Film Reviews - what have you seen lately, what did you think?
- Thread starter TLB
- Start date
- Jun 11, 2014
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Lots of good action. A few decent surf scenes. The Shark is Badass! Blake is badder! The way she kills the shark is pretty cool. By the end she isn't looking so Hot but still worth watching. Especially for five bucks!
- Jun 14, 2014
- 85
- 1
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Bridge of Spies was awesome. Best movie I have seen in years (aside from the Marvel movies)! Even if you don't like Tom Hanks or you know the Francis Gary Powers story, you'll be amazed and surprised. High recommendation!
- Jun 11, 2014
- 969
- 408
Founding Member
Just got done watching Inherent Vice as part of the free HBO preview weekend. Probably one of the weirdest movies I have seen in quite a while. I originally thought it was supposed to be a comedy. But, no, not a comedy. It was quite the head scratcher. It was one of those movies that you want to stop watching because it doesn't make sense but keep watching in hopes that it does at the end. I feel like I just wasted a perfectly good 2 1/2 hours.
- Jan 6, 2015
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This is a running joke for my wife and I as we have often tried to pick a comedy for date night and often found that it was definitely, not a comedy.
- Jun 12, 2014
- 16,331
- 14,787
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Saw Hateful Eight on Friday night, it might be my least favorite Tarantino movie. It is shot beautifully, so in the threater it might have had a better effect. But the dialog and the story were painfully slow.
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- Jan 6, 2015
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Long weekend on my own has of course led to less than sober moments and a binging of films:
5 Deadly Venoms (1978) - dubbed kung fu film of a young student who's master is dying and makes a final request of the student to track down the earlier students and ensure none are using their skills for evil. If you liked Kung Fu Theater on the USA channel growing up, this is is a suprisingly good one - primarily based on the construction of the story and how it unfolds. The earlier students each learned a venomous skills set (Toad=indestructable skin, Snake=Great Agility, Centipede=speed of hand and foot, etc). Only 2 of the students ever knew each other and may still be in contact. Last student, charged wtih tracking them, learned all their skills but not as well and therefore cannot overcome any one of them on his own, he must choose one to team up with to defeat any others who may be villains. As a viewer, we get to watch the story unfold and keep guessing who the students may be, and where they fit into the good/bad side of things as everyone is searching for the teacher's old friend who may have a sum of money hidden away. The action is on par with the genre, as is the dialogue, so you know it's not great but you get what you expect. I have to say the storyline alone was very well done, almost to the point of watching again.
5 Elemental Ninjas (1982) - dubbed kung fu film I thought was a sequel. It was not (not a comedy, either). On par dubbing, meh story line, but my gosh it felt like 2 movies. First half was spent watching a Chinese martial arts team get destroyed by some Japanese ninjas that follow 5 elements of style (Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth). At the midpoint, you feel like you've watched enough and are ready to move on....but the last living member of the Chinese team had a little ninja training himself. He goes back to join his ninja master, teams up with 3 others who were being trained by the ninja master, and the four of them set out to beat the elemental ninjas at their own game. The film seems like it goes on forever, but I will admit the back half does have quite a bit of innovative fight scenes. A lot of the costumes, and some of the fights, are awefully damn hokey, but some of the fight scenes are extremely well choreographed and executed (particularly the fight against Gold and the final boss fight). I wouldn't recommend this film, but if you are really into the genre, you can kill some time with itl.
Slices (2008) - I've seen this before but forgot until about 5 min into it. I see I haven't rated it in this thread, so let me first say "DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!". It has all the redeeming qualities of a mid-80's college assignment - crap writing, crap acting, some attractive women who don't show enough to make it worth watching. Film has 5 stories and a wrap around, but none of it is good. All the imdb reviews echo "it isn't that bad".....I'd have to say "it isn't that good." Again, do NOT waste your time on this one, even if you watch utterly unwatchable horror or kung fu crap like I do. And I watched it twice. I am ashamed, but I'll blame the non-sober part of me.
