Film Thread

[Baz]

Hmmm not sure what to make of Matrix Resurrections. The beginning is very relatable but, and this has been really apparent after going on a Matrix kick, “action movies” just really aren’t for me. So when a fight scene goes on for longer than a minute I really do just glaze over and could easily wander off and tidy the loft and feel far more engaged.

So in that respect, it’s better than the second one but it’s still pretty duff.

Also if you’re not gonna get the real Morpheus/Smith, just don’t bother.

[Ian]

I considered putting a Christmas film on while I did my wrapping but then I spotted Disney+ has Aliens so that was that.

It's still fucking mega and Ripley is one of the best protagonists going.

[Bernanke]

Matrix ruled. I totally get that it won't work for a lot of people, but it's by far my favourite of the sequels.

[Lofty]

I considered putting a Christmas film on while I did my wrapping but then I spotted Disney+ has Aliens so that was that.

It's still fucking mega and Ripley is one of the best protagonists going.

Director's cut? My christmas present to myself was a nerf pulse rifle :cool:


Matrix ruled. I totally get that it won't work for a lot of people, but it's by far my favourite of the sequels.

That's a low bar to be fair.

[Bernanke]

Director's cut? My christmas present to myself was a nerf pulse rifle :cool:



That's a low bar to be fair.

It's also better than the new Spiderman.

[Boydy]

I'm half an hour into Don't Look Up and it's absolutely horrible.
What did you think in the end?

I watched it last night. It's not particularly good but I didn't think it was awful either.

[Serj]

What did you think in the end?

I watched it last night. It's not particularly good but I didn't think it was awful either.

Watched it last night and pretty much thought the same (neither particularly good nor bad). It felt like it really didn't know what it wanted itself to be in terms of how glaringly cartoonish some characters were written and some weren't. Most of its social commentary felt extremely on the nose as well, and the humor wasn't quite there to make up for that.

[Spoonsky]

Anyone watched the new Peter Jackson Beatles documentary?

[Shindig]

Nah but I've had a ton of clips bombard my youtube recommendations. "I think I'll be leaving the band now." is the most George Harrison way to go.

[Yevrah]

What did you think in the end?

I watched it last night. It's not particularly good but I didn't think it was awful either.

It got better, but it's just so horribly self aware and I'm not sure I want to watch something containing all of the World's ills in it, particularly when it wasn't funny.

[Don]

Encounter on Amazon Prime was decent. Riz Ahmed is very very watchable.

[Spikey M]

Don't Look Up is terrible. #TeamYev #FOYBoyd

It's quite impressive how bad it is considering the cast and Director. DeCaprio and Streep were really bad casting choices for thir roles. I turned it off after about 45 minutes.

[Giggles]

I bought Knives Out after but still haven’t managed to get to the telly on my own to watch it.

[Lewis]

I watched The Power of the Dog. Nothing happens, but it looks nice and some bloke with an out of tune violin does the score, so obviously critics are all over it.

[Kikó]

I liked don't look up. It's good.

[Giggles]

This is rather boring so far, but I’m expecting some form of twist or something.

Craigs accent isn’t nearly as bad after a while as I thought it would be though.

[Manc]

Don't look up is a disaster. I may have to rewatch The Big Short to restore my faith in McKay.

[Giggles]

It got better but it’s just OK really. Be one that would be worth a watch if it was on the telly rather than buying, but at least it wasn’t all Tim Burton as I feared from the promo stuff.

[Yevrah]

Don't look up is a disaster. I may have to rewatch The Big Short to restore my faith in McKay.

There seems to be this sentiment sweeping Hollywood, where if you make a film that's about an ISSUE or you REPRESENT people, it automatically makes it good. It doesn't, pull your fucking finger out.

[-james-]

Yeah Don't Look Up was pretty painful. I did think the ending was quite good though.

[Shindig]

Faster turned up on my Amazon recommendations so I watched that. I'd seen Fastest which is very much the Valentino Rossi show but this definitely seemed like a proper ensemble. It was all 2001/2002 stuff so Valentino hadn't ascended to the daft heights he got to and we did get the Biaggi punch-up. Really good stuff from a sport I've barely watched since the BBC lost the rights to MotoGP. Probably the last thing Barry Sheene did before he died, too. Really good, even if it does race through the season. I guess it's hard to build an on-track narrative when Max Biaggi's head had gone.

[thommo]

Took a punt and watched ‘71 tonight after seeing it recommended to me on Netflix.

An incredibly bleak and gritty film but I honestly really enjoyed it. The whole setting and lighting created this sense of foreboding throughout. I hadn’t heard much about it before tonight but it was a really top watch.

[Panda Bear]

Swan Song with Mahershala Ali is beautiful. Directed with a sensitive touch, the film explores a terminally ill man's radical decision to clone himself without devolving into a series of sci-fi thriller tropes. Instead, it remains on course throughout as it explores grief, identity and the finality of choice.

Ali, of course, is excellent.

[Panda Bear]

Have any of you seen How To with John Wilson? It's fucking brilliant in both its humour, curiosities and emotional range.


https://youtu.be/w7aSybHRa6s

One of the producers is Nathan Fielder, the man behind (and in the front of) Nathan For You.

[Panda Bear]

Or this, which descends into complete absurdity:

https://youtu.be/rIs5tOBDAyM

Edit: wrong thread, Panda.

[Baz]

Ron’s Gone Wrong is very very good.


One of the producers is Nathan Fielder, the man behind (and in the front of) Nathan For You.Genuinely one of the worst things ever recorded. Using that to recommend something is absurd.

[Dquincy]

Not why Don't Look Up has got so much grief on here. Watched it last night and thought it was good (but not amazing).

Enjoyable. 7 popcorns out of 10.

[igor_balis]

Watched Leningrad Cowboys Go America this morning, pretty good.

[Giggles]

Not why Don't Look Up has got so much grief on here. Watched it last night and thought it was good (but not amazing).

Enjoyable. 7 popcorns out of 10.

Going to give it a go now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ron’s Gone Wrong is very very good.


Yep, I loved it.

[Giggles]

DiCaprio is basically just playing Leonard Hofstadter here.

