Topic: The Movie Thread

@RR529 I had the exact same experience rewatching Vol. 2. It felt like such a letdown when I first saw it, coming off the excellent Vol. 1 and it kept souring in my mind as time passed. Revisited it a year or two back and appreciated it a lot more now, particularly the ending, which was infinitely better than I remembered

@FuriousMachine yeah, I mean I was either going to return it, or pass it on for the price I paid, or even keep it as some sick, unopened backup just in case the UK one combusts down the line, sonce I jumped on the UK restock to be sure i'd get one. But they made their standards obvious so it will be my last US purchase. If even only 25% of their orders are mishandled, packed or broken, the sheer amount of time repacking, printing out labels organising couriers, and then waiting around for refunds to process and keep on top of it all doesn't seem worth it, to me.

I might look in to more brick and mortar US stores for imports, if needed, but they don't tend to want to sort out VAT on orders themselves, which is something we get added as standard in the UK. So again, more faff.

When was your Kingdom of Heaven due, btw? There seems to be restocks upon restocks in the UK. I got another email from Zavvi saying they have more. It must be selling like hot cakes

It does feel like the physical market is coming back strong in 2025. Seen so many people, like me, who decided they've had enough of streaming for various reasons, it feels a bit like a genuine movement. So hopefully studios notice the uptick in 4k, steels, and collector's editions etc.

I started Zatoichi's Conspiracy this morning and there has been absolutely no swordplay so far, but it's still been a good movie so far, so I can't wait to see how things develop as it goes along.

Next up Zatoichi ,the final film in the series and then
possibly Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and then most likely
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai unless something else catches my attention.

Edit: I finished Zatoichi's Conspiracy this morning, and by the time the film had reached it's conclusion, the swordfighting had come in spades! Thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to Zatoichi, next up on the roster.

@Ravix Yeah, we get added tax here as well and the carriers will charge around £20 extra for clearing it through customs and paying the tax upfront, so ordering from a seller that charges and registers the tax like Amazon does (both UK and US) is a big boon (the tax is the same, but the carrier charge is avoided). According to Amazon.co.uk, "KoH" should arrive between September 18th and October 6th. I am still patience.
I've also noticed an uptick in physical releases recently, so I'm not so gung-ho about buying on release (except if it's a pretty steelbook I simply must have, of course). Would have liked the Superman steelbook, but due to the commentary being digital only scam, I'm boycotting it (and hoping it will be included on a later release).

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN I don't remember if you said you saw it or not, but I would also warmly recommend Kurosawa's Yojimbo if not.
There are rumours of BFI releasing a Kurosawa's Samurai Collection box set in the near future, the existence of which will justify my previous inability to settle on which physical release I want to get and thus not having any of them yet, as a result.

@FuriousMachine are they travelling by foot?! Hell, even then it seems an egregious timeframe for somewhere that people on foot and then via wooden boat could easily reach in a matter of days, not weeks, in ~800AD 😂

I really hope it is in good condition, man, such a pisstake.

I think the Kurosawa samurai box set is out in a couple of months time. It is limited to a Blu Ray release, but don't know if they are doing a set of 4ks later on.

@FuriousMachine @Ravix The internet has confirmed the existence of the Kurosawa Samurai Box Set, for me, indeed, and I have added it to my WishList.

Furious, I haven't seen Yojimbo, but it was on my list of films to watch, especially as there is a movie wherein he and Zatoichi meet each other, in the aptly titled Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo film, presumably there is swordplay aplenty afoot! truly a 'clash of the titans' ,I'd imagine. Anyway, gotta get around to that one if/when I revisit the Zatoichiverse one day, as well as the BFI Kurosawa Box Set, when it comes out in November.

@Ravix @BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Yes, the Samurai Collection has been around for a while, both on DVD (2010) and Blu-Ray (2014), both of which can be ordered on amazon.co.uk (and elsewhere, I'm sure). The rumour I heard was specific to a 4K release of said collection, but it wasn't through my usual trusted source (The Digital Bits), which is why I'm calling it a rumour for now (especially as I can't find back to where I originally read it).
Would make sense for them to release it, though, as I believe most, if not all, movies in the collection have received individual 4K releases by now. I'll see if I can dig up some more info on it tomorrow.

