Thoughts On The Last Movie You've Seen

[Lonely-Martin]

On 2/20/2022 at 8:02 PM, Arrows to Athens said:

This movie gets way too much hate, in my opinion. I thought it was an enjoyable watch. Not much story or character development and extremely stupid characters, sure, but great kills and crazy over-the-top gore. Not once did I find myself bored when watching the film. Could it have been better? Definitely, but it also could have been a lot of worse. As a slasher film, it delivers. 

 

Also, what Michael Bay's take on it are you talking about? As far as I know, Michael Bay has never had anything to do with the TCM franchise. 

 

I too enjoyed it for what it was. It's no masterpiece of course and the series is plagued with issues, this being the 3rd sequel is a hard sell for many, lol.

 

Totally agree about the kills, good fun indeed. There's issues with the flick, like copying Halloween's Jamie Lee Curtis role with Sally, with a new actress as Marylin Burns has passed away since, and definitely agree about some characters just being awful too. Glad they got what was coming to 'em. Go Leatherface!

 

I've also seen the new Halloween, and quite enjoyed that too. Very gory compared to many others but I'm ok with plenty of splatter of course. Again, not flawless but a decent middle entry to set up what I hope will be a good finale when it's released. 

 

And the new Candyman was a cool take. It can't top the original as that really is one of my all time favourites, but I was quite engrossed watching the new one. Very enjoyable flick. 

 

Looking forward to watching the new Scream when it's released on disc now.

 

Oh, and lord knows what to expect from the upcoming Hellraiser, lol. We'll see with that one.

 

Have you seen the Chucky TV series by any chance? Me and my lad did enjoy that. Kept it simple, not bad for a Sci Fi channel release at least. 

 

@sifu. Can't lie. I loved the Chainsaw remake from back then. One of the better horror remakes of the era and holds up well still I find. R Lee Ermey as the cop/dad at his nasty best in there.

 

For me, nothing can beat the original. Such a simple film but done so well, very atmospheric and definitely a hard watch for the more casual horror viewer. But the remake is a worthy 2nd best (tied with the original Dennis Hopper sequel, crazy fun film that one!).

 

@Mister Pink. RE: Se7en, I love that movie too, like you I wish we had more thrillers like that out there as well, just isn't enough but that's what makes it such a treat too. I recently watched The Bone Collector, which wasn't a bad film. It's not got that edge that Se7en has but it's enjoyable no less. Worth a watch if you're looking to fill an hour and half.

 

I bought Dune and watched that too. Bloody awesome film and such a good looking and well made picture compared to the 1980's effort which is hard to watch today with how poor the special effects are with this recent release now out there. Hopefully part 2 will be cracking veiewing.

 

And like you, I really like Sicario. I've seen plenty on the topic and Benicio Del Toro really doesn't let me down in near anything he's in so it was an instant watch for me when it was released. The sequel isn't awful but it doesn't quite have the spark the first has.

 

Have you seen Traffic from the late 90's/early 2000's? Michael Douglas, Del Toro, Zeta Jones, and more. Really great film that one too. Wish they'd give that the full blu ray treatment as it's still only on DVD here, blooming criminal if you ask me. 

Edited February 23 by Lonely-Martin

[Sil3ntWr4th_-]

I watched The new Texas chainsaw Massacre movie yesterday and it wasn't really anything special. I guess it was good for what it was as a average TCM movie but I will definitely not be watching it again any time soon. 

The cinematography and visual effects/CGI were really good, the characters were just not in any interest to me apart from Mel's sister Lilah, the mechanic/property owner Richter and of course Leatherface. The filmmakers could have also been more detailed with the whole premise.

The movie also felt quite shorter than intended too which was a bummer.

overall rating: 6/10

Blood and Gore: 9/10

Edited February 27 by WageWar

[Mister Pink]

I went the the cinema twice last week and seen Jackass: Forever, and The Godfather. At home, I watched the sequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 

 

Jackass: Forever

 

 

Jackass: Forever I think is the first Jackass film I've gone to see in a theatre/cinema - and I'm so glad I did. This film had me in stiches laughing for the whole runtime. Danger Ehren is the real star of the show of the original crew while the remaining original guys really kind of chilled out and let the new blood have their 15 minutes. Some of the pranks of themselves were as creative and hilarious as usual as well as reviving some old pranks for nostalgia. So far I haven't been let down by any of the films. This is another Jackass classic added to the series. I hope and I think they will make another one. I think the newer guys added a lot of value and freshness, especially Poopies who seems quite likable. I think part of the fun of Jackass is just watching them have fun together and pranking each other and that's all there so I think even if Knoxville and crew are still there not doing too much of the heavy lifting but still writing the skits and still pulling off pranks, the series of films can go on. Let the new kids hurt themselves more. Having said that Knoxville still got gored by a bull and shot out of a cannon, lol. 

