Rate the Last Film you Watched

[LimeGreenLegend 4,303]

44 minutes ago, pete_95973 said:

Fences (neither of us have seen)

The Denzel Washington film?  That's absolutely fantastic.

Now would also be a good time to check out the film club selection for the month, The King of Comedy.  That goes for everyone. What else are you gonna do now that everything is shut 😄 

Edited March 21, 2020 by LimeGreenLegend

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

On 3/19/2020 at 8:05 PM, LimeGreenLegend said:

It's not as good as the first film, and the lore they build up is pretty ridiculous, but watching Keanu take out rooms full of dudes in brutally inventive ways, all shot with a pretty stylish eye kept me entertained for a couple of hours.

Pretty much sums up JW2 perfectly.  👍

[CatManDoza 3,474]

Just watched Marley & Me with the family. Not my choice, but it is what it is. a decent 6/10 from me, funny in parts, but not the most engaging story line. Ending bought back painful memories of having my own best friend put to sleep 18 months ago. Was also nice to see my 11 year old turn back into a kid again as he sobbed his eyes out and cuddled up with me. Thern 5 minutes after the film, turning back into his pre-pubescent self!

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

6 minutes ago, CatManDoza said:

Thern 5 minutes after the film, turning back into his pre-pubescent self!

Pre-pubescent is soooo easier better than pubescent!

I am a ‘life ruiner’ until some financial backing is needed. As I said the other night Bing is self isolating, which means he is out more than normal.

[djw180 7,026]

The Man with the Iron Heart

The story of the assination of Reynard Heydrich, the No.3 in the n*zi government in WWI. He was killed in Prague by Czech resistance in a mission planned by the Czech army in exlie in Britain. An important, brutal, story, but confusingly told. It starts in the early 1930s as if it were a biopic of Heydrich, how his career as a naval officer was ruined following an affair, but then rescued by his future wife, already in the n*zi party, who uses her connections to get him a job in the SS. But then it quickly changes to the Czech army / resistance, how they planned the mission, carried it out, and the brutal aftermath with hundreds killed in reprisals. The most striking thing was the resistance fighters knew it was effectively a suiicde mission, not just for them but for their familiies as well. But they went ahead feelling they had to show the top n*zis they were not untouchable.

Worth seeing but could have been done better. 6/10.

Edited March 23, 2020 by djw180

[CatManDoza 3,474]

Another night, another film night with the family.

Tonight was my daughters choice and she picked the new Aladdin. You all know the story, lamp, rub, wishes, carpet, evil c*nt, happy ending.

Was pleasently suprised by it after turning my nose up at it to begin with, good effects, good humour and I rate it a solid 8 scratchings out of 10 Highly enjoyable for a disney reboot.

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

 

The Reef (2010]

Directed by Andrew Traucki

Another Australian shark film? I gotta stop letting Bing pick our films.

This was head and shoulders above our last venture down under though. Starts of a bit shaky and leaves you wondering where it’s going to go.

Spoiler

Didn’t know it was loosely based on actual events, very loosely though.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/07/27/Shark-kills-two-people-in-Coral-Sea/5863428126400/

Once what the film is about becomes apparent though the tension builds well and despite being a little predictable it was really enjoyable.

7/10

[doubleg213 746]

On 3/21/2020 at 9:14 PM, CatManDoza said:

Just watched Marley & Me with the family. Not my choice, 

 

[CatManDoza 3,474]

2 hours ago, doubleg213 said:

 

It wasn;t honest, it makes me cry too much!!

They keep saying its my choice each night, yet I never get a choice

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

1 hour ago, CatManDoza said:

It wasn;t honest, it makes me cry too much!!

They keep saying its my choice each night, yet I never get a choice

I know that feeling so I made a work around...

Let them pick but it can’t be a film we’ve watched before or an animated film, rules out 90% of the crap they’ll pick and we all watch something new.

[CatManDoza 3,474]

22 minutes ago, JuniorChubb said:

I know that feeling so I made a work around...

Let them pick but it can’t be a film we’ve watched before or an animated film, rules out 90% of the crap they’ll pick and we all watch something new.

Hmmmmm good idea. 

Any way, another day, another film, tonight was Christopher Robin, the winnie the pooh live action film. Gotta say, I really enjoyed it, had a good laugh at pooh and eeyore. A very good solid 8/10.

Hopedully when this corona sh*t is over ill be able to watch and review an adult film

[LimeGreenLegend 4,303]

Toy Story 4

dir. Josh Cooley

Toy Story 4 is the latest instalment in Pixar's flagship franchise.  Directed by Josh Cooley, it sees the return of Woody (Tom Hanks) Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the gang.  Following on from the end of Toy Story 3, the toys now belong to Bonnie, and Woody is finding himself on the outs in terms of popularity.  He still cares about her though, because he's her toy, and when he sees her attachment to a toy she made herself, Forky (Tony Hale), he's determined to make sure Forky stays around.  You see, Forky is an actual plastic fork, and as such sees himself as trash and is always trying to throw himself away.  This leads to him and Woody getting lost, finding his old flame Bo Peep (Annie Potts) at a travelling carnival.

