I'm with you, Patrick, on wishing Kubo would have gone easier on the comic relief. The movie probably would have been perfect in my mind if it were a more serious adventure movie. As it is, though, I still really like it.
Great summer wrap-up, as always. I'm looking forward to Blair Witch, Rings (god help me), Magnificent Seven, A Monster Calls, and The Founder. I'm so excited for The Founder that I may see it opening weekend instead of Rogue One!
My highs for the summer were Weiner, The Nice Guys, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Kubo and the Two Strings, Raiders! (the documentary about those kids that made the Raiders of the Lost Ark remake), Star Trek Beyond, and Swiss Army Man. I know you guys didn't love it, but I'd really recommend checking out some of the Daniels' short films on Vimeo. "Red Ball" is particularly fantastic, and may convince you that Swiss Army Man has more on its mind than you thought.
My lows were Suicide Squad, X-Men Apocalypse, and Independence Day. I honestly can't decide which one I hated more :(
I'm going to see Don't Breathe tonight - can't wait!
Also, I agree with JB that Sausage Party gets really interesting at the end, but its first two acts are pretty awful.
I hate horror movie trailers because I dont ever want to see any of the scares outside of the movie. I shut my eyes during the Blair Witch trailers everytime. And all kid movie trailers kill my soul. Seen the trailer for Sing? Good heavens I almost die everytime.
I was dissapointed in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. I felt like it was a great movie and a terrible comedy going on at the same time and kept switching back and forth. I HATED the funeral scene. I took the woman's death seriously and was pretty ticked off that they then made a big joke out of her funeral. I also wasnt down with the ridiculous Child Services agent who they protrayed to be psychotic. But eveything with Sam Neil was amazing.
So... are you guys saying I should let all the women out of my basement?
Nice Guys is most likely going to be my #1 as well. I really loved Wilderpeople, but this might have a lot to do with Waititi creating a New Zealand that I know doesn't exactly exsist but one I remember. I feel very homesick when ever I watch one of his movies, something I have never felt with another kiwi film maker. I like your point about the funeral, I took everything as yes - this is all of a piece. But I do enjoy movies about 30% more than I should when I am at the movies.
I totally get the same effect from being at the movies, and I actually did see that one on the big screen. I loved some stuff. I hated other stuff. I feel bi-polar about the movie. haha
First off, really really great show guys! Great thoughts on this summer, and some of the funniest bits in a while.
Between college and life stuff, I hardly saw anything this summer. I'm worried about the end of the year because I think I've barely seen 10 movies that were made this year.
Great podcast been looking forward to this one for a while and it delivered as always.
Agree with JB still on ID Resurgence in its fun quality. Now You See Me 2 is one of the worst movies ever made and my pick for worst of the Summer, with Mike and Dave being behind that.
The swinging scene and Patrick Wilson singing the ENTIRE Elvis song with the guitar because the record player isn't working are two of my favorite scenes this year.
I never watch animated movies but you've sold me on Kubo.
Hell or High Water is still my fave this entire year. So good.
I'm glad you mentioned that Star Trek Beyond is good, I will go see it. I basically have reserved myself to only go see indepedent films at this point because movies are expensive for a college student, and I typically only go if I Am certain I am going to like something. The only trek movie I've seen was into darkness which I liked, So I am sure I will like Beyond. As for movies I saw this summer
Don't breath: Went in blind (Pun intended). I simply thought it was mediocre. The premise was ridiculous and the amount of belief I had to suspend was trying. Mostly that 3 people could not kill a blind guy. He seemed supernatural in his abilities, plus the twist was bananaland and not in a good way imo.
Hell or Highwater: My favorite film of the summer. I would say more but I would just be parroting what you guys said.
The Lobster: I thought this movie had a lot to say. More so than what you guys discussed. Particularlt about the two groups, the loner and the hotel. I thought they wanted the viewer to come away with the notion that neither approach was the right approach to relationships and that they needed to be meet somewhere in the middle
Swiss-army man was another one of my favs. I think there is a lot more going on that you recognized. Mostly about how judgement by the rest of society affects us personally in our endeavors. I recommend you guys watch it again with that kernal in the back of your mind.