 

 

Seeing The Godfather and hearing the Godfather theme in a theatre packed full of people of all ages as just an amazing experience. Seeing this film on the big screen was just glorious. I left the cinema buzzing after it. The image looked keeps it's original look but much of the film grain is cleaned up a bit from what I could see. Each time I watch The Godfather I pick up some new details and this time was no different. I hope they do a cinema release for part II in 2024 for it's 50th anniversary. I just did a quick Google search and it's actually showing this Friday!!   I'll see it Friday and see it again for the 50th anniversary. 

 

 

This poster for the sequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the only thing that remotely resembles anything to the original. Don't be fooled by the creepy, engaging poster because the film is anything but. Where to start.. some of choices the characters make just are unbelievable and the cast of characters will actually melt your head they are so annoying. The film has no spirit. It has no soul. If you like the creepy, eeriness and almost shakey camera realism of the first film, you will absolutely detest this film. Every moment, I was rooting for the characters to get killed in this film. Even when they did it just wasn't that satisfying. The film is a bit woke, a bit judgemental and brash in it's judgementalness of the people in their surroundings. It kind of like this film was made with the woke guide to filmmaking. Got to tick the boxes; make sure there are lots of people of colour, make sure you make some commentary on atrocities of the world to today like school shootings, bring up racial commentary etc etc. Those things are actually fine things to bring up they're just really ham-fisted in to the movie and shoved down your gob like MESSAGE!  It doesn't really say anything with any real meaning, just kind of being topical. And I hear people calling it anti-woke. Like it's the film where you want to root for the killer. Maybe that's where or how to enjoy it. It could be I misinterpreted it and it's shining a light on wokeness and how annoying the next gen influencer types are. But to me that's not what Texas Chainsaw Massacre is about. I never saw it as a satire. 

 

Yeah, if you like some slasher popcorn film, it might be passable to sit with friends and talk through the film, mock it and stuff like that, you might enjoy it. But as a film it's devoid of credibility the name it shares with the original. It's shares none of the essence of the original film. I can't recommend this film at all. 

 

@Lonely-Martin I agree the new Candyman was very good. I'm surprised there wasn't more of a buzz about it. That film and the original genuinely creeped me out. 

Glad you liked Dune and Sicario. Don't remember Traffic. I know the film but don't remember seeing it. I'll check it out. If I did see it, it was over 10 years ago and completely escaped my mind. Googled it now.. No, don't think I have. Steven Soderberg films are really hit and miss with me although Traffic looks great. And what a cast. I'll check it out, thanks. 

Edited February 28 by Mister Pink

[The Time Ranger]

The Debt Collector

 

 

Pretty solid B movie fare, Adkins plays French, who's a British martial arts instructor in LA, down on his luck, who takes on a job as a very "hands on" debt collector alongside the veteran, Sue. The fight scenes are solid, the back and forth insults and banter between the two can be snappy, and their chemistry clicks.

 

If you like martial art flicks or want something to pass some time, the movie flows well, and doesn't overstay it's welcome. There are flashes and moments  which hint that this could have risen to another level but it doesn't quite make it, but overall it's a fun ride, reminiscent of an 80's action movie with a bit of humour.

 

To sum it up, bruises, beatings and babes.

[Graven]

I Drink Your Blood (1970)

Print: 88Films DVD

Director: David E. Durston

 

 

I finally decided to pick this one last week, and it was right up my alley.

The plot alone is so campy and hilarious. A group of devil-worshiping hippies are having a chicken slaughter ceremony in the woods.

One girl from nearby hamlet is observing them behind a tree, but gets caught. The hippies mangle her.

Next morning she returns home, to her grand father and little bother battered, bleeding. Later, the fiendish hippie group end up in their store/house.

They settle down in one of the rent shacks to continue their strange satanic games and hellish havoc.

Grandpa doesn't like the rumble and enters in with a shotgun. Now the hippies give him a bad time and feed him acid. He returns upside down driveling nonsense.

The grandson gets filled up. He takes the shotgun and goes in the woods, where he is confronted with a rapid dog.

He shoots the dog, uses a syringe to pull out infected blood and injects it in the meat pies the hippies are going to eat.

A raving rabid madness begins!

 

I liked especially the zany action, this should give you snickers if you're into camp and bit more bizarre movies. Or maybe 1970 was just like this?