[Spikey M]

Wait until Meryl Trump turns up. Unbearable.

[Giggles]

Wait until Meryl Trump turns up. Unbearable.

Meryl Trump and whatever the fuck the tech giant man is supposed to be.

I didn’t recognise Blanchett for ages.

[Lofty]

Took a punt and watched ‘71 tonight after seeing it recommended to me on Netflix.

An incredibly bleak and gritty film but I honestly really enjoyed it. The whole setting and lighting created this sense of foreboding throughout. I hadn’t heard much about it before tonight but it was a really top watch.

'71 is excellent and I agree the lighting and cinematography in general really adds to the claustrophobia. A similar feeling film is Uncut Gems, watched recently and was impressed with it.

[Giggles]

Overall: better than the Rock and Ryan Reynolds.

[Panda Bear]

Genuinely one of the worst things ever recorded. Using that to recommend something is absurd.no

[Lofty]

Watched the newest Suicide Squad last night. It was alright, better than the first effort but still a lot of issues. Started very strongly, the need to justify Margot Robbie's fee with appropriate screentime hampered the film, as well as the overly long exposition scenes.

[Yevrah]

Wait until Meryl Trump turns up. Unbearable.

Utterly fucking painful. Apparently Doctor Who did similar and I just don't understand it - all of the jokes and criticism have been done to death on social media already, so why the fuck would anyone think putting him in a film would be a good idea? Why would I want to watch that?

Are they that butt hurt that people voted him in? Still?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watched it last night and pretty much thought the same (neither particularly good nor bad). It felt like it really didn't know what it wanted itself to be in terms of how glaringly cartoonish some characters were written and some weren't. Most of its social commentary felt extremely on the nose as well, and the humor wasn't quite there to make up for that.

Agree with this take on Don't Look Up, having watched it last night. The Americans just can't and won't do nuance or subtlety, especially with a Netflix budget and famous names.

Much prefer Look Who's Back which had a similar tone to it but the Germans pulled it off far better.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Utterly fucking painful. Apparently Doctor Who did similar and I just don't understand it - all of the jokes and criticism have been done to death on social media already, so why the fuck would anyone think putting him in a film would be a good idea? Why would I want to watch that?

Are they that butt hurt that people voted him in? Still?

Because they're all group-thinking bores. At least the twitter video 'satirists' do it from their bedroom rather than blowing hundreds of millions of dollars on it.

[Shindig]

Ten minutes into Joker and I'm tempted to bail. It's like a shit Taxi Driver.

[Alex]

It's definitely very heavily indebted to Taxi Driver and King of Comedy. I don't think they ever tried to hide that fact though to be fair. They even get the De Niro cameo, in case they hadn't made it obvious enough. I did really enjoy it though. It gets better as it goes on.

[Shindig]

Maybe I should skip half an hour and see if he stops laughing and stalking. He's permanently mugging for the camera whilst ominous music plays and he writes edgelord prose in child's writing. I get it, Hollywood. I fucking get it.

EDIT: Nice of them to give Gary Glitter some royalties. :D

[Yevrah]

Back to Don't Look Up and it seems its director isn't taking the news well that some people didn't like his shitty movie.

1476269416123830280

They genuinely think they've made something profound that will unite the globe to solve this problem, don't they.

[igor_balis]

I watched midnight run, which was brilliant fun.

[Manc]

Are the new Star Wars films worth bothering with?

[Ian]

Force Awakens - Yeah, if you like Star Wars you'll probably enjoy it. It's a bit of a greatest hits remix but it's fun.
Last Jedi - Your mileage may vary. For me it's one of the best films from any of the trilogies. Some absolutely fucking hate it.
Rise of Skywalker - Lol. I mean if you watch the first two you'll probably find yourself watching this but it's deeply shit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I liked the first two but I never bothered with the last one. I really should at some point just to finish it.

[Giggles]

Don’t think I ever finished the last one. Got bored and meant to go back to it but never did.

[Gray Fox]

Rogue One was good. Force Awakens was okay and then I found the last 2 pretty grim.

[Giggles]

Watched Rogue One again the other day and it holds up very well against some of the main films.

[niko_cee]

Rogue One is the only one worth bothering with, it's probably the second best in the entire franchise.

I suppose the first of the new ones [Force Awakens?] is a bit of a Greatest Hits/Megamix type effort, but it also induces a lot of sighing.

Also, I'm with Baz [and Mahow] on Ron's Gone Wrong. I saw it a while back and thought it was really good.

[Giggles]

Will there be more of those ‘A Star Wars Story’ or is it going to be just the two and let the series do the rest? Was strange they did the two add-on films in between the same two films in the whole atory.

[Gray Fox]

Especially the way the Han Solo film ended as well.

I think they plan on going the Marvel route of TV shows likely being better for those kinds of stories. The Mandalorian was generally excellent and the upcoming Obi-Wan and Boba Fett series are highly anticipated too.

[Giggles]

Forgot about the Obi Wan show.

[Lofty]

I got to the bit with the casino planet in TLJ and turned it off.

[Ian]

Yeah that chunk of it is pretty shit but on the whole I think it's one of the stronger ones.

[Yevrah]

The Matrix Resurrections is awful, like one of the worst films I can remember sitting through awful.

[Pepe]

https://i.redd.it/n843e2mre6981.png

[Spikey M]

I think the most painful part of Don't Look Up is (predictably) the reception on Social Media. People seem to think this is a Zeitgeist changing moment and that anyone that disagrees is just to thick to understand the film.

Lads, it wasn't fucking subtle. There's no nuance to be unravelled here. The asteroid is Covid and Climate change, Streep is a short-termist politician, DeCaprio is a scientist that struggles to communicate how URGENT the matter is, the numpties are anti-vaxxers/climate change deniers. The end.

Nobody is changing their position based on this. The people that liked it were already tugging themselves off to Greta twice a day and the Conspiracy Theorists will just see this as Lefty Lizard Propaganda.

Go back to Tiger King you mongs.

[Giggles]

https://i.redd.it/n843e2mre6981.png

If that’s not a parody account then we need an asteroid.

[Ian]

The Matrix Resurrections is awful, like one of the worst films I can remember sitting through awful.