EDIT: Quick check confirms that all the movies in the collection have indeed been released on 4K

@FuriousMachine yeah. I've seen a bunch when browsing 4ks. But the new BFI is listed as blu only, strangely https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Akira-Kurosawa-Samurai-Collect...

This is their updated version after they had a dvd out. The others in 4k will be a different publisher or studio whatever you want to call them

And with that, my Zatoichi journey has come to an end. I watched the rest of Zatoichi (1989), which is the last film in the 26-movie series, this morning, and loved it ,thought it was the best of the series, if not my personal favourite, as some say that Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival which is, at least, equally amazing, could also be the best.

Ever since @MightyDemon82 made me aware of its existence there has been a hole in my heart, but thanks to some gift cards coming in as belated birthday presents, I have now ordered Criterion's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 box set and I feel complete again. I'm giddy as a schoolboy in anticipation

@FuriousMachine I hope you have fun watching them. Embrace the cheesiness of Godzilla in those movies. I still need to sit down and watch the last 3 or 4 in the set.

@MightyDemon82 There are so many of them I've never seen and the rest I can hardly remember (apart from the first one) so I'm really looking forward to exploring this set! I think it may be prudent to spread them out a bit, though. While I'm not lactose intolerant, there is still such a thing as "too much cheese"

Oh, Marvel Afficionados/those in the know @FuriousMachine @bearseatbeets @johnnyshoulder (and anyone else reading)

In the 'guess the movie game' it became clear that all of the marvel movies have become one big mush in my head, having been quite a while since i've partaken at any great level of interest. But i'm feeling almost nostalgic for that popcorn cinema boom that Marvel led with great aplomb.

And since i'm still building a movie collection, I thought these are the types of movies that would get a good run out over the years for that very reason. Easy watching is sometimes undervalued and it feels as if enough time has passed for these to be nostalgic to boot.

But i'm wondering if any of the movies are worth getting in 4K, or are the Blu Rays sufficient for most of the releases anyway? (I have maybe 3 or 4 marvel blu's) I'm not sure i'll go the full collection route, either way, more gathering the core movies that can tell an overall arc, even if I leave a few out.

So this is one long convoluted question about 1. Any of them genuinely worth it in 4k, or just save money by going all Blu Ray and adding to what I have? And 2. Which would you consider the most essential collection to watch. Maybe a top 10, or a best order to watch kind of situation. I probably know deep down somewhere, but they really have all blended into one big mess of marvel-ness.

I'm thinking box sets will be the easiest, cheapest route to take. Avengers is a given, as it assembles them all. Captain America, maybe? (This is the one that made me first think, "damn I really am out of touch with what's what", in the movie quiz) Hulk i'm maybe less fussed about (can't even think how many there are) Iron Man, eh, I can't remember how relevant they'd be, as they were quite a bit earlier than the Avengers (I think?) Thor, hmm, not sure if worth a box set, or just the odd one or two based on what you guys recommend. I'll probably get Black Widow, as I remember liking that, and Thunderbolts* was a refreshing watch, recently.

Outside of that, I think I have two of the GotG movies, so I'll probably pick the third up too. Unless they are worth upgrading to a 4k box set 😬

Probably a bit of a mess of a question, as i'm just drawing in random thoughts as I go, but i'm sure at least one of you has some input on some of the questions or thoughts raised within the text wall 😁

Of course, there is Disney +, but I always feel when I have subs it devalues the experience and it leads to the dreaded scroll for 40 mins and watch nothing scenario. And collecting physical again is a good way to get away from that.

