Amph What was the last movie you saw? (Ver. 2)

Yes, we did discuss around the time 3 came out. Agreed. I’ve never seen 31 and have no desire to, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen Brake do.

@Rogue1-and-a-half you’re not missing anything by not seeing a complete Rob Zombie movie. I am glad he’s given some great cult actors a second wind at their careers though. Wish Moseley would get more work, he’s terrific.

 

The Old Guard, Charlize Theron.

 

Funan (2019)
An animated period piece set it the mid to late 70s featuring a young couple who was separated by their little boy at the beginning of the Khmer Rouge revolution in Cambodia. Certainly not a family film by any stretch of the imagination; but it was very well done by its French producers and gives its mature viewers a sample of what life was like for these innocent civilians caught up in a war they couldn't have wanted any part in.

 

The New Mutants

My shortest review ever: It was ok. 6/10.

 

Busting (1974) is a rare throwback to old-school police procedurals that still feels fresh and full of raw energy, with excellent performances by Elliott Gould and Robert Blake and a gritty feeling that take you back to 70s Los Angeles. Sure, it's a bit by the book, but that still plays great even tough it can't help feel familiar in some spots.

 

Booksmart (2019)
Really enjoyed it.

 

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

"Either you have a wife or just a wife-shaped loneliness waiting for you."

You don't get a line like that in every movie.

 

I can understand this - new actors, similar story, let's-see-where-TPTB-takes-this vibe ... I've not seen the movie, but the feels are familiar. Let's hope this leads to WOW! Where did that come from!! in a continuation.

 

On the Fiddle 1961 comedy starring Alfred Lych stars as Popey, a man always looking for the next scam who is forced to enlist for WWII by a judge after caught selling dodgy goods. In the army he meets Pedlar played by Sean Connery who's a bit of a buffoon and he helps Popey with his various scams to stop them both being sent to the France. But each scam is leading them closer to being sent to the front line due to the trouble they are causing. Its quite an easy going comedy, very much of its time, which ends up taking a slightly more serious turn in the last 15mins as they get caught on the front line and have to engage the Germans. Its got a lot of very familiar faces from UK TV and cinema. Its strange seeing Connery in a pre-Bond role where hes playing someone easily lead and a dim wit.

 

The Half of It (2020)
A Netflix Original movie. Ellie Chu is a senior in high school. She doesn't have any real friends, but her classmates still rely on her to type up report papers for them (for a price). One day one of her classmates approaches her with a a bold proposition; to write a love letter to a girl he likes. She's initially reluctant to do it; not because she's uncomfortable writing letters but because she actually likes that girl too! I think of the movie as sort of a modern twist to the Steve Martin movie, Roxanne. I enjoyed it. The actors were all pretty much down to Earth, and the protagonist, played by Leah Lewis, reminded me of a precocious Ellen Page in Juno.

 

I've noticed Demi Moore popping up in a few things lately , I don't think I've seen her in anything for about 10 years , I thought she'd quit acting. Anyway I watched this comedy last night she was in , I've forgotten the title but it was very much like the Horrible Bosses movies , wasn't much good.

 

Just Friends.

 

Viking Destiny (2018)
Not bad for a low budget film. The story hits most of the usual Viking plot points: oaths, betrayals, curses, lost heirs, challenges, babies switched at birth, random appearances by Odin and Loki, battles, weddings, and wanderings. I wish they had spent more money on sets and less on fake blood. Still, if they make a sequel, I'll probably watch it.

 

Message From the King (2017)

Gritty revenge drama sporting about a mysterious drifter avenging the death of his sister. It sports a great performance from Chadwick Boseman and little else.

 

Overlord
Which is a nicely nutso WW2 horror.
Evil German scientists performing horrific experiments with big needles of reanimating serum, while brave US troops and a hot French girl save the day.

If you want an even more insane, and much lower budget version of of the theme, watch Frankenstein's Army for a truly "What the hell was that?" experience.

 

The Hunger Games

As I'd never seen this series before or read the books, thought it was time to check it out, especially since it is streaming for free as it were.

It was much better than I assumed it would be and much darker. The actors did well, especially the heroine, and the story is quite horrific in its dystopian themes. The metaphor is rich in this time, now more than ever.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Got a bit of a been here, done that vibe from this picture and the GMs ability to make things nearly impossible up until the last minute got old real quick. Video game movies don't interest me for the most part.

Anyhow, the first film in this series was interesting largely due to the shock value of the story and the way it was told; this seemed like a sequel desperately trying to up the stakes and it only partially worked.
A disappointment overall.

No plans to continue watching this series anytime soon.

 

Wisest thing to do really

 

I didn't see the first one, but I thought the last three got progressively better.

 

But in part 4 they actually follow them from Amity all the way to the Bahamas with a roar.

Like an actual lion.

 

My Best Fiends Wedding
Starring Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz.
Rom Com, funny. heartwarming, and thought provoking.

 

What if they compromised and spent more money on bloody sets?

 

FWIW, I thought Catching Fire was by far the worst of the movies, and certainly by far the worst adaptation. Suzanne Collins (the writer of the books) wasn't involved in the Catching Fire adaptation, and it shows. The shock value comes back and works better in Mockingjay, and there are some good twists. Catching Fire put me off the movies for a while, then I went back and finished, and was glad I did. You might as well finish while the first two are still fresh in your mind.

 

Tenet for the third time.

 

Wow, that must be some kind of record