I gather it doesn't even have good action. Like, 2 and 3 started rough and just got shitter as they went along but still managed some fun, memorable action / fight scenes.

[Don]

A Star is Born is on iPlayer. Watched it last night, nothing special but solid affair.

[Lewis]

I think the most painful part of Don't Look Up is (predictably) the reception on Social Media. People seem to think this is a Zeitgeist changing moment and that anyone that disagrees is just to thick to understand the film.

Lads, it wasn't fucking subtle. There's no nuance to be unravelled here. The asteroid is Covid and Climate change, Streep is a short-termist politician, DeCaprio is a scientist that struggles to communicate how URGENT the matter is, the numpties are anti-vaxxers/climate change deniers. The end.

Nobody is changing their position based on this. The people that liked it were already tugging themselves off to Greta twice a day and the Conspiracy Theorists will just see this as Lefty Lizard Propaganda.

Go back to Tiger King you mongs.

1476942682094243853

[Gray Fox]

I gather it doesn't even have good action. Like, 2 and 3 started rough and just got shitter as they went along but still managed some fun, memorable action / fight scenes.

I don't think Keanu even holds a gun during the entire film. He barely even fights too. Whenever there is trouble he just kind of does a force push.

[Spikey M]

1476942682094243853

:D

[Shindig]

One of my mates bounced off that for similar reasons. Barely any action and all Keanu does is talk his way through the film.

[Kikó]

I think the first 90 minutes is devoted to explaining the new concept which leaves about 60 minutes for action (and 45 minutes of that is spent on romance).

[Baz]

The Matrix Resurrections is awful, like one of the worst films I can remember sitting through awful.You've seen the second one, right?

This new one does feel like low budget TV though. The warehouse fight scene could be in your sitcom.

[Yevrah]

I gather it doesn't even have good action. Like, 2 and 3 started rough and just got shitter as they went along but still managed some fun, memorable action / fight scenes.

There are like literally one or two 'good' moments in the entire film and the action is all awful. One could describe the starting premise as a bold move and I do sympathise with that despite having hated it, but what's worse however is you get through that and then it hits you, this film has NOTHING left to offer and there's still 90 minutes to go.

[Yevrah]

You've seen the second one, right?

This new one does feel like low budget TV though. The warehouse fight scene could be in your sitcom.

I've seen them all, but a long time ago. And you're right, the warehouse scene is something any two bit tv show could pull off these days.

Action scenes are only good if they either have pain in them or are so ludicrous as a spectacle that you can't help but enjoy it and this had neither.

[Alex]

I remember when the trailer came out thinking it had a very "made for television" feel to it. It's a shame when you think about the very cutting edge roots of it as a franchise. I haven't watched them in a while but I'm confident a lot of the action scenes in the first one especially would retain their "wow" factor even if they appeared for the first time on a big screen tomorrow.

[Ian]

I assume it had a big budget so I'm not sure how they haven't had enough to try and do some revolutionary-looking again.

[Dquincy]

Glad everyone enjoyed Don't Look Up, like I did.

[Baz]

Anyone watched the new Peter Jackson Beatles documentary?

I fancy it. Any good?

[Dquincy]

I've just watched Premonition (2007) with Sandra Bollock.

Bit of an film in truth, but once we were halfway through it we had to se how it ended.

[Spoonsky]

I fancy it. Any good?

I've been loving it, watching it in segments like a tv show (it's in three 3-hour parts and just now finished the second). I can see how others would easily find it boring and long but I'm a sucker for anything Beatles-related, I could watch them do anything for 9 hours. What's interesting about this is that it's probably the most intimate glimpse I've ever seen of them as human beings. Incredibly childish and immature, and by the same coin delightfully playful and silly; and then also geniuses. There's also a few great sequences like where you see Paul write "Get Back" right before your eyes.

[Pepe]

Sandra Bollock.

:D

l

[Lofty]

Sandra Bollock

Phwoar.

[Dquincy]

For 57 years in this earth, she absolutely would.

Although Kate Beckinsale would be above her in the scoring chart.

[Ian]

Cor. Lads. Women, am I right?

[Don]

The best babes thread is gathering dust and the soft shites have been empowered to this level, I think we've lost the war, Quince.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Watched Encanto tonight. I enjoyed it but it's probably the worst of the newer Disney/Pixar animated films.

[Baz]

Watched Encanto tonight. I enjoyed it but it's probably the worst of the newer Disney/Pixar animated films.

It's rubbish.

[Spikey M]

Watched Encanto tonight. I enjoyed it but it's probably the worst of the newer Disney/Pixar animated films.

Another nonce.

[Dquincy]

Watched Encanto tonight. I enjoyed it but it's probably the worst of the newer Disney/Pixar animated films.

It fucking awful.

[Shindig]

Robocop is free with Prime Video so I watched that again. I don't think I've ever seen anything in my that comes close to it. There is no waste to that movie. It's a B-movie plot elevated to every decision being the right choice. It is the greatest movie ever made.

And Robocop 2. That's tonally a lot more schlocky but it's dumb fun. Robocop having his directives written by committee and the fallout from that is daft. :D As is the 20 minute stop motion robot fight. And the drug-dealing kids.


Gabriel Damon Lavezzi (born April 23, 1976)[1] is an American real estate broker and former actor. Glad to hear that kid didn't wind up a mess.

And now Robocop 3. Frank Miller's Robocop 3. Frank Miller, writer of the comic book where Robocop fucks a woman, made a 90's kids movie. Everyone kind of overacts in that 'its a kids movie' kind of way. There's still violence but it's all explosions and no squibs. I don't like Robocop 3. The idea of a chain smoking Japanese ninja robot is cool but it's a kids movie so he's all flips. OCP go from devious capitalists to comic buffoons. Robert Burke seems to be acting himself into an overbite in the Robocop suit and his voice just does not work. It didn't drag but man, it's a wholly different thing to the other movies.

[Ian]

I let my nostalgia get the better of me and watched the Sonic the Hedgehog film last night. It is, as you'd expect, not very good but I'd be lying if I said I was actually bored. Jim Carrey's rubbery humour is still fun, I like Ben Schwartz and Cyclops isn't bad as a quippy leading man type even if the gags aren't always up to much.

