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On Dead Man’s Chest now

Definitely better than my memory suggests, and boy do the Dutchman Crew’s CGI continue to impress. I mean, it’s flawless, and nearly 20 years old now.

Is it helped by a generally murky backdrop and environment? Probably. But like Alien and Aliens, it all adds to the atmosphere and overall effect.

Godzilla vs. Megalon is a delightful entry in the Godzilla franchise that showcases the charm and creativity of 1970s kaiju cinema. Directed by Jun Fukuda, the film presents a unique blend of action, humor, and imaginative storytelling that has captivated audiences for decades.

The special effects crew, led by the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya, brought to life the iconic battles between Godzilla and his foes with a mix of practical effects and miniatures that are both entertaining and endearing. The film's monster designs, particularly the menacing Megalon and the heroic Jet Jaguar, are memorable and add to the film's whimsical appeal.

One of the standout aspects of "Godzilla vs. Megalon" is the remarkable performance of Haruo Nakajima, who donned the Godzilla suit. His physicality and ability to convey emotion through the suit brought depth to the character, making Godzilla not just a monster, but a beloved icon. Nakajima's dedication to his craft is evident in every scene, as he expertly navigates the challenges of portraying such a legendary creature.

While "Godzilla vs. Megalon" may not be the most critically acclaimed film in the franchise, its campy charm, imaginative battles, and the unforgettable performances make it a must-watch for fans of kaiju films. It remains a beloved classic that continues to entertain audiences with its unique blend of action and fun.

Nice to see Lathe do a straight review :-)

 Overread wrote:
It's a strange film because you can see so many parts are daft just to fit the "Battleship boardgame" idea they went for. Yet at the same time there's a few bits of the story - like the alien that randomly lets them get away with what they are doing - which just begs more questions and gives a sense of depth behind the story that you honestly don't expect from what's basically a fun action-flick.

Bit old, but I can't miss a chance to talk about this one.

One of the utterly wild things about this film is that the aliens are incredibly conscientious of human life. Their initial attack specifically only hits military targets and even then does so with effectively no casualties by striking deployment vectors over manned ships. They also only fire after being fired upon. It's not even accidental. There's scenes of them identifying civilians and standing down and generally go way out of their way to be non-hostile. It's honestly kind of wild.

I do always wonder if this was in some way intended to tie into Battleship: Galaxies, but sadly we'll never know.

MarkNorfolk wrote:
Nice to see Lathe do a straight review :-)

I can write a decent honest review every now and then...

But, don't worry, I have a review of LeBron James' Space Jam, just waiting for a rainy day.

For some silly reason I have Amazon Prime for a week. I have to say, that they have a really strong line-up when it comes to films. It was a bank holiday, I'd just gotten back from the hospital (we had a broken arm in the family), I put on The Apartment (1960). One of my all-time favourite films. Lovely.

New Nosferatu was quite good. One of the best vampire movies I have seen, and easily the best Dracula movie (although technically it doesn't feature Dracula). That's not very high bar to clear though, most Dracula movies are bad.

In terms of Vampire Movies, I’d argue Bones, starring Snoop as a Vampire whilst not exactly amazing, is considerably underrated.

Definitely worth a watch if you can track it down.

65

It’s. A film, I guess. Overly telegraphed and a bit obvious. The effects are good, but it’s a waste of both of the lead actor talents.

 Flinty wrote:
65

It’s. A film, I guess. Overly telegraphed and a bit obvious. The effects are good, but it’s a waste of both of the lead actor talents.

Yeah, it was a disappointment.

For those that don't know, 65, starring Adam Driver, presents a premise that initially piques interest: a pilot crash-landing on a mysterious prehistoric Earth. However, the film quickly reveals itself to be a derivative and formulaic monster chase narrative that fails to capitalize on its intriguing concept. The plot unfolds in a painfully predictable manner, relying heavily on clichés and tropes that have been seen countless times in the genre. Instead of exploring the potential of its setting and characters, the film opts for a paint-by-numbers approach that leaves little room for originality or depth.

