Another movie light week, though I did see The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was mesmerizing and baffling, and Buchwich, which was pretty bad. And for reasons unknown, I also rewatched 1995's Mortal Kombat. That might still be my favorite video game adaptation (though that's not saying much). Oh yeah, and Justice League was meh.
Also caught up with Star Trek: Discovery, and I kinda wish I hadn't, and meant to go see the Swedish movie The Square but didn't get the time. So all in all a pretty disappointing week except for The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
But my mind is already in next week's Night Visions festival and the 11 movies I'm gonna see there, including The Disaster Artist, Sequence Break, The Villainess and The Endless. That'll make up for this week.
One festival, the twice-a-year Cinemadrome is in my home town, the others I have to travel for. September's Helsinki International Film Festival and twice-a-year Night Visions are in Helsinki. Fortunately I have family nearby. So five fests a year total, there just happen to be three close to each other in Sep-Nov.
Anyone watch these awful Christmas movie treasures on the Hallmark Channel? They never fail to knock it out of the park with casting. Starting at 2PM today: Enchanted Christmas with Alexa PenaVega, Christmas in Homestead with Taylor Cole, Christmas List with Alicia Witt and Coming Home for Christmas with Danica McKellar. Heavenly.
Watched Logan Lucky. It was fine, I laughed a few times but it's Soderbergh's 4th "Oceans" movie though the exact opposite of being slick and stylish with the same "reveal montage" at the end that I was completely expecting.
Me too, love 'em! That's why I called them treasures.
Speaking of Soderbergh projects...what are your thoughts on this iphone "choose your own adventure" show that he just finished after 5 years or something? I'm not a fan cause I don't watch films/tv on my phone and it's propriety to Apple which I'm not a fan of either.
I love soderberg and everything he does. But having to watch a thing on a phone, and apple product, i will not watch it. I can’t bring myself to care about this.
My mother is a Hallmark Channel fanatic. She especially looks forward to the Christmas movies. I do not understand their appeal, but a lot of people have not understand my love of exploitation, either. Personal tastes are personal tastes.
About the hallmark stuff, that’s a great way to tell it, exploitation
About soderberg, i’ll also wait if there’s a release. When i watch a movie, i just want to watch it. I don’t want to participate. I can’t blame him for trying new things. Just that this one is not for me
This discussion reminded me of watching a documentary on Netflix called LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS, which delves into the world of romance novels. Although I do not read them, as a fan of genre films I found a lot common ground with the romance readers: the pleasures of a familiar plot formula, escapism, and the attachment to particular creators and characters.
I saw Justice League earlier this week. If you usually don’t like DC movies, skip it. If you do, go see it. I didn’t like it
This week i also watched Jason And The Argonauts. Man do i love stop-motion effects. Those old Harryhausen movies are great. Next week i should watch The Valley Of Gwangi and The 7th Voyagw Of Sinbad with my friend
Other than that, friday night and saturday are dedicated to The Punisher on netflix. It’s a big fat MEH for me
I am also a big Ray Harryhausen fan. His films from the 1950s and 1960s are some of the best escapist movies I have ever seen. This is the kind of entertainment I would love to see Hollywood making today. Special effects cannot completely replace engaging characters and a compelling story.
Have you watched 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH? Harryhausen's work in that film on the creature is amazing. The creature seems more alive than many of the actors.
I did a crazy thing. I ordered it from amazon.com. Being in canada, my choices are limited and the thing seem mostly OOP. Still going to cost me a bunch because of the exchange rate. But i’m sure it’s worth ut
It’s just a matter of pricing. At first i ordered the 50th anniversary edition on amazon.com, But i’ve changes my mind and got the dual pack with It Came From Beneath The Sea, from Mill Creek. Cheaper and i get 2 movies.
I have the same Mill Creek collection, which I found at the local dollar store a couple of years ago. You will like it, especially with a second Ray Harryhausen film included in it. The transfers are good.
There have been a few good finds at that store, include a Blu-ray of DIE HARD and an excellent DVD edition of AlIENS. I think both of them were made for the Canadian market because the covers have both French and English descriptions.