The Nice Guys is probably my #1 as well, it's just crazy to think that we had all of Junesploitation after I saw it. That was the real highlight of Summer. Don't Breathe is also a strong contender but since school had already started for most of my employees by that point it's almost hard for me to consider it a summer movie.
The movie I'm most looking forward to this right now, and this is probably an odd choice, is La La Land. I'm a huge sucker for movies focusing heavily on music, it's the director of Whiplash which I really liked (as much as one can like the feeling of a heart attack coming on at any moment), and I can watch Emma Stone in anything (even the Amazing Spider-man movies, although I never need to see either of them again).
I maintain that while this Summer was bad, a large part of that is just a change in the Summer blockbuster model, in the respect that big movies are spreading out to other parts of the year now. That of course doesn't excuse all the shit that did come out this summer, but I honestly think that if you take into account all the independent and VOD releases, we might actually be living in a Golden Age for movies right now.
I noticed La la Land too. Although I rolled my eyes at the Gosling-Stone combo bc I never got what was so great about them together, I noticed fun music and dancing (???) in the trailer! Thanks for pointing out its the Whiplash director; I was impressed with that one.
Did you ever see Romance and Cigarettes? Im such a sucker for everything in that one, like seemingly spontaneous dance numbers. It was by John Turtorro, who is really into music.
It also has like funny rhyming that sometimes rhymes and sometimes doesn't, and it's...on purpose? It's way ambitious, trying to do a billion things in one movie, and it's such silly fun. Share what you think of it sometime!
man that podcast was recorded on low volume. i could hear anything if there was any noise.
other than that, i don't agree with a lot of what you said about the movies (ghostbusters and suicide squad still suck because they lack vision and love for the work), but you guys are very interesting, so i'll always listen to you.
A real bummer. Hopefully, it helps you further your love of movies (if that's even possible). Sometimes going back to basics is a great thing. Meaning less like an obligation and more something to do for pure enjoyment. Keep doing what you do guy, it's pretty great. I'm hoping one of these days the screen shot could be of your hand sporting a cherry Whishmaster ring! The correct answer is "As you wish".
Thanks for another great episode! Would you all agree that Hell or High Water is the best movie of the year so far? I don't think I can name another movie this year that was better. Even the ones I loved like The Nice Guys, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond, Hail Caesar, Sing Street and Green Room don't come close to Hell or High Water. I saw it on a Saturday afternoon at the theater in Lincolnshire (they are currently under construction too, guess that's the trend around our neck of the woods right now) with the typical crowd of senior citizens and it blew us all away. I left the theater in awe and thought about the movie for days. I highly doubt we'll get anything better in the coming months... unless The Accountant, The Founder, Loving or Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk end up being surprise masterpieces, but that seems highly unlikely. The one movie I was looking forward to the most this fall was The Birth of a Nation, but after all the drama surrounding Nate Parker I don't think I'll be able to clear all that stuff out of my head and enjoy the movie for what it is. Sigh.....
I'm at an impasse over Green Room. It was one of the best movies I saw this year, but it's a 2015 film and I'm conflicted with whether I should include it my 2016 favorites list.
I went into Warcraft completely uninitiated. I'd never played the game. I didn't know the setup, the characters, nothing. I went to see it with friends who were dyed in the wool Warcraft fans. They offered to get me up to speed on the universe and the characters and I turned them down. I wanted to come to the movie fresh, and I left... pleasantly surprised. It played like a B sword and sorcery picture to me, and after it was over all I wanted to do was go home and watch Sword and the Sorcerer.
I'm not trying to discount your experience with the film, Adam. Everyone's experience with a movie is bound to be different. I had a reasonably good time with it, and I was able to follow pretty well. It made me think of those old 80s sword and sorcery films, only with slightly better effects. I'm very interested to see it again and find out if I had the same reaction I had in the theater.
I wish I had your fortitude, Adam. I don't have it in me to walk out of a movie that isn't working for me. Even with the worst of movies. I keep thinking, "Maybe it'll get better. It could always get better." I also have this attitude that if I bail on a movie midway through, I'm leaving without a well-rounded opinion of the film.
