Lightyear (2022): i never planned to ever rewatch this. Not that i didn't like it, i just 'nothing-ed' it, i had no feelings. But then it came up in conversation with a friend and pointed out some good designs (Mass Effect anyone?) and other stuff. It's not reinventing the wheel, it's a family movie after all, but it's pleasant enough. Much complains have been made about how it fits, or doesn't fit, in the Toy Story cannon, probably because of the text opening the movie. But honestly, who cares? Forget the text, just enjoy the ride.
DOA: Dead or Alive (2006): the recent podcast they made on Street Fighter (with a lot of talk about Mortal Kombat) made me want to rewatch DOA, which is one i always had fun with. There's a bit (a lot) of male gazing, but i obviously don't mind. Who can say no to a tan Jaime Pressly with abs in a bikini kicking all the asses? i can't. Also, whatever happened to Holly Valance? She apparently was in Taken, but i can't remember her in it. Anyway, to me the movie's awesome and is less than 90 minutes (including credits). We're not reinventing the wheel here and could've used just a little padding to beef up the fight scenes (which are fairly good). I have no idea how it compares to the game and i actually don't care, i just enjoy the movie. Strangely, for a movie with Dead in the title, there's very little of it, except the bad guy at the end
The Marine film series: first one with John Cena is kinda fun. Second is fine, but the actor is extra bland. Third one is a bit boring. Bailed in the middle of fourth because it was very bad and boring. Maybe the rest is good, but i won't try them. Also starting with the third one, the same actor returned each time, while one and two had different actors. So yeah, watch the first one with John Cena and stop there.
Yeah, there was a lot of online "discourse" about that Lightyear movie, which I mostly ignored. People were lining up to shit on it even before it came out. I caught up with it at home on Disney+ and thought it was a pretty fun watch. I wouldn't be against rewatching it at some point.
Hello everyone! It’s been a super busy few weeks, and so I haven’t posted much but have managed to squeeze in some movies.
A big highlight was El Cid (1961, dir. Anthony Mann). I freaking love these big historical epics. There’s one scene which is just all the soldiers dragging catapults and stuff up to a walled city and it’s awesome and goes on for so long. I think Heston might be a top 3 actor for me. I’m never not delighted to see him on screen.
Dune 2 was fantastic! I waited too long to see in the theatre, but luckily it was still available in IMAX at the one theatre here. My son said, “he’s not a good boyfriend” afterwards, which I was thinking too. I read the books in the ‘90s but only vaguely remember the story.
Thank you Kunider for recommending Youth in revolt. I can feel how that could be a rewatch-a-lot movie. Micheal Cera has a particular comedic timing and it’s employed well in the film.
I haven't made an official ranking of historical/biblical/medieval epics but El Cid would be very near the top if not number 1. I think I'll check out some of Mann's westerns next.
Some other things I've seen:
Finally got around to seeing Oppenheimer which I heard described as a drama with the pacing and momentum of a freight train, and I thing the description is apt. I loved it and wished I had seen it in the theatre.
Of course I followed it up with JFK (1991, dir. Oliver Stone) for a double feature. I had never seen this. Again, a movie with mostly people walking and talking, but plays like a freight train. I've never seen a bunch of nonsense conspiracy stuff presented so convincingly. The way Oliver Stone constantly works through whatever tortured feelings he has towards the government through making movies is pretty fascinating.
Deep Cover (1992, dir. Bill Duke) was a pretty gritty 90's cop action thriller with Fishbourne. Lots to love here, and I didn't know Bill Duke also directed. I recently watched Sister Act so I might check out Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit which he also directed.
Poor Things was horny and hilarious. I love that Lanthimos keeps getting money to do these weird ass movies! I've seen most of what I wanted to see before making a best-of-2023 list. Still have to see the latest Mission Impossible though.
I might be the only person that liked Medicine Man (1992, dir. John McTiernan). It's a perfectly fine romantic comedy, and I appreciated the jungle setting.
