wifey asked me to go to "the big sick" and i was very plesantly surprised. chick flick, but very, very funny.
Nobody does pissed off southern redneck like holley hunter.
Printable View
wifey asked me to go to "the big sick" and i was very plesantly surprised. chick flick, but very, very funny.
Nobody does pissed off southern redneck like holley hunter.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND 40th ANNIVERSARY
Apparently coming to theaters Sept. 1st for 1-week (can't find what theaters it's screening at as of yet on the webz, though).
I've got a soft spot for this flick. I remember digging it more than Star Wars when it came out and probably saw it at least 3 times in the theaters when it was first released. Seen it a few more times on VHS, TV, and DVD over the years, but am kinda stoked to see it again on the BIG screen (if it's showing anywhere near Tahoe, that is).
I went to watch Birth of the Dragon with some of my martial arts partners and left underwhelmed. Bruce Lee felt like a secondary character rather than the main character and the actor didn't give Lee much depth. The fight scenes were OK, but nothing great compared other movies in that genre.
WIND RIVER
3.75/5
As the directorial debut of Taylor Sheridan, the screenwriter of Sicario and Hell or High Water, this film's dialogue wasn't as sharp and snappy as those films, in fact, the film, overall, is more somber and taciturn in mood. There were long, slow periods of almost no-action that were alternately shattered (loudly) by bouts of hyper violence and white-knuckled intensity; lots of ebbing and flowing. But then the atmosphere played expertly to the location of the film: outback Wyoming in the dead of winter.
One could easily view it as a "Great White Savior" film, given the juxtaposition of the white characters and the native american characters, but I saw it more as a "white people cleaning up their shit" type of movie, at least thematically speaking.
Jeremy Renner is solid, with an understated and brooding performance, while Elizabeth Olsen portrays a green, yet ultimately strong FBI agent. It's all rounded out by a great supporting cast.
RIYL:
Winter's Bone; Thunderheart; Hell or High Water; Sicario
Only "technical" errors I caught were that the film takes place in Wyoming, but was filmed in Utah, and the director used a really unsteady handi-cam in several close-ups; quiet scenes where the characters were sitting and talking and the jittery camera action made the scenes, well, shakey and distracting.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
LOGAN LUCKY
4/5
Perhaps the most (and best) Coen Bros. film not written or directed by a Coen Brother.
Steven Soderbergh returns to the Silver Screen after his 2013 "retirement" from filmmaking (https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...ires-from-film) with this bofo, light-hearted ensemble caper film.
This redneck romp prominantly features Channing Tatum, an actor who is perhaps one of the great chameleons of Hollywood (he's totally wooden is some films and then totally brilliant in others). Here, well, he's f@#king brilliant, in no short terms. He absolutely shines as a down-and-out West Virginian who cobbles together a rag-tag crew to rob a massive NASCAER race. Adam Driver is off-the-nuts as his deadpan (and perhaps a bit clueless) wounded warrior brother, and Daniel Craig erases years of James Bondness in a single swoop as convict Joe Bang. The rest of the supporting cast sizzles and the pacing and dialogue re crisp and swift. Oh yeah, the ending is brilliant.
There's a bit of controversey surrounding who may or may not have written the script (https://www.bustle.com/p/is-rebecca-...-mystery-77340), but honestly, who cares? It's a great script and Soderbergh delivers a fast-paced, goofy, and well-crafted heist film.
RIYL
Oceans 11; The Italian Job (2003)
Final justice for the last, baddest guy: frozen lungs on a warm sunny day in corn snow i.e. well above freezing.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
oops!Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
i did wonder about that, then shrugged it off as it didn't bug me as much as the shaky cam close-ups!
:)
I worked with Jeremy Renner's mom for a while. Jeremy was always a real nice guy when he stopped in. Local kid does well.
INGRID GOES WEST
3 / 5
So, Ingrid Goes West was basically Single White Female for the social media set (f@$k, they even name-dropped that 1992 flick). That said, I kinda enjoyed it.
Found it interesting that all the female characters were shallow and/or crazy (it was written by a coupla dudes, fwiw), and all the male characters were kinda spineless and enablers of the crazy females.
It also seemed to promote suicide as a means to gaining notoriety/fame in the Instagram age, which was kinda wack, imho. It may very well have also been a critique of the American health system's inability to deal properly with psychiatriac and psychologicaly damaged folks (much in the same way that Swiss Army Man may have been a critique of this).
I found the film to be kind of cliche whilst watching it, but the post-viewing resonance is interesting.