I never want to walk out of a movie but if it's doing nothing for me and I'm not reviewing it..it makes little sense to stay. Imho a well rounded opinion is not worth suffering an agonizing experience but it's totally cool if you feel different.
Yeah, it's weird: I find it easier to stop reading a book midway through that's doing nothing for me than walk out of a movie that's doing nothing for me. Theatrically, anyway. If the movie I'm watching is on video, I find it easier to bail on it. Well, after I skip ahead and find out how it ends, finding out if it does indeed get better before I hit stop.
Star Trek Beyond and Captain America Civil War were the only two movies I really had fun with this summer. Only two movies - that´s insane. The worst was Independence Day Resurgence where nothing worked for me.
I also have problems leaving a theater in the middle of a movie. The last time I did that was Michael Cimino´s The Sicilian in 1987. That film (the 2,5 hour european cut) was so damn boring I fell asleep after half an hour, woke up an hour later and nearly was put to sleep again by that lame movie, so I decided to leave. Sometimes I think about leaving but I always have hope that something interesting may happen during the rest of the film. At home, if something doesn´t click with me, I just stop it. Mostly I don´t even skip to the ending.
I died at that Bad Moms story! Nice one, Adam!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Patrick, on wishing Kubo would have gone easier on the comic relief. The movie probably would have been perfect in my mind if it were a more serious adventure movie. As it is, though, I still really like it.
ReplyDeleteGreat summer wrap-up, as always. I'm looking forward to Blair Witch, Rings (god help me), Magnificent Seven, A Monster Calls, and The Founder. I'm so excited for The Founder that I may see it opening weekend instead of Rogue One!
ReplyDeleteMy highs for the summer were Weiner, The Nice Guys, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Kubo and the Two Strings, Raiders! (the documentary about those kids that made the Raiders of the Lost Ark remake), Star Trek Beyond, and Swiss Army Man. I know you guys didn't love it, but I'd really recommend checking out some of the Daniels' short films on Vimeo. "Red Ball" is particularly fantastic, and may convince you that Swiss Army Man has more on its mind than you thought.
My lows were Suicide Squad, X-Men Apocalypse, and Independence Day. I honestly can't decide which one I hated more :(
I'm going to see Don't Breathe tonight - can't wait!
Also, I agree with JB that Sausage Party gets really interesting at the end, but its first two acts are pretty awful.
I'm crazy excited for A Monster Calls! Based on the trailer I can't believe that movie got made but I'm so happy it did. It looks so fasinating.
DeleteI don't know if I can handle a sick Felicity Jones.
DeleteI'm sure she'll be fine by the end! *rewatches trailer* Yup, totally fine
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePretty sure The Nice Guys is my #1 of the year.
ReplyDeleteI hate horror movie trailers because I dont ever want to see any of the scares outside of the movie. I shut my eyes during the Blair Witch trailers everytime. And all kid movie trailers kill my soul. Seen the trailer for Sing? Good heavens I almost die everytime.
I was dissapointed in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. I felt like it was a great movie and a terrible comedy going on at the same time and kept switching back and forth. I HATED the funeral scene. I took the woman's death seriously and was pretty ticked off that they then made a big joke out of her funeral. I also wasnt down with the ridiculous Child Services agent who they protrayed to be psychotic. But eveything with Sam Neil was amazing.
So... are you guys saying I should let all the women out of my basement?
Nice Guys is most likely going to be my #1 as well. I really loved Wilderpeople, but this might have a lot to do with Waititi creating a New Zealand that I know doesn't exactly exsist but one I remember. I feel very homesick when ever I watch one of his movies, something I have never felt with another kiwi film maker. I like your point about the funeral, I took everything as yes - this is all of a piece. But I do enjoy movies about 30% more than I should when I am at the movies.
DeleteI totally get the same effect from being at the movies, and I actually did see that one on the big screen. I loved some stuff. I hated other stuff. I feel bi-polar about the movie. haha
DeleteI didn't like the child services worker either at first but then by the end she became really funny to me.
DeleteFirst off, really really great show guys! Great thoughts on this summer, and some of the funniest bits in a while.
ReplyDeleteBetween college and life stuff, I hardly saw anything this summer. I'm worried about the end of the year because I think I've barely seen 10 movies that were made this year.
