NOW CLOSED ; List some movies you've watched recently. Theatre, rental, TV... and give a */10

[A Casual Fitz]

I keep reading about this show being so great but I also tried watching the first episode, twice, and couldn't finish it. It was so awful and unfunny but maybe I need to watch a few episodes? Can anyone else comment

Yes, it took me a few episodes but it gets really, really good. I hung on because I love Will Arnett and Aaron Paul. I agree, the first episode is pretty unfunny All of a sudden I was finished the 2nd season and I wanted more.

 

[Perknose]

Quite the opposite. While watching Hateful Eight, I'm constantly thinking about how brilliantly the story is told.

The movie felt to me like it was done by a wannabe undergrad "auteur" who thought he could make a Tarantino film.

It felt, like the other QT films I haven't been head over heels about, like a bunch of punchy set pieces, each meticulously and even lovingly done "over the top" for effect, but with NO unifying story really undergirding them . . . just a lackluster attempt at same.

Now, I realize I've dissed QT before, so I'd like to add that I loved, loved, loved Reservoir Dogs, and that Pulp Fiction is an all-time masterpiece, imho.

 

[Muse]

Love love love this movie. Just watched it again not that long ago. I didn't really ever find it all that confusing. The look and the sound of the movie are both incredible!!

KT

Re: Café de Flore (?/10 2011, Jean-Marc Vallée)

Well, it was getting somewhat late for me, decided to slip it in anyway. At my best, maybe I wouldn't have been confused. Hopefully! Well, I'll watch the rest, or maybe start over. Anyway, the superb cinematography and very very impressive music weren't lost on me. It was very impressive all in all except for the fact that 45 minutes in I was just plain confused. Starting to feel the strain (like I said, I began to worry I was coming down with something), I made the obvious decision and turned off the player and headed for bed!

 

[Charmonium]

Stranger Things on Netflix - 7/10

As best I can tell, this series is a tribute to Stephen King. Since I don't really like his stories, with the possible exception of The Shining there was no way I was really going to appreciate the show.

That said, I have to admit it was very watchable. As is usually the case with King stories (the ones that have been adapted for tv or film), the paranormal (let's call it) aspect didn't really make a lot of sense. But once you accepted that, it was a pretty good story.

The child actors take center stage here so if you can't tolerate a steady diet of children, you probably won't like. I generally don't like kids either but the 4 main characters here were quite good I thought. Much better than I would have expected.

 

[Carson Dyle]

The movie felt to me like it was done by a wannabe undergrad "auteur" who thought he could make a Tarantino film.

Nah, just a fading Tarrentino. Now a wannabe of his younger self.

I agree with the rest of your thoughts, word for word. This movie could have been a play, but it was some unusual amalgamation of stage play with a sprinkling of beautiful outdoor cinematography that seemed oddly out of place given that it was a western. I found the whole thing very strange. Just endless, run-on moral blathering. Not the tightest dialog anyone has ever written. If the screenplay had been a book submitted to a good editor, it would have been chopped from 700 pages to 300.

 

[Ichinisan]

The movie felt to me like it was done by a wannabe undergrad "auteur" who thought he could make a Tarantino film.

It felt, like the other QT films I haven't been head over heels about, like a bunch of punchy set pieces, each meticulously and even lovingly done "over the top" for effect, but with NO unifying story really undergirding them . . . just a lackluster attempt at same.

Now, I realize I've dissed QT before, so I'd like to add that I loved, loved, loved Reservoir Dogs, and that Pulp Fiction is an all-time masterpiece, imho.

The wooden carving of Jesus Christ on the cross at the opening of The Hateful Eight: I knew it would be a subtle story telling device. The camera dwelled on it for so long, barely moving until it's in the right position for the carriage driving by. Kicked-up snow swirls right at the camera.

That opening shot was incredibly long, with no cuts. At 70mm and 24 frames per-second, that's 1.68 meters of film per-second! I wonder just how many meters of film were used for the opening? If anything screwed-up the shot, they'd have to re-shoot...and that would be incredibly expensive.

The carved statue serves a purpose. It shows relative time as multiple parties pass it and you see varying amounts of snow or day/night. I love it.

The flashback was amazing. The best use of such a storytelling device I can ever recall.

The gore was shocking and horrifying. Quentin Tarantino wants me to be uncomfortable, and he succeeds again and again in this movie.

It's obvious that the screenplay spent some time being developed as a stage production, but I feel it made the story even more compelling. I hope they actually make a stage version. The film will remain special to me.

 

[Perknose]

The wooden carving of Jesus Christ on the cross at the opening of The Hateful Eight: I knew it would be a subtle story telling device. The camera dwelled on it for so long, barely moving until it's in the right position for the carriage driving by. Kicked-up snow swirls right at the camera.

That opening shot was incredibly long, with no cuts. At 70mm and 24 frames per-second, that's 1.68 meters of film per-second! I wonder just how many meters of film were used for the opening? If anything screwed-up the shot, they'd have to re-shoot...and that would be incredibly expensive.