8/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Craigsters]

Eternals (2021) - IMDb  what a god awful film, it had french  onscreen dialog and no English  version so you'd know why they came to earth, I tried to get my money back from amazon prime but they hid the cancel button to well, this film was  as bad as twilight  and I stopped watching it after 10 minutes 

Edited February 28 by Craigsters

[Lonely-Martin]

@Mister Pink, oh yeah, the latest Chainsaw Massacre is nothing compared to the original at all. But you hit the nail on the head for the best way to get anything from the new flick. Be around like-minded folk, few drinks, and enjoy the kills while ripping on the dialogue, characters, acting and such. 

 

But the slasher genre in general both suffers from, and sometimes succeeds with when they embrace it right, us viewers just rooting for the bad guy. Certainly when it comes to the main guys like Leatherface, Freddy, Jason, Chucky and co. These characters have grown so popular that it's hard not to root for them somehow at least until the finale. Even found myself rooting for Michael Myers in the last Halloween flick at times, although I'm with Jamie Lee Curtis and hope she does her thing in the final part of this current run.

 

But yeah, while it filled an hour and half, it has it's cringy moments some which are just so bad. That whole 'touch me bro and your cancelled' line was just so awful, it really wasn't funny like I imagine the creators were going for. So I just wanted Leatherface to rev up that chainsaw and go nuts, to which he obliged.

 

Though slashers have always been cheap, always looked to cash in on triggers of their time to score cheap pops and certainly had characters we all just want to see get killed off asap (hopefully in messed up ways). So in comparison to the genre, aside some notable exceptions, it's probably on par with most of it's ilk. Definitely not one to transcend the genre like the original TCM or the likes of Halloween, the original Nightmare on Elm Street or Scream etc. But as a fan of the genre, it's far from the worst slasher movie I feel.

 

But alas, more one for the die hard nutters like me.

 

Anyway, I hope Traffic proves good for you. I hate recommending films in case people don't like them and feel they wasted some time, but given past mentions of stuff like Narcos, Sicario, Blow (I think), and even Cocaine Cowboys, I feel it's a movie well worth a place among those others on the topic. Hope you enjoy it! 

 

@Graven. I recently bought a few flicks you've either seen, heard of, or may want to see. Slowly building up my 'nasties' collection..

 

*Don't Go In the House (the Arrow 3 disc, which soon sold out so mine is now worth a few bucks, lol. A previously banned video nasty here in UK).

*The Gestapo's Last Orgy (still refused a certificate in UK recently but 88 Films released it in the states instead so I nabbed it up, was worried customs might snoop into it though - Not seen it yet, but I know it's crazy!).

*Frankenhooker (lovely Arrow windowbox that I got new/sealed for 8 pounds!- Yet to see).

*Night of the Demon (another previously banned nasty from 88 Films with lots of bonus features - watched the extras as seen the film years ago but will watch again soon).

*Eaten Alive (you mentioned it a page or two back, fun flick indeed with moments similar to Texas Chain Saw Massacre I felt).

*The Mangler (with Robert Englund and Ted Levine. Based off a Stephen King short, fun but no epic with Robert Englund just hamming it up).

*Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (88 Films slasher collection. Not sure if I mentioned it but have had it for a few weeks. Crazy film though, if a bit short. But it also comes with a Linnea Quigley horror workout video from way back when. Utter madness!!).

 

Some good wholesome family viewing right there!

[Graven]

@Lonely-Martin Yes I reviewed Eaten Alive and Frankenhooker. Frankenhooker is funny, so is Brain Damage and Patty Mullen is starring in Doom Asylum too (got both Arrow releases).

I don't have Gestapo's Last Orgy, Night of the Demon is coming (not to be confused with Kevin Tenney's Night of the Demons from 1988 btw, which also features Linnea Quigley)

Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers has a unique mood, love it.

 

On topic!

I've been watching 2 or 3 movies every day, but I always do push-ups and crunches between the movies to decelerate the decaying effects of couch potatoism and zombification.

 

Lady Terminator (1988)

Print: Mondo Macabro DVD

Director: Jalil Jackson (H. Tjut Djalil)

 

 

I really dig this Indonesian cult movie. It's not a B-movie, it's a Z-movie and unquestionably in the compartment of so-bad-that-it-just-rocks, throughout.

The dialogue and acting are so clumsy you'll tear out of joy. Reminds me of watching Funny Bones (1995) first time, almost died in laughter but that's whole another story.

Lady Terminator however is one badass babe. She marches in a robotic fashion, assault rifle upright, terminating without mercy.