Elizabeth Olsen slays as a vapid LA tastemaker (this role is the complete anti-thesis to her performance in Wind River, btw). Audrey Plaza is freaky, but her performance is rather subdued, which is kind of cool as her character never goes completely off-the-rails as one would expect.
Overall, makes me glad that I still have a flip phone (seriously).
RIYL
Single White Female; The Cable Guy; films that skewer the vapidity of Los Angeles celebrity society
PS
also reminded me a bit of this Gilligan's Island episode http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1335108/ a little bit.
I married a hopeless romantic who would rather watch Lala land :rolleyes: We are complete opposites of each other. Sometimes i am happy , sometimes not. Especially in times where i wish my partner would accompany me to watch Mud!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sullywhacker
Superb... great soundtrackQuote:
Originally Posted by PB
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grange
I rather enjoyed it.
For the record, I do not practise martial arts and I didn't grow up watching Shaw Bros. films. I grew up watching Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Segal. Post-college I spent 2 years watching nothing but the subtitled 1990's HK fare of Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Donnie Yen at Chinese theaters in San Francisco (and the late, venerable UC Theatre in Berkeley). So, I have a strong fondness for fantastical wire work and Harold Lloyd-styled shenanigans.
I found the film to be a throwback to the '80s Hollywood interpretations of HK films, as well as including some of the fantastical elements of the 1990s flicks (heck, Corey Yuen was the fight choreographer).
I thought the lead actor captured Bruce Lee's manner and characteristics, at least as they were portrayed in his films.
I found that the direction of the fight sequences was really good for a western film (instead of lame close-ups, quick edits, and shots from the waist up, there were lots of aerial and widescreen shots that showed the whole action).
I also thought that they had a good balance between Old School Shaw Bros.-styled fight sequences, 1990s Tsui Hark/Yuen Woo-Ping wire trickery, and artsy-fartsy slo-mo cum Wong Kar-wai.
Granted, the story was simple and the supporting characters were one-dimensional, but I still found the "turmoil" of the main white character being caught between two teachers with very different ideologies to be compelling enough.
I also really dug the end credit sequence, which paid decent homage to Lee's cinematic high-points (kicking the shit out of Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon and others).
For a popcorn, end-of-summer flick I felt that I got my money's worth and it was much better than I anticipated.
RIYL
Late '80s Hollywood martial arts films; late '90s HK martial arts films;
PS
Grange: as a HK film buff I'd be interested to know what your favorite films of the genre are...
With the new Blade Runner coming out in a couple of weeks, who here is going to see it? I hope to make it to the theater.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
Every one.Quote:
Originally Posted by From_the_NEK
You're off the bus if you don't see it on the big screen.
Did my Ski & A Movie thang today: I caught an early screening of Mother! this morning in Reno, then went skiing up near Blue Lakes (Carson Pass area)
Giving the film a 4.5 / 5
(for the record, I, apparently, really enjoy delusional freak shows of pretentious twaddle (although I did not like Antichrist one bit...), which is how one critic described it).
The film is getting slagged, but I feel that's because most people, on the whole, do not enjoy challenging, strange films (that's just my humble opinion).
Here is a great editorial about the film: https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...aronofsky-film
This movie is disconcerting, disquieting, intense, and teeming with what-the-f^&kery. I think it's a movie about birth/life/death or it may be a movie about ego or it may be a movie about love (giving too much or taking too much and still needing more). It may be a movie about gods and/or demons. It may be a movie about The 7 Deadly Sins (they are all pretty much touched upon in the course of the 2 hours running time). Whatever it is, it ain't boring. Excellent sound design (or lack thereof, since quite a bit of the movie is sans score, relying more on eerie ambient noise than anything else). A challenging and mesmerizing film that would best be enjoyed with your posse of quasi-intellectuals so that y'all can discuss it to no end over apres cocktails.
Definitely NOT a popcorn flick. But if you like abstract, intense, and weird quasi-horror films, then this might be up your alley.
FWIW, I am divided on Aronofsky. Of the films he has both written and directed, I really dug PI and Requiem For A Dream. I hated The Fountain.
Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian sums it up perfectly:
"Mother! does what movies are supposed to do: intrigue, baffle, revolt, amuse, excite and have people talking on the way out of the cinema. I’m going to see it again."
:)
RIYL
Only God Forgives; Blackcoat's Daughter; Beyond The Black Rainbow; The Neon Demon; Revolver; Baskin
What's RIYL mean?