I miss college.
DeleteGreat podcast been looking forward to this one for a while and it delivered as always.
ReplyDeleteAgree with JB still on ID Resurgence in its fun quality. Now You See Me 2 is one of the worst movies ever made and my pick for worst of the Summer, with Mike and Dave being behind that.
The swinging scene and Patrick Wilson singing the ENTIRE Elvis song with the guitar because the record player isn't working are two of my favorite scenes this year.
I never watch animated movies but you've sold me on Kubo.
Hell or High Water is still my fave this entire year. So good.
I'm glad you mentioned that Star Trek Beyond is good, I will go see it. I basically have reserved myself to only go see indepedent films at this point because movies are expensive for a college student, and I typically only go if I Am certain I am going to like something. The only trek movie I've seen was into darkness which I liked, So I am sure I will like Beyond. As for movies I saw this summer
ReplyDeleteDon't breath: Went in blind (Pun intended). I simply thought it was mediocre. The premise was ridiculous and the amount of belief I had to suspend was trying. Mostly that 3 people could not kill a blind guy. He seemed supernatural in his abilities, plus the twist was bananaland and not in a good way imo.
Hell or Highwater: My favorite film of the summer. I would say more but I would just be parroting what you guys said.
The Lobster: I thought this movie had a lot to say. More so than what you guys discussed. Particularlt about the two groups, the loner and the hotel. I thought they wanted the viewer to come away with the notion that neither approach was the right approach to relationships and that they needed to be meet somewhere in the middle
Swiss-army man was another one of my favs. I think there is a lot more going on that you recognized. Mostly about how judgement by the rest of society affects us personally in our endeavors. I recommend you guys watch it again with that kernal in the back of your mind.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe Nice Guys is probably my #1 as well, it's just crazy to think that we had all of Junesploitation after I saw it. That was the real highlight of Summer. Don't Breathe is also a strong contender but since school had already started for most of my employees by that point it's almost hard for me to consider it a summer movie.
ReplyDeleteThe movie I'm most looking forward to this right now, and this is probably an odd choice, is La La Land. I'm a huge sucker for movies focusing heavily on music, it's the director of Whiplash which I really liked (as much as one can like the feeling of a heart attack coming on at any moment), and I can watch Emma Stone in anything (even the Amazing Spider-man movies, although I never need to see either of them again).
I maintain that while this Summer was bad, a large part of that is just a change in the Summer blockbuster model, in the respect that big movies are spreading out to other parts of the year now. That of course doesn't excuse all the shit that did come out this summer, but I honestly think that if you take into account all the independent and VOD releases, we might actually be living in a Golden Age for movies right now.
I noticed La la Land too. Although I rolled my eyes at the Gosling-Stone combo bc I never got what was so great about them together, I noticed fun music and dancing (???) in the trailer! Thanks for pointing out its the Whiplash director; I was impressed with that one.
DeleteDid you ever see Romance and Cigarettes? Im such a sucker for everything in that one, like seemingly spontaneous dance numbers. It was by John Turtorro, who is really into music.
I have not seen Romance and Cigarettes but you've said about everything you need to in order to sell me on it.
DeleteIt also has like funny rhyming that sometimes rhymes and sometimes doesn't, and it's...on purpose? It's way ambitious, trying to do a billion things in one movie, and it's such silly fun. Share what you think of it sometime!
Deleteman that podcast was recorded on low volume. i could hear anything if there was any noise.
ReplyDeleteother than that, i don't agree with a lot of what you said about the movies (ghostbusters and suicide squad still suck because they lack vision and love for the work), but you guys are very interesting, so i'll always listen to you.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who doesn't love Stranger Things. Long live Adam! You ARE my critic.
ReplyDeleteNot a critic. I'm retired from reviews.
DeleteWait, seriously? I look forward to your reviews because it's obvious you take movies so much more personally than most.
DeleteLong story but yeah I'm sticking to columns. They're more fun for me to write.
DeleteAh man. I'll still continue to look forward to your heart on the sleeve approach to movies.
