Topic: The Movie Thread

@Th3solution There are a few recurring characters from the 2014 film, but this film explains anything you might need to know to enjoy it.

@Th3solution @KALofKRYPTON It's a direct sequel to Godzilla (2014) as well as Kong: Skull Island. And will lead up to next year's release of Godzilla Vs King Kong.

Together they are the Monsterverse basically their take on a MCU.

@Tasuki oh, ok. I think I heard good things about Skull Island. Never saw it though. I think the 2014 Godzilla was the one I saw, but remember nothing about it.

@Tasuki I do hate the notion that they're going to have to contrive a way for King Kong to stand a chance against Godzilla 😂

@KALofKRYPTON I think it was stated in Kong: Skull Island that he was still growing. That would certainly suffice for Kong to eventually be on par with Godzilla.

@jacobia If Godzilla can still beat Ghidorah (which I'm assuming he does in the latest film, and that Ghidorah isn't nerfed), then really big ape shouldn't be a problem 😂

Even if Kong ends up the same same size as Godzilla, a quick nuclear-fire snog should sort him out! 😂😂

@KAKofKRYPTON Yeah man, that nuclear-fire snog...get’s em every time!🤣....
But, seriously (as far as giant monsters-in-a-movie goes!), with Kong being a primate with a bigger brain than Godzilla, he might be smarter, plus he’s got longer arms, bigger hands (and you know what they say about primates with bigger hands), upper torso strength, moves around quicker and is much more agile than Godzilla 🤷🏻‍♂️

@jacobia @KALofKRYPTON Opposable thumbs rule the animal kingdom, bruh.

If Kong's agile enough not to get hit by Godzilla's energy blasts he might stand a chance.lol

Or he could try and do this.
https://fat.gfycat.com/SimilarUnitedAgama.mp4

That fight scene is arguably one of the best monster fight scenes of all time, imo.

Also, anyone going to watch Dark Phoenix?

@jacobia @Th3solution @WanderingBullet It'll certainly be interesting...

I will watch Dark Phoenix, when I don't have to pay for it. I paid for Apocalypse... they owe me!

also:

https://www.cbr.com/mark-hamill-last-jedi-grievances/

Hamill was also unhappy with his reunion with C-3PO, in which Skywalker at first didn't even acknowledge his former droid sidekick.

"They had me walking by 3PO, not even acknowledging him," said Hamill. "I said: 'I can’t do that!' He (The Last Jedi’s director, Rian Johnson) said, 'Okay, go over and do whatever.' So I went over, and I did whatever. They say it in the script: 'Forget the past, kill it if you have to,' and they’re doing a pretty good job!"

Not to keep beating this drum, but... Rian Johnson was a mistake, despite his amazing work in Breaking Bad (although, come to think of it, the episodes he directed involve burning character relationships to the ground and/or subverting audience expectations, lol)

@KALofKRYPTON They did a good job with Ghidorah. Calling it an apocalyptic take on the creature would be underselling it. He is TERRIFYING in KotM.

@Ralizah I saw the Ackbar thing. Shame. But really just more evidence of Jihnson's utter disregard for Star Wars and just not being a good storyteller.

Sweet news about KotM!

@KALofKRYPTON @RogerRoger This is what happens when you give a major, beloved property to a guy who has no sense of respect for it, the people involved with it, its history, etc. The thing people like Rian Johnson don't appreciate is that historic properties like this deeply matter to both fans and the people involved. It's an important part of their lives.

There's a place for directors like Rian Johnson. But it was a massive mistake to allow him anywhere near Star Wars.

I still maintain that TLJ is a better film than TFA, but, the more I learn about its legacy, the less I like it.

@Ralizah For me, TFA is the rock n roll new generation soft reboot of Star Wars. It has plenty of problems, but at least it's a fun thing to watch for the most part.
TLJ goes beyond the 'this is not for you' mantra in to a careless, obtuse direction that is as poorly constructed as it is imagined.

The best of Star Wars has come with restriction and compromise. Be it budget (A New Hope), personal issues for Lucas (Empire Strikes Back) or extensive reshoots and rewrites (Rogue One).

These films I personally consider to be the best of Star Wars (ROTJ being next, then Solo) and all required compromises and collaboration during production. Star Wars at its worst, happens when just 1 person has almost complete control, and that very much includes Lucas; from the retconing and pointless additions in the Special Editions, or just the general lack of anyone to disagree with him or particular budgetary restrictions of the prequels.
Then of course, you get the TFA and TLJ, two more films where creative freedom was handed over almost completely to the directors with enormous budgets in tow.

@KALofKRYPTON Yeah, Apocalypse was disappointing. The problem with X-Men movies is you'll never know what you're gonna get. I don't have high expectations having watched the trailers. I'll still probably go watch it, though but right now, I'm only looking forward to see what they do with Quicksilver's scenes.

