see it with her, so not a dead loss!

Knives Out

A murder mystery comedy that is more chuckle-worthy than laugh out loud funny. The cast is brilliant as an ensemble of selfish, possibly-murderous bastards. I’d put it about halfway between Clue and Colombo.

Watch it.



Matilda. The Danny DeVito version

I let my son choose this and the next movie. This is definitely geared towards kids. The movie is very Roald Dahl, in that it is filled will child neglect and abuse while being just off-kilter enough to get away with it. Almost. I have to admit, the confessed-murderer and child-torturer’s comeuppance felt woefully inadequate, with five minutes of goofy hijinks not balancing an hour and twenty minutes of human misery for me.

Do not recommend.


Ernest Goes to Africa

Hoo-boy. This movie…. There are no laughs in this film, but Ernest has two drag scenes (only one of them as the old lady) and two uncomfortably long scenes in brown face, and those aren’t even the worst parts of the movie. Ernest looks so tired and done that if this had been made in the age of Twitter, I would wonder if he wasn’t trying to cancel himself.

Do not watch.

Going to be watching Evil Dead Rise tonight. Pretty stoked!

Will be back with a review tonight or tomorrow morn.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Knives Out

A murder mystery comedy that is more chuckle-worthy than laugh out loud funny. The cast is brilliant as an ensemble of selfish, possibly-murderous bastards. I’d put it about halfway between Clue and Colombo.

Watch it.

Ya, It was good. Didn't hear the same sort of praise for the 2nd movie though.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Ernest looks so tired and done that if this had been made in the age of Twitter, I would wonder if he wasn’t trying to cancel himself.

Jim Varney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 (a year after Ernest Goes to Africa was released) and died at the age of 50 in 2000. I wouldn't be surprised if the cancer wasn't already affecting him at that time.

 Ghaz wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Ernest looks so tired and done that if this had been made in the age of Twitter, I would wonder if he wasn’t trying to cancel himself.

Jim Varney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 (a year after Ernest Goes to Africa was released) and died at the age of 50 in 2000. I wouldn't be surprised if the cancer wasn't already affecting him at that time.

For some reason I thought there was more time between this movie and his death. What a disappointing way to finish his career.

We’ll always have Goes to Jail.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Ernest looks so tired and done that if this had been made in the age of Twitter, I would wonder if he wasn’t trying to cancel himself.

Jim Varney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998 (a year after Ernest Goes to Africa was released) and died at the age of 50 in 2000. I wouldn't be surprised if the cancer wasn't already affecting him at that time.

For some reason I thought there was more time between this movie and his death. What a disappointing way to finish his career.

We’ll always have Goes to Jail.

He had several more releases before his death (and a few after). Some of those 'straight to DVD' films don't take much time to film,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Varney#Film

Super Mario Bros

So this is pretty rad. Whilst not a cinematic masterpiece, it’s kind of everything a Mario movie should be.

It’s bright, colourful, buckets of fun and just…exactly what it should be. Definitely made for a younger audience, but plenty here to keep the older amused.

 nels1031 wrote:
....
Automatically Appended Next Post:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Knives Out

A murder mystery comedy that is more chuckle-worthy than laugh out loud funny. The cast is brilliant as an ensemble of selfish, possibly-murderous bastards. I’d put it about halfway between Clue and Colombo.

Watch it.

Ya, It was good. Didn't hear the same sort of praise for the 2nd movie though.

Yes, because it's meandering (which the first film was as well, but it felt so much more interesting and made for grown-ups) and has a very, very lame ending. The second film very much feels like it's been made by either studio execs or algorithms. And it sure looks like it too! The first film has this huge house, which is almost like a character in itself, and it has some mud and cars in it. The second film has Edward Norton's CGI palace and poolside stuff that looks like straight out of instagram (I'll also always remember the scene on the balcony in which the lady contacts the genius detective to hire him. The whole scene looked incredibly fake.) Yes, it was supposed to be more of a cartoon and whatnot, but at a time in which most films are made to look like a cartoon, how is that in any way interesting? The whole thing looked so neat and digital and filtered, it was weird.



There are some okay characters in there, like Kate Hudson. At least she was relateable. Craig obviously has a lot of fun playing that character, and it's all fine, but he also often seems a bit more like a smug bystander (ie the audience) than a "genius detective", because there isn't really a classic whodunit. And the satisfaction of "insane tech billionnaire gettings whats coming to him", delivered by pretty, rich people in a theatric manner seemed more annoying than relateable.

I think I was just in a bad mood when watching it, but I enjoyed the first film so much more. Oh, and now I remember the first 15 minutes of the film with that little riddle box, which achieves nothing and very much feels like a teaser or trailer for the actual film. Because the characters are introduced right afterwards and much more efficiently.

I think the second one was filmed during the pandemic, which explains the cgi sets.

This might be a thread unto itself, but some of my favourite film Original Music Soundtracks. In no particular order.

Picked by “if I hear such a track, I immediately think of that film and the warm and fuzzies said film gave me”.

1. Flash Gordon. AAAAHH-AHHHH! (Football Fight seriously needs be used for a Star Fighter raid scene in a movie)
2. Star Wars (any/all)
3. Indian Jones
4. Superman (the Christopher Reeves ones)
5. Batman (the Michael Keaton ones)
6. OK not actually an Original Soundtrack but my post my rules I’ll break them if I wanna, and I do wanna, Transformers The Movie.

Oh, fun.

I haven't even seen the Transformers film, but I know the soundtrack and it rocks.

.) Streets of Fire (Because the film starts and ends on absolute BANGERS and in between we got the weirdly nice Count-Down to Love, and I even like to give One Bad Stud a go every now and then. )
.) Conan the Barbarian (from beginning to end possibly the best soundtrack soundtrack)
.) Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle (classics, reinterpreted or repurposed for niceties)
.) Jackie Brown (same as the above, but even better)
.) of course bloody Drive! (well. What can I say. Brilliant. And over the years I developed a special fondness for Riz Ortolani's Oh My Love. Such an impressive interpretation, with such weird pronounciation of things, which makes it a bit interesting. Add to that the visuals of the film during those scenes. Can't listen to the song without seeing the driver with that weird mask looking into the restaurant, Ron Pearlman having the time of his life making stupid jokes, the pretty lady looking entirely detached and bored... just brilliant. Love that film. And then there's all the other big hit songs and the atmospheric track. This film is all about adding to the amount of splendour in the world.)
.) Rocky IV (classics)
.) The Graduate (don't like Simon and Garfunkel much, but that film makes me like them)

...I'm sure there's more. Friday? I like that soundtrack, I like that film.



There's some songs like Air's Playground Love or Bjork's I've seen it all that remind me of films I've never seen, but I know they're heavily connected to them. I also guess that these date me pretty accurately.

I haven't seen the film that this is from, but it brings back memories of the old cartoon and is one of my favorite film soundtracks...

Also? Low key without internet gained knowledge?

H) Robocop.

Now the music itself is a bit above merely passable, but not necessarily as memorable as the greatest hits of cinema.

But….but. Such a big butt I’ve restrained Sir Mixalot momentarily?

There are elements to the main theme which are added and removed as Murphy loses and regains his humanity.

It’s the addition and removal of the anvil sound. Before Murphy’s Mishap, strings and brass. Largely organic sounds. Robocop on patrol? Anvil is part of the percussion. As Murphy re-emerges, the Anvil is dropped.

So subtle. So incredibly subtle it’s not until Fact Fiend explained it that I even noticed. And I’m pretty sure I saw that film before they were born 🤣🤣