Film Reviews - what have you seen lately, what did you think?

gingerlover

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On the Rocks (Apple TV+) - Stars Bill Murray so marketed as a comedy. His daughter thinks her husband is cheating on her so she enlists her womanizing father for help, who only fuels her suspicions. Once again the old we make you think its a comedy about them teaming up to catch him, when it turns into a melodrama about how crappy her life is. 5/10

All the Old Knives (Amazon Prime) - Stars Chris Pine and a half the movie nude Thandie Newton. 8 years ago a CIA group operating in Austria fail to stop a terrorist plot that kills everyone on a plane. In the present new information is discovered after the terrorist leader is captured and dies, but provided a new lead. Pine is brought in to investigate this lead and determine who the mole was in the office that provided them crucial information while the hostage negotiations were taking place. He begins interrogating the others before coming to meet Newton, who is also his former lover. The story is told by flashbacks to that days events they both experienced trying to determine what really happened.

This one started out good, but once again hits you with the swerve you saw coming a mile away. Just almost beat you over the head with it, but they saved it some by showing the reasoning for it happening. 6/10.

Moonshot (HBO Max) - Another one we watched trying to get more out of a subscription. Basically in the future and we have colonized Mars. However unless you are rich or have a needed skill you can't go. Two college kids have their boyfriend/girlfriend get selected and try to find a way to get there to them, but will they fall in love on the way. Paint by numbers film for teens. 5/10
 

TLB

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The Batman (2022) <Theater>

So, a new take on an old story. This one is not for kids or families, necessarily - not because of violence, nudity, or language, but that it is just dark. It is DARK throughout it's entire 3h runtime. Nearly the entire cast is new names and faces, other than John Turturo, whom I'll get to in a bit. The film opens with narration by Batman (Robert Pattinson) as he describes being 'vengance' and trying to make a difference in Gotham but wondering if he really is anymore. There are some familiar faces (Lt. Gordon played by Jeffrey Wright, lookalike for Neil deGrasse Tyson) is about the only cop friend Batman has, and he brings him in on a recent murder where a note was left for The Batman. As the plot unfolds, two major actors (the ONLY two in the film) are brought in. We have Colin Farrel as Oz (The Penguin), and you wouldn't recognize him at all due to the great makeup. The other is John Turturo as Carmine Falcone, essentially a mob boss type guy (no makeup). We roll in Zoe Kravitz (daugher of Lenny & Lisa Bonet, with a kickin body) as our 'Cat Woman' who crosses passes with Batman at a crime scene and as things unfold they somewhat flirt, somewhat work together without making a relationship. The plot revolves around that first murder and clue, being of the current Mayor up for re-election. A second murder by the same criminal, with another note for Batman, is against a high official who has been around. The clues are passed via a card posing a riddle, and part way thru our villain reveals himself as the Riddler, but with absolutely no call back or connection to the old school ones you'd think of other than wearing a crappy mask, glasses, and riddling the batman. It seems the clues are wanting to expose a major corruption story that will shake Gotham to it's core, one that involves a mole from 20y ago that flipped on the crime boss of the time, and many folks got rich off that takedown - both upstanding citizens and crime lords. Farrel as Penguin isn't a villain per se in this film, he simply runs a club where the mob hangs out (with those 'upstanding folk') and a lot of deals go down. Turturo on the other hand is something of a pivot in the story line for multiple reasons, beyond being the only famous name-face in the film. Zoe's character works at the club, uses it to pick up tips on things to steal, but does NOT work in the very, very private club (40 below or whatever it's called) where the serious bad people hang out. Turturo does, and, as the story unfolds he is Zoe's father but has nothing to do with her.

That's a helluva TLB;DR. Sorry. Cut to the point, to see it or not. The story is very good, and plays out very well. Particularly the clues from Riddler to Batman, and how Batman takes them - there is a twist revealed at the end which I didn't catch until it was sprung on me, and it was nicely played. Actually, there are two twists - there is the endgame where the villain is captured but his mayhem continues, this extends the film an extra half hour or so, meh. The twist that I really appreciated was the relationship between Riddler and Batman when we reach the usual big confession of why Riddler did what he did and what he was communicating to Batman. I'll give you this hint, nobody but Alfred knows it is Bruce Wayne, not even Lt. Gordon.