The product placement though, oh Lord. Not just "James Bond waggling his Vaio at the camera" type stuff, characters actively talking about sponsors and saying the Olive Garden slogan. Fucking hell.

[Kikó]

Ghostbusters Afterlife is another greatest hits type film but definitely redeems itself with the ending. Bit of a rehash of GB 1 with the main villains and not sure how they'd continue the franchise but still, largely enjoyable.

[Lofty]

Just watched No Time To Die. Very 'meh'.

I thought the end of GBA was pretty poor, all things considered.

[Boydy]

I watched Mother/Android on Netflix last night. It's shit, avoid.

[Ian]

Has anybody seen His House? When I was seeing what else was on Netflix last night I spotted that and it seems to have reviewed well.


Ghostbusters Afterlife is another greatest hits type film but definitely redeems itself with the ending. Bit of a rehash of GB 1 with the main villains and not sure how they'd continue the franchise but still, largely enjoyable.

I say this having seen neither Afterlife or the first reboot but it all sounds a bit like what Star Wars did, "Oh shit we annoyed the fans with the last one. Quick! Hit the Nostalgia Button!" Is that unfair? Reviews I've seen seem very mixed between it being fine but as you say, a bit of a Ghostbusters remix, and the perceived pandering putting people off.

[Spikey M]

DS waxed lyrical about His House. It was a bit weird for my taste, but it kept me interested enough.

[Kikó]

Has anybody seen His House? When I was seeing what else was on Netflix last night I spotted that and it seems to have reviewed well.



I say this having seen neither Afterlife or the first reboot but it all sounds a bit like what Star Wars did, "Oh shit we annoyed the fans with the last one. Quick! Hit the Nostalgia Button!" Is that unfair? Reviews I've seen seem very mixed between it being fine but as you say, a bit of a Ghostbusters remix, and the perceived pandering putting people off.


I've not seen the woman's only one so not sure how they compare but it does seem to hit on the nostalgia buttons a lot (ooo little stay puft marshmellow men!). We watched 1 and 2 before this one and they are very different films though, for one, it's not really in New York and is dominated by kids as the main stars. In that way, it almost feels like it's just aimed at kids (which GB1/2 weren't). It's also 30 minutes longer than it needs to be.

[Ian]

I reckon about 90% of films are longer than they need to be now.

[Shindig]

I've not seen the woman's only one so not sure how they compare but it does seem to hit on the nostalgia buttons a lot (ooo little stay puft marshmellow men!). We watched 1 and 2 before this one and they are very different films though, for one, it's not really in New York and is dominated by kids as the main stars. In that way, it almost feels like it's just aimed at kids (which GB1/2 weren't). It's also 30 minutes longer than it needs to be.

The 2016 reboot was definitely chasing after nostalgia but it also had this weird 'this is what we think women like' tint. It leads to Chris Hemsworth being the thickest dunce imaginable and scenes of nothing but dancing.

[randomlegend]

Is No Way Home available for stealing yet?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's not on the site I use.

[Don]

Licorice Pizza delivered tonight.

[Lofty]

Watched Don't Look Up with trepidation: it was better than I thought it would be and didn't feel as long as Bond despite the similar run time. That said I agree with Ianucci et al that satire is pointless now because the truth is more ridiculous and I think that is the biggest flaw that can be said about this film: half the stuff shown for lols isn't even satirizing fictional events it is just a reenactment of things that already happened in real life framed within the film's narrative.

[Shindig]

I've forgotten to cancel Prime before the free month was up. So I've watched Fargo out of spite. I don't why I left that one whilst I was going on my Coen Brothers tear in my youth. It's really good.

[Spikey M]

I watched Peanut Butter Falcon tonight. I knew from the off it was going to be a "DISABLED PEOPLE ARE SUPER HERO'S" load of shit. I absolutely knew it.

I was wrong. What a film. :wub:

[Manc]

It's a strong period for LaBeouf. Highly reccomend Honey Boy.

[Bernanke]

1480286294634909697

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What the fuck?

[Bernanke]

When do we find some C-tier director on Cameo to do the same with?

[Shindig]

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/matthew-alexander-patton

How about F-tier?

[Manc]

Avoid The Lost Daughter if you can.

[Yevrah]

Avoid The Lost Daughter if you can.

I’ve avoided it so far, but if ever a film screamed “I’m fucking boring” at you, it’s that one.

[Shindig]

Gran Torino is so good.

[Manc]

Finally got around to watching Saint Maud and it's an experience. Reminded me of Robert Eggers work in many ways. Morfydd Clark will go far.

[Lewis]

1484155990069153793

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Eternals is pretty guff and far too long.

[Lewis]

I'm not sure I can be bothered following this current Marvel cycle.

[Shindig]

I hope it gets shit enough for a Marvel/Disney/Star Wars crossover.

"The Empire has returned with force ... Hello, Ironman. Fancy seeing you here."

Read that in a Mickey Mouse voice.

[Ian]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60138866

Well, that sounds much better.

Odd timing though. Were they scared of offending Meatloaf?

[Pepe]

Fwiw (book spoiler):

In the book, the bombs do not go off

[Ian]

Do the authorities also totes win and stop them no gooders forever?

[Pepe]

Of course not. :D

[Ian]

Damn, here was me hoping the Chinese were just doing it because of their love of faithful literary adaptations.

[randomlegend]

Fight Club is a dogshit film

[Pepe]

Nah, it's good.

[Ian]

I liked it but I'm keen to see the Chinese cut before I decide for definite.

[Shindig]

It's one of those films you watch in your youth and then never really need to go back to.

[Lofty]

I am Jack's smirking nostalgia.

[Bernanke]

Licorice Pizza is absolute wank. Worst PTA by a mile, can't remember last time I felt a movie was wasting my time as much as this one.

[Manc]

Was planning to catch that last night. Bullet dodged.

[Spikey M]

Fight Club is a dogshit film

+1

[phonics]

The Chinese government ending of Fight Club is fucking hilarious. Just before the explosion you get this screen instead:

https://i.imgur.com/iAJAVrG.png

[Ian]

Surprised nobody had posted that yet.