Besides being totally absurd and side-splitting, the movie is very violent. When Lady T gets going you begin to think about the body counter in Hot Shots! Part Deux.

 

It's easy to figure out the movie is intentional, modified imitation of Terminator movie. There are some straight copies from the original, like the eyeball fixing scene.

They put "Queen of the South Sea" legend and Terminator in same beaker, added few drops of black magic and this total cult oddity came out.

Will watch again soon.

Edited March 2 by Graven
removed empty lines

[DexMacLeod]

"Out of Death" 2021

 

I've long been curious to know if all of those straight to VOD Bruce Willis movies are as bad as they look and HULU's been suggesting this one for a little while now so I decided to check it out. Yeah, it's pretty terrible.

 

The basic plot is a woman (Jaime King) is hiking in the woods, witnesses a murder, and then spends the film running from and fighting off the bad guys. Bruce Willis gets involved at some point and ends up "running" from the bad guys as well.

 

Apparently, Bruce Willis was supposed to be on set for two days but "because of Covid" was only available for one day. This is what kept me watching. He seemed like a central part of the plot and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how that could be if he only filmed for one day. They solved this problem by just having his character completely disappear for long stretches at a time.

 

I feel like Jaime King must have had a fairly similar schedule because she's not in the film much more than Bruce is. This means the incredibly one note villains take up the vast majority of the runtime and every scene they're forced to carry just feels like filler. It's just a complete mess from beginning to end.

 

The saddest part is that as terrible as the film was I'll probably try at least one more Bruce Willis VOD movie. He apparently made enough of them last year alone that he's got his own Razzie Award category.

 

ETA: Forgot to mention that the nonsensical title was half of why I watched the movie, to figure out why the hell it had such a dumb name. There's no context for it in the film. I still have no idea what "Out of Death" is supposed to mean.

 

Edited March 3 by DexMacLeod

[Graven]

Lisa and the Devil (1974)

Print: Koch Media 3-Disc (Bluray + DVD + Extras) Collector's Edition.

Director: Mario Bava

 

 

I thought to watch this tonight being in a bit drowsy, relaxed mood and because I knew more or less what to except.

Ornamental, picturesque imagery with a spooky gothic tone. Beautiful stills pleasing to the eye. And some blood of course.

But this is not Bay of Blood. There's only 2 or 3 bloody scenes and they are softgore. Is that a new cateGORY?

The plot isn't super special, but it's ghastly in a similar fashion like some Edgar Allan Poe novels.

 

Lisa is spending a vacation in Spain. She departs from the tourist group and gets lost. She enters antique store.

Leandro (Telly Savalas AKA Kojak!) is in the store collecting his latest mannequin. Lisa thinks he's the Devil and flees.

The Spanish town is a labyrinth and it's getting dark. She gets a lift, but the car (very old car) conks out in front of a manor.

Lisa, the chauffeur and the couple are invited in, by the manor Countess's son.

Leandro just happens to be the butler of the manor. Besides having an impressive collection of mannequins,

he also has got a big collection of lollipops. Does the devil really like a lollipop or is there something more to it?

 

Not recommended for hardcore superhero or action junkies. It's too slow for ya taste man.

I give it 8/10.

[sabitsuki]

 

Underrated Jim Jarmusch film, Ghost Dog (1999) with Forest Whittaker.

 

It's about an enigmatic assassin who bases his entire philosophy on Hagakure, a post-shogunate samurai treatise. He communicates only by carrier pigeon, and is close friends with a mobster, who is coincidentally played by the actor that voiced Uncle Vince in TBOGT, and an ice cream vendor who only speaks French.

 

He kills a made man in front of the don's daughter, and later the mob wants him dead. There's a lot of allusions to two films, which are Le Samourai (1967) and Branded To Kill (1967), both also very good films about hitmen and assassins.

 

It's a very zen film that's also funny and weird. The film is paced like a Kitano film, so its trippy and surreal in a very subdued manner, with some very funny scenes peppered in between. The score by RZA is also really good.

 

 

Edited March 6 by sabitsuki

[TwistOfLime21]

 

A simple movie of kids going to stay with their grandparents for a week. But its an M Night Shamalamadingdong movie so its not really that simple. A horror movie that doesn't heavily rely on jump scares. The creepiness of the grandmother is all that was needed. I was able to overlook the plot holes and occasional cringe acting so it wasn't that bad of a movie. 

[Graven]

Eyeball (1975)

Print: 88Films Bluray

Director: Umberto Lenzi

 

 

Umberto Lenzi directed lot of great movies. I wouldn't rate Eyeball quite among his best, but it's still very enjoyable nonetheless.