Slaughterhouse Five (1972) - I've been meaning to watcht his for some time, finally did. In hindsight, I think I've seen it before and forgot. For all the literaryt jabber about Kurt Vonnegut, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I expected 'good' or 'though provoking'. Instead I got "meh" and "what?". The acting was pretty good, the story was odd in that our central character is travelling back and forth over his lifetime, not at his control, and we're along with him as he jumps from one point in time to the next. There are some parallels between periods in his life that are reflected well, but I kept wondering if we're supposed to take him as really travelling thru time or just nuts. Ultimately, I didn't really care too much about him, and certainly not about any of the other characters. I didn't take away any insights or reflective questions. I simply endured to the end and hope to not watch it again. I won't recommend for or against watching, you take your chances.
Hardcore Henry (2015) - shot from FPS perspective, the film offered some good things but still can't be recommended. There are a lot of chase scenes which left me wondering "how'd they do that?" as we see Henry's (our) hands and feet jumping down buildings or through windows...can't fathom how they were able to keep a camera and a live actor's hands/feet in the picture with all this running around. Beginning with the opening credits you know this is all about guns and blood - that and the fast paced sequences never let up. There are a few open character questions that do eventually get wrapped up (his wife, the repeating and varying appearances by "Jimmy" to support him) but the boss is never really fully explained for what he is - that bothered me a bit. Overall, I'll give a nod of respect tot he FPS effort made in shooting the film, and can appreciate some of the humor and nudity layered in, but tbh, the FPS left me nautious in the second half and the boss battle at the end with all the minions was a bit of "I don't care anymore" to watch.
5 Deadly Venoms (1978) - dubbed kung fu film of a young student who's master is dying and makes a final request of the student to track down the earlier students and ensure none are using their skills for evil. If you liked Kung Fu Theater on the USA channel growing up, this is is a suprisingly good one - primarily based on the construction of the story and how it unfolds. The earlier students each learned a venomous skills set (Toad=indestructable skin, Snake=Great Agility, Centipede=speed of hand and foot, etc). Only 2 of the students ever knew each other and may still be in contact. Last student, charged wtih tracking them, learned all their skills but not as well and therefore cannot overcome any one of them on his own, he must choose one to team up with to defeat any others who may be villains. As a viewer, we get to watch the story unfold and keep guessing who the students may be, and where they fit into the good/bad side of things as everyone is searching for the teacher's old friend who may have a sum of money hidden away. The action is on par with the genre, as is the dialogue, so you know it's not great but you get what you expect. I have to say the storyline alone was very well done, almost to the point of watching again.
5 Elemental Ninjas (1982) - dubbed kung fu film I thought was a sequel. It was not (not a comedy, either). On par dubbing, meh story line, but my gosh it felt like 2 movies. First half was spent watching a Chinese martial arts team get destroyed by some Japanese ninjas that follow 5 elements of style (Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth). At the midpoint, you feel like you've watched enough and are ready to move on....but the last living member of the Chinese team had a little ninja training himself. He goes back to join his ninja master, teams up with 3 others who were being trained by the ninja master, and the four of them set out to beat the elemental ninjas at their own game. The film seems like it goes on forever, but I will admit the back half does have quite a bit of innovative fight scenes. A lot of the costumes, and some of the fights, are awefully damn hokey, but some of the fight scenes are extremely well choreographed and executed (particularly the fight against Gold and the final boss fight). I wouldn't recommend this film, but if you are really into the genre, you can kill some time with itl.
Slices (2008) - I've seen this before but forgot until about 5 min into it. I see I haven't rated it in this thread, so let me first say "DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!". It has all the redeeming qualities of a mid-80's college assignment - crap writing, crap acting, some attractive women who don't show enough to make it worth watching. Film has 5 stories and a wrap around, but none of it is good. All the imdb reviews echo "it isn't that bad".....I'd have to say "it isn't that good." Again, do NOT waste your time on this one, even if you watch utterly unwatchable horror or kung fu crap like I do. And I watched it twice. I am ashamed, but I'll blame the non-sober part of me.
