Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

We don't speak of the idiocy of not casting Jim from The Office as Reed Richards. Pascal is almost painful for me to watch at the moment since he's so saturated.

Stand By Me

Two for flinching.


Stand By Me is a coming of age story about four boys’ journey out of their small town to find a dead body. One of the all-time great Stephen King adaptations, I’d put this on the same level as Shawshank Redemption. The acting is superb, the writing sharp, the directing masterful—every time I watch it I feel transported. Stand By me is a must-watch.

What I’m trying to say is…

I never had better theater experiences than I did when I was 12.
Jesus, does anyone?

Watched The Outlaw Josey Wales, probably one of Clint Eastwood's best "Westerns."

Really dealt with the Civil War and being on the losing side. It was a lot deeper than I thought it would be... while still having a lot of action.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Watched The Outlaw Josey Wales, probably one of Clint Eastwood's best "Westerns."

Really dealt with the Civil War and being on the losing side. It was a lot deeper than I thought it would be... while still having a lot of action.

It's one of our favorites. My wife mentioned a few days ago that it would have been way darker if they had gotten closer to historical accuracy.
I think about this movie quite often. In a weird way it's almost a Mad Max movie. There are parallels anyway.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
Watched The Outlaw Josey Wales, probably one of Clint Eastwood's best "Westerns."

Really dealt with the Civil War and being on the losing side. It was a lot deeper than I thought it would be... while still having a lot of action.

I never saw it but i wonder if it was the inspiration for DC's Jonah Hex.

Eternity
A new movie,in the cinema plex even!

This is a Rom-Com about what happens after we die. A woman who was married twice passes away, and has to chose who to spend her eternity with. She can go with her first husband who died in the Korean War or her second who she has been married to for the past 65 years. Hijinks ensue as the two suitors try to woe her..... poorly.

Honestly, this afterlife system SUCKS! However, it does force you to consider what is the nature of love, commitment, and marriage.

A Samurai's Sorrow
Another strong Samurai flick.

In this one, a man is a poison-taster by trade. His mother died long ago. He is the illegitimate son of the current, Shogun. His mother asked him to keep the new Shogun safe before she died.

There is a pretty twisty and turny plot about the fate of his mother, the Shogun's past, and a rival claimant to the title. This one even involves the Koga clan of Ninja, but not in a stupid and over-the-top way.

Honestly, a pretty good flick with intrigue, action, and emotional depth. The main actor does a good job showing range as a stoic samurai who is conflicted.

One of the more enjoyable samurai flicks I have seen!

Thanks for the warning about Eternity. As a couple who know I’m almost certainly going to die early and my wife will probably end up remarrying, I’m glad we won’t walk into this movie and have a rough experience. It would be UP all over again.

Cannonball Run

Another of those movies which always seemed to be on the telly when I was a nipper, but never really sat down to watch.

Burt Lancaster and Dom DeLuise are our main protagonists in this fictionalised tale of a real life coast to coast gonzo race. Also stars Jackie Chan, Roger Moore (as someone convinced they’re Roger Moor) Farrah Fawcet, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. support among many others.

It’s kinda screwball comedy, but with greater restraint. The main laughs come from how the various race teams go about trying to evade and flummox traffic police.

Probably make for ideal Saturday afternoon entertainment.

Burt Lancaster?


Makes me want to watch SNL’s Celebrity Jeopardy again. “This film reminds us that Cannonballs can Run. You might want to try this one, Burt.”

Sorry, Burt Reynolds.

Swiss Army Man

[corpse farts]


Swiss Army Man is a film about a castaway who makes friends with a corpse, and heads off to adventure. But really, it’s about social anxiety, struggling to love one’s self, friendship and even love. But really, really it’s Weekend At Bernie’s meets I Love You Man starring Harry Potter’s gaseous cadaver. From the directors of Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s an emotional journey.

I can’t really recommend it to anyone who isn’t real comfortable with A24-style weirdness, but I enjoyed it.

I have ln’t seen that one, but I greatly appreciate Mr Radcliffe’s willingness to do whatever the hell he feels like and really leans in to the weirdest projects

He’s really good at it. Easily the best vivacious dead man since Terry Kiser’s Bernie.


But yeah, I’m glad he has that Harry Potter money to let him take these weird risky roles. I’ll have to make time for Guns Akimbo down the road.

That I have seen. It is totally bonkers, but a great ride

Yeah its a crazy film but well worth watching!


Also its not just great to see him acting because he enjoys it; but also that these side/niche projects get attention that they otherwise likely wouldn't have had he not been in them. They'd be small quirky films no one had heard of. Or would have had a harder time marketing.

Horns is another Radcliffe wierdness movie.

I watched......

Sir Gwaine and the Green Knight

This one is from 1973, but it has aged rather well. It has the standard adventure tropes for "action" for such a film.

However, it does have a narrator so it is not afraid to hit you over the head with the MESSAGE of the legend.... but you know.

Clearly, this only came back thanks to the A24 <Take a shot!> film The Green Kinght and it is no Boorman's Excalibur. However, it did not wear out its welcome.

Guns Akimbo is perhaps my favorite movie. I must have said so before, but I don't feel bad about saying it again. Definite recommendation.

Me? Biased? Never!