The problem for my taste is that it does not have enough irrational bonkers action, like Almost Human or Oasis of Fear.

But then, this is a bit different type of movie. It's a mystery giallo without lengthy, building suspense similar to Argento's work.

 

Plot-wise there's not much to say.

A group of American tourists arrive at Barcelona. One by one the female tourists are being attacked by a killer,

wearing red gloves and a red rain coat they all received from their tourist guide.

The conclusive question is, why the killer likes eyeballs so much?

7/10

 

 

 

[Mister Pink]

 

Just watched a screening of The Godfather Part II in a theatre. I've only really ever watched it once before as a teen long ago and I forgot all the plot. 

 

What can I say? I have kind of mixed impressions of Part II. It's a great film, no doubt but I find it a lot more depressing. My experience of the film as being more depressing isn't a criticism of the film. In fact that might actually be a compliment to film because it created very palpable emotion, The filmmakers try tell a story and how I respond to it, is subjective in many ways.  The Godfather is more of an underdog film for Michael Corleone. It's kind of hard to beat that anti-hero rise to notoriety and to the top - that transformation! In Part II, we see him even colder and everyone suffers around him. The main theme seems to be that he's too good as his job that his blood family become neglected and so he becomes he own worst enemy. I kind of lost some respect for Michael. Because he can't keep his family together- not like his father could. He always was a bit of an outsider in his own family and I suppose Vito escaped his murder in Italy and gets a new lease of life In the USA. He was already a committed family man and working man before he transcends into a life a crime. Michael, was born into it and essentially resisted it for so long before he was pulled into it. 

 

Incredible story and incredible acting. I think I'll watch it again if it's in theatres in 2024 for it's 50th anniversary too. I've never watched Part III (only parts), and it's in the theatres again. So, I'll see if I can make it. 

 

 

[Graven]

Stagefright AKA Aquarius (1987)

Print: Shameless Bluray.

Director: Michele Soavi

 

 

Soavi's first direction is pretty snazzy and well done slasher, especially for the later 1980s that suffered from a plethora of overly cheesy horror.

The movie is set in theater, where a group of actors/dancers are having a general rehearsal for premiere.

One of the female dancers strains her ankle. She's driven to a mental institution by another actress for a checkup.

I didn't quite get why mental institution, it was probably the only hospital near the theater.

In the mental institution they have a serial killer strapped to bed. He manages to break free and go hide in their car.

The women return at the theater, but the other one gets dentally cared by pickaxe outside.

 

The director of the dance number wants to exploit the first murder as a way to increase the sales.

He names the owl-mask dancer with the name of the escaped serial killer. They don't know that the dancer who is supposed to wear the owl-mask is already killed,

and the guy acting behind the mask is the serial killer. Carnage begins. Last 30 minutes with the sole survivor were suspenseful.

 

Nice little things and twists along the story.

I liked the score too. It's partly classical, partly dance tunes and well arranged. Movie got awarded with fear section award in Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival.

8/10.

[Graven]

Inferno (1980)

Print: Blue Underground Bluray

Director: Dario Argento

 

 

Argento is definitely one of the greatest directors when it comes to aesthetic beauty in horror.

Just like in the cover, Inferno has lot of red and blue lighting in contrast with darkness and night.

It looks like a dreamy nightmare, and is very similar by storyline and procession to his previous movie Suspiria (1977).

Apart from few short outdoor shots, most of the action takes place in an art-deco era building concealing a secret of occult alchemy.

The plot is thin as foil paper, but as you unwrap it off the eye candy that's being offered to ingest, it becomes negligible.

Acting is good, but nothing phenomenal or memorable, the soundtrack stands out in the end.

My advise is to toss the plot in bin, and get immersed in the nightmare of gothic installation, artistic atmosphere and beautiful backgrounds.

7/10.

 

 

 

[TwistOfLime21]

Uncharted

 

Really fun movie. I wasn’t too keen on the casting of Tom but I was able to overlook it once the movie started. I didn’t know how it’d pace considering it was a several hour video game jammed into 90 or so minutes, but it worked. 

 

So far, it’s my favorite movie this year. 

[The Time Ranger]

@Graven

I remember watching Inferno several years ago, atmospheric and shot very well, with some scenes that I still remember such as.

Spoiler

The park scene with the rats and the vendor with the big knife.

 

Also this track from it is a standout, eerie and chilling, yet vaguely campy.

 

[Graven]

Demons (1985)

Print: Arrow 4K & Bluray combo. There are 3 different versions: English International, US English and Italian.