Don't go for the acting, Batman is a grunting dullard, Alfred is a second teir casting, Farrel is attractive as Penguin but benign, and Turturo is just your typical Turturo, but it is too obvious he plays a major role in everything so he gets a 20min unfolding at the end that is predictable. Don't go for the imagery, though it is good for a beat down Gotham (shot w NYC backgrounds), it is simply 'dark' in pallates and not all that pleasing as eye candy. Fight scenes are meh. Batmobile is kinda cool, but really, it is ALL about the story, the characters, and their interactions. I do recommend it, but prepare for the full 3h. 8.510
 

gingerlover

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The Batman (2022) <Theater>

So, a new take on an old story. This one is not for kids or families, necessarily - not because of violence, nudity, or language, but that it is just dark. It is DARK throughout it's entire 3h runtime. Nearly the entire cast is new names and faces, other than John Turturo, whom I'll get to in a bit. The film opens with narration by Batman (Robert Pattinson) as he describes being 'vengance' and trying to make a difference in Gotham but wondering if he really is anymore. There are some familiar faces (Lt. Gordon played by Jeffrey Wright, lookalike for Neil deGrasse Tyson) is about the only cop friend Batman has, and he brings him in on a recent murder where a note was left for The Batman. As the plot unfolds, two major actors (the ONLY two in the film) are brought in. We have Colin Farrel as Oz (The Penguin), and you wouldn't recognize him at all due to the great makeup. The other is John Turturo as Carmine Falcone, essentially a mob boss type guy (no makeup). We roll in Zoe Kravitz (daugher of Lenny & Lisa Bonet, with a kickin body) as our 'Cat Woman' who crosses passes with Batman at a crime scene and as things unfold they somewhat flirt, somewhat work together without making a relationship. The plot revolves around that first murder and clue, being of the current Mayor up for re-election. A second murder by the same criminal, with another note for Batman, is against a high official who has been around. The clues are passed via a card posing a riddle, and part way thru our villain reveals himself as the Riddler, but with absolutely no call back or connection to the old school ones you'd think of other than wearing a crappy mask, glasses, and riddling the batman. It seems the clues are wanting to expose a major corruption story that will shake Gotham to it's core, one that involves a mole from 20y ago that flipped on the crime boss of the time, and many folks got rich off that takedown - both upstanding citizens and crime lords. Farrel as Penguin isn't a villain per se in this film, he simply runs a club where the mob hangs out (with those 'upstanding folk') and a lot of deals go down. Turturo on the other hand is something of a pivot in the story line for multiple reasons, beyond being the only famous name-face in the film. Zoe's character works at the club, uses it to pick up tips on things to steal, but does NOT work in the very, very private club (40 below or whatever it's called) where the serious bad people hang out. Turturo does, and, as the story unfolds he is Zoe's father but has nothing to do with her.

That's a helluva TLB;DR. Sorry. Cut to the point, to see it or not. The story is very good, and plays out very well. Particularly the clues from Riddler to Batman, and how Batman takes them - there is a twist revealed at the end which I didn't catch until it was sprung on me, and it was nicely played. Actually, there are two twists - there is the endgame where the villain is captured but his mayhem continues, this extends the film an extra half hour or so, meh. The twist that I really appreciated was the relationship between Riddler and Batman when we reach the usual big confession of why Riddler did what he did and what he was communicating to Batman. I'll give you this hint, nobody but Alfred knows it is Bruce Wayne, not even Lt. Gordon.

Don't go for the acting, Batman is a grunting dullard, Alfred is a second teir casting, Farrel is attractive as Penguin but benign, and Turturo is just your typical Turturo, but it is too obvious he plays a major role in everything so he gets a 20min unfolding at the end that is predictable. Don't go for the imagery, though it is good for a beat down Gotham (shot w NYC backgrounds), it is simply 'dark' in pallates and not all that pleasing as eye candy. Fight scenes are meh. Batmobile is kinda cool, but really, it is ALL about the story, the characters, and their interactions. I do recommend it, but prepare for the full 3h. 8.510

Luckily this comes on HBO Max next week so i can pause as needed for bathroom and snack breaks.
 

gingerlover

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Sonic The Hedgehog 2 - My oldest is a huge Sonic fan and has all the original games. He also loved the first movie so he's been dying to go. Took him today and the movie picks up about a year after where the last one left off. Sonic, still technically a kid, is trying to help and be a hero, but hasn't quite found himself yet. Robotnik is still marooned on the mushroom planet but is able to build a contraption to summon other worlds. In comes Knuckles who is also looking for Sonic as the last of his tribe from the first movie. They get to Earth and immediately go after Sonic in search of the Chaos Emerald. Tails shows up in time to save him and the adventure begins as they all race to get there first.