Speaking of good finds, I found a DVD of the original FRIGHT NIGHT for a few dollars at Wal-Mart this week. While there are no extras, the film looks great.
I was wondering about the transfers. I can’t find any reviews. I really wanted the 50th anniversary edition, with all the extras, but it cost too much. I might still get it eventually if it’s still available
It was a light week for movies. With Thanksgiving only a week away and a deadline for online classes for work quickly approaching, my energy was largely focused away from fun. I still got around to seeing some films, though.
TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016) – Family drama, suspense, action, and zombies. All the elements are handled perfectly to create a fast-paced two hours of entertainment. This is undoubtedly the best film I have seen from this decade.
ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941) – A non-descript but star-studded MGM musical melodrama that is way too long. The musical numbers, staged by the ever-creative Busby Berkeley, are the highlight of the film. Judy Garland’s calypso number is a wonderfully camp moment.
ORGY OF THE DEAD (1965) – A recent acquisition on Blu-ray, this nudie cutie artifact looks better than it probably deserves. Watch the rulers of the dead have a long night of burlesque entertainment while ridiculous dialogue happens all around them! There is a charm to this all of this nonsense, however. Orgy of the Dead is a great candidate for one of J.B.’s Glutton for Punishment articles.
KORLA (2015) – A documentary about an African-American musician who transformed himself into an Indian man named Korla Pandit in 1940s Los Angeles. Although a little rough around the edges in its narrative, it is still a fascinating story about race, music, and the shifting of popular culture.
Subscribed to Amazon Prime for the month to take advantage of that sweet, sweet free shipping. Since they have so many new movies, I'm trying to catch up on some movies from this year that I've missed....without much luck.
Just watched Free Fire, which was as perfectly fine as it was completely uninteresting. Not quite the strikeout that High Rise was, but I hoped for better from Ben Wheatley.
I think I'm going with Lost City of Z next, which I have higher hopes for. Anyone have any other 2017 recommendations on Prime?
They actually have a ton of great Horror on there. What type of genre are you looking for? You've prob seen them, but The Witch and Blackcoat's Daughter are on there. Two of the best films of last three years.
If you like exploitation cinema, Brian, there is a Hong Kong film on Prime called RED TO KILL. It is not not new- mid-1990s - but packs a big punch when it comes to the violence. I watched it when I had Prime for a free month a couple years ago.
Brian, a slept on film that was a runner up for me last year called "Crush the Skull" is on Prime. Check it out. It's a fun little indie written, directed and starring the same person.
Just watched the trailer for Crush the Skull....looks pretty good. I think I'll give that a shot tonight. Amazon Prime is so weird, there doesn't seem to be any comprehensive way to sort it.
That is definitely true, but you can click on Amazon Video (leaving the search field blank) then on the left click on "movies" then click "prime" then click whatever genre you want. It's still a bit cumbersome, but whatever. Crush the Skull was fun as shit IMO, plus, I love seeing indie people doing it up correctly!
Just watched "Nails". The actors did what they could and were actually pretty good and the director made good use of an almost single location (hospital room) but it's not good.
"The Invisible Guest" Good mystery. I guessed it early on cause I watch too many movies and read too many people say "I didn't see it coming!" I hate that shit. One of the reasons I try to know very little about films going into them. Still, I recommend it. I'll give it two years max till it gets a US remake.
Ok, so I just finished "Valhalla Rising" and Im left in a haze of sorts. I honestly can say I absolutely love "Bronson" , also directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, but this film, while intriguing enough to hold my full attention till the end, leaves me at a loss. I fully enjoyed "Drive" and have not yet seen "The Neon Demon" but, I have very much enjoyed Nicolas Winding Refn's previous films. Maybe I have gone to a stray from abstract/artisticly directed films but "Valhalla Rising" is lost on me in some way. What do you guys and gals think?
The cinematography is gorgeous, the acting is captivating, the score/sound design is violently haunting but Im still trying to process what this film means to me. It has religion on its mind and upfront talks about hate as the protagonists motivation but it stirs something in me unkown.