Director: Lamberto Bava

 

 

A mystic man in the subway is sharing free tickets to a horror film, that will be played in a theater called Metropol.

In the theater lobby, one of the participants tries on a shiny metallic mask hanging by motorbike handlebar.

She gets a scratch on cheek from it, just like one of the guys in the horror film they are watching.

The scratch does not cease to bleed, and the woman leaves to lavatory clean it.

She's seriously infected, the scratch begins to throb and explodes. She transforms into a demon.

Panic spreads among the viewers as they realize the events of the movie turn into reality.

They are trapped inside the theater and the demonic disease is deliciously infectious!

 

It was one of my favorites in the VHS era. I remembered it roughly, but had forgotten most of the details.

It's funny really what time does to memories. If someone had asked me two hours ago where Demons was filmed I could have sworn in the USA.

The outdoor scenes were filmed in Berlin, and the indoor scenes in Italy.

 

Demons has great gore scenes and over-the-top action. One of the craziest is the one where the hero gets a motorbike and samurai sword

from the lobby and rides in the theater slaughtering demons galore.

Not to mention the additional music score: Accept, Saxon, Billy Idol, Mötley Crüe etc.

8/10

 

Random gore question. What demons and trolls have in common?

 

Spoiler

Green Blood! At least if Troll 2 is your cup of green tea hahahaha

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16 by Graven
Just trolling

[Graven]

Total Recall (1990)

Print: Studio Canal 3x Bluray (Total Recall, Raw Deal & Red Heat)

Director: Paul Verhoeven

 

 

 

Script is loosely based on Philip K. Dick short story.

Arnold plays Douglas Quaid, a construction worker living with a beautiful wife (Sharon Stone).

Quaid has a nightmare about Mars, and he wants to go there. After seeing a commercial about memory implant business,

he visits the place and picks a two week holiday in Mars as a secret agent. The implanting process falls through and Quaid travels to Mars for real.

He joins a group of rebel mutants who are fighting against Cohaagen, a tyrannical head of Pyramid Mines.

 

Total Recall has everything I love in a movie. Science fiction setting, tons of action, cool characters, humor and the effects are amazing.

I just don't get tired watching this film again and again, once in a couple of years.

9/10.

 

 

[Graven]

Cobra (1986)

Print: Warner Bros. Bluray

Director: George P. Cosmatos

 

 

Stallone is Marion Cobretti, end-of-the-line police officer from zombie squad special unit.

He's called to situations when talking and negotiations don't seem to lead anywhere.

The city of Los Angeles is being terrorized by serial killer called night slasher.

Night slasher is a leader in some weird "New World" group. A fashion model Ingrid (Brigitte Nielsen)

accidentally happens to witness one of the murders driving by the scene, clearly seeing night slasher's face from the vicinity.

She's put under witness protection program, but there's a rotten apple in the police forces who's in the cult.

Cobretti has to protect Ingrid with his partner, and finish the New World cult entirely.

Marion Cobretti does not smile much and he keeps his sentences short. He rather goes straight to the point with his laser sight equipped Jatimatic.

 

A decent action thriller, better than I remembered for sure.

Stallone mumbles few good one liners and jokes, there's some of that 1980s vibe, car chases, fighting, suspense and plenty enough material destruction.

7/10.

 

 

[Mister Pink]

 

The Batman, 2022, Matt Reeves. 

 

I watched this in the cinema last week. I need to re-watch it. Unfortunately, I kind of ruined the film for myself by going to see it a very tried and a little bit distracted to it skewed my experience of the film. Absolutely my doing and not fault of the film. The opening scenes had me hooked immediately. It's a dark, detective-noir film. It's definitely Batman as a detective and it's less action-orientated and more of a mystery-noir-thriller. Pattison is a great Batman. He's perfect for the role. After watching him in Good Time, I realised how great of an actor this man is. I think Matt Reeves cast him based on his performance in Good Time, which is a brilliant film by the Safdie Brothers. It's not perfect, it could have been me but the film dragged on a bit. Multiple times I felt the film was coming close to an end and it just kept going. I never check my watch watching a film but I did with this. My partner said the same thing. I think it can do with a re-cut to sharpen it up a bit and I don't think it would lost anything. I'm not against long films either - the week before I was glued to The Godfather 2 in the the theatre and I was glued to every moment. Last Batman film I watched in a theater was The Dark knight Rises in 2012 and I remember it not feeling long at all. I loved it. 