[Lofty]

:D

[Shindig]

"Fight Club: Edited for seniors."

[Don]

Licorice Pizza is absolute wank. Worst PTA by a mile, can't remember last time I felt a movie was wasting my time as much as this one.

Get out.

[phonics]

Saw Belfast. Absolutely fantastic.

[Baz]

Anyone seen the new Jackass yet? Hopefully going next week with The Reid.

[Dan]

Yeah, it’s dumb Jackassy fun.

Much better than Moonfall, which I’ve literally just watched, and is generic disaster movie garbage.

I’d also second Belfast being excellent - my Dad’s side of the family are from Belfast & there are a lot of scenes that hit a familiar note.

[Kikó]

Watched House of Gucci yesterday. Pretty interesting tale but classic "is it really that long" syndrome.

[Shindig]

I'd probably like it more if Jared Leto was dead.

[Giggles]

I’m going to watch Home Team. It’s going to be terrible isn’t it?

[Yevrah]

Kind Richard is delightful. A proper film amongst a recent Hollywood sea of shite.

[Giggles]

I’m going to watch Home Team. It’s going to be terrible isn’t it?

It’s wank.

[phonics]

Seems like I'm going to watch the fucking Godfather finally. Don't want to but Mum wants to go so think I have to.

[Ben]

Watched Gemini Man last night. Shit.

[Ian]

I rewatched the original Pirates of the Caribbean.

They really did Homer Simpson Jack Sparrow as those films went on, didn't they? Take a couple of his character traits, dial those up to 11 at the expense of everything else and turn him into a detestable twat in the process.

The original is still great fun though.

[SvN]

Flanderised is the word you're looking for. Once you know about it, you see it it almost every popular sitcom that's ever existed.

[Ian]

I knew there was a proper word (had forgotten it was also Simpsons-y) but yeah, you knew what I meant.

And yeah, it's fucking everywhere. Having really enjoyed Curse of the Black Pearl I might go one further and rewatch Dead Man's Chest because I remember enjoying that and Bill Nighy is mega but I'm absolutely going no further than that.

[Ben]

Dwight in the American version of The Office is a prime example.

[Lofty]

Joey in Friends: Mildly cretinous in the early years, borderline special needs by the end.

[Giggles]

Every one of the cast of Friends. The Geller siblings were ridiculous by the end.

[randomlegend]

I knew there was a proper word (had forgotten it was also Simpsons-y) but yeah, you knew what I meant.

And yeah, it's fucking everywhere. Having really enjoyed Curse of the Black Pearl I might go one further and rewatch Dead Man's Chest because I remember enjoying that and Bill Nighy is mega but I'm absolutely going no further than that.

At World's End, which finishes off the Davy Jones arc, is worth watching as well in my opinion.

On Stranger Tides is rubbish, but it's kind of plausible they were at least trying.

Dead Men Tell no Tales is worth putting on for 15 minutes just to see how bad it actually is. There are literally no words I can put down here which do it justice. It is spectacularly and abominably awful. It's like a really, really bad parody that Jonny Depp agreed to be in for some reason. Depp himself appears to have had some sort of catastrophic brain injury following the last film which has rendered him completely unable to act the character. He can't even do the voice right. Like it's not even close. It's absolutely bizarre. I couldn't make it more than about 45 minutes through. Awful.

[Ian]

Even first time around I thought At World's End was pretty shit and really finishes off Jack Sparrow where his only redeeming moment is when Orlando Bloom gets shanked at the end and Sparrow has the decency to look upset about it.

And yeah the ones after that are basically irredeemable.

[Lofty]

The King's Man. A weird film and probably didn't need the 2 hour run time. A prequel to a well received film that had a disappointing sequel, it didn't really know what it wanted to be. I was enjoying it up until the final 30 minutes which felt like it was rewritten a lot given the resolution. Also a pointless end credits scene. 6/10 if you are a fan of the franchise, I guess.

A bit like Red Notice, this could easily be some kind of money laundering scheme givne the budget.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Venom: Let There be Carnage is pretty meh.

I enjoyed the first one more.

[Manc]

The French Dispatch is charming and nothing more. Can't imagine I'll ever sit down to watch the film again.

[igor_balis]

Dunno if I mentioned already, but saw the Mamet film The Spanish Prisoner the other day. The guy has turned into an annoying twat in recent years, but I thought it was a great movie. Not quite Glengarry levels, but probably better than State and Main.

[niko_cee]

Aye, The Spanish Prisoner is pretty great, for what it is. Didn't it get remade in some way? Maybe I'm thinking Nueve Reinas/Nine Queens which may or may not have followed a similar story.

[phonics]

Just back from Death on the Nile. Great popcorn flick that requires zero thought. Maybe 20 minutes too long.

[Manc]

Boiling point is an interesting one. Think Birdman on a budget.

[Ian]

The new Texas Chainsaw Massacre is, as you might expect, a bit rubbish. When it comes to slashers and zombie films I don't have especially high standards but even by that low bar it's not great.

[Spikey M]

It is dog shit.

But "13 Minutes" might be the worst film ever made. I can only imagine it's called 13 Minutes because that's how much is worth watching.

[Ian]

The Last Duel is pretty dull.

[Raoul Duke]

Watched Nobody yesterday - enjoyable enough nonsense, although very much just another John Wick movie.

[Shindig]

Which in itself is another Taken.

[Raoul Duke]

Don't see it myself. The point of JW is the gun combat, rather than brooding Irish whining

[Shindig]

At the end of the day, they're killing the same Serbians.

[Lofty]

Nobody also written by the guy who wrote JW.

[Bernanke]

Watched Some Like It Hot for the first time. Marilyn. :drool:

[Clunge]

The new Matrix is stupider than I could have ever imagined.

[phonics]

My Lamb review:

Iceland is beautiful

The woman is beautiful

There’s like 3 lines of dialogue per 40 minutes

You see her boobs

The whole concept is creepy as fuck

Camera work is immaculate

Iceland’s very pretty

You get to see her pussy being eaten

Icelandic people love handball

Overall: 8/10

[randomlegend]

I cannot comment on the rest, but Iceland is indeed absolutely incredible.