It is easy to tell that a European director made Poor Things. Despite being very modern, Poor Things feels like it could be an art house movie from the 1970s.
SUPERMAN II (1980) What can I say? This was a childhood favorite for me. Lots of folks like to point and laugh at the dated elements of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, but not me. I watch them and I'm a kid again.
WISH (2022) I agree with what everyone else is saying, sad that this is more marketing-driven rather than storytelling-driven. Some nice visuals, but other than that there's just nothing there.
O BROTHER WHERE ARE THOU? (2000) "Do not... seek... the treasure..."
EXORCIST BELIEVER (2022) I tried, but this was just dull. I was mentally checked out by the time it got to the big finale.
TOTAL RECALL (1990) I like to think there's a little Kuato in all of us.
ROUNDERS (1998). I can't say I loved or liked this movie much, but I like that it feels so 90s. What would you call this style of dialogue? Quippy? It was never really my thing, but it's amusing. I'm a hard sell on movies about gambling addictions. People getting stuck in them is terrifying to me.
It is good to see that others are watching movies. With work being intense and constant (the end of the tax filing season in the U.S.) the past couple of weeks, there has not been much energy left for movies. I have put on a few that I am familiar with, largely in the background, but concentration has been lacking. Things should start to getting back to normal this week.
I did get around to starting the 1969 film The Assassination Bureau last night, testing out a new blu ray player. Very charming. More on that next week.
The coming of spring means the drive-in season will be starting shortly. It will feel good to get back to the Mahoning. Junesploitation is only a month and a half away.
I finally watched THE STING (1973) all the way through. I'd never been able to get through it. I think it helped that I rewatched The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (the original) right before, so I was paying more attention to Robert Shaw, if that makes any sense. It's fun; all the little twists are fun.
Lightyear (2022): i never planned to ever rewatch this. Not that i didn't like it, i just 'nothing-ed' it, i had no feelings. But then it came up in conversation with a friend and pointed out some good designs (Mass Effect anyone?) and other stuff. It's not reinventing the wheel, it's a family movie after all, but it's pleasant enough. Much complains have been made about how it fits, or doesn't fit, in the Toy Story cannon, probably because of the text opening the movie. But honestly, who cares? Forget the text, just enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteDOA: Dead or Alive (2006): the recent podcast they made on Street Fighter (with a lot of talk about Mortal Kombat) made me want to rewatch DOA, which is one i always had fun with. There's a bit (a lot) of male gazing, but i obviously don't mind. Who can say no to a tan Jaime Pressly with abs in a bikini kicking all the asses? i can't. Also, whatever happened to Holly Valance? She apparently was in Taken, but i can't remember her in it. Anyway, to me the movie's awesome and is less than 90 minutes (including credits). We're not reinventing the wheel here and could've used just a little padding to beef up the fight scenes (which are fairly good). I have no idea how it compares to the game and i actually don't care, i just enjoy the movie. Strangely, for a movie with Dead in the title, there's very little of it, except the bad guy at the end
The Marine film series: first one with John Cena is kinda fun. Second is fine, but the actor is extra bland. Third one is a bit boring. Bailed in the middle of fourth because it was very bad and boring. Maybe the rest is good, but i won't try them. Also starting with the third one, the same actor returned each time, while one and two had different actors. So yeah, watch the first one with John Cena and stop there.
Yeah, there was a lot of online "discourse" about that Lightyear movie, which I mostly ignored. People were lining up to shit on it even before it came out. I caught up with it at home on Disney+ and thought it was a pretty fun watch. I wouldn't be against rewatching it at some point.
DeleteHello everyone! It’s been a super busy few weeks, and so I haven’t posted much but have managed to squeeze in some movies.
ReplyDeleteA big highlight was El Cid (1961, dir. Anthony Mann). I freaking love these big historical epics. There’s one scene which is just all the soldiers dragging catapults and stuff up to a walled city and it’s awesome and goes on for so long. I think Heston might be a top 3 actor for me. I’m never not delighted to see him on screen.