Gonna try this new Netflix movie out with Hilary Swank called I Am Mother. Hopefully it's at least a semi-decent robot flick but I'm not expecting Terminator 2 of course.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan but I did enjoy most of the films and the first FB. However this one I found really boring. Too much people talking exposition and a plot that doesn't really go anywhere. Jude Law and Johnny Depp are good but are wasted in their roles. For a film subtitled 'The Crimes of Grindelwald' he doesn't actually do a great deal lol. For all that happened to Ezra Miller's character in the first film, he is reduced to a macguffin for both sides to go after. And apparently (cos people who know way more about the lore then me explained it) the end twist doesn't even make much sense and could ruin how they tie everything up to the HP films. So I think I'm done with the films now and doubt I'll watch the next 3(!).

[Sorry but here comes more Harry Potter. Apologies. 😄]

I’m halfway through my next movie series summer marathon project. Having already revisited nerd culture classics Indiana Jones, Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and Lord of the Rings over recent months, I turned my attention this week to the Harry Potter series.
Over the last several days I’ve watched The Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and just finished The Goblet of Fire last night and figured this was a good place to post my mid-way impressions.

I’ve always liked the Harry Potter books and movies. I realize they do have a certain cheese factor and are, at the core, a juvenile coming of age tale. But the story and characterization that Rowling has crafted here is truly a wonder. Yeah, it’s not Shakespeare or Hemingway, but I really love how she clearly had this whole story planned out from the beginning. Watching the movies in quick succession makes it clear when she deliberately places certain narrative details for use later, either within the same book/movie or even several episodes later. I am so impressed with how she weaves this narrative tapestry together so tightly.
I also am a sucker for a story about the unlikely hero. I already carried on about the symbolic representation of Frodo the Hobbit in my last post, but Harry is also a little bit of the “every man’s hero”. Similar, but different. Harry’s tale is more of a boy version of the Cinderella story, but still encouraging to the nerdy, unpopular, simple young person who is put in a situation beyond his control and reaches deep within to do what’s right.

However, rewatching these first four movies does uncover some of their warts. The acting is often spotty. Most of the time the child actors do admirably in carrying the films. Of course in the Sorcerer’s Stone Daniel Radcliffe and the band were very much novices. With each movie you see them literally grow up before your eyes and their acting improves as well. And there are great performances scattered from the well established actors and actresses that play Snape, McGonagall, Voldemort, Lupin, Sirius Black, among others. But some of the delivery from the kids is humorous in its poor quality, especially early on. There are some other filmmaking problems occasionally, mainly editing, and the CGI is looking a little dated now, especially in the first two movies.

Starting with the Goblet of Fire, the books become very long and so the movies start to veer off for the sake of time, but the first 3 movies are very close to the source material. My main kudos would go out to Alfonso Cuaron and his staff on the 3rd movie, Prisoner of Azkaban. To me it is the best of the bunch and still a joy to watch 15 years after release. It strikes the best balance of trying to be literal to the book, but not too literal and remembers it’s a movie first and foremost and needs to entertain as such. It’s fantastic.

I’m really enjoying revisiting these gems. I’m going to try to hit 5-7 this week, and maybe I’ll then do the two Fantastic Beasts after. On my first watch of them I have been a little disappointed like @JohnnyShoulder posted above, especially the latest Crimes of Grindelwald.

It’s been a while, but I’m rewatching Star Wars (mostly the original trilogy). I’ve watched a lot of classic sci-fi over the past year and a half, so I’m curious to see how well these films have held up now that I’ve broadened my scope (Empire Strikes Back was my favorite movie as a kid). I have zero interest in watching Episodes I or II, although I might rewatch III (the only one I’ve seen in theaters). I also want to wait until Episode IX releases until I watch that trilogy. I also have no interest in Solo.

The first one I watched was Rouge One since it happens right before the first film. Never seen it before, but I enjoyed it. Not my favorite Star Wars, but but I do like how they expanded on how the Rebels got the Death Star plans (it barely got mentioned in the first movie!). I did find CGI Grand Moff Tarkin a bit weird though. It looked like a video game character got into the real world! Surely they could’ve found someone that resembled the original actor?

I watched the original next. I haven’t seen this movie in 8 years. Thankfully, it’s held up wonderfully. The one thing I really like about this one is that it also works really well as a standalone film. And can you believe it, a film directed by George Lucas that doesn’t have a significant flaw? Of course the version I watched was the Special Edition. I don’t have any issues with adding in CGI, but could they at least update it? Most of it hasn’t aged very well. I also know that people like to complain about the whole “Han shot first” thing, but it happened so fast that I didn’t even notice. I guess some people just have too much time on their hands.

I’m started watching Empire last night and I’m going to finish this and then watch Return of the Jedi when I get off of work. I’ll post thoughts tomorrow.

@cheetahman91 You should give Solo a go. It no way derseves the pasting it got from critics. I enjoyed it and found it a fun watch.