[Spikey M]

The Adam Project is a load of formulaic, soppy, Sci-Fi bollocks. You lot will love it.

[mo]

Keep seeing trailers for it and it holds no appeal whatsoever to me. Think I'm going off Ryan Reynolds.

[Ian]

I watched The Invisible Man last night and thought it was pretty good. First hour's better but I can see why they felt the need to change it up a bit for the second half rather than just doing the same things. Not sure how I feel about the ending but still, on the whole I enjoyed it.

[Kikó]

I watched Spider Man last night. Pointless.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Spider-Man: No Way Home is brilliant not the best MCU film but it's not too far behind.

[Giggles]

I do like me some Ryan Reynolds.

[Lofty]

Turning Red is a decent pixar film.

[Dark Soldier]

Ultrasound (2021)

Ultra-weird, low budget, glorious mindfuck that reminds me of Gondry x Carruth. Absolutely loved this and if you want a bit of a headwreck get on it. Trailer is great. Got cocky cunt out of Mad Men. Wonderful, uneasy vibe throughout.

Apparently based on a comic-book series: https://www.breakdownpress.com/store/generous-bosom-1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlQo9XI_fQ8

[phonics]

I just got back from La Mifs (Family in french) which is about a bunch of girls in child protection in Geneva, Switzerland. I don’t know how much of it was influenced by nostalgia but it was truly profound while still being funny and retaining its humanity.


https://youtu.be/N1s453wN4ws

[Shindig]

King Richard is bloody good. A performance I didn't think Will Smith had in him.

[Ian]

Is it going to get him the Oscar he badly wants?

[Shindig]

Nah, it'll go to Cumberbatch.

[Lofty]

Finally watched No Way Home. It was a lot of fun and delivered the promise of the premise, but as usual think the post release hype was probably too much. Same reason I am waiting to watch The Batman.

[Browning]

Finally watched No Way Home. It was a lot of fun and delivered the promise of the premise, but as usual think the post release hype was probably too much. Same reason I am waiting to watch The Batman.

Agreed, it was a good film but nowhere near as good as the hype lead me to believe. Not a lot actually happened.

[Baz]

I didn’t realise Jasper [Dolphin, from Odd Future] is in Jackass Forever. :)

“Poopies” seems to be in every stunt though and he’s absolutely garbage.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jackass Forever is fun.

[Shindig]

I don't think I like Blade Runner 2049. It's nicely shot and all but it really, really transforms the first film in ways I do not like. And there's the stench of unnecessary nostalgia around the whole thing. Just make it about Ryan Gosling's dead, emotionless face. And give me more Dave Bautista. Leave the Atari logo out of this. And the weird deepfake that came off looking more robotic than the skinjobs.

And stop giving Jared Leto work. He's killed people, I just know it.

[Lofty]

It is more style over substance for sure.

[Kikó]

King Richard is pretty good. Feels like there could have been more story there but at the same time, it shows you how focused and determined he was towards his "plan" that he could have fucked everything. Will Smith is great.

[Don]

Boiling Point is pretty amazing.

[Shindig]

Yeah, something is missing but I can't tell you what. He had the accusations of coaching on court all the time during the tour but the film stops before that gets going. However, they do touch on it with how he coaches them as kids. One way or another, you get the picture.

[Bernanke]

Jared Leto still being a thing is a complete mystery to me. I'm sure Morbius is gonna bomb like hell.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The New Mutants is horseshit.

[Dark Soldier]

Bull (2021)

Gritty suburban UK revenge thriller. The things we do real well. Neil Maskell returns to his hometown after ten years to seek revenge on former 'friends' who destroyed his life.

Maskell is fucking insanely good in this. Compelling and terrifying as the unhinged lead. He's always been great as that middle aged, teetering on the edge kinda role (Kill List) but this is something else.

The director's previous work, London to Brighton, was outstanding. Relentlessly bleak, but Paul Andrew Williams excels at these low budget slice of scum Britain pieces.

Incredibly graphic in parts, brutal. Nobody in this is a good person. Proper shades of Dead Man's Shoes at time, although nothing is in that level in the genre, nor will it ever be.

Let down somewhat by an ending which I didn't mind but could see a fair few not going along with, but if you can ignore that last five, it's a fucking great ride. Top film

[Manc]

Have you seen Titane? Dark Soldier

Grim viewing.

[Dark Soldier]

Have you seen Titane? Dark Soldier

Grim viewing.

Yeah its my joint favourite film of last year, along with Dinner in America.

Ducournau is so good.

[Lofty]

Sounds like Outlaw and Harry Brown type fare, DS.

[Baz]

Have you seen Titane? Dark Soldier

Grim viewing.Just watched. Crikey! A lot to unpack, there.

[Dark Soldier]

Sounds like Outlaw and Harry Brown type fare, DS.

Very much more Dead Man's Shoes in its bleakness and violence. Its the kinda revenge flick the UK does real well.

I'd also fully recommend his earlier London to Brighton if you fancy an ultra depressing double bill.

[randomlegend]

Have you seen Titane? Dark Soldier

Grim viewing.

Just read the synopsis for this on Wikipedia :D

I'll give it a go but I find it hard to take films with such patently ridiculous premises seriously.

[Manc]

I almost watched it at my local theatre. Bullet well and truly dodged.

[Spikey M]

That sounds terrible.

[Baz]

I watched it without knowing anything and feel like my experience benefitted greatly for it.

Recommend us some films Dark Soldier? From the last ~5 years, either mindfucks or holy shit gore.

[Dark Soldier]

That sounds terrible.

It's really not. Reading a synopsis, like most films, doesn't do it justice. It's a film about belonging in a world, about love and, oddly, compassion. Ducournau has an incredible ability to take the most fucked up premise and switch it into a very human story. See Raw, her previous work.

Baz - Burning, Bull, The Dark and the Wicked, Possum, Violation, The Beta Test, Spree, Color out of Space, Ultrasound, History of the Occult, High Life, Climax (Noe is God), Border, Burning to name a few.