Dune 2 was fantastic! I waited too long to see in the theatre, but luckily it was still available in IMAX at the one theatre here. My son said, “he’s not a good boyfriend” afterwards, which I was thinking too. I read the books in the ‘90s but only vaguely remember the story.
Thank you Kunider for recommending Youth in revolt. I can feel how that could be a rewatch-a-lot movie. Micheal Cera has a particular comedic timing and it’s employed well in the film.
My pleasure
DeleteNow, you make me want to watch El Cid, i never saw it and i love historical epic too. Gonna try to find a blu-ray
I haven't made an official ranking of historical/biblical/medieval epics but El Cid would be very near the top if not number 1. I think I'll check out some of Mann's westerns next.
DeleteSome other things I've seen:
Finally got around to seeing Oppenheimer which I heard described as a drama with the pacing and momentum of a freight train, and I thing the description is apt. I loved it and wished I had seen it in the theatre.
Of course I followed it up with JFK (1991, dir. Oliver Stone) for a double feature. I had never seen this. Again, a movie with mostly people walking and talking, but plays like a freight train. I've never seen a bunch of nonsense conspiracy stuff presented so convincingly. The way Oliver Stone constantly works through whatever tortured feelings he has towards the government through making movies is pretty fascinating.
Deep Cover (1992, dir. Bill Duke) was a pretty gritty 90's cop action thriller with Fishbourne. Lots to love here, and I didn't know Bill Duke also directed. I recently watched Sister Act so I might check out Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit which he also directed.
Poor Things was horny and hilarious. I love that Lanthimos keeps getting money to do these weird ass movies! I've seen most of what I wanted to see before making a best-of-2023 list. Still have to see the latest Mission Impossible though.
I might be the only person that liked Medicine Man (1992, dir. John McTiernan). It's a perfectly fine romantic comedy, and I appreciated the jungle setting.
It is easy to tell that a European director made Poor Things. Despite being very modern, Poor Things feels like it could be an art house movie from the 1970s.
DeleteSUPERMAN II (1980) What can I say? This was a childhood favorite for me. Lots of folks like to point and laugh at the dated elements of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, but not me. I watch them and I'm a kid again.
ReplyDeleteWISH (2022) I agree with what everyone else is saying, sad that this is more marketing-driven rather than storytelling-driven. Some nice visuals, but other than that there's just nothing there.
O BROTHER WHERE ARE THOU? (2000) "Do not... seek... the treasure..."
EXORCIST BELIEVER (2022) I tried, but this was just dull. I was mentally checked out by the time it got to the big finale.
TOTAL RECALL (1990) I like to think there's a little Kuato in all of us.
Superman II, do you usually watch the Donner Cut or the Theatrical Cut?
DeleteIt was the theatrical one this week, but I like both.
DeleteROUNDERS (1998). I can't say I loved or liked this movie much, but I like that it feels so 90s. What would you call this style of dialogue? Quippy? It was never really my thing, but it's amusing. I'm a hard sell on movies about gambling addictions. People getting stuck in them is terrifying to me.
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews all! I always appreciate your postings and come away with a BUNCH of suggestions!!
ReplyDeleteSame. Always looking forward to the weekend open thread. It's a nice closer to the rest of the week
DeleteIt is good to see that others are watching movies. With work being intense and constant (the end of the tax filing season in the U.S.) the past couple of weeks, there has not been much energy left for movies. I have put on a few that I am familiar with, largely in the background, but concentration has been lacking. Things should start to getting back to normal this week.
ReplyDeleteI did get around to starting the 1969 film The Assassination Bureau last night, testing out a new blu ray player. Very charming. More on that next week.
The coming of spring means the drive-in season will be starting shortly. It will feel good to get back to the Mahoning. Junesploitation is only a month and a half away.
I finally watched THE STING (1973) all the way through. I'd never been able to get through it. I think it helped that I rewatched The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (the original) right before, so I was paying more attention to Robert Shaw, if that makes any sense. It's fun; all the little twists are fun.
ReplyDelete