Haha well thanks. I've watched two video essays and listened to a Criterion Now podcast on it. Got somewhat of an idea, but yeah I was fairly lost during it. Visuals are absolutely stunning.
My last viewing of STALKER goes back to the early 2000s. I remember the question of faith being an important part of the film. The Zone is a mystical place for the Stalker. Whether it actually possesses the special properties he claims it has is inconsequential; the Stalker believes it does. That was quite a controversial topic for a Soviet filmmaker to tackle. I know there is more to the film than that, though.
If you liked STALKER, Cole, then you would probably enjoy MIRROR. It is Tarkovsky's most personal film and the one that appealed the most to me when I was watching Tarkovsky's films almost twenty years ago now. I was a far more ambitious cinephile back in the day.
I can't, but I like it. One time a couple years ago i watched like 4 Tarkovsky films in a row and liked them but have never really wanted to watch any more.
I saw Murder on the Orient Express tonight and enjoyed it quite a bit. I hadn't read the book since middle school so I didn't remember almost any of the story, which I think is a plus. I'm also in love with late 19th to early 20th century luxury locomotive travel. So that definitely swayed by feelings a bit. But I'd recommend checking it out. It's nice to have a well done, straight mystery story in theaters.
With the discussion of Ray Harryhausen, I was reminded that I had recorded one of his early films back in the springtime. (It is so easy to forget about what you DVR.) These kind of films are perfect for winding down from a busy Saturday.
THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, from 1953, is a quintessential atomic monster movie. It checks off all the boxes for the sub-genre and is drenched in Cold War politics. It might as well be the Soviets attacking New York City, not a giant prehistoric creature. Lee Van Cleef has a small but significant role at the conclusion.
I got to see Beast from 20000 Fathoms on 35 for the first time this year and was kind of blown away. It's easy to make fun of the 50s monster movie but a lot of them have really solid old fashioned a scripts and camerawork.
It is a fun film to watch. Even after six decades, the scenes with the creature wreaking havoc are quite thrilling. I marvel at the way- even if it is primitive- that stop-motion footage is integrated into the rest of the film.
Your mention of the solid scripts for the monster films, Russell, is a point that I have often thought about in regard to modern Hollywood films. Special effects have more impact when there is also a compelling story and characters to engage with. Too many modern films neglect script quality.
JUSTICE LEAGUE is a bad movie that I quite enjoyed. Might be one of the closest things I have to a guilty pleasure.
I finally watched BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and it was nothing like I expexted. I thought it would be a very "stuffy" and "classy" version of Dracula. Boy, was I wrong. It's such a crazy horror movie with awesome effects, demented sexuality, and excessive gore. I loved it so much and I already want to watch it again!
I just got out of Wonder. It is a tearjerker for sure, but it's an emotional journey well worth taking for the great messages of love and kindness as well as the great performances.
Are there any fans of Affliction from Paul Schrader here? I went in with almost no expectations and was really surprised. Like a much more disturbing version of Fargo, but not as good.
Another movie light week, though I did see The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which was mesmerizing and baffling, and Buchwich, which was pretty bad. And for reasons unknown, I also rewatched 1995's Mortal Kombat. That might still be my favorite video game adaptation (though that's not saying much). Oh yeah, and Justice League was meh.
ReplyDeleteAlso caught up with Star Trek: Discovery, and I kinda wish I hadn't, and meant to go see the Swedish movie The Square but didn't get the time. So all in all a pretty disappointing week except for The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
But my mind is already in next week's Night Visions festival and the 11 movies I'm gonna see there, including The Disaster Artist, Sequence Break, The Villainess and The Endless. That'll make up for this week.
That should be Bushwick.
DeleteMan, Mikko, I feel like you are hitting up a film festival at least once a month. Do you have a ton of film festivals in your area?
DeleteOne festival, the twice-a-year Cinemadrome is in my home town, the others I have to travel for. September's Helsinki International Film Festival and twice-a-year Night Visions are in Helsinki. Fortunately I have family nearby. So five fests a year total, there just happen to be three close to each other in Sep-Nov.
DeleteAh, gotcha. It's awesome that you try to make it to all of them.