I don't know how Pixar manages to keep this franchise so good when most of their other sequels are pretty average, but they've done it again.  From the first scene I was hooked.  This film, like every other Toy Story film, made me laugh out loud and cry myself dry, sometimes in the same scene.  The music by Randy Newman is perfect, giving the whole film a bittersweet, sentimental feel.  The new characters they introduce are also instantly memorable.  From Keanu Reeve's Duke Kaboom to Anna Kendrick's Gabby Gabby, who has a brilliant arc, and Key and Peele as Bunny and Ducky, I loved all of them, and you don't miss seeing much of the old gang when you're with them.

The quality of the animation is breathtakingly good, from the environment and set design to character movement and costumes.  I can't imagine how long it takes to render one frame of this film.  Even though the ending of this film feels like a definitive ending, and you could say that about Toy Story 3, I would still be happy to watch another film in this series as they seem to always put their heart and all of their effort into these movies, and it shows in every shot 9/10

 

=================================================

Aladdin

dir. Ron Clements and John Musker

Aladdin (1992) is the classic Disney film about a young street rat, Aladdin (Scott Weinger/Brad Kane singing) who falls in love with the princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin/Lea Salonga singing) and aims to win her heart with the aid of the magical genie of the lamp (Robin Williams).  Everyone's seen this so I'll forgo the plot synopsis.  This is a brilliant film, up there with the very best of the Disney library.  The animation is simple but inventive with a gorgeous colour palette that goes from golden reds and yellows to brooding deep purple and blue.  The character design is classic Disney, again simple but iconic, with so much expression in both facial and body language.  The real stars of the show for me are Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, the songwriting duo who, along with this film, also wrote the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, so they are probably the people most responsible for the Disney renaissance of the late 80s/early 90s.  Every song in this film is brilliant, from the mysterious opener Arabian Nights, the introduction songs for Aladdin and the Genie which both set up their personalities perfectly, One Jump Ahead and Friend Like Me, and the all time classic duet, and the only Disney song to win a Grammy for song of the year, A Whole New World.

The supporting cast is full of memorable characters with their own distinct designs and personalities, from Jasmine's doddering old father (Douglas Seale), to the iconic villain of the piece, Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) always accompanied by his faithful parrot familiar, Iago (Gilbert Gottfried).  This was a joy to rewatch after seeing it last a couple of decades ago, and it still holds up as strong as ever today. 9/10

 

Yes.  I did just subscribe to Disney+ 😄 

[zmurko 7,622]

Is it worth investing 3.5h of my time to watch The Irishman?

Or is it better to watch 2 movies instead? 😂

[LimeGreenLegend 4,303]

Just now, zmurko said:

Is it worth investing 3.5h of my time to watch The Irishman?

I'd say yes, it's an excellent film, just don't expect it to be like Goodfellas.

[CatManDoza 3,474]

2 minutes ago, zmurko said:

Is it worth investing 3.5h of my time to watch The Irishman?

Or is it better to watch 2 movies instead? 😂

thats another on my to watch list, but with the wife and kids here, more chance of plating p*ss than watching that

[JustHatched 12,123]

The Platform

Watched it on Netflix, it is an interesting movie about a prison of sorts where there is different levels, 2 people on each level with a large hole in the middle. It is a weird movie, the tyoe of wierd where you think why am I watching this and yet you can't stop watching it.. 7/10 from me cuz it really gets into the savagry of being human when things get tough and it does that well IMO even though it is weird. @Con, I would love for you to watch this, I am curious what your thoughts would be.

[Con 5,727]

26 minutes ago, JustHatched said:

The Platform

@Con, I would love for you to watch this, I am curious what your thoughts would be.

First time hearing about it so this should be good. Going into it blind. 

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

7 hours ago, JustHatched said:

The Platform

Watched it on Netflix, it is an interesting movie about a prison of sorts where there is different levels, 2 people on each level with a large hole in the middle. It is a weird movie, the tyoe of wierd where you think why am I watching this and yet you can't stop watching it.. 7/10 from me cuz it really gets into the savagry of being human when things get tough and it does that well IMO even though it is weird. @Con, I would love for you to watch this, I am curious what your thoughts would be.

Watched this too Hatch...

I gotta go with 7/10 too (maybe 6.5). Some great ideas they are not afraid to look into very graphically at times and some great individual scenes.