The carved statue serves a purpose. It shows relative time as multiple parties pass it and you see varying amounts of snow or day/night. I love it.

The flashback was amazing. The best use of such a storytelling device I can ever recall.

The gore was shocking and horrifying. Quentin Tarantino wants me to be uncomfortable, and he succeeds again and again in this movie.

It's obvious that the screenplay spent some time being developed as a stage production, but I feel it made the story even more compelling. I hope they actually make a stage version. The film will remain special to me.

Bravo! :thumbsup:

Ichni, You've convinced me to watch H8 again at some point. I'll try to see it through your eyes. I will admit that I didn't first view it under optimal conditions. It was at a friend's house on a 32" SD TV, with lots of cross-talk, food, animals, and other things going on.

 

[Ichinisan]

Bravo! :thumbsup:

Ichni, You've convinced me to watch H8 again at some point. I'll try to see it through your eyes. I will admit that I didn't first view it under optimal conditions. It was at a friend's house on a 32" SD TV, with lots of cross-talk, food, animals, and other things going on.

I'd love to hear how the re-watch goes.

I watched in 70mm at a real IMAX theater, more than a month after release. Just my brother, myself, and a couple 3 rows behind us. We had the best seats.

Perhaps my experience is tainted by conditions I'll never be able to reproduce.

 

[Charmonium]

Bravo! :thumbsup:

Ichni, You've convinced me to watch H8 again at some point. I'll try to see it through your eyes. I will admit that I didn't first view it under optimal conditions. It was at a friend's house on a 32" SD TV, with lots of cross-talk, food, animals, and other things going on.

D:

Is your friend an illegal immigrant living an abandoned building?

 

[Perknose]

D:

Is your friend an illegal immigrant living an abandoned building?

Nope. Just a couple who own a tiny house in Lambertville, NJ and simply aren't much into passive electronic entertainment. They mostly make their own music and art and, well, fun, with their friends. Their living room is so small nothing larger would do. You literally sit about 4-5 feet from the screen. I mean, they could have something a bit bigger but they'd have to get rid of more than a few books, you know?

It wasn't the best movie watching environment.

The town is full of working artists and, ummm, lesbians walking their dogs. It's an old mill town just across the river from New Hope, Pa. Money from New York has edged in, but it's still funky and more like I imagine New Hope itself was 50-60 years ago before the hordes of Jersey tourists descended on it.

 

[Charmonium]

Nope. Just a couple who own a tiny house in Lambertville, NJ

shad fest ftw. woo-hoo

 

[KeithTalent]

haha, not exactly a shining endorsement. but I have a list of literally 20 other shows I need to watch/catch up on, so I guess I should stick with those

Heh, yeah, I think that's the best idea. Too much stuff to watch as it is!

Re: Café de Flore (?/10 2011, Jean-Marc Vallée)

Well, it was getting somewhat late for me, decided to slip it in anyway. At my best, maybe I wouldn't have been confused. Hopefully! Well, I'll watch the rest, or maybe start over. Anyway, the superb cinematography and very very impressive music weren't lost on me. It was very impressive all in all except for the fact that 45 minutes in I was just plain confused. Starting to feel the strain (like I said, I began to worry I was coming down with something), I made the obvious decision and turned off the player and headed for bed!

Cool. If nothing else it is worth watching for the cinematography and sound design. Glad you got to appreciate it.

I had the good fortune to see this is in the theatre for my first watch, so I just sat there enraptured by it all for the entire length of the film. Not having any distractions, like my phone or anything, probably helped let me sink into the story.

Stranger Things on Netflix - 7/10

As best I can tell, this series is a tribute to Stephen King. Since I don't really like his stories, with the possible exception of The Shining there was no way I was really going to appreciate the show.

That said, I have to admit it was very watchable. As is usually the case with King stories (the ones that have been adapted for tv or film), the paranormal (let's call it) aspect didn't really make a lot of sense. But once you accepted that, it was a pretty good story.

The child actors take center stage here so if you can't tolerate a steady diet of children, you probably won't like. I generally don't like kids either but the 4 main characters here were quite good I thought. Much better than I would have expected.

I usually hate kids, but I like most of the child actors here. I actua;ly think Wynona Rider is one of the weakest things about the show, which sucks because I used to have the biggest crush on her. I should hate this show since I am so sick and tired of all this pandering, nostalgia bullshit, but I am actually quite digging the show. I'm four episodes in and looking forward to finishing it off.

Freaking love the opening credits; awesome music. I thought it was Cliff Martinez.

KT

 

[DigDog]

T...

i thought you said, it wasn't because of the visuals?

when i say story, i mean script - dialogue - characters - pacing.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I liked one line in Hateful 8. 10 seconds out of 307 minutes.

I love some of the individual performances and elements of IB and DU, but I feel QT hasn't made a masterpiece since KB, and is slipping ever further into a caricature of himself, and H8 was utterly devoid of any worthwhile story or performance.

 

[Ichinisan]

i thought you said, it wasn't because of the visuals?

when i say story, i mean script - dialogue - characters - pacing.