If you want outright ridiculous levels of gore then The Sadness is king of late. Dinner in America is my favourite film of recent years though.

[Lofty]

Don't forget Bone Tomahawk!

[Ian]

I watched Boss Level on Amazon last night and really enjoyed it. Grillo is a good action lead, Mel Gibson does a good job of being the villainous crank (shocking, etc ) and they have some fun with their time loop concept.

[Baz]

Watched the first two Fantastic Beasts films the past couple of evenings. Really not very good at all but the bakers amusing enough and Zoe Kravitz is fit. The nazi stuff is far too on the nose in the second though.

[phonics]

Operation Mincemeat is a really enjoyable watch. That woman who stars in it is always great inn everything I see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The Batman is very good. I've heard some say it's better than the Nolan films, it's definitely not as good as The Dark Knight but it's close with the other two.

I was wrong about Pattinson, he was damn good.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dune is visually stunning but it is so fucking boring. I do not get the hype.

I will watch the sequels but it needs to pick the pacing up.

[Pepe]

Wait, Dune doesn't cover the entire book? Fucking lol.

[Ian]

I think I read it was only when the film came out that that became apparent too. I may have misunderstood or misremembered what I read but I gather until people actually saw it nobody involved had mentioned that they this one wasn't covering the whole thing.

[Giggles]

I always thought it was based on a video game.

[Shindig]

Nah, you're thinking of Doom.

[Kikó]

The Batman is very good. I've heard some say it's better than the Nolan films, it's definitely not as good as The Dark Knight but it's close with the other two.

I was wrong about Pattinson, he was damn good.

I enjoyed it (enjoy is probably the wrong word). It's very dark, it's very gritty and I'm going to rewatch.

[Lofty]

Choose or Die is an interesting concept that fizzles out in 15 minutes.

[Manc]

The Worst Person in the World is infuriating.

[Ian]

I watched Dune last night. Visually striking, well acted but quite often a bit boring and doesn't half feel like a load of set up for part 2.

[randomlegend]

I watched The Batman yesterday and thought it was shit.

[randomlegend]

Just watched Uncut Gems and thought it was really good. Not the most relaxing watch in the world but still.

[Lofty]

I like Uncut Gems, it is so uncomfortable which is why it works.

[Dark Soldier]

Have you seen Good Time randomlegend ?

[randomlegend]

I have a vague memory of starting it once but getting interrupted. I'll give it anither go.

[Yevrah]

Watched the second Dr Strange film today and it was probably one of Marvel’s best.

[Manc]

Still shit then.

[Yevrah]

Still shit then.

I’d go for ‘just about good’.

[Alex]

I've recently decided (in an admittedly Partridge-esque move) to watch all of the Bond's, after seeing Amazon have stuck them all on there. I would say I've never before seen at least three quarters of them. And Goldeneye is the only one I remember the plot to, and that's purely down to the game. So I'm basically a Bond novice. Incoming spam for the first (I think) ten, which I have now watched.



Dr. No - I mean it's fine. It's just finding it's feet and that isn't it. Connery looks cool as fuck in it. I could only dream of giving off these kind of Alpha Male vibes. 6/10

From Russia With Love - Better. The close quarters fight with the bloke on the train is probably my favourite action sequence from the series so far and peak Connery as a sort of "bruiser" type Bond. I wish they pursued this version of him more. Which I believe is basically what Daniel Craig has done successfully? I guess I will find out. 7/10

Goldfinger - I mean this is basically the blueprint for a lot of the future ones and all the pop culture parody of the series, I guess? I liked it, but I didn't love it. I know a lot of people consider it the pinnacle. It's just weird when they go to America and then he spends half the film sort of dossing around Goldfinger's house while things just happen and Goldfinger explains the evil plan to everyone and keeps letting him escape and shit. But, still, "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to DIE!". :cool: 7/10

Thunderball - I loved this and it's my favourite so far. I liked the setting and the underwater bits. Proper good villain too. 8/10

You Only Live Twice - I had to look up what happened in this and I only watched it a week ago. Make of that what you will. Connery going "undercover" as a Japanese man is one of the most ridiculous things that has happened in the series thus far. Which is saying something. 4/10

On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Interesting. Bit of a mess, but interesting. Lazenby could have been good maybe with more of a chance. The "this never happened to the other guy!" bit at the beginning was cool. Blofeld (who honestly I'm not a huge fan of!) and the mental institute full of attractive international bombshells was daft even by Bond standards though. Obviously a good twist at the end with them killing his missus. Shame Connery comes back and they kind of ignore it afterwards. 5/10

Diamonds Are Forever - An absolute bag of wank. Connery looks terrible in this. He's only about 40 or something too I think. Maybe the best theme song though, but that's all I'll give it. 3/10

Live And Let Die - Blaxploitation bond, I didn't see that coming. Felix Lieter calls in an APB on a "white pimp-mobile" at one point I believe. Fucking weird film. Especially strange one to introduce a new actor in. I like Roger Moores more "cocky, arrogant wanker" take on Bond though. There's a chase down a river in speed boats that goes on far too long. And an inexplicable amount of screen time given to this deep south sheriff caricature who plays like a Dukes of Hazard character. 5/10

The Man With The Golden Gun - Christopher Lee is ace in this. But the film itself is a bit of a fucking mess. I basically wish Scaramanga had won. He's the best character. Bond straps a crazy midget to the mast of a boat at the end to teach him a lesson, which was quite amusing. The deep south American sheriff who inexplicably took up so much time in the previous film is inexplicably brought back and given a shit load more screen time. 5/10

The Spy Who Loved Me - This is probably my second favourite so far, after Thunderball. Moore has proper settled in. He gets a few more good action scenes too. It just strikes a good balance between the action side of Bond and the more ridiculous, gadgety campness of it. The underwater car is a good example. On paper, ridiculous. But I loved it. I like how you get to see Bond in Navy mode too, with everyone saluting him and shit. Was a big fan of the opening twist of his Russian counterpart actually being a girl. Also, Jaws is class. And the end of the opening with the Union Jack parachute when he ski jumps off the cliff is, as I believe the kids would say, "iconic". 8/10



Do I currently have too much spare time on my hands? Possibly, yes.

