Topic: The Movie Thread

currently binge watching Freddy's Nightmares on Tubi. I missed out on all of season 1 back then when it aired on NBC. I only remember the cannibals and the weird mime thief episodes and that was it

@nessisonett Ok, I’ll keep an eye out for it. I think TLJ is just walking camp. It’s like he’s the only one not in on the joke that he’s actually been cast to play a caricature of himself.

I was lucky/sad enough to grab opening night tickets for Doctor Strange 2. It was rather frustrating. I actually liked Sam Raimi’s direction but I’m not a fan of the disconnect between the first movie and this one. It’s felt for years that Strange’s plotlines were totally abandoned and this movie doesn’t really help that. It’s safe to say that I’m over the multiverse now. That being said, this movie doesn’t really go far enough with the multiverse concept and after Spider-Man basically gave audiences what they want, this feels a bit of a letdown on that front. There were some great set pieces and I did enjoy America Chavez’ debut even if she barely resembles her source material but there were just so many poor decisions made by Feige and the background plot people for characters going forwards. The MCU has felt like it’s treading water since the pandemic started, with largely separate stories taking place in a largely disconnected world. This doesn’t change that narrative.

In my current journey through all the X-Men (& related) films I watched First Class this morning.

I don't know whether it's because it's the one I saw back in theaters, because it does such a good job mixing in real world history, or just because of the awesome climax, but I've always really liked this one & still found myself enjoying it.

Multiverse of Madness was Sam Raimi doing Raimi things and that easily makes it one of my favorite Marvel movies.
I love how just a few days ago I saw some Twitter discussion about directors not wanting to do Marvel, because “they would be forced to do them how Disney wants them, not how they want them” and this was clearly the opposite

There are some things it could’ve done but didn’t - but I’ll stop here because it would be potential spoilers, even if it’s technically things that aren’t in the movie.

I guess my opinion is different from @nessisonett ‘s because I’m not great at following the whole MCU thing (even though I think I’ve seen all of it) so I stopped caring about it being cohesive a long time ago
Also, No Way Home’s fan service was my least favorite part about it

@Voltan I’m glad you liked it. It’s a weird one, because it does function better as an isolated movie because it just doesn’t really tie together much from anything except WandaVision, yet inherently it requires a working knowledge of the Marvel IP to feel the full impact of the cameos and alternate realities.

I left my impressions over on the Marvel thread if you’re interested. Suffice it to say I like it less than you did it sounds like, but I still liked it overall.

Just got back from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Surprisingly it does avoid becoming a fan service laden cameo fest, and is probably a tighter more fulfilling experience as a result (just go in with the correct expectations), with the cameos it does have being that much more exciting (even if the big one's been teased since forever). That said, I was kinda disappointed that they didn't utilize one of the two post credits scenes for a cameo opportunity.

We went to a 3D showing (in the hopes that it'd have a 3D trailer for Avatar: the Way of Water, which it did), and the effect was used brilliantly throughout. Although I probably will rewatch it once it hits Disney+, I really think Multiverse will lose something in 2D.

@RR529 Thanks for your thoughts on Multiverse of Madness. Wish I would have seen it in 3D. Apparently the post credits does have a significant cameo, although not for the MCU. The first one is more of a teaser for Chalize Theron’s new character Clea from the comics. But the second with the pizza poppa guy is played by Bruce Campbell, who is apparently in every Sam Raimi movie because the two are close. So it’s more of an inside joke and apparently the scene is a call back to one he did in the Evil Dead movies with Raimi.

Watched Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets tonight. That's 2.5 hours of my life I'll never get back. Not surprised to hear about the huge budget, as the film is, like, 90% (bad) CGI, and there's so many shots that introduce unnecessary visual elements. The film felt like it was designed to waste money as quickly as possible, frankly. This could have been done for probably half the budget without losing anything of substance.

I can enjoy a film that's meant to be a visual feast, but this was just WAY too cluttered and busy throughout.