I still haven't watched neon demon. But I have wanted to, just thought about it this weekend while talking with a friend. Only God forgives didn't do it for me but I had such high hopes.
Recommended If You LikeQuote:
Originally Posted by abraham
I would recommend American assassin.
I have not seen it, but I have read the book and most every book by the author - vince Flynn is nonstop and you know Hollywood is down with that; movie should be great.
Whoa ......
Let me tell you a little secret: hollywood and authors do not get long. Early reviews are not strong; I'm actually going to go see it for Keaton's performance, but otherwise - low expectations.
^
Saw American Assassin today.
Giving it a 2.5 / 5
It was totally paint-by-numbers and hella cliched.
Keaton was good, but his character is such a familiar trope that it didn't matter much how well he owned the screen.
The story was pretty much old hat, tired, and retread from other similar movies.
The action sequences weren't anything to write home about.
The fight sequences were all shot close-up and frenetic, so you never really saw the fighting, it was just quick-cut edits and close-ups.
It also looked and felt like a made-for-tv (or cable) movie.
Honestly, the trailers are way cooler (and better) than the entirety of the film.
I'd say leave it for a rental.
PS
How the f%^k do you recommend a movie without having seen it?
Well this is awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt__kig8PVU
Quote:
Originally Posted by From_the_NEK
Reviews are coming out and it sounds very positive so far. Unfortunately I'm on a camping trip opening weekend. I'll have to get out to a late show the following week.Quote:
Originally Posted by PB
Isle of Dogs
Should dogs from Japan speak Japanese? Or at least speak Ingrish
Looks like pure Wes Andrerson
My kids love Fantastic Mr. Fox. So do I.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elkhound Odin
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
3.5 / 5
Rather enjoyed this flick. It's completely over-the-top, most of the action sequences are blatantly CGI-infused, but they are whip-quick and well-paced (albeit mostly shot close-up, which bugs me a bit, as opposed to more of a wide-angle viewpoint). Solid acting, snark galore and cheeky, to boot. Continues to piss take the James Bondness of the '80 and '90s something fierce. I may have actually dug it more than the original. Full-on buttered popcorn fare, for sure.
My only major quibble: there's a sequence where the heroes travel to a ski resort in Italy and they are decked out in ski gear: the boots are so obviously not ski boots (they look like painted Uggs). As a skier that kind of waver on detail really bugged me for some reason, moreso than the totally unrealistic action sequences and whatnot.
Also, an interesting read for all the comic book (and film) nerds out there:
https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-kingsman...-le-1797734025
HAPPY DEATH DAY
2.5 / 5
I have to admit, I was totally suckered in by the trailer.
This film had a LOT of potential, that was unfortuneately squandered.
While it moves along at a good pace, the third act is completely full of "WTF?!?" moments (the serial killer angle, for example) and the "reveal" at the end is rather lame.
Good cast, some interesting elements, but again, ultimately it falls short of the premise.
The fact that they name-checked Groundhog Day in the final scene was nothing short of obvious overkill. At least for OG cineastes.
If you really want to see it either:
1. Wait for the DVD/Stream
or
2. Watch the trailer like 30 times in a row whilst pounding vodka or imbibing in some other controlled substances.
PS
They don't use 50 Cent's jam in the film (guess they didn't want to pay for it beyond the quick hits in the trailer; they use some other lame some other lame song instead).
Agreed. I leaned over to my wife and was like: it’s a lot faster to just ski down instead of re-boarding the tram.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
Otherwise I really enjoyed it. I prefer that to any of the comic book action movies.
plus it woulda been a really sweet homage to the Bond films they are so obviously poking fun at (not to mention that there hasn't been a skiing sequence in any of the D. Craig Bond flicks, so we're kinda overdue on that front...)Quote:
Originally Posted by Phildo_Baggins
Only The Brave. I went to see this ready to be all cynical and eager to point out technical and editorial mistakes. I've got what could be called a strong background in wildfire and I know/knew some of the people involved in the Yarnell Fire incident. It happens that I also know one of the advisors and have worked with him some on fires - I ran into him on the set when I did a little extra work on the film.
But it was a really good movie, it told the story well. The fire scenes were done pretty damn well, and I liked that the story spent some time on the difficulties that firefighters' families face. There were a few Hollywood moments, to be expected I guess, but there were also a number of salty moments that rang pretty close to true.