DeleteAnyone watch these awful Christmas movie treasures on the Hallmark Channel? They never fail to knock it out of the park with casting. Starting at 2PM today: Enchanted Christmas with Alexa PenaVega, Christmas in Homestead with Taylor Cole, Christmas List with Alicia Witt and Coming Home for Christmas with Danica McKellar. Heavenly.
ReplyDeleteWatched Logan Lucky. It was fine, I laughed a few times but it's Soderbergh's 4th "Oceans" movie though the exact opposite of being slick and stylish with the same "reveal montage" at the end that I was completely expecting.
Those ‘awful’ christmas movie are bad, but i love them. And the rest of the year i often the awful romantic comedy. Fun times
DeleteLogan Lucky is fine, as you said. Clearly made to have fun, and maybe get money for his next passion project
Me too, love 'em! That's why I called them treasures.
DeleteSpeaking of Soderbergh projects...what are your thoughts on this iphone "choose your own adventure" show that he just finished after 5 years or something? I'm not a fan cause I don't watch films/tv on my phone and it's propriety to Apple which I'm not a fan of either.
I love soderberg and everything he does. But having to watch a thing on a phone, and apple product, i will not watch it. I can’t bring myself to care about this.
DeleteI agree 100%. Maybe if it gets an actual physical release in the future I'll check it out.
DeleteMy mother is a Hallmark Channel fanatic. She especially looks forward to the Christmas movies. I do not understand their appeal, but a lot of people have not understand my love of exploitation, either. Personal tastes are personal tastes.
Deletehave not understood...
DeleteI actually view them as exploitation in a way!
DeleteAbout the hallmark stuff, that’s a great way to tell it, exploitation
DeleteAbout soderberg, i’ll also wait if there’s a release. When i watch a movie, i just want to watch it. I don’t want to participate. I can’t blame him for trying new things. Just that this one is not for me
This discussion reminded me of watching a documentary on Netflix called LOVE BETWEEN THE COVERS, which delves into the world of romance novels. Although I do not read them, as a fan of genre films I found a lot common ground with the romance readers: the pleasures of a familiar plot formula, escapism, and the attachment to particular creators and characters.
DeleteI saw Justice League earlier this week. If you usually don’t like DC movies, skip it. If you do, go see it. I didn’t like it
ReplyDeleteThis week i also watched Jason And The Argonauts. Man do i love stop-motion effects. Those old Harryhausen movies are great. Next week i should watch The Valley Of Gwangi and The 7th Voyagw Of Sinbad with my friend
Other than that, friday night and saturday are dedicated to The Punisher on netflix. It’s a big fat MEH for me
I am also a big Ray Harryhausen fan. His films from the 1950s and 1960s are some of the best escapist movies I have ever seen. This is the kind of entertainment I would love to see Hollywood making today. Special effects cannot completely replace engaging characters and a compelling story.
DeleteHave you watched 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH? Harryhausen's work in that film on the creature is amazing. The creature seems more alive than many of the actors.
I’ve never seen it. I’ll check it out
DeleteI did a crazy thing. I ordered it from amazon.com. Being in canada, my choices are limited and the thing seem mostly OOP. Still going to cost me a bunch because of the exchange rate. But i’m sure it’s worth ut
DeleteI've ordered from Amazom.ca being in the US and never had a problem. Usually arrives within a week, matter of fact.
DeleteIt’s just a matter of pricing. At first i ordered the 50th anniversary edition on amazon.com, But i’ve changes my mind and got the dual pack with It Came From Beneath The Sea, from Mill Creek. Cheaper and i get 2 movies.
DeleteI have the same Mill Creek collection, which I found at the local dollar store a couple of years ago. You will like it, especially with a second Ray Harryhausen film included in it. The transfers are good.
DeleteThere have been a few good finds at that store, include a Blu-ray of DIE HARD and an excellent DVD edition of AlIENS. I think both of them were made for the Canadian market because the covers have both French and English descriptions.
Speaking of good finds, I found a DVD of the original FRIGHT NIGHT for a few dollars at Wal-Mart this week. While there are no extras, the film looks great.
ALIENS...