Definite respect for the young(ish) Mr Radcliffe. He’s clearly made he’s fortune, and is now just having an awful lot of fun.

Also, despite an early wobble with alcoholism? Massive props to him for not falling down the Child Actor Pit Of Heck as so many did before.

Stuff Stephanie in the Incinerator

It could only be a Troma film, couldn’t it!

Kind of take on Ready or Not, Would You Rather et al as a young average Joe couple wind up involved in the sadistic games of the rich.

The version on Prime is in dire need of a remaster, as it’s all very blurry, and when a scene is dark? It’s not quite AvP Requiem dark, but is getting there.

I am of course mostly watching this due to the outrageous title, and I don’t want to mark it down for the very poor transfer.

As with many Troma films, there’s a ton of potential here, and it’s just a shame their budget never really met their creativity.

The Burbs

“Pizza dude!”


Tom Hanks and his cul-de-sac buddies convince themselves the new neighbors harbor a dark secret in this 80’s suburban farce. The hijinks and the musical score escalate scene after scene until you just have to stop and ask yourself, “Isn’t this the music from Gremlins 2?” It is.

More amusing than laugh out loud funny, The Burbs is worth a watch if you like Tom Hanks or Joe Dante.
Or early Jay Bauman.

And Carrie Fisher!


Love The 'Burbs. Lot of time for that movie.

"This... is Walter!"

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. I regret a random Horror Blu-ray purchase.

Specifically, the Gaira’s Guts trilogy. Part horror, part sexploitation, these films are just vile.

I dunno if I’m going to watch them all.

Terror-creatures from Beyond the Grave

Notable because it has Barbara Steele! A lawyer goes to an old house and meets the widow and daughter of an occultist. Strange deaths happen. Can the lawyer solve the mystery?

They set it up as a period mystery, but we all saw the title! It takes a classic occult turn. This could make a decent Call of Cthulhu style horror RPG scenario with some tweaks.

Have now checked out both The Long Walk and The Running Man.

Both competently done adaptions of the originals that stick quite close to their sources. I was expecting a lot of flashbacks fleshing out characters to pad out the Long Walk, and was surprised by it not doing that at all, and by how well it managed to create drama just from a bunch of guys walking along a road.

Running Man is a little more of a cartoony action movie vibe, where Long Walk is very gritty dystopia, and they both change the book ending - Long Walk for the better, Running Man I suspect just because the story ending might be a little on the nose for US audiences, but I'm not sure what they came up with instead was an improvement...

Both well worth an afternoon, though, if you're into such things.

I liked the new Running Man, even if it would have been more accurately called...



I found it's a good thing that it's really different from the classic, so both movies don't have to compete with each other and get to be good on their own merits.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
The Burbs

“Pizza dude!”


Tom Hanks and his cul-de-sac buddies convince themselves the new neighbors harbor a dark secret in this 80’s suburban farce. The hijinks and the musical score escalate scene after scene until you just have to stop and ask yourself, “Isn’t this the music from Gremlins 2?” It is.

More amusing than laugh out loud funny, The Burbs is worth a watch if you like Tom Hanks or Joe Dante.
Or early Jay Bauman.

Yeah, I love The 'Burbs. 'Hey pinocchio where you going?' Just such a fun film, a fun premise, and it goes all the way.

Solo, a Star Wars Movie

So, not a terribly well thought of movie. And not without some basis in fact. Like the later Kenobi series? It fills in some blanks, but in the grand scheme of things is kind of disposable.

Yet it still has a fair amount going for it. For instance? Han’s initial escape from Correlia shows some serious heavy handed Imperial BS. Stormtroopers roughing up civilians, seemingly because there’s no one to stop them.

And, honestly? The film itself is very enjoyable. But in a really weird way.

As I said, it is pretty disposable. Nothing that happens really has ramifications going forward. There are no great secrets revealed or hinted at.

Yet it’s still bloody good fun. It more than looks the part as a Star Wars movie, and adds some excellent new visuals. Non-Storm Trooper infantry. Some fun new ship designs. And some new Stormtroopers.

Where the weirdness comes in is that as a sci-fi movie? I don’t think it could work outside of the established setting and story. Yet, one only needs the most passing knowledge of the setting to enjoy.

 Geifer wrote:

I found it's a good thing that it's really different from the classic, so both movies don't have to compete with each other and get to be good on their own merits.

Also good because the Arnie movie was awful, and bore no resemblance whatsoever to the story it was theoretically based on...

I'm not one to insist on adaptions being slavishly identical to the source material, but there comes a point where you're just making a completely different story.

Keeper (2025)

Described as a folk-horror, wherein the actress that portrayed She-Hulk is on a weekend cabin excursion with her boyfriend, but not everything is as it seems and it doesn’t take long for creepy stuff to start creeping. There is some solid build up of tension and pretty unique visuals that’ll make this one something I won’t forget for awhile.

With that said, I can definitely understand why this flick wasn’t rated very highly, as it kind of ponders at times, and feels like we barely get to know the two main characters before things get supernatural.

Worth a rental for spooky time viewing.

@MDG - I also remember quite enjoying Solo, but agree it’s not particularly pivotal. Also not every film needs to be.

In terms of the actual storyline, it’s not too far from a Kelly’s Heroes style heist in tone. It’s just that the main cast desert before the heist starts.