If you know the game series they have done a great job at keeping in the timeline of the first 3 games on this. This one plays out like a mix of 2 & 3 on film. There are also tons of other little Easter eggs to find as well. Humans, outside of Carey, have moved completely to supporting roles and are really only there for a small part of the movie to offer support. That actually works because you are there to see the game characters in action. As weird as Carey has gotten in real life, he can still shine when playing the kooky type of character that made him famous. stay for the mid credit scene as there is a tease for the next one similar to how the first movie ended. Gonna give this one a 7.5. It is not the greatest movie or winning Oscars, but still one of the better video game adaptions they have made. Its fun, goes quicker than what the run time is, and is enjoyable for all ages. Gamers will like it as they spot the hidden things they were able to fit in.
 

AugustaGator

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On the Rocks (Apple TV+) - Stars Bill Murray so marketed as a comedy. His daughter thinks her husband is cheating on her so she enlists her womanizing father for help, who only fuels her suspicions. Once again the old we make you think its a comedy about them teaming up to catch him, when it turns into a melodrama about how crappy her life is. 5/10

All the Old Knives (Amazon Prime) - Stars Chris Pine and a half the movie nude Thandie Newton.

This one started out good, but once again hits you with the swerve you saw coming a mile away. Just almost beat you over the head with it, but they saved it some by showing the reasoning for it happening. 6/10.
Yes they gave away too many things and could have made it a little better by establishing more background and other suspects.
 

gingerlover

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The Batman (HBO Max) - Covered very well and few posts back. I'm torn on this because I found Patterson to be a good early career Batman, but an absolutely horrible Bruce Wayne. The run time could have been trimmed and the tease of yet another Joker and further antics from the Penguin (amazing makeup) keep you hopeful for a descent sequel. With Batman you have come to expect some big payoff at the end where he does something heroic to stop something big. This endgame seemed kind of meh.

It however is not without current Hollywood trends of shoehorning characters into new backstories to check a box or trying to slide in SJW issues. There was a quip about white privileged and at its core that is what this film is about almost trying to make the villain sympathetic in his cause. They are also now heavily implying in two straight films dealing with the Wayne's (the other being Joker) hinting that they weren't really good people. Its a mix bag that doesn't hit you over the head with it, but once you see it ignoring it becomes tricky. That being said it was entertaining when needed. A few of the characters, I'm looking at you Alfred, could have been cut and you wouldn't have even noticed.

Would watch again and would see the sequel. 7/10

I Want You Back (Prime) - Romcom starting a few people you know. Both are broken up with on the same day and make a pledge to help wreck their relationships to win them back. Naturally they start to fall for each other. Extremely formulaic with a few new bells and whistles. 5/10

Our Friend (Prime)
- Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and Jason Segal star. When a couple wife is diagnosed with cancer their best friend drops everything to lend everyone support. That's basically it. It has flashbacks through the years of their relationships and the struggle through the cancer. The friend is there with them the entire time being the one shouldering many of the burdens for them during a hard time and does a great job showing what it is like for the person who hold everyone togethor when they are finally released from the person to finally grieve themselves. This one would have been a tearjerker if they didn't make the characters somewhat unlikable at times in the flashbacks. 6.5/10

Love & Monsters (Prime) - A young survivor of a nuclear fallout that caused everyday bugs to grow decides to leave his colony and find the girlfriend he was separated from years before. Along the way he befriends a dog, who has managed to survive on its own all this time and a father/daughter couple that teach him how to navigate the different monsters he will face on his journey. Will he reach her or will it be to late?