DeleteI was wondering about the transfers. I can’t find any reviews. I really wanted the 50th anniversary edition, with all the extras, but it cost too much. I might still get it eventually if it’s still available
DeleteIt was a light week for movies. With Thanksgiving only a week away and a deadline for online classes for work quickly approaching, my energy was largely focused away from fun. I still got around to seeing some films, though.
ReplyDeleteTRAIN TO BUSAN (2016) – Family drama, suspense, action, and zombies. All the elements are handled perfectly to create a fast-paced two hours of entertainment. This is undoubtedly the best film I have seen from this decade.
ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941) – A non-descript but star-studded MGM musical melodrama that is way too long. The musical numbers, staged by the ever-creative Busby Berkeley, are the highlight of the film. Judy Garland’s calypso number is a wonderfully camp moment.
ORGY OF THE DEAD (1965) – A recent acquisition on Blu-ray, this nudie cutie artifact looks better than it probably deserves. Watch the rulers of the dead have a long night of burlesque entertainment while ridiculous dialogue happens all around them! There is a charm to this all of this nonsense, however. Orgy of the Dead is a great candidate for one of J.B.’s Glutton for Punishment articles.
KORLA (2015) – A documentary about an African-American musician who transformed himself into an Indian man named Korla Pandit in 1940s Los Angeles. Although a little rough around the edges in its narrative, it is still a fascinating story about race, music, and the shifting of popular culture.
Subscribed to Amazon Prime for the month to take advantage of that sweet, sweet free shipping. Since they have so many new movies, I'm trying to catch up on some movies from this year that I've missed....without much luck.
ReplyDeleteJust watched Free Fire, which was as perfectly fine as it was completely uninteresting. Not quite the strikeout that High Rise was, but I hoped for better from Ben Wheatley.
I think I'm going with Lost City of Z next, which I have higher hopes for. Anyone have any other 2017 recommendations on Prime?
They actually have a ton of great Horror on there. What type of genre are you looking for? You've prob seen them, but The Witch and Blackcoat's Daughter are on there. Two of the best films of last three years.
DeleteIf you like exploitation cinema, Brian, there is a Hong Kong film on Prime called RED TO KILL. It is not not new- mid-1990s - but packs a big punch when it comes to the violence. I watched it when I had Prime for a free month a couple years ago.
DeleteBrian, a slept on film that was a runner up for me last year called "Crush the Skull" is on Prime. Check it out. It's a fun little indie written, directed and starring the same person.
DeleteJust watched the trailer for Crush the Skull....looks pretty good. I think I'll give that a shot tonight. Amazon Prime is so weird, there doesn't seem to be any comprehensive way to sort it.
DeleteThat is definitely true, but you can click on Amazon Video (leaving the search field blank) then on the left click on "movies" then click "prime" then click whatever genre you want. It's still a bit cumbersome, but whatever. Crush the Skull was fun as shit IMO, plus, I love seeing indie people doing it up correctly!
DeleteJust watched "Nails". The actors did what they could and were actually pretty good and the director made good use of an almost single location (hospital room) but it's not good.
ReplyDelete"The Invisible Guest" Good mystery. I guessed it early on cause I watch too many movies and read too many people say "I didn't see it coming!" I hate that shit. One of the reasons I try to know very little about films going into them. Still, I recommend it. I'll give it two years max till it gets a US remake.
Ok, so I just finished "Valhalla Rising" and Im left in a haze of sorts. I honestly can say I absolutely love "Bronson" , also directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, but this film, while intriguing enough to hold my full attention till the end, leaves me at a loss. I fully enjoyed "Drive" and have not yet seen "The Neon Demon" but, I have very much enjoyed Nicolas Winding Refn's previous films. Maybe I have gone to a stray from abstract/artisticly directed films but "Valhalla Rising" is lost on me in some way. What do you guys and gals think?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that film. It's like listening to a violent Brian Eno song, which doesn't exist.
DeleteThe cinematography is gorgeous, the acting is captivating, the score/sound design is violently haunting but Im still trying to process what this film means to me. It has religion on its mind and upfront talks about hate as the protagonists motivation but it stirs something in me unkown.