DeleteA real bummer. Hopefully, it helps you further your love of movies (if that's even possible). Sometimes going back to basics is a great thing. Meaning less like an obligation and more something to do for pure enjoyment. Keep doing what you do guy, it's pretty great. I'm hoping one of these days the screen shot could be of your hand sporting a cherry Whishmaster ring! The correct answer is "As you wish".
DeleteSorry to disappoint you guys but, on the bright side, it will allow me to make the columns that much better.
DeleteThanks for another great episode! Would you all agree that Hell or High Water is the best movie of the year so far? I don't think I can name another movie this year that was better. Even the ones I loved like The Nice Guys, Deadpool, Star Trek Beyond, Hail Caesar, Sing Street and Green Room don't come close to Hell or High Water. I saw it on a Saturday afternoon at the theater in Lincolnshire (they are currently under construction too, guess that's the trend around our neck of the woods right now) with the typical crowd of senior citizens and it blew us all away. I left the theater in awe and thought about the movie for days. I highly doubt we'll get anything better in the coming months... unless The Accountant, The Founder, Loving or Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk end up being surprise masterpieces, but that seems highly unlikely. The one movie I was looking forward to the most this fall was The Birth of a Nation, but after all the drama surrounding Nate Parker I don't think I'll be able to clear all that stuff out of my head and enjoy the movie for what it is. Sigh.....
ReplyDeleteHell or High Water wouldn't be my no. 1 but that's not to knock the movie or your choice. It's very very good.
DeleteWhat would be your top pick so far this year?
DeleteNo idea. Green Room maybe.
DeleteI'm at an impasse over Green Room. It was one of the best movies I saw this year, but it's a 2015 film and I'm conflicted with whether I should include it my 2016 favorites list.
DeleteAfter reading other reviews, Patrick and Adam's thoughts on Sausage party made me feel sane. thanks dudes.
ReplyDeleteI went into Warcraft completely uninitiated. I'd never played the game. I didn't know the setup, the characters, nothing. I went to see it with friends who were dyed in the wool Warcraft fans. They offered to get me up to speed on the universe and the characters and I turned them down. I wanted to come to the movie fresh, and I left... pleasantly surprised. It played like a B sword and sorcery picture to me, and after it was over all I wanted to do was go home and watch Sword and the Sorcerer.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to discount your experience with the film, Adam. Everyone's experience with a movie is bound to be different. I had a reasonably good time with it, and I was able to follow pretty well. It made me think of those old 80s sword and sorcery films, only with slightly better effects. I'm very interested to see it again and find out if I had the same reaction I had in the theater.
I wish I had your fortitude, Adam. I don't have it in me to walk out of a movie that isn't working for me. Even with the worst of movies. I keep thinking, "Maybe it'll get better. It could always get better." I also have this attitude that if I bail on a movie midway through, I'm leaving without a well-rounded opinion of the film.
Glad you liked Warcraft.
DeleteI never want to walk out of a movie but if it's doing nothing for me and I'm not reviewing it..it makes little sense to stay. Imho a well rounded opinion is not worth suffering an agonizing experience but it's totally cool if you feel different.
Yeah, it's weird: I find it easier to stop reading a book midway through that's doing nothing for me than walk out of a movie that's doing nothing for me. Theatrically, anyway. If the movie I'm watching is on video, I find it easier to bail on it. Well, after I skip ahead and find out how it ends, finding out if it does indeed get better before I hit stop.
DeleteIndependence Day: Resurgence was my bottom this summer too. It was painful to watch.
ReplyDeleteHell yeah, Mike G!
DeleteStar Trek Beyond and Captain America Civil War were the only two movies I really had fun with this summer.
ReplyDeleteOnly two movies - that´s insane.
The worst was Independence Day Resurgence where nothing worked for me.
I also have problems leaving a theater in the middle of a movie. The last time I did that was Michael Cimino´s The Sicilian in 1987. That film (the 2,5 hour european cut) was so damn boring I fell asleep after half an hour, woke up an hour later and nearly was put to sleep again by that lame movie, so I decided to leave. Sometimes I think about leaving but I always have hope that something interesting may happen during the rest of the film.
At home, if something doesn´t click with me, I just stop it. Mostly I don´t even skip to the ending.