But if the 4k discs are not up to scratch, then is it a toss up between Blu Ray and streaming quality anyway 🤷‍♂️ and if it is essential to get say 10-15 movies, then streaming would save physical space for more important stuff that is less easy to stream. Hmm 🤔🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

@Ravix

As far as Marvel movies go, I lost the thread around the time of “The Marvels” and the “The Eternals”
So that was a few years ago now, and I have not really been interested in them since then. Having lost the thread of this huge, convoluted narrative, I am not sure I will ever pick it up again.

That said, some of the 4K releases are excellent.

The three Iron Man films, the two Black Panther, and the Guardians of the Galaxy films - these films are all what I would call reference quality. The first Black Panther film is simply gorgeous.

The recent trilogy of Spiderman movies Homecoming, Far From Home, No Way Home - these are also excellent movies, and just great fun.

However, Morbius and Madame Web are both thoroughly awful, apparently.

As far as the X-Men are concerned, the first two are great. The rest are forgettable. Dark Phoenix is dreadful. The New Mutants is pretty good, actually. And “Logan” is certainly the best of the bunch. Especially if you decide the black and white version.

Hope this has been some help.

@Ravix As someone who dropped off Marvel pretty hard in recent years but watched everything before that, here's my top ten that I could put on and watch right now. I've tried to do this quickly and off the top of my head, to capture that "easy watch" feeling.

Iron Man
Captain America (the first one, can't remember the name)
Logan (does that count?)
Shang-chi
That Thor one that Taika Waititi directed that everyone likes
Spider-man Homecoming
Doctor Strange
Ant-man
Guardians of the Galaxy
Black Panther

Like @Matthewnh above, I lost track around The Eternals time. Not intentionally, just life circumstances meant less time to watch. Can't see myself catching up at this point but who knows

What I watched this past weekend.

City Hunter: Angel Dust (Blu-Ray) - Newest entry in this franchise that follows flirty sweeper (a gunman who takes on jobs people can't go to the police for) Ryo Saeba & his partner/romantic interest Kaori Makimura. It's been a few decades since the series was in the zeitgeist (though it got another film a few years earlier called "Shinjuku Private Eyes"), but they're finally after all these years animating the final arc(s) of the manga as movies, of which this is the first. This time they're after an experimental super soldier drug called Angel Dust (hence the title), which has links to the crime syndicate that murdered Ryo's first partner (whom was also Kaori's brother), as well as a man tied to Ryo's past. It certainly doesn't have the budget of one of today's big hits like Demon Slayer or whatever, but it gets the job done & is a fun watch for fans of the series.

Devotion (UHD Blu-Ray) - Another Hollywood tale of an unlikely Black & white friendship during a more prejudiced era, this time following Jessie Brown & Tom Hundley, fighter pilots during the onset of the Korean War. Narratively it doesn't really do anything all that new for the theme, but it's well made & pulls at the heart strings nonetheless. Definitely worth the watch for all the absolutely gorgeous flight footage too (there's just something about 30's - 50's propeller based fighters, amazingly beautiful machines). Reminded me a lot of Dunkirk in that specific regard.

Full Metal Jacket (UHD Blu-Ray) - Now for a much more cynical war film. Follows a batch of Marines (largely "Joker", who takes on a war correspondent position for the military paper) from boot camp to the jungles of Vietnam, where you'll see the mental toll the meat grinder of a war they're starting to lose (& where our the locals don't even seem to want them there) is starting to have on them, as well as the ways they cope (or fail to). It's hard stuff, but an absolute banger of a film.

Godzilla: Final Wars (Blu-Ray) - Made for the 50th anniversary of the franchise & the final entry in it's "Millennium Era" (after which it'd take a decade long break before the 2014 Hollywood film), it sees Big G & humanity facing off against alien invaders in control of a who's who of Godzilla's famous foes, whom have unleashed them upon the world's greatest cities (including the monster from the '98 Hollywood effort, here redubbed Zilla). Really feels like a celebration of the entire series as it indulges in a plethora of thematic call backs (aliens, psychics, mutants, magic, & more), but it really succeeds it making this seem like a true world ending event. It may feel a bit excessive at times, but it's a ton of fun for fans of the franchise.