Am I going to continue? Also yes.

[Ben]

As a bit of a Bond obsessive, I’m subscribing to your reviews. Interesting to read the perspective of a complete casual.

[Shindig]

I think I could excited for a return to daft gadget Bond.

[Dave.]

As a bit of a Bond obsessive, I’m subscribing to your reviews. Interesting to read the perspective of a complete casual.

Another Bond obsessive checking in. What I love about the Bond franchise is the wildly different opinions people have. When it comes to Bond, there is no right or wrong answer, just different opinions.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wasn't there someone on the old board who was a Bond Obsessive who would watch them all every year or two?

[Dave.]

I think I could excited for a return to daft gadget Bond.

I get excited for Bond full stop. Moonraker and Octopussy are probably my least favourite Bond films but I still really enjoy them, own the DVDs, watch them on TV when they appear if I have time and watch them on Amazon Prime occasionally.

[Dave.]

Wasn't there someone on the old board who was a Bond Obsessive who would watch them all every year or two?

I don't remember ever posting this but it sounds like me.

[Giggles]

I’m all over this too as another massive fan. RTE show one every Sunday evening at the moment so I’ve been watching them all again - View to a Kill was yesterdays. Looking forward to Dalton.

[Dave.]

I’m all over this too as another massive fan. RTE show one every Sunday evening at the moment so I’ve been watching them all again - View to a Kill was yesterdays. Looking forward to Dalton.

Love Dalton's Bond.:hail:

[phonics]

Hangman in TopGun is cartoonishly American.

[Alex]

Update on the Big Bond Watch.

Moonraker:

I thought he would spend a lot more time in space. He's only up there for the last half an hour or so. It's a mess for the first two thirds but when he actually gets up there I really liked it. That went a long way towards salvaging it for me. I like how Bond just goes to space. He's not even remotely phased by it at all. There are moments of this where they're just playing it as a straight up comedy, which is something I think they embrace and do very well in the Moore era. Jaws and his weird love story. Bond driving a gondola through the middle of Venice. "I think he's attempting re-entry, Sir", how can you not love that? 6/10

For Your Eyes Only:

"Bond Does the Winter Olympics". I liked this one. More serious in tone. The car chase in the little Citroen was cool and might actually be my favourite car sequence in the series so far. I was worried Roger was getting a bit old for it (he starts to look a bit ropey in Moonraker) but they have somehow, I don't know, sort of acknowledged that and he's pulling it off. I can't really explain how. He just sort of dressed a bit more distinguished and acts a little bit different. He just starts to better inhibit the form of an older Bond. He turns down getting his end away with the young figure skater, for example! I really liked that they acknowledge his dead wife from the Lazenby film in this one too, he's visiting her grave at the beginning. Then there's a proper mad sequence with a helicopter and Blofled which has got nothing to do with the rest of the film. The scene with the parrot talking to Margaret Thatcher at the end is fucking batshit crazy but I love it. 7/10

Octopussy:

I fucking loved this one. I think this might be peak Moore. He just delivers all the typical Bond one-liners really well and hits all his marks. I like it when Bond openly mugs off the bad guys, and he does that really well in this. It's the same as the previous one too in that he's obviously getting on a bit now but they just sort of slow it down a bit to make it work for him. The intro where he's bombing around in the little fighter jet is brilliant. The final act where he's chasing the bomb down, particularly the bit where he's advancing through the train and fighting on the roof, is excellent too. The big Sikh lad a classic "burly Bond henchman" type too. It has some proper daft bits, don't get me wrong. He disarms a nuclear bombs in full clown costume and make-up at the end, for fucks sake. But I don't know, it all just really worked for me. Great film. 8/10

Never Say Never Again:

I know it's not "official" but what are you going to do, not watch it? Connery returns a decade plus later to kind of re-make Thunderball. Which is still my favourite so far. It's not as good as Thunderball. It's a lot better than his last outing though. It's worthwhile, better than a fair few of the official ones. The version of Largo in this is a lot of fun. He's just this sort of mad-cap European playboy type. I love him. An interesting curiosity, for sure. 6/10

Side note, a real barren patch for Bond themes with this instalment. They're all shit. Some good actual film scores, but in terms of the actual titles tracks I mean.

I think one more with old Roger and then on to Timothy Dalton and I guess the more "modern" era.

[Ben]

Keep them coming. I was going to say it after your first post but it’s obvious now that we prefer different types of Bond but it’ll not stop me being interested in your thoughts.

[Spikey M]

I'm struggling to think of a single good "Bond song". It's always just whatever musician was in fashion at the time churning out some self-indulgent (usually orchestral) wank.

[Shindig]

I really love the one for Casino Royale.

[Alex]

I'm struggling to think of a single good "Bond song". It's always just whatever musician was in fashion at the time churning out some self-indulgent (usually orchestral) wank.

Well, yeah. I know what you mean. Maybe "good" is the wrong word in the grand scheme of music I personally would choose to listen to. They're often very schmaltzy and overdone anyway. I'm not going out and buying the official collection in a rush.

I suppose I more mean good for what they are, "memorable" or whatever. For example Diamonds Are Forever, I didn't like the film, but that is a "good" Bond theme to me.

[Spikey M]

Diamonds are Forever is the one that immediately springs to mind and it is the best one. And to be fair, it was so "good" that every cunt has been trying to mirror it for every Bond film since.

[Lewis]

A View to a Kill is a choon.

[Shindig]

I quite like the two they did for On Her Majesty's Secret Service as well. Post Goldeneye, they've been a bit rough.

[Alex]

Live And Let Die is right up there too, that's a good one.

[Spikey M]

We should just be grateful we haven't had an Ed Sheeran effort I suppose.

[Ian]

I liked You Know My Name but I do love a bit of Cornell.

[Giggles]

I'm struggling to think of a single good "Bond song". It's always just whatever musician was in fashion at the time churning out some self-indulgent (usually orchestral) wank.

Some of them are quality.

[Giggles]

Everything tells me I should hate the Jack White one but I really like it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I quite liked the most recent one by Billy Eilish.

'The World Is Not Enough' by Garbage also a guilty pleasure, shame about the film.