This is a fun little movie. No blockbuster by any means, but has some humor and good parts in it. Kind of cheesy at times, but not a bad way to spend a few hours. 6/10
 

ThreatMatrix

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The Batman: Found it kinda boring. I'd have to watch it again to even say why but I really don't even remember much of the plot. Think I was daydreaming during the movie.
 

gingerlover

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Licorice Pizza - Coming of age tale that got a lot of awards love because of the director. I should have known better, but finished it because we paid to rent it. Set in the 60's/70's. A kid in high school that is around 15 meets a girl in her twenties and they start to hang out. He is at the time and actor, but togethor they start some get rich schemes. It basically follows their lives and time togethor over a course of a number of years with her trying to be an adult rather than hanging out with kids and him basically being an a*hole for most of the movie. A few bright cameo's, but overall this movie was long, sucked and not worth the time I put in. 3/10

The Outfit (Peacock) - Stars Mark Rylance and Zoey Deutch. He plays a tailor (cutter) that's office is a drop point for the Chicago mob in the 1950's and she is his secretary. One day the mob get a message that a rat is talking to the feds and things go haywire in his shop. A tape has been leaked with the rats identity and the Italians and African American mobs are at war over trying to get it. His shop becomes a de-facto base for the Italians and it starts to come out how much he has paid attention over the years and his mysterious backstory from his time in England (more interesting than the other stuff). It had a nice swerve you didn't see coming, but had more interesting parts it could have explored in the mystery of the rat. 5/10

The Guilty (Netflix) - Jake Gyllynhall stars as a cop awaiting trial and has to serve as a 911 Operator while he awaits his trial. On what is to be his last night he gets a call from a woman he thinks has been abducted. He then begins to move mountains to try and help her while other revelations unfold and things are not always what they seem. At the very end the real message hits you and its a movie about white cops getting away with shooting black people. 4/10. It was a descent Neflix movie, but ruined at the end by shoehorning in SJW messaging.
 

Detroitgator

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Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Prime, Dish on Demand).

So, Son #2 and I watched all three over the last 24 hours, here's my review...

Nine hours and twenty minutes of the biggest collection of homoerotic (with a bit of NAMBLA sprinkled in) schit I've ever seen. I fell asleep for about 45 minutes in the second one, I don't think I missed anything except some elf fight schit.

I mean FFS, the movie basically ends with a very old man watching three little boys frolic in bed together, and then a dwarf walks in to join.

Not a single female tit in the entire 9+ hours... not even a hobbitit.

That said, I think Jackson could milk one more movie out of this... it would be a reboot of "The Equalizer," but called "The Gardener" starring Sam as Mr. McCall.
 
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ThreatMatrix

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Top Gun Maverick comes out May 25th. Hearing good things about it. Incredible flying sequences and properly balancing nostalgia with telling a new story.
 

Gatordiddy

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A couple of brief thoughts...

Eric Bana - "The Dry" murder/suicide thriller based in Australia. Wife thought it dragged - but I thought it was really well done.
Lots of flashbacks and a parallel story line - good stuff 8/10

'Operation Mincemeat' - based on the true story of the UK Military Intelligence unit that tried to fool the Nazis into thinking that Sicily was not the location of the next Allied invasion, but Greece. Colin Firth and the guy from Sucession (Matthew Macfadyen) star in this one. Very good recounting of how they pulled this off. 8/10

"The Dig" - Ralph Fiennes - true story of a Suffolk England 'excavator' (novice self-taught archeologist) excavates a burial mound on the property of a widow. This one surprised me... I thought it would be kinda boring and stuffy, but it was actually pretty good. Also an 8/10.
 

BNAG8R

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Saw it last night. Definitely worth the price of admission. Excellent movie.

I’ve seen the original probably 100 times. If you’re my age and a red blooded male, the original was flawed, cheesy perfection. I just read that armed forces recruiting increased 500% at its release. I was headed down a civil engineering path when it came out, and it pushed me back to aerospace. I was dreading this new one frankly, thinking it would just be a bad version of the first - and I was dead wrong.

If you’ve seen the first, you probably caught a couple of the callbacks. If you’re a super fan, it was nearly one long callback over and over, and instead of cheesy, they were awesome. No spoilers, but I found myself smiling like a jackass every time one of them hit, and it was all types - dialog, scenery, lighting, subtle music callbacks….grinning each time, because THAT is exactly what could have been forced and cheesy and made it a horrible movie, yet they really did it to perfection. Not a single cringe.