But as whole too many inconsistencies and the plot goes nowhere IMO. This just takes away from what was an enjoyable watch slightly.

Also the trailer calls the film El Hoyo which translates as The Hole, why the f*ck is it called The Platform on Netflix. This annoyed me more than any of the plot holes.

[LimeGreenLegend 4,303]

Brawl in Cell Block 99

dir. S. Craig Zahler

Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a prison drama film from the same writer/director as Bone Tomohawk, and stars Vince Vaughn, playing against type as a brooding, imposing ex-boxer turned drug runner.  Recently fired from his job, and needing money to start a family with his wife Lauren (Jennifer Carpenter), Bradley returns to his former life as a drug runner.  After a deal gone wrong he finds himself in prison, and due to certain circumstances, needs to find a way into cell block 99 to kill a prisoner there.  With a title and poster like that this film is surprisingly slow paced, but that's a positive for me.  Bradley doesn't even get to prison until an hour in, but we spend that time really getting to know his character, making us care about the situation he's in.

When he does get to prison we get to see some brutal fights, although they do become a bit over the top and schlocky at times.  I've never seen Vince Vaughn like this, but he really pulls it off.  When he's not making jokes all the time he can be a really threatening presence, especially with the shaved head.  The film has a bleak, washed out palette that matches Bradley's life, with the brightest colour in the film being his bright orange prison uniform.  It's also very well directed, with a great use of shadows, and he really likes to hold on a shot for longer than usual to let us feel the weight of the emotions, like the first time Bradley sits down on his prison bed.

The supporting cast is solid, but nothing special.  Don Johnson does a good job as the black-clad prison warden and Carpenter is sympathetic as Bradley's wife.  The main negative for me are the almost comically gory moments, which take away from the seriousness and brutality of the actual fights.  This is especially true of the very end of the film, the last shot before the credits seems like a joke, which is a shame because the scene up until that point was excellent, with a fantastic emotional performance from Vaughn.  It's like the film wants to be a serious drama and a 70s exploitation film at the same time, which just confuses the tone at points.  Still very well made, with a great surprise performance from Vince Vaughn, 7/10

 

 

[Con 5,727]

The Platform (2019)

The Awesome: Amazing visual thought provoking narrative. The way the story unfolds would not be as interesting or compelling without that awesome meticulous script. Although the film is in spanish, I can assure you that the subtitles were extremely accurate and I think that is why I liked the script so much, nothing was lost in translation. The characters were great and that is a credit to the actors which do a fantastic job. Goreng (Ivan Massague) does a superb job of taking us on his journey, one which is terrifying, courageous, and dumb since he volunteers to enter the Platform, or Hole. His first cellmate, Trimigasi (Zorion Eguileor) was tremendous as he handles the all important exposition that fills us in on what to expect and he does it so compelling that when he says that sometimes cellmates are changed out, I was upset at the implication that he may just be a minor role. I felt the gore and shock moments were done expertly here. Nothing felt gratuitous and really fit the situations, and some of those situations were disturbing and terrifying but oh soooooo fantastic. The way the story unfolds is just fun. I loved the metaphor of needing people above you to give you a hand to get out of your situation, one which you don't get until the third act of the film and when it comes, even if it was for that brief moment, I was filled with hope. Then I get hit in the face with a turd, well not me, but damn it sure felt like it was me, cause I believed! lmfao. 

The Good: The production design, editing, and lighting together with the superb directing makes this film visually exciting. The limited setting never gets boring because although every level is identical, who we see in them changes and really added to my curiosity and I could not wait to see what was going to happen next. The editing was also outstanding here as I never got bored of the location or situation, unlike a similar concept film "The Cube", which I did like but I did get bored with the repetitiveness of their clue solving. The Platform has no such clue solving for the characters, it's survival of the fittest or luckiest. The film's concept which although borrows from other films still felt fresh to me and I think that was because of the food platform, I don't remember ever seeing that element used like that before and it was truly mind-boggling good, when it is first introduced it was such an unexpected mind-f*ck and can imagine those with brumotactillophobia running out the room. The violence was brutal and while you expect it, when it happens it's done so well that it stuns you for a second. The acting by the supporting and minor cast all do  a great job and should get credit, even those that were just there to get their heads clobbered. Baharat (Emilio Buale Coka) was very believable and I felt for him when he losses his only possession and was the perfect companion to go with Goreng on the final mission. 

The Bad: The mission to "send the message" was a bit muddled and came across as if it were the first time anyone had thought of the strategy to get to the top. Not a lot about "The Administration" is learned and while it is hinted that the Platform is a social experiment, not much is explained about who runs it and how exactly it works. Towards the end I wanted to know how the platform worked since it seems to levitate like magic. This took me out of the immersion because I was now thinking about the films universe, were we in the future? were they using magnetic propulsion for the platform? did aliens build this thing? is it present time but with some magical platform thing that would not make sense in the real world?....Well, If that was explained early, I sure missed that part. Again, i didn't totally mind not knowing everything at the end but since this doesnt need a sequel, why not cut some of the last mission and give us some more stuff to chew on regarding The Administration. This film is subtitled, so those anti-sub folks will miss out......(cause it's a fun read).