Anyway, good stuff, recommended. 8.5/10
Saw Loving Vincent at the SIFF here in Seattle. The hand-painted scenes are extraordinary. I thought that it may be a novelty that would wear off and erode the underlying story, but it only made it more vivid. Van Gogh paintings became scenes, and his characters were character in the movie. Not to give too much away, but most of the movie takes place a year after his death. At first I found it odd that the flashbacks were painted in a more realist medium, with the "current" or "year after death" scenes were Van Gogh-ish, i.e. the sytle he employed in his paintings was deployed only in scenes after his death. But then I realized, that at the core of the movie is Van Gogh's struggle for acceptance, approval and inclusion, and the Van Gogh world we know only really started to exist after his death. His vision was most apparent then, and the struggle of his past was the black-and-white stark world. He only sold a single painting in the time between 28, when he began to paint, and when he died 9 years later, despite having created thousands.
To be honest, at first I was a bit bored with the story-telling format, but it really resonated after some time. Add in a murder mystery and the interesting arc and growth of a non-Van Gogh character, and the story was actually quite compelling. I love movies without happy endings that peek at some truth but don't shove it in your face. There is no real great ending when a conflicted talented man (maybe) kills himself, but there was some redemption here.
I'm not usually compelled to write about what I've seen, but if you want the movie version of walking through a beautiful museum on a rainy day with some bits that can't help but speak to you and some that maybe don't, go see this.
This looks like it could be completely off-the-nuts...
Does look like fun ..... but Margo's hips aren't quite up to the task.
I'm in.
Cracking soundtrack too
THOR: RAGNAROK
3.25 / 5
IMHO, the best thing about Thor: Ragnarok (other than the amazing trailers) was the Mark Mothersbaugh score. The film itself felt uneven and as if the execs @ Marvel told the filmmakers "Give us another Guardians of the Galaxy, but with Thor".
However, if you enjoyed What We Do In The Shadows (I thought it was "meh"), then you may very well dig the heck outta Thor: Ragnarok (same director).
For my money, the various trailers were much better, in terms of presenting balanced snark and action and great pacing.
:)
I generally will search out Amazon Prime or Netflix for martial arts films and there are a few that stick out at me. For me I don't care if a Martial Arts movie is from HK. I thought Ong Bak 2 had some amazing fight scenes. Raid 2: Redemption was a blast to watch for violent bladed and blunt weapons. Flashpoint incorporated Jujitsu, which was fun to see since that is one style I train. I enjoyed Fighter in the Wind from South Korea for a period piece because it didn't seem rely as heavily on acrobatics and felt more brutal with the fight scenes. Others I've enjoyed are Red Cliff, IP Man 1 and 2 and The Wrath of Vajra. IP man 3 was OK, but not as good as the first two in my opinion, but the last fight is awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by dookey67
90's Martial art films were kind of hit and miss for me. Jet Li had some good one like Legend, but others just seemed too over the top, which is kind of dumb, because most martial arts films are way over the top.
For older films I liked Bruce Lee's films because he was the first Martial Arts film star I knew so while some of his movies may actually not be very good they still seem special to me. I really liked the HK series about Bruce Lee's life. The fighting styles of Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee was fun to watch in Way of the Dragon. I trained Shotokan, which I think of as more a hard style Karate, in college and now have been training a style that is more similar to Wing Chun type Kung fu called Wu Ying Tao. The difference between the two is a lot and it's fun to see the two in a fight. Plus it is an iconic fight scene.
I like documentaries on Martial arts. The Bladed Hand is great to me. Modern Arnis is another style I train so watching films on filipino martial arts is always fun. Amazon Prime has another one called Martial Arts Secrets of the Asian Masters. You can see Filipino martial arts in a lot of movies such as the Book of Eli and most folks wouldn't associate filipino martial arts as being in movies.
I do hope movies like Birth of the Dragon succeed and bring martial art movies more to a western audience. Movies like John Wick help as you can see the MA influence in the fights from the choreography and filming.
Look up stuff that Danny Inosanto worked on. (My dad grew up with Danny, so that's how I know about him.)Quote:
Originally Posted by Grange
Ex: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PpFSwQztptQ
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ckAU50w_i9w
I remember his nunchaku scene with Bruce Lee. I watched the Bladed Hand a few times he was a big influence in filipino martial arts in the US. Prof. Remy Presas, who created Modern Arnis, was also a big influence. My dojo took a trip out west (AZ, CA, and OR) earlier this year and stopped at Guro Insanto's place to train. I wish I could have made that trip.Quote:
Originally Posted by 54-46
THE FOREIGNER
2/5
I went into this with mixed feelings, thinking it could either be pretty good or pretty bad. On the good side: the director, Martin Campbell, is a pretty solid action director (Goldeneye, the Antonio Banderas Zorro movies, Casino Royale) and Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan are both captivating onscreen presences. On the bad side: Chan is getting old and isn't as spry as he was in his heydey and it looked like Brosnan was playing a rather one-dimensional baddy similar to some of his more recent direct-to-video roles.