Kingsman: the Secret Service (UHD Blu-Ray) - Looking back on it now the plot to this has some suspect elements (probably satire, but the villain is a wealthy environmentalist who's evil plan involves free phones/Internet for everyone, and even Obama is on board, lol), but even so this has to be one of my favorite spy flicks, & even action films in general. The action is visceral, and at a time when Bond (& other films of the genre) were trying to downplay fancy gadgets, this really doubled down on them & made them cool as heck.

@Ravix Some of the Disney 4K discs I believe got labelled by some critics as having Atmouse sound lol. Not sure if that was any of the Marvel movies however, and i think things have gotten better since Sony took over doing the discs, starting with Deadpool v Wolverine.

I lost interest in Marvel films at the same time as the others mentioned. I've only got Thor: Ragnarok and Blade (is that classed as a Marvel film?) on 4K with Deadpool and Logan on blu ray. I would like to get the original X Men Trilogy, would hope there would a 25th anniversary edition released soon. I'll be all over the Spider-verse trilogy when that is complete, as those films are gorgeous in 4K, and would like more animated film in my collection.

@Ravix Really tricky to say which you should get. For me most of them up to Endgame are pretty important for overall flow of the overarching story. This is what I personally have unless marked

PHASE ONE:
Iron Man
The Incredible Hulk (skip)
Iron Man 2
Thor (skip - probably only one I don't have that I maybe should)
Captain America: The First Avenger*
The Avengers

PHASE TWO:
Iron Man 3 (do have but could easily skip)
Thor: The Dark World (skip)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier*
Guardians of the Galaxy*
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Ant-Man

PHASE THREE:
Captain America: Civil War*
Doctor Strange
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2*
Spider-Man: Homecoming*
Thor: Ragnarok
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Captain Marvel
Avengers: Endgame
Spider-Man: Far From Home

Got all on Blu-ray except for the skips and those with * which I have the 4K. I cannot comment on if it's truly worth the upgrade for them but the Cap and GoG films are my favourites so got the 4K. A few more could be skipped depending on how much the introduction of characters matter.

Past Endgame I only have Spider-Man : No Way Home. I did enjoy Shang-Chi though so will probably pick that up Blu-Ray at some point and only now remembered I haven't got GoG vol 3 yet so will definitely get the 4K of that to complete the set.

Everything else has either been okay but not fussed about (Black Widow, Wakanda Forever) or I thought was naff (Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). I never bothered seeing Eternals or The Marvels and haven't seen the ones that came out this year.
I'm curious to see Fantastic Four though.

Not sure that's of any help what so ever but that's my thoughts 🙂

@JohnnyShoulder @Gremio108 @Matthewnh @bearseatbeets

Cheers for the feedback, all. I had a quick look and MCU tie-in movies and shows alone are in the region of 50+ releases. This has kind of put me off, in a way. I may pick up a Captain America and Avengers box set, and finish off my GotG set. But, boy, that is a lot of interlinked content otherwise. So Disney + can still be an option if I ever want to refresh myself on any of the blanks in-between 😬

I might have to resub and watch something to weigh up the stream quality compared to the Blu Rays. At least Disney is a fairly consistent subscription in that it has almost all Marvel and Star Wars.

It does feel a bit counter intuitive to resub to Disney, as I just picked up a Mandalorian set and i'm tempted to get Andor too. But there's no way in hell i'm getting 50+ marvel discs 😂 so I shall supplement my physical collection with only my favourites, I reckon, ala Mr. Shoulder, and Beets!

And, weirdly I never really thought Captain America would be anywhere near a favourite, but looking through the lists, I feel like it is the closest to The Avengers overall, with GotG as probably my most nostalgic favourite, and they can be enjoyed as a standalone set, I feel.

Thor: Ragnarok I remember enjoying a lot, and i've actually picked up the steel for Love and Thunder for £7 because I love a bargain, and I can just pretend it is more of a generic steelbook relating to my interest in Marvel, and the Avengers, rather than one specific movie. Insert famous .gif for thinking smart here*