The Ugly: While the ending wasn't terrible, I think because we endure so much with Goreng, that it's natural for us to want to experience a different ending, cause we really deserve it, we suffer and experience the dread just like the main character and we all know the what would have been a fully satisfying ending even it had been cliched, so would a different ending have been better? Sure -----but it's only because we are shown an interesting and fascinating development that I wanted to see to fruition. What was going to be the outcome and aftermath of the "message" getting to the very top? That's some compelling stuff. Plus, it also gave me the burning questions of how was survival of the message possible?, why am I seeing this?, and lastly, what the f*ck?. This is the main issue with the ending, the payoff lacks the reward of our own expectation, all while leaving us with questions vastly more interesting than the sacrifice we just witnessed. I thought the only weakness in the story was the time of the decision to go on the mission, I mean, at Level 6????...after he had experienced Level 48 and Level 171....no way that made sense to me. 

Final Verdict...3/5... I really want to give this a ...4/5...because any film that has a person getting hit in the face with a few turds should get a point for that alone. I really found myself immersed from the start, the way everything is presented was just very entertaining. I found it inventive and dark. Sure somethings didn't make sense like why didn't Imoguiri (Antonia San Juan) kill Goreng or Trimigasi when we see her attack others randomly at times. The end left us with wanting to see more and that is always disappointing because in my opinion, it was probably the most unexpected thing in the film for me. Come on filmmaker, people had to read for 90 minutes and you do them like that? I really enjoyed this and while there is a crap-ton of metaphors, messages, and parallels that apply to our current society, I just focused on the story and to save you reading time, I want to avoid talking about the obvious message contained within the film of how the people at the top with an overabundance, don't think about the people at the bottom and how the people at the bottom p*ss down at the people even lower than them, like the homeless, it isn't just the rich that turn their noses up at the homeless people on the streets. One of the best scenes is when Goreng's new cellmate wants to persuade the men in the level below to just eat a small amount and ration plates for the next level...they dismiss her pleads but then an irritated Goreng takes charge and that exchange ends with him explaining why we cannot persuade people at the top to give a f*ck about others by saying this line...."Because I cannot sh*t upwards"....just wow, screenwriter, just wow! I found this to possess the same messages the 2019 Best Picture, Parasite gets across about established levels of society. Thanks for the suggestion, @JustHatched. This wasn't on my radar at all and now I want to learn more about the film. So thanks.

Edited March 27, 2020 by Con

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

32 minutes ago, Con said:

Nothing felt gratuitous and really fit the situations, and some of those situations were disturbing and terrifying but oh soooooo fantastic.

Great review, what I quoted stood out to me, spot on.

Also ‘because I cant sh*t upwards’ was a line and a half,  great comic relief in the middle of the madness whether it was intentional not.

[Con 5,727]

33 minutes ago, JuniorChubb said:

Great review, what I quoted stood out to me, spot on.

Also ‘because I cant sh*t upwards’ was a line and a half,  great comic relief in the middle of the madness whether it was intentional not.

Thanks for reading it!! ...and Totally! That line was comical but damn haunting in its reality. “If we could make the rich suffer...maybe they would change.” 
So many layers of meaning throughout that had I covered all my thoughts, I’d still be writing that review. 

[JuniorChubb 3,360]

1 minute ago, Con said:

Thanks for reading it!! ...and Totally! That line was comical but damn haunting in its reality. “If we could make the rich suffer...maybe they would change.” 
So many layers of meaning throughout that had I covered all my thoughts, I’d still be writing that review. 

I watched the first 10 mins a few days ago, stopped it and saved it to watch with my son. Due to those ‘layers of meaning’ it is a great film for him to review/essay while not at school as opposed to the ‘boring stuff’ he has to write about for English. 

[Con 5,727]

1 hour ago, LimeGreenLegend said:

Brawl in Cell Block 99

I like a good prison drama. I Always highlight this but never press play. But after reading your review, I will watch it. Vince Vaughan as I’ve never seen him before, I can always appreciate artists when they pull that off. Like the first time I saw P*e-Wee Herman sniffing cocaine with hookers in Cheech & Chong’s Nice Dreams. That was shocking.  Lmao. 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Con

[LimeGreenLegend 4,303]

3 minutes ago, Con said:

I can always appreciate artists when they pull that off.

If you've not seen Adam Sandler in Uncet Gems yet you gotta see that too.