Sadly, the film leaned more toward the bad end of the scale, coming off like a moderate rent take on the Taken series, in terms of direction, look, feel, and storyline (then again the Taken films were basically riffing on mid-'80s action films of Stallone, Arnie, Norris, and Van Damme, so take that critique as you will).
The pacing is quick, but there aren't any real stand-out action sequences; everything looks and feels like "seen that before." Additionally, all of the characters are presented in real broad strokes, teeming with cliche and lacking any distinctive nuance; again you've seen this movie before many times, just with different actors and set in different locales.
The film is a standard "quiet man with a dark past seeks revenge" story. Lots of explosions. A few decent fight scenes. Overall, however, nothing much to write home about. I'm actually surprised that it got a theatrical release.
If you're remotely intrigued, then I suggest waiting for the Redbox or Netflix release.
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
4.5 / 5
Sadly I fear a lot of lazy film critics are going to liken this film to those of the Coen Bros. Sure, it features Frances McDormand in the lead role and Carter Burwell supplied the score, but the comparisons to the films of Ethan and Joel end there, imho.
For starters, writer/director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges; 7 Psychopaths) crafts dialogue that is far more blunt and exceedingly cruder (albeit eloquently so) than anything the Coens have written. He also eschews the snark and cheekiness that is a trademark of the Coens, as well.
The film bristles with trademark McDonagh elements: flair for language (he skewers our lazy American vernacular, name drops Oscar Wilde, and slings more F-bombs than any other modern screenwriter this side of QT); infatuation with midgets (I know it's un-PC, but that's how he refers to people of slight stature in his films; see In Bruges); and hard-edged, take-no-bullshit characters.
The story is well balanced in terms of laugh-out-loud moments, tear inducing passages, and rough-hewn violence. And the cast is damn near brilliant, from McDormand to Rockwell and Harrelson, all the way down to the medium sized and small parts by the likes of Caleb Landry Jones and John Hawkes.
I will admit that I have not read any interviews with Martin, but I would be curious to know the origins of his current love affair with America, since this film and his previous effort (7 Psychopaths) both take place in the States, and he's a pretty damn British/Irish bloke.
Solid film all-around.
JUSTICE LEAGUE
2.5 / 5
Wow. People ranted about how much they hated Batman Vs Superman. IMHO, that film was at least 3X better than JL.
I was worried about The Flash and Aquaman characters, but honestly, they are the best thing about this film.
In terms of story, you've seen it before. I don't know about you, but I have grown tired of the superhero team-fighting-hordes-of-whatever storylines that have been populating the bulk of the comic book movies the last several years. Avengers had the team fighting Loki and his minions of aliens; Avengers: Age of Ultron had the team fighting Ultron and his minions of robots; Thor: Ragnarok had Thor and his posse fighting Hela and her minions of the undead; Suicide Squad had the team fighting The Enchantress and her legions of mindless ghouls; this plot is old and tired, yet Hollywood persists in rehashing it for just about every superhero movie.
Aside from the nice comedic elements of The Flash and Aquaman's brooding sarcasm, the only other element of the film that was worth a damn was the post-credit sequence. It sets up the eventual next film nicely. Here's to hoping that one is better, in terms of story (speaking of story, the script was co-written by Joss Whedon, who penned both the Avengers films, so perhaps that's why this one smelled so much like those films?).
Oh, and don't get me started on Superman's shifting upper lip. The CGI they employed was so horrible it was beyond comprehension how it got green-lit. Really shoddy for this level of film. You can read about "Mustache Gate" here (SPOILERS):
http://www.vulture.com/2017/11/lets-...ce-league.html
or find a wealth of articles here (if you're interested in such trite things):
http://www.google.com/search?client=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
My thought is to save your $$$ and wait for the rental/stream if you really feel the need to see it.
Or re-watch The Dark Knight to remember how somebody once knew how to translate DC comics to the big screen.
RIYL
Green Lantern; all those Batman movies that Tim Burton did not direct; movie where heroes just smash shit and the story itself takes the furthest back seat from coherency/engagement.