 

Gotham City has never looked better. Looks to be a modern-day version of Joker's Gotham city. If I was to guess, they used Stagecraft, the 360 LED wall they use for the Mandalorian to get realistic lighting effects in a CGI environment. Because I remember seeing scenes of Batman/Catwoman on a roof with the only time it's not completely night and them being lit so realistically looking in respect on their environment, despite knowing that the background would be CGI. 

 

I'm going to re-watch this as I said I was tired. I got a little disinterested mid-way through. I take the blame for that. I also had no idea how long the film was going to be. I think if I had of known it was long, I would have been more prepared. Fans of Batman will like it, especially if you want a more darker/noir tone

 

 

The Hand Of God, 2021, Paolo Sorrentino

 

This is a semi-autobiographical coming of age film from Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino. It's not for everyone. I got so out of the loop from international cinema and arthouse cinema in the last 5-10 years that I almost forgot how great they are. Often the beauty of such films isn't dramatic plot points and "what's going to happen next" but in the more "mundane" day to day occurrences and familial relationships that shape us as we grow up. 

 

The film is kind of in two halves. It's about a young man growing up in Napoli Italy and the experiences that shape become formative moments in his life and his transition from being a teen to a young adult. The film is kind of surreal at times in how it portrays his family almost as caricatures. I read this is because this film is based on the memories of an man now in 50's, therefore our memories are more like caricatures of people and things we remember. Certain personality traits are amplified in the film because that's how we remember people. 

 

To those not used to watching this kind of film or not, might find it boring because there seems to be no plot that set up so we're guess what happens in the end. No, the interesting things are watching life as it happens and how our parents influence us and how sports idols influence us etc. The name of the film is obviously a reference to the legendary footballer Maradona. And there is a buzz about Napoli that he might come to play for them. It seems like a wishful dream. But we know Maradona does end up playing for Napoli. Anyway, the link of Maradona is nicely weaved into the story. I can't say why without spoiling it. 

 

The second half of the film is where it got more interesting for me. Our lead has a life-changing moment it's when we seem him more becoming a man.  It's nice that someone can make a such a film and although it's semi-autobiographical, it captures humanity growing up in a beautiful and strange way. It's nice that we have a record of life, that isn't documentary shows the beauty and sometimes tragedy of growing up. 

[The Time Ranger]

@Mister Pink

I've seen a couple of Sorrentino's films, namely The Great Beauty and Il Divo, I think you might appreciate them too. The Great Beauty is shot absolutely beautifully, and dabbles in some surreal imagery that I can still recall years later. As a creative person I think you'll find it a feast for the eyes. It was one of the first films I saw where I started googling afterwards, trying to find out what does this scene mean, what does this represent, some of the satire went over my head, me being far removed from the Italian highlife where it's set, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

 

It's been even longer since i've seen Il Divo but I recall it being a film of much intrigue and quite engaging, however go into it fully engaged as there's nearly as many characters as War and Peace. 

[Mister Pink]

27 minutes ago, The Time Ranger said:

@Mister Pink

I've seen a couple of Sorrentino's films, namely The Great Beauty and Il Divo, I think you might appreciate them too. The Great Beauty is shot absolutely beautifully, and dabbles in some surreal imagery that I can still recall years later. As a creative person I think you'll find it a feast for the eyes. It was one of the first films I saw where I started googling afterwards, trying to find out what does this scene mean, what does this represent, some of the satire went over my head, me being far removed from the Italian highlife where it's set, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

 

It's been even longer since i've seen Il Divo but I recall it being a film of much intrigue and quite engaging, however go into it fully engaged as there's nearly as many characters as War and Peace. 

Nice one. Thanks for recommendation. I actually watched the first 40mins of The Great Beauty but switched it off only because it was late and had to be up early in the morning. I never finished it but will do. And you're right, the whole dance/party scene at the start is just incredible. That was before I watched The Hand of God. 

 

Sorrentino as a director/writer is someone I must study more. I haven't watched Il Divo but will on your recommendation.  

[Semaj 2JZ♢]

Spider-Man No Way Home: What an awesome movie, mostly. The end, though? Nope. Are you sh*ttin me? I usually don't like the way the majority of movies end the way it is, but this one really missed the mark. Just stupid. So stupid. I know it's just a movie, but Hollyweird is just a dumpster fire of dead rats at this point.

[Mister Pink]

 

The Power of The Dog, 2021, dir Jane Campion

 

Went into this film blind and better for it. Really enjoyed this one. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee and is based on a novel by Thomas Savage. I thought Plemons and Dunst may have been cast for this after their phenomenal performance in Fargo season 2. They just have great chemistry together. 

