Saturday, April 22, 2023

Weekend Open Thread

22 comments:

  1. Howdy Gang!!!

    M3GAN (2022 blu unrated)

    Ok..this one impressed me WAYYYY more than i expected it to. Ive grown up loving horror genres around: killer dolls, robots, tech gone awry, etc. But theres already been alot done on that front so i kinda expected a disposable, horror light (pg13), chucky reboot. I was wrong. This flick is VERY well done and bases the plot in a fair amount of trauma, grief, reflections on modern parenting, and a not to distant reality (as soon as i load ChatGPT into my old Teddy Ruxpin, we all f@cked). Equally, the handling and execution of Megan is incredible. The puppetry, robotics, and mask/bodydouble work blends to create a 100% believable villain. Combine that with wonderfully menacing dialogue (prob my fav part of the movie) and im giddy at the prospect of a new franchise. Check it out horror fam!!

    (Editors Note: I would be remiss if i didnt reference what i consider to be one of the best killer doll incarnations. If i was going to curate a horror festival i would show the twilight zone episode Talky Tina first and then M3GAN. In my mind Talky Tina HAD to play a huge role in the formulating this movie as the flick very much feels like a reboot/update of it. If you dig these genres and havent seen it, i highly suggest you do.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Any big change between the rated and unrated version?

      Delete
    2. great question...ive only seen the unrated so im not sure but id guess that they show a little more detail in each of the kills...nothing super graphic but leaning more towards R rated kills. Watching the making-of featurettes you can see that they definitely designed some of the kills to be full R..the practical effects they share are alot more bloody. Im bummed they didnt go that direction as i very much prefer R rated horror BUT i understand the move and since the flick is so good im glad alot more ages will get to enjoy it.

      Delete
  2. I would just like to point out that the F This Movie podcast is the best movie podcast around. Sure they go on tangents, but they are interesting and Patrick is a good enough host to let the person finish. And these guys know their stuff. The memory they have about the movies and actors impress me every time

    There's other good podcast, but i always find something that annoys me. I won't name names, some of them are very popular ones, but they often talk over each other, or don't post often enough, or can't talk about a movie in a smart way. Or all at once.

    FTM is the whole package: interesting, smart, regular, they listen to each other. Patrick is the perfect host, and all of the crews and guests are interesting every week, no matter what movie they're talking about. Paired with interesting articles every day, FTM is the whole package.

    P.S. i'll only talk about one other podcast. Well, it's not really a podcast, but Heath Holland (ex FTM collaborator) has a great youtube channel, Cereal At Midnight, where he talks mostly about physical media. He also does super interesting interviews with interesting, often less known people. And he's a great interviewer. Those interviews are also published as podcasts fairly regularly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is so incredibly kind. It made my week. Thank you. We are very lucky to have the group of writers/podcasters we have and the readers/listeners we have. I am grateful every day.

      Delete
    2. I completely concur w Kunider....there's a very natural flow to the conversations on y'alls podcasts based on your mutual admiration for each other. Makes them a treat to listen to. Also laugh along with. Cheers team.

      PS: one of my fav aspects is the "seen anything good lately" openings. short but sweet check ins on new/old/interesting suggestions. dig it.

      Delete
    3. Yep totally agree. Been turned on to so many great films over the years. Thanks for all the work everyone does to make this the best movie site on the web. In my humble opinion.

      Delete
  3. AH HA! Ive cracked the DaVinci Code of this weeks image. Gotta love fellow mutant fam!!! I had bought a ticket to see patrick's presentation of Zombie @ Elk Grove Cinema but wasnt able to make it....huge regret and ive still never seen the movie. Therefore i cant wait till Shudder puts up the replay of the season 5 premiere of The Last Drive In tomorrow!!! woot!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zombie (1979 Shudder Last Drive In)

      Ok..before i review Zombie, i need to say a few words about The Last Drive-In w Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy. Hands down that show is my single favorite thing in the whole of the streaming world. i adore it. This season 5 premiere episode summarizes just why: they are passionate about horror, they educate, inform, enjoy, laugh, and encourage a positive open minded inclusive community. Every season there are countless new movies to me and i LOVE learning more about them while watching. This episode ended with an incredibly heartfelt fan letter and i started tearing up the same time Joe Bob did while reading it. The Mutant Fam is the best.

      As for the movie? Whoo boy its great! It takes its time and creates great atmosphere and plotlines before delving into some BONKERS gore and zombie fun. Im definitely gonna seek out more Fulci and love this movie.

      Delete
  4. With my new 4K tv, i've been rewatching a lot of movies. As already mentioned, i mean bought a ton of movies i already owned, so it was a bit of work to sell the regular blu-rays to be replaced by the 4K discs. But i think i'm done for now (i.e. no more money).

    That being said, the highlights of the week were the Avengers movies. I love Avengers 1 and 2. Wheddon knows how to write ensemble piece (see Serenity, his sequel to the show Firefly), and we tend to forget that he's the one who put the foundation for the MCU with Avengers 1 (not to take anything from the Russo's, but they're no Wheddon). Studio notes are evident, especially in Avengers 2, but it's still a favorite of mine. I really like Avengers 3 and 4, but my jam is with the first 2.