Slaughterhouse Five (1972) - I've been meaning to watcht his for some time, finally did. In hindsight, I think I've seen it before and forgot. For all the literaryt jabber about Kurt Vonnegut, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I expected 'good' or 'though provoking'. Instead I got "meh" and "what?". The acting was pretty good, the story was odd in that our central character is travelling back and forth over his lifetime, not at his control, and we're along with him as he jumps from one point in time to the next. There are some parallels between periods in his life that are reflected well, but I kept wondering if we're supposed to take him as really travelling thru time or just nuts. Ultimately, I didn't really care too much about him, and certainly not about any of the other characters. I didn't take away any insights or reflective questions. I simply endured to the end and hope to not watch it again. I won't recommend for or against watching, you take your chances.
Hardcore Henry (2015) - shot from FPS perspective, the film offered some good things but still can't be recommended. There are a lot of chase scenes which left me wondering "how'd they do that?" as we see Henry's (our) hands and feet jumping down buildings or through windows...can't fathom how they were able to keep a camera and a live actor's hands/feet in the picture with all this running around. Beginning with the opening credits you know this is all about guns and blood - that and the fast paced sequences never let up. There are a few open character questions that do eventually get wrapped up (his wife, the repeating and varying appearances by "Jimmy" to support him) but the boss is never really fully explained for what he is - that bothered me a bit. Overall, I'll give a nod of respect tot he FPS effort made in shooting the film, and can appreciate some of the humor and nudity layered in, but tbh, the FPS left me nautious in the second half and the boss battle at the end with all the minions was a bit of "I don't care anymore" to watch.
- Jun 11, 2014
- 21,134
- 33,948
Founding Member
Just saw batman vs superman. Tried really hard to be like the batman trilogy but the story line struggled and Nolan is just way better than Snyder.
Also, Lois is such a huge component of the 2 superman movies and they really chose a mediocre actress in Amy Adams.
Also, Lois is such a huge component of the 2 superman movies and they really chose a mediocre actress in Amy Adams.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,136
- 26,529
Of course! Seen all three in the franchise. First was a refreshing new concept for the horror genre. Decent story, decent acting, realistic "yeah, that could happen" delivery. I'd recommend it. The second, was a weak sequel modeled around a fan of the first trying to replicate and expand on the initial concept.. This can be skipped, unless you really enjoyed the first - however, it isn't nearly as good. The third is utter crap. Only watch if you waste time on really bad movies like I do.
- Jul 23, 2014
- 11,860
- 27,001
So...I'm probably the last person in here who has seen The Big Short.
Just finished watching it.
Wow - just f*ckin' wow.
Just finished watching it.
Wow - just f*ckin' wow.
- Jun 10, 2014
- 16,578
- 20,016
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BvS was pretty terrible, but Affleck wasn't bad as Batman at all. The writing was laughably bad.
- Jun 10, 2014
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- Jun 11, 2014
- 21,134
- 33,948
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Yep. Affleck was actually pretty good. But too much CGI and a bad story line with bad dialogue. It was like they used Nolan's intern. They tried to copy him but it came up short.
- Jun 10, 2014
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I will say that even though Suicide Squad is in the Man of Steel Universe, it looks absolutely incredible. Excited for Jared Leto's take on Joker, as well.
- Jun 11, 2014
- 5,593
- 7,874
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Just watched hateful 8...it was alright and kept me interested to see what was going to finally happen and...well not much. Overall seemed pretty pointless
- Jun 10, 2014
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Yeah, not Quentin's best effort. I will say the cinematography was absolutely flawless on the big screen, but I probably won't even watch it again.
- Jun 11, 2014
- 5,593
- 7,874
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Yeah that was good for sure...it was weird because i was liking the movie but was just waiting for something to happen then it just never really did. Sure the end was full of gunfire but nothing really substantial. Liked it but would not watch again.
