Topic: The Movie Thread

Weapons - really liked it! I couldn’t help but go in with high expectations, given the glowing critic and audience reactions… but much to my pleasure, it actually lived up to them. A top-notch horror-mystery that I would seriously consider putting in my top 10 horror movies ever!

@graymamba Here we are in full agreement! It will most likely reign on the top of my year-end list of favourites along with "28 Years Later". I've seen many good movies at the cinema this year, but those two are a cut above. I love how "Weapons" doesn't really feel like a horror movie, except for a few places where it does, and ho boy does it ever when it does. Clumsily put, but I think you get what I mean?

@FuriousMachine I know exactly what you mean buddy. While there is a constant atmosphere of unease, it feels far more like a mystery for most of the first half/two-thirds. The horror definitely kicks in towards the end though.

I’ll have to have a look at 28 Years Later… I’ll want to rewatch Days and Years first though, as I’ve only seen them the once and that was back when they originally released. I remember quite liking the first one but have absolutely no recollection of the second one.

@graymamba I did the same before seeing "Years" and found that "Days" wasn't as good as I remembered. Well, it was good, but I didn't like it half as much as I thought I did. I also had no memory of "Weeks" and found that to be a bit more interesting, but overall quite forgettable. So I had pretty low expectations going in to "Years" and that one really worked for me. A fantastic cast, with Jodie Comer being a true standout.

Also, if you haven't seen Creggers' previous horror outing, "Barbarian", I recommend it. Not quite as good as "Weapons" but still a good one that manages to keep you guessing almost all the way throughout.

EDIT: I should mention, about the "28 x later" franchise, there is really no connective tissue between them other than the rage virus, so seeing them in order is not really required (though I'd absolutely recommend it). "Years" does lead directly into next year's "Bone Temple", however, and while it has a satisfying resolution, it does leave a couple of plot threads dangling.

@FuriousMachine cheers for the info on 28 etc.… and I haven’t seen Barbarian but it’s definitely on the agenda rolling Weapons. I gather that Cregger is doing Resident Evil next… excited for that!

@Ravix
A little late to the subject but wanted to chime in on the Marvel discussion.

I’m simultaneously surprised but not surprised by the fact that I fell off the MCU at the exact timeframe that everyone else seems to have — around the Marvels and Eternals period for movies and Agatha and Secret Invasion TV shows. It’s sad, really. The MCU heyday was such a fun and satisfying time to be a superhero fan.

Regarding which are the best movies, I actually feel like Captain America is one of the weakest, from an entertainment standpoint, but unfortunately is one of the most critical narratively speaking since it is foundational in the series origin. I am however a big fan of the second CA movie, The Winter Soldier. One of my favorites.

I am not a collector, but I own most of the Marvel movies up until No Way Home. After that it just became difficult to justify buying them when I had access to them via streaming on Disney+ (minus the Spider-Man movies, unfortunately). I’m not a 4K disc aficionado so can’t speak to that.

@graymamba Yeah, me too, really excited to see what he can do with the property! The man knows how to nail atmosphere, which is definitely a central component for a good RE adaptation, if you ask me. Now, I'm not exactly steeped in the RE games, only played the first one a little bit and played RE4 on Wii back in the day, so I'm probably not the best judge of what is required, but I feel atmosphere is a given
(I actually quite like Paul W.S. Anderson's attempt, but can't really speak to how it works as a good adaptation - general consensus seems to be that it doesn't)

@FuriousMachine yeah not overly steeped in Resi knowledge/lore myself (I too played 4 on Wii, as well as Code Veronica on Dreamcast… and the original and 2 Remake more recently).

I think you’re right in regards to the right atmosphere being a priority… and I’d also like the lore to be respected. I hate it when Hollywood play fast and loose with comic book/video game lore, as they think they can do better.

@graymamba Absolutely agreed, the few cases where Hollywood changes are for the better are when they restrict themselves to tiny tweaks due to the change in medium or out of sheer storytelling necessity, but for the most part it just seems completely random. Amalgamation of characters in order to compress the story is a pet peeve of mine. Can't remember a single instance where that has worked.

busy watching the Robert Downey Jr Sherlock Holmes movies on netflix tonight and tomorrow
also rewatching the first Wet Hot American Summer movie later this week on netflix.

So, there's a.... uh... remake? reboot? sequel? for 1997's cinematic masterpiece Anaconda on its way and... well, I think you'll just have to see for yourselves

I love the premise for this!

I caught a clip on Youtube of Lilly James on a chat show. After discussing her upcoming film they talked about her film after. Apparently she is going to star in a reboot/remake of Cliffhanger. Not something I saw coming but I'm certainly intrigued.

Looking up the director, I've only seen 3 of his films.
Jungle Cruise I thought was a moderately entertaining watch if not overly memorable.
The Shallows which I thought was actually the best shark film since Jaws.
And Carry-On which I found very entertaining for a lot of it before going very silly at the end.

Checked the 3 writers and I'm unfamiliar with any of their work.

So no clue how it will turn out but will be curious once the trailer comes out.

@FuriousMachine Just saw your post before I hit 'post'. An actual brilliant idea for a reboot/remake...whatever. That looks genuinely fun.

@BearsEatBeets I agree with your assessment of those three films by Collet-Serra.
I'd add that "Orphan" is quite good and "Black Adam" is a decent DC entry, but I find his work mostly predictable, workmanlike and mediocre (in particular his Liam Neeson action films... "Unknown" is probably one of the most predictable movies ever that plays like it thinks it's very clever and the others are so by the numbers that it's hard to understand why Neeson would do any of them).

Still, if given a good script, he can turn out decent movies, so I'll probably check out "Cliffhanger" when it comes out.

And, yeah, "Anaconda" looks like a lot of fun

Alligator (1980) on Prime/Freevee.
Pretty good B movie, not a croc.

@CaptD Were there any bees in the movie?

I can remember seeing that as a kid and was scared to sit it on the toilet after watching it.

I finally saw Elio (2025) yesterday on Disney+ at home, was not disappointed!

Great film and I loved the story + characters, I'd watch a sequel or spinoff 😄.

I've started Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and am finding it great so far, with a hint of the epic tale that should inevitably follow on from the opening scenes.

We watched Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part 1 and Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning last night and stupid naming convention aside… while there was a fair few points where the missus and I questioned a characters actions/inactions and a couple of points where we just belly-laughed at things that probably weren’t meant to be funny, it was a decent evenings viewing. Nothing special, not event the highest point of the franchise… but a decent send off for the Cruiser.

I think it was supposed to be called “Dead Reckoning Part 2”, but they changed the name, since they decided not to make any more in future.

I watched Part 1 at home, the evening before I went to the cinema for Part 2. Will most likely do my own double-bill at home, once my own steelbook of Part 2 arrives, in four weeks time.

Watched Jaws for the first time last night. (Crazy, I know) WB seems/seemed to be good at restorations/transfers of their all time classic catalogue. Waiting on The Shining steelbook to come, and I will get around to watching 2001... one day 😭😂