    Speaking of the Russo's, another favorite in the MCU is Winter Soldier. On the 4K side, the evident DNR is kinda annoying, but i'm a sucker for spy thrillers. Best part for me is during the final battle, when Falcon jump off the carrier, turn around, shoots at bad guys, then spread his wings and fly away. Now that's a good action scene. That and Robert Redford saying "Hail Hydra".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just got back from seeing EVIL DEAD RISE (2023). Had a great time! It's a lean n' mean horror flick, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else.

    RED NOTICE (2021). Agreed with everyone who said this feels like it's written by algorithm. Just super generic. But, if Dwayne Johnson is so hellbent on having a mega-franchise of his own, why not RED NOTICE 2? His treasure-hunting cop character could have all kinds of other adventures.

    DEMOLITION MAN (1993). The hunka-chunka!

    JUNG_E (2023). Sci-fi oddity about a government creating its entire robot/clone/cyborg army based off of one cyborg female soldier. It's like someone looked at that misbegotten Robocop remake and said, "What if we tried to make this good?" It's a dry and humorless film, but interesting.

    STUDENT SERVICES (2010). A sad girl becomes a sad sex worker to pay the bills, and everyone is sad. I don't know. If you're in the mood for a maudlin French movie, you could probably find better ones than this.

    VOYAGE TO THE PLANET OF PREHISTORIC WOMEN (1968). A dreadfully dull movie that doesn't come close to living up to its sensationalistic title. I looked it up, and most of it is footage from a 1962 Russian movie, PLANET BUR. Roger Corman and an uncredited Peter Bogdanovich took that movie and gave it the "What's Up Tiger Lilly" rewrite/redub treatment. There are better Corman movies.

    POWER RANGERS: ONCE AND ALWAYS (2023). This was surprisingly fun, a huge nostalgia blast with tons of deep-cut trivia references for fans. Just imagine if this had been in theaters in 2017 instead of that other PR movie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey gang, hope everyone's enjoying the weekend!

    Just a head up, the Finnish movie Sisu, which I praised in February when it was released here, is getting its US premiere next weekend.

    It's a bloody and silly action movie about a lone, gruff prospector against a squad of Nazis in northern Finland in 1944. It wears its influences from bloody 80's actioners, spaghetti westerns and Tarantino on its sleeve, and it's a hell of a fun time. Plus it's 90 minutes long, which is the perfect length for a movie like that. Highly recommended for fans of bloody action movies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw the trailer a few weeks ago when i saw John Wick 4. This movie looks nuts. Can't wait to see the landmine-to-the-face bit 🤣

      Delete
    2. Mikko! ive been BEYOND stoked for Sisu since you mentioned it a few months ago. im so giddy and stoked that its coming out in US next week. thanks again for the heads up...ive told ALL of my action friends that i know this one is gonna be a hell of a ride. cheers buddy!!

      Delete
  7. Good weekend to everyone! It is good to see that you are all still watching movies. That has not been the case for me. The past few weeks have been the most demanding I have experienced in many years. When all the work was done, there was no energy for anything. This week I did see most of the documentary TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL, which was playing on Turner Classic Movies for the 100th anniversary of Warner Brothers Studios. I am hoping the situation changes soon so that I can get back to watching at least a few movies a week.

    This week I got the email from Netflix about the end of the physical media rentals by the fall. I guess it does not come as a surprise, but it does feel like a loss for someone like me who does not want to stream everything. (My purchasing budget for this year is very uncertain, too.) My focus coming up should probably be getting through as much of my queue as possible.

    Looking at the date, I realize that there is only a month left until the unveiling of Junesploitation 2023. The year is really flying by. I am hopeful that I will be free to participate for the month. One idea that I brought up last year for a category is HEISTS!. Any other ideas for Junesploitation categories to suggest?

    ReplyDelete
  8. AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
    I think this is a Ridley Scott masterpiece epic. It's so impressive. I don't even know where to begin talking about all the good things about it. Well, okay.. the original score and soundtrack are GREAT.

    I wanted to mention to the world I LOVE Disney's THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE (2000). This is a crazy-underrated comedy IMO. Eartha Kitt is HILARIOUS. Plus...it's Eartha Kitt! As a Disney villain! Why isn't it more talked about?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I was 9-10ish years old I used to do the fingers and say "oh yeah!" any time anything went my way. Loved Emperor's New Groove.

      Delete
    2. Nice! I was in HS when it came out and I remember my teacher came in and said FINALLY a Disney movie that's not a musical. It was my first time learning some people don't like musicals.

      Delete
    3. this review makes me stoked to revisit American Gangster..i only saw it when it came out and dont think i was in the right headspace as i recall liking it but havent seen it since. i love all involved and Ridley Scott rules. Im TOTALLY gonna revisit soon. Thanks Meredith!

      Delete
    4. Mashke, yay! I was in the same boat. I saw PART of it (it's 3 hours) years ago but it didn't catch me. My mindframe now is "find a movie worthy of its Denzel performance." I keep thinking/wondering how it might have been edited down. It's definitely an epic. It famously has like 360 different scenes and an outrageous budget. I also like its take on gangster families.

      Delete