Visually, a wooden statue of Jesus is pretty boring. I was impressed how it was used as a story telling device.

 

[slayer202]

Freaking love the opening credits; awesome music. I thought it was Cliff Martinez.

KT

I kept thinking "what does this theme sound like" and then I realized it's very similar to the one from Only God Forgives, which I know you love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtq7zYN6b_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIzXU4N0Gk

 

[KeithTalent]

I kept thinking "what does this theme sound like" and then I realized it's very similar to the one from Only God Forgives, which I know you love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtq7zYN6b_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIzXU4N0Gk

That's exactly right! So damn good!

KT

 

[duragezic]

Well, there hasn't been many good movies, so I've watched some new shows:

Alone 8/10
10 people are dropped off in the wilderness and stay as long as they can. They are entirely alone and film themselves.

A guy on season 2, Larry, is awesome. Anytime something goes wrong (which is pretty often), he goes off so there's 15 seconds of *beep*. He was so pissed at this mouse that was chewing on his gear. He pretty much goes to war with them. And Tracy was funny as hell. She said she was most concerned with the cougars particularly because she is "a bit meatier than the other contestants".

Last Resort 8/10
Great show. Reminds me of The Last Ship which I love. Unfortunately it is only one season. Guess they needed to make room for all of the garbage shows on TV.

Gang Related 8.5/10
Also only one season. I'm not quite done but really like it. If nothing else, Ravit (aka Inbar Lavi) operates in it. :wub:

One good thing about the latter two is that at only one season, you don't have to worry about getting into some show and having to watch a ton of episodes to know what's going on.

 

[Charmonium]

I loved Gang-related. Very disappointed it wasn't renewed.

Never saw Alone but from the sound, you might like Siberia. It's an ersatz reality show - I think. But it's made to look like the real thing.

 

[Zeze]

Stranger Things on Netflix - 7/10

As best I can tell, this series is a tribute to Stephen King. Since I don't really like his stories, with the possible exception of The Shining there was no way I was really going to appreciate the show.

That said, I have to admit it was very watchable. As is usually the case with King stories (the ones that have been adapted for tv or film), the paranormal (let's call it) aspect didn't really make a lot of sense. But once you accepted that, it was a pretty good story.

The child actors take center stage here so if you can't tolerate a steady diet of children, you probably won't like. I generally don't like kids either but the 4 main characters here were quite good I thought. Much better than I would have expected.

Stranger Things 7/10: I too give this 7/10. Despite its hype at reddit, it's plain watchable at best. And this comes from someone who's a HUGE sucker for coming-of-age films & scifi. And this show pays tribute to all those of the 80's (Stand by Me, ET, Goonies, etc)

For a show that's supposed to be grounded (scifi elements aside), few of the plotholes made no sense. Why didn't they simply kill Hop when they first found him in the complex? Just have him wake up at his home? lol.

This show did not suck me in, wanting for more like Better Call Saul, BB, or etc.

In terms of quality & overall watchability, I'll give this a notch below Aziz's 'Master of None.' I think I rated that show 8/10.

I haven't even completed the final episode and I haven't been eager.

 

[Zeze]

X-Men: Apoc 5.5/10: IMO comic book movies are BEST when its scope is kept small. So you can relate to it as it stays grounded with our history backdrop and/or current events.

That's why Iron Man 1 & X-Men First Class are TOP comic book movies in modern history. It intricately deals with politics (Middle-east for Iron Man & Cold War tension for XMFC), and it's endearing to see Tony Stark tooling around in his basement or attending charity events. Same goes for Xavier & Mystique going to bars & growing up going to university. Charles honing in Magneto to use his power was an amazing scene (when he moves the huge dish around).

When the scope gets too big with cosmic villains, the movies become just too comical for me. And just plain too unrealistic & cartoony. I hope you get my drift.

XMFC was awesome. Days of Future Past was okay due to a major plothole in the end. This Apoc suffered from a horrid one-dimensional villain who was as interesting as watching paint dry.

This movie sucked.

 

[Anubis]

Stranger Things 7/10: Why didn't they simply kill Hop when they first found him in the complex? Just have him wake up at his home? lol.

this was answered in the stranger things thread. Basic jist is that it would have cause more issues to have the Chief killed or kill himself, draw more unwanted attention to things and all that

 

[Anubis]

I kept thinking "what does this theme sound like" and then I realized it's very similar to the one from Only God Forgives, which I know you love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtq7zYN6b_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIzXU4N0Gk

it really reminded me of the soundtrack from Deus Ex: Human Revolution for some reason

 

[SAWYER]

Vice Principals 8/10

 

[Perknose]

Vice Principals 8/10

That high? Really? Maybe it will get better, but I found the first ep to be truly sitcom lame. As I recall, though, you're a big Danny McBride fan, whereas I find his "overbearingly boorish lout" personae to be, well, overbearingly boorish.

And, poor Walton Goggins, desperately grasping at his first chance to escape Hollywood typecasting. I don't blame him one whit for trying, but . . .