DeleteEverything you just wrote about how it what you liked and how it "stirs something in me unknown" is what makes a great film to me :-)
DeleteAbout "what you liked" sorry, phone typing.
DeleteYou know Chabers....you're absolutely right! Haha! For sure going to have to watch it again.
ReplyDeleteCheers man! No doubt!
DeleteCan uh...someone explain Stalker to me? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNope! haha Great though!
DeleteHaha well thanks. I've watched two video essays and listened to a Criterion Now podcast on it. Got somewhat of an idea, but yeah I was fairly lost during it. Visuals are absolutely stunning.
DeleteIt's been a long time since I've seen it but I remember being confused as shit but loving the way it looked as you mentioned.
DeleteMy last viewing of STALKER goes back to the early 2000s. I remember the question of faith being an important part of the film. The Zone is a mystical place for the Stalker. Whether it actually possesses the special properties he claims it has is inconsequential; the Stalker believes it does. That was quite a controversial topic for a Soviet filmmaker to tackle. I know there is more to the film than that, though.
DeleteIf you liked STALKER, Cole, then you would probably enjoy MIRROR. It is Tarkovsky's most personal film and the one that appealed the most to me when I was watching Tarkovsky's films almost twenty years ago now. I was a far more ambitious cinephile back in the day.
I can't, but I like it. One time a couple years ago i watched like 4 Tarkovsky films in a row and liked them but have never really wanted to watch any more.
DeleteWell I might just gave to check out Mirror in the near future. I've had Andrei Rubkev on my to watch for quite some time now as well.
DeleteI saw Murder on the Orient Express tonight and enjoyed it quite a bit. I hadn't read the book since middle school so I didn't remember almost any of the story, which I think is a plus. I'm also in love with late 19th to early 20th century luxury locomotive travel. So that definitely swayed by feelings a bit. But I'd recommend checking it out. It's nice to have a well done, straight mystery story in theaters.
ReplyDeleteWith the discussion of Ray Harryhausen, I was reminded that I had recorded one of his early films back in the springtime. (It is so easy to forget about what you DVR.) These kind of films are perfect for winding down from a busy Saturday.
ReplyDeleteTHE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, from 1953, is a quintessential atomic monster movie. It checks off all the boxes for the sub-genre and is drenched in Cold War politics. It might as well be the Soviets attacking New York City, not a giant prehistoric creature. Lee Van Cleef has a small but significant role at the conclusion.
Harryhausen AND lee van cleef. Say no more
DeleteI got to see Beast from 20000 Fathoms on 35 for the first time this year and was kind of blown away. It's easy to make fun of the 50s monster movie but a lot of them have really solid old fashioned a scripts and camerawork.
DeleteIt is a fun film to watch. Even after six decades, the scenes with the creature wreaking havoc are quite thrilling. I marvel at the way- even if it is primitive- that stop-motion footage is integrated into the rest of the film.
DeleteYour mention of the solid scripts for the monster films, Russell, is a point that I have often thought about in regard to modern Hollywood films. Special effects have more impact when there is also a compelling story and characters to engage with. Too many modern films neglect script quality.
i keep saying this to my friends when they wonder how a movie can be so bad. i often feel it boils down to what you said.
DeleteJUSTICE LEAGUE is a bad movie that I quite enjoyed. Might be one of the closest things I have to a guilty pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI finally watched BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and it was nothing like I expexted. I thought it would be a very "stuffy" and "classy" version of Dracula. Boy, was I wrong. It's such a crazy horror movie with awesome effects, demented sexuality, and excessive gore. I loved it so much and I already want to watch it again!
Mayhem is great. Will probably get the blu-ray
ReplyDeleteI just got out of Wonder. It is a tearjerker for sure, but it's an emotional journey well worth taking for the great messages of love and kindness as well as the great performances.
ReplyDeleteI saw Lady Bird today and it was absolutely wonderful. Can’t recommend it highly enough!
ReplyDeleteYes! It's wonderful.
DeleteAre there any fans of Affliction from Paul Schrader here? I went in with almost no expectations and was really surprised. Like a much more disturbing version of Fargo, but not as good.
ReplyDelete