Adam Driver, known for his impressive range and ability to convey complex emotions, is unfortunately underutilized in this film. His character is reduced to a one-dimensional figure, merely reacting to the relentless onslaught of prehistoric creatures rather than engaging in meaningful development or exploration. The film's lack of substance and creativity ultimately results in a disappointing experience, squandering the talents of its cast and leaving viewers yearning for a more innovative and engaging story. In the end, "65" serves as a reminder that even the most promising premises can falter when not executed with care and originality.

Just watched the Missouri scene from Battleship. Again.

And I’m still blown away by it.

First? The veteran sailors are For Real veteran sailors.

Second? They actually took her out. Whilst a museum ship, she is taken out of dock every now and again. And they did it For Real, not using lazy CGI.

Third? I love when he checks in on his crew, asking if they’re ready. His crew member says nothing, until the Veteran confirms.

I have a frankly inexplicable soft spot for Battleships of all sizes, eras and capabilities. To know they didn’t really cheat here please my oddly nautical heart. Spesh when you get the “we’re not going down without a fight, so GERTCHA” broadside, which is frankly superb.

American Warships, a mockbuster inspired by the (not quite a ) blockbuster Battleship, delivers an unexpectedly entertaining experience despite its modest $1 million budget. The film follows a similar premise of naval warfare against an alien threat, but with a more straightforward and accessible approach that may resonate with fans of the classic board game. While it lacks the high-octane visuals and star power of its big-screen counterpart, "American Warships" embraces its low-budget charm, offering a fun, if not entirely polished, take on the genre that captures the essence of strategic naval combat in a way that feels refreshingly close to the original game.

https://syfychannel.fandom.com/wiki/American_Warships

The Seed

A horror film on that Shudder. Three influencers go to one of their Dad’s luxury cabin things for a weekend get away, when there’s a meteor shower on.

Something organic lands in the pool, and they lose internet connection. From there it gets a bit weird and trippy, with the alien in the pool seemingly knocking up and taking over the mind of two of the girls.

It’s all practical effects which is to its credit, and overall a fairly interesting alien invasion type tale. It’s not entirely original, drawing on tropes, but I’d say it is worth a watch.

I know I write very sarcastic reviews occasionally , but honestly, this one was one the best I've seen in a long time...

Godzilla Minus One is a surprisingly profound entry in the Godzilla franchise that far exceeds expectations.

Tackling heavy themes such as PTSD, survivor's guilt, and government propaganda, the film delves into the human experience in the wake of devastation, offering a poignant exploration of trauma and resilience. The emotional depth and character development are striking, with moments that genuinely tug at the heartstrings, making it a compelling watch even for those who might typically seek out monster mayhem.

This film is a testament to the power of storytelling, proving that a Godzilla movie can be both thrilling and deeply moving.

Honestly, this film is a lot better than any film with the name Godzilla in it has the right to be.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
I know I write very sarcastic reviews occasionally , but honestly, this one was one the best I've seen in a long time...

Godzilla Minus One is a surprisingly profound entry in the Godzilla franchise that far exceeds expectations.

Tackling heavy themes such as PTSD, survivor's guilt, and government propaganda, the film delves into the human experience in the wake of devastation, offering a poignant exploration of trauma and resilience. The emotional depth and character development are striking, with moments that genuinely tug at the heartstrings, making it a compelling watch even for those who might typically seek out monster mayhem.

This film is a testament to the power of storytelling, proving that a Godzilla movie can be both thrilling and deeply moving.

Honestly, this film is a lot better than any film with the name Godzilla in it has the right to be.

Agree completely. Godzilla Minus One was amazing, and possibly the best Godzilla movie we've had yet. I haven't seen the black and white version, but I kind of want to, for the novelty if nothing else.

Arena 1989.

Marc Alaimo! Claudia Christian! Armin Shimerman! Each in turn appearing as what might as well be prototypes for their later roles!

A pretty fun, medium budget Space Rocky type movie. I’m mostly impressed at the effort put into to the creature effects and costumes. We don’t have Trek style “human but with this odd bit on their face” crowd fillers. These are full head prosthetics, and pretty good ones for the budget.