Main actor is in his 30s, but looks like a teenager and sounds like he's doing a bad young Keanu Reeves impression through the entire film.

Found out the director also did The Fifth Element, which explains a lot. That movie sucked as well.

@LN78 It was a family night film.

Besides, if I avoided everything a director did because I didn't like one of their previous projects, I'd have missed out on some seriously great films.

@LN78 Turning off a film that's a communal experience of sorts because I'm not enjoying it seems like it'd be a pretty selfish move.

Recent watches..

Gerry - lots of patience required with this indie movie staring Casey Afflek, Matt Damon and..er.. man in car. Seen it a couple of times, really like it.

12 Monkeys - Liked this a bit less than I did when I was younger.

Top Gun - I had the need. The need for speed.

They Live - I was all out of bubble gum.

I'm doing another 5 film overnight mystery movie marathon at the cinema at the end of the month so I am reluctant to watch too much in case I have to watch it again in a couple of weeks. Although given the selection last time, that's very unlikely.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2

... Eh.

I quite liked the first film so I was a bit disappointed coming away from this rather deflated unlike most.

Knuckles was easily the best thing about it and I loved Idris voicing him with some rather good comedic timing I thought. Kinda reminded me of Drax from Guardians Of The Galaxy just a bit more honour bound. His eventual friendship with Sonic felt really earned... Unlike Tails.

... There was nothing wrong with the twin tailed fox.

But I thought he and Sonic became buddy buddy a bit too quick and I didn't like his backstory either of him being some sonic fanboy who'd been watching over him for a while, somehow knew knuckles was after him and had somehow heard of Sonic years(?) ago on another planet despite sonic only being on earth?? I dunno it was way too rushed in my opinion 😞

I'd have to rewatch the first but I think I preferred Jim Carrey's performance there but he was still pretty good here too. Stone got some good moments too.

I actually liked James Marsden (Doughnut Lord) in the first film and... Yeah he was barely in this one.

The Hawaii subplot kinda sucked too Olive Garden guy from the 1st being the leader of G.U.N was neat though and the whole thing being a set up as "Operation Catfish" made me laugh. I assume they thought Sonic would be there... Lucky Sonic crashed it though ey?

I'd argue Siberia was just as much of a low point though and the cabin/tavern scene was pretty much the same as the bar in the first film but dragged on wwwwwwwwwaaaay too long.

The finale was pretty cool though and of course there was a Shadow reveal in the post credits!

@LN78 love 12 Monkeys! The TV show is also stellar (once you get through season 1).

@LN78 I havent mate. I was aware that there was a short French film that was the basis but never got around to watching it... I'll have a look on YouTube later 👍

@colonelkilgore @Th3solution Long time guys, how are you? what's new? I just watched Inland Empire by David Lynch yesterday and have to say I thought it was fantastic, classic Lynch. Have either of you seen it? If so what did you think? Do either of you like David Lynch in general? What's your favourite Lynch film? I highly recommend it to both of you if you haven't seen it yet.

@LN78 I loved watching Twin Peaks first two seasons, but was disappointed by The Return, I even considered getting the OST on vinyl.

@TheBrandedSwordsman I love Lynch mate, I find his stuff hilarious, intriguing, beautiful and disturbing all at once... the guy is a true auteur. I did try Inland Empire back when it released but I fell asleep (don't think it was as a result of the movie though). You've put it back in my mind, so I might return to it and give it another go.

Also, it wasn't made by Lynch but if anyone is exhausted Lynches back-cataligue and looking for something similar, give Too Old to Die Young a go. It's not first everyone... but its Winding Refn 'channelling' Lynch fosho.

@LN78 I didn't like some of the 'finger-snapping' elements to it.

@JudgeDredd God I hated that movie. I feel like “what if Rambo went on a massacre of Trump-esque stereotypes of rapey Mexicans” probably should have been vetoed at some point.