 

The film is about two ranchers played by Cumberbatch and Plemons. They're polar opposites in many respects. Cumberbatch's character appears to be raw, grieving, manly rancher type and Plemon's is a bow-tie wearing, eccentrically dressed and more "metrosexual." Plemons character, George, finds love and marries a local widow. (Dunst) She has a son Peter played Smit-McPhee, who is artistic, perhaps introverted and gay. They all move in to the brother's ranch house but living with Cumberbatch's character, Phil, turns the wife to drink. He's a nasty character and he bullies those around him. Peter being gay on a ranch with hardened working men is made difficult as they jeer him and name call him. Phil mocks him too and has done from the start. However, Phil changes his mind and begins to mentor Peter in "how to be a man" but it's quite nefarious. He's so angry, volatile, homophobic that we might suspect Phil is just being "nice" as a ruse to lure Peter someone and potentially kill him. What happens in the end, I will not spoil. 

 

Definitely worth a watch if you like dramas. I thought it might be more of a western in a sense but like RDR1, it's 1925 and it's the end of the wild west.  And kind of the end for characters like Phil. 

 

Score is by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. 

 

 

[Big Molio]

Life of Pi (2012)

 

I haven't seen this for a good while, but it was on Prime so I gave Ang Lee's fantasy adventure a watch again. This really is a wonderful film. 

 

The film is about an Indian man (the late, great Irrfan Khan) who tells the story of his life to a journalist. He has a remarkable story to tell. Initially told in narration and flashback by the adult Piscine "Pi" Patel, the film takes us through Pi's childhood days in French India, growing up in and around his father's zoo. As Pi reaches his teens, his family decide to sell the zoo and move to Canda, taking the animals with them on a Japanese ship. A storm shipwrecks their vessel and Pi finds himself alone on a small boat with an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena and the zoo's most fearsome animal, a fully grown bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

 

This film is beautifully made, and the actor who plays the teenage Pi in the main body of the film (Suraj Sharma) is brilliant. The special effects used to bring the tiger to life are superb. Pi and Richard Parker must learn to live with each other on the boat if they are to survive.

 

The film is hard to categorise. It is a kind of modern fairytale or spiritual parable, with some survival elements and some dreamlike fantastical sequences, but the result is a triumph.

[Graven]

Don't Go in the House (1979)

Print: Arrow Video Bluray + DVD

Director: Joseph Ellison

 

Donny Kohler drives a Chevy pick-up. One night he returns from work and discovers his mother dead on a rocking chair.

First Donny thinks about calling the coroner, but he abandons the idea.

I can't blame him. By means of flashback we learn that his mother was truly a possessive and cruel woman.

When Donny misbehaved at childhood, mother burned his forearms over gas stove flame leaving huge lifelong scars.

Now that his mother is dead, he can finally live!

That is to fulfill the dream of roasting hot women in his custom-built sheet metal coated room using a flamethrower.

His mother does not seem to leave him in peace anyhow....

 

Surprisingly compelling low-budget horror movie. It's focused more on the character and life of the deranged killer than normally in these type of movies.

So there is depth, and a script reminding of movies like Psycho (the hint with obsessive mother on rocking chair is quite obvious) or later filmed Maniac and Nightmare (in a Damaged Brain).

I liked how Dan Grimaldi (Law & Order, The Sopranos) played the lead role, going crazy at times, but also being asocial and weak.

The flamethrower chamber is morbidly unique, and the lollapalooza level is high enough for my sleazy taste.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Graven]

Vampyres (1974)

Print: Blue Underground DVD

Director: José Ramón Larraz

 

Two female vampires living in an eerie castle hunt their victims by pretending to be hitchhikers.

The hapless men are first gotten drunk with a prime quality wine, lured to lovemaking and drained empty of their life force.

Familiar tale, and that's pretty much it. Plus the erotica, because erotica is a crucial part of the bloodsucking legend.

The sex scenes, there's straight and lesbian are uh, so fantastically salacious and sweet.

Atmosphere of the movie is in place, I hear you don't need sprinklers and 10 fog machines blowing behind the camera when shooting in England?

Oakley Court, famous also from Hammer vampire films was used for the fun house of this diabolical suction action.

Cast of the movie is small, and they all did great job, not to mention the ladies looked amazing.

If you've had enough of Count Dracula sucks, I recommend this alternative it will not leave you cold. 8/10

 

 

 

[WanteD1]

A Tale of Two Sisters 2003

 

 

IMO Sometimes some movies make you feel smart, this movie will make you feel dumb +

Spoiler alert: 

Spoiler

Our biggest enemy is our mind!

+ Read story explanation