In terms of overall quality, it falls below proper cinema release, but somewhere above Straight to Video,

It is pretty good fun, in a distinctly inoffensive and average way. Certainly is an example of a modest budget well spent.

Highlander 2

So I’ve long threatened to watch this. In a Sheriff Bart from Blazing Saddles threatening his own safety to win over the townspeople, without the racially charged words which make sense in the context of Blazing Saddles.

What do I make of it?

It feels like a Mockbuster churned out by that studio of lazy hacks known for Mockbusters. And had it been named Northern Scotland Scotsman, it might’ve gotten away with it.

But 16 minutes in? I…I don’t get how this is meant to be a sequel to Highlander. I mean, other than McLeod and somehow Ramirez, it’s got sod all to do with the themes and plot of Highlander.

On the upside? Or “the gold in this midden” as I like to put it? Whilst some of the effects are dated, the visuals of this movie are really, really evocative. The world is written as knackered and worn out, and it absolutely sells that with the sets and their dressing. Even the costumes suggest faded grandeur.

I’m happy to watch the rest of this, because the visuals are so strong. And whilst clearly a crap follow up on the first? I dare to have hope that if viewed as an entirely separate sci-fi action silliness movie, it might just stand on its own two feets.

You should watch Highlander 2: The Renegade Version. The Directors went back and rehired Connery to fix a couple scenes that were cut out by the studio.

The Directors did not know about the alien stuff until the saw it in the theater.

The Renegade Version puts it back to the way it was supposed to be.

Will seek that out once I’ve seen the what I’m assuming is the cinematic release.

I like how the Quickening is now like Dodgeball, where if you do the right move, you can bring a team mate off the bench.

Oh, I found an animated movie starring Britain's funniest comic, Jack Whitehall... called The Queen's Corgi. It got 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sounds like a challenge for you, MDG.

I would sooner boil my bollocks and have them as a post-hangover breakfast.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I would sooner boil my bollocks and have them as a post-hangover breakfast.

OK. How about Robots ? It is a 2023 American science fiction romantic comedy film (live action, not animated) written and directed by Ant Hines and Casper Christensen. It is based on the 1973 short story "The Robot Who Looked Like Me" by Robert Sheckley. The film stars Shailene Woodley (from the Divergent films).

You should check it out.

This Means War

Remember when studios made mid-budget action/comedy/romance movies to release to wide audiences in the theatre instead of sending them straight to streaming? This movie remembers!

Starring Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon this Rom-Com features a lot of killing and shooting as two secret agent buddies use their skills and technology to try and land the girl. Hijinks ensue.

Harmless enough really, and way better than most Netflix releases.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Oh, I found an animated movie starring Britain's funniest comic, Jack Whitehall... called The Queen's Corgi. It got 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sounds like a challenge for you, MDG.

Seen it. I think several times actually - my youngest was about the right age for it when it came out. Other than quite a nice pastiche of a certain orange president towards the end, yeah, it's dreadful.

Catvideofest

Went to see this at the local flea pit Sunday afternoon with my friend and her girls.

Whilst just a compilation of, well, cat videos, off the internet? It was a pleasant way to while away a chilly January afternoon. And proceeds go toward our local Cat shelter, so in a good cause too.

Puppetmaster 4, Decapitron

God I love this sort of derpy horror. The plot is utter mince, but we still get a fun experience as the pint sized terrors this time take on equally dinky demon things, sent by Decapitron.

"The Hunt for Red October," directed by John McTiernan and based on Tom Clancy's novel, is a masterful blend of suspense and political intrigue that stands as one of the best submarine films of all time.

Sean Connery delivers a commanding performance as Captain Marko Ramius, a Soviet submarine commander who seeks to defect to the United States with his cutting-edge submarine, the Red October. Alec Baldwin shines as Jack Ryan, the CIA analyst tasked with understanding Ramius's intentions, creating a captivating dynamic that drives the film's tension.

It’s also got a kickass Basil Poledouris score.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
It’s also got a kickass Basil Poledouris score.

I just looked it up and he also did Robocop, Starship Troopers and Conan the Barbarian

Good choice. A real classic.