Id be interested in your quick thoughts on some of those movies trodgers, even if it's a letter grade only for each. I agree almost entirely with your take on Ex Machina. I saw it in the theater and enjoyed it, but while it was interesting, I thought the payoff was bad and you could see it coming at a certain point. And that's not even taking into account that they basically spoil a big part of the end of the movie in the commercials. If you can remember off the top of your head (some movies are forgettable, