Amph What was the last movie you saw?

RoboCop. The remake. I was in the mood for an action movie and didn't particularly care if it was good. And maybe just because I didn't grow up on eighties movies, but I didn't hate it. The political commentary is clunky as hell, and in general, it's one of those films that's just kind of there. The action is okay, the drama is nothing special, the plot is functional. It's not bad enough to dislike, but it's not good enough to care. It's just two hours of acceptability. I did like the cast, though. Michael K. Williams is wasted as . . . whatever the hell RoboCop's original name was's partner. Gary Oldman gets the role of the movie as a scientist who means well, but at every step caves in to pressure to make the product work. He's by far the best part of the movie. The pressure comes from Michael Keaton, who's delightfully slimy as the corporate executive who's able to spin himself a self-justifying narrative for the worst crap. You've also got amusing supporting turns from Samuel L. Jackson and Jay Baruchel. It's too bad the cast were better than the movie they were in.

 

Batman v. Superman - Liked Affleck and Gadot. Disliked Luthor and the reason why Bats & Supes fight, but it did pose some interesting questions about metahumans. Superman was utterly wrong though. I feel bad for Henry, he's a good fit for Superman but the writing / characterization is completely off. And the whole Doomsday thing didn't quite work for me either. I'll see Justice League...

Presently renting Deadpool. When it's funny, it's LOL funny and an interesting, sweet core story. I am surprised about that. I really liked Colossus too. He is perfect. And the woman who played the blind roommate was fun too.

 

The Bridge on the Rive Kwai
This was part of my Episode 8 Movie Marathon. The movies Rian Johnson asked the cast and crew to watch.

A movie largely mocking those fine military notions of Honour and Duty. A prideful captured British office... Alec Guinness at his prime... in a game of wits against his Japanese capture who must maintain face, honour. William Holden as a cynical escapee American who is railroaded in returning through the jungle to blow up the Bridge.

All the high principles that in the end, result in so much suffering, death, and loss. All for nothing. "Madness. Bloody Madness"

If this is a theme Rian is introducing into Star Wars, well, interesting.

 

Man of Tai Chi. Keanu Reeves makes his directing debut with a martial arts film. Our protagonist, Tiger Chen, is a delivery boy who's constantly being told to hurry by everyone except his Tai Chi master, who urges him to slow down and meditate, something Tiger never quite seems to have time for. He's sucked into the world of underground fighting by Keanu, clearly having fun playing the villain, with the question of whether he'll lose his way, plus the presence of a Hong Kong detective investigating Reeves's sinister operation. The plot is pretty standard, but the execution is solid, with tons of fighting. The choreography isn't particularly innovative, but it's quality, and the fight scenes are kinetic but cleanly, comprehensibly shot, a true rarity. The film shows Reeves's affection for the genre, and the direction is really pretty good. I never thought I'd say it, but I would watch a Keanu Reeves-directed movie again. His performance is actually pretty good too; apparently as a director he knows how to get the most out of himself. It's not a role that calls for a lot of heavy lifting -- he just has to be sinister right up to the edge of cheese and growl every line in his best Batman voice -- but he knows how to do the little touches and present himself in the right way to make his villain commanding, threatening, and malevolent, with just the right hint of genuine passion for the Eastern world and martial arts. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by a very strong martial arts movie.

 

The Legend of Tarzan and before that Ghostbusters. Both ok films. Not the best, not the worst but worth seeing in theaters.

TLOT 3D was terrible. GB's was very good.

I'm next planning on seeing TPOTA '68 with a special Dr Zaius "interview".

 

I am quite sad about the Tarzan reviews. I wanted it to be good.

Watching Inception now on Netflix while I cook Sunday dinner (chicken with a lemon up its bum). Interesting watching it years later with a more thorough understanding of what is going on.

 

Everybody Wants Some!! A totally infectious good time. Linklater never comes close to a hint of plot; all he wants is to hang out with the members of a college baseball team in the days leading up to the first day of class in 1980, as they hang out, wander around, and start the process of bonding. If Dazed and Confused tried to encompass the whole high school experience, this is a more focused film, both in having an actual lead character, and in focusing in on a more specific aspect of youth. It's about being without adult supervision, adjusting to college -- where the comforting familiarity of high school is gone and people have to develop their identities -- but it's really about male camaraderie, about how something as simple as being on the same team can bring together all these different guys from around the country, almost instantly, drinking and dancing and doing stupid crap and doing nothing in particular, just bonding. It might sound negative, but the film is really an ode to being young, horny, and a little dumb, living in the moment and thinking you're the coolest thing around, in the best way. Like Dazed and Confused, it's a nostalgia piece, but not really for the historical era it's set in so much as for a time of life, that period when you felt young and free and invincible. And dammit if it isn't just overwhelmingly pleasant. I loved every minute of it. Great cast of young actors, too. Like Dazed and Confused, a lot of them should be going places over the next few years. I think the standout was Glen Powell as Finn, who just dominated whatever scene he was in.

Most disturbing moment, though: realizing the jacked alpha-dude team captain with the porn stache and short shorts . . . was the kid from Road to Perdition.

 

Sword of Destiny Some people have theorized that Netflix is under a contractual obligation to only offer terrible movies. This is probably their best evidence. They took what was an epic, interesting Chinese prestige film, sucked it dry of everything but the karate fights, and then strung it together with a stupid plot. Still serviceable at times, it mostly served as a huge disappointment, and a reminder of why streaming media companies shouldn't attempt vertical integration as content makers.

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - 'Nuff said. - 10/10

 

Supergirl (1984). Helen Slater gives a good performance as the title character and Jerry Goldsmith's score is up to his usual high standards, it's just too bad that the actual film is a total mess.

 

Oblivion (2013)

The visuals and music make this film so beautiful.

 

The Hand Cuff (1979) Again. One of the earliest examples of a triad hit man trying to go straight and failing on an epic scale. So much of Chan Wai Man beating down and killing his way through almost everyone that betrays him. All kinds of glorious win.

 

Batman: The Killing Joke
I love the graphic novel and know it well, so I was a bit confused when the film started with a Batgirl story. Turns out TKJ's short story has been bookended to flesh out Batgirl/Gordon's character... Knowing the original material so well meant it was quite jarring, but I think it would probably seem less disjointed if you were approaching the film fresh.

Mark Hamill shines. He's probably the best Joker, and he channels a few other great Jokers in this performance too - all in the best possible taste; it never feels like he's hamming it up or ripping anyone off. If you're a Hamill fan check this out as it's some of his best work without a lightsaber. Props to the director and sound editor too.

Batman V Superman (Extended Cut)
Oh so THAT'S what was going on...

No seriously I loved the cinema release (despite the depiction of Lex and the mums called Martha business) and this is even better. Actually I don't know if the added minutes make it any better, maybe I just understood it better the second time round. Ah well. I can't bring myself to criticise this too much, it's so full of stuff seemingly designed to thrill me personally. I can't wait for Suicide Squad, and when does Gotham start up again?

 

Stardust is super underrated. Gaiman's a fantastic writer, but even so, I actually prefer the movie to the book.

 

Sky Cinema channel 304 (which ran through Star Trek last week) is doing all of the Potter films. Just watched Philosopher's Stone today. Chamber of Secrets is tomorrow.

 

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. I know the odd numbered Trek films aren't very highly regarded, but I've always liked this one a lot.

 

POTA '68 at the theater! What a classic! Ahhhh Nova ♡, so nice to finally see you on the big screen! The beginning and ending interview with "Dr. Zaius" was hilarious! I liked it when he said, " I miss Merv Griffin." Hahahahahaha!

 

Ice Age: Collision Course

 

Star Trek Beyond. Classic Trek. Much better than Star Trek into Darkness.

 

I wanna go to this tomorrow. Dr. Zaius = Dana Gould

 

Well folks just got back from Batman TKJ and........yeah.......

Let's just say the next time I see BM & BG together I won't think father/daughter or at the very least big bro/Lil sis.

 

Piper (2016) – Alan Barillaro

Piper is the short film that precedes Finding Dory in theaters and it’s of the usual Pixar quality. It’s a simple tale, that of a young sandpiper trying to learn the basics of feeding itself. But it’s beautifully, gorgeously animated and it has several big laughs. The character of the young piper is beautifully realized; you’d swear you were looking at real footage at certain times in the film. And, ultimately, it added up to a truly joyous climax. Adorable, hilarious, beautiful and it leaves you with a big smile. 4 stars.

tl;dr – Pixar short finds pathos, hilarity and, ultimately, exuberant joy in a young sandpiper’s quest to become self-reliant. 4 stars.

More Movie Reviews!

 

That odd/even Trek formula never worked for me because I've always liked the oddly numbered Search for Spock more than the evenly numbered Voyage Home (and w/TNG films, I like the oddly numbered Insurrection far, far, far more than Nemesis). SFS has two of my all-time favorite Star Trek movie moments. Stealing the Enterprise (Horner is at his absolute best there) and tricking the Klingons and subsequent destruction of the Enterprise.

Gah! I'm a huge POTA fan and I was bummed when I saw my local cinema was playing it this week and I couldn't go because of my work schedule. Dumb 'ole work.

 

Lights Out
Umm, enjoyable. The mechanics of the antagonist make a lot of the scares predictable (really wish i hadn't seen the trailers), but there are still some good ones. i liked some of the story elements, but much of the exposition is weak/disposable. strong performances and a nice lean visual style kept me in for the ride. definitely fun in a packed theater

7/10