It’s getting 97% on rotten tomatoes, and 99% audience rating- and it’s well deserved.
 

bradgator2

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I’ve seen the original probably 100 times. If you’re my age and a red blooded male, the original was flawed, cheesy perfection. I just read that armed forces recruiting increased 500% at its release. I was headed down a civil engineering path when it came out, and it pushed me back to aerospace. I was dreading this new one frankly, thinking it would just be a bad version of the first - and I was dead wrong.

If you’ve seen the first, you probably caught a couple of the callbacks. If you’re a super fan, it was nearly one long callback over and over, and instead of cheesy, they were awesome. No spoilers, but I found myself smiling like a jackass every time one of them hit, and it was all types - dialog, scenery, lighting, subtle music callbacks….grinning each time, because THAT is exactly what could have been forced and cheesy and made it a horrible movie, yet they really did it to perfection. Not a single cringe.

It’s getting 97% on rotten tomatoes, and 99% audience rating- and it’s well deserved.

Agree on all. I cant recall a sequel that had so many callbacks. And all perfectly executed. This movie will go down as one of the highest grossing films of all time.
 

AugustaGator

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Moonfall…horrible. I kept watching it hoping I’d fall asleep, but no. It failed at that.

It was about the dumbest sci-fi movie I’ve seen.
 

Detroitgator

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I’ve seen the original probably 100 times. If you’re my age and a red blooded male, the original was flawed, cheesy perfection. I just read that armed forces recruiting increased 500% at its release. I was headed down a civil engineering path when it came out, and it pushed me back to aerospace. I was dreading this new one frankly, thinking it would just be a bad version of the first - and I was dead wrong.

If you’ve seen the first, you probably caught a couple of the callbacks. If you’re a super fan, it was nearly one long callback over and over, and instead of cheesy, they were awesome. No spoilers, but I found myself smiling like a jackass every time one of them hit, and it was all types - dialog, scenery, lighting, subtle music callbacks….grinning each time, because THAT is exactly what could have been forced and cheesy and made it a horrible movie, yet they really did it to perfection. Not a single cringe.

It’s getting 97% on rotten tomatoes, and 99% audience rating- and it’s well deserved.
It reminds me of 22 Jump Street... they knew it was going to be impossible to top, so they basically parodied/rebooted the original and it worked really well.

That said, I couldn't get into Maverick until the last 20-30 minutes, then really enjoyed it... starting with "you told me NOT to think!" But I saw it on normal screen, will probably do the IMAX thingy to get more immersed in the flying... in regular theater, it felt like you were in a ... theater...
 

soflagator

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Wanted to see Maverick. Missed my window and had to see Jurassic Park 17(I think?) instead. The gist is they run from dinosaurs. The blonde from the original had plastic surgery and looks like Jim Carey in The Mask. BD Wong transitions from a gay psychiatrist at SVU to a gay geneticist at Jurassic Park. Jeff Goldblum makes wise cracks. Seriously it’s enough already with the dinosaurs.
 

Gatordiddy

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Wanted to see Maverick. Missed my window and had to see Jurassic Park 17(I think?) instead. The gist is they run from dinosaurs. The blonde from the original had plastic surgery and looks like Jim Carey in The Mask. BD Wong transitions from a gay psychiatrist at SVU to a gay geneticist at Jurassic Park. Jeff Goldblum makes wise cracks. Seriously it’s enough already with the dinosaurs.

When did you lose your passion for the cinema?
 

Gatordiddy

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So - the wife gave me control of the remote this weekend, therefore:

Old Henry - The frickin’ fantastic Tim Blake Nelson is a farmer, but apparently was an outlaw in his past (see: Unforgiven) but there’s a very cool twist near the end. This was a crazy good movie.
9/10

The Outfit- similar in the sense the main guy (Mark Rylance - you’ve seen him in a lot of British movies - awesome actor) is not what he appears to be. Set in 1956 Chicago, he’s a tailor for several mobsters who use his shop for passing messages to other members of ‘The Outfit’, a crime syndicate. I can’t give too much more away, but damn, great story and unexpected ending. Make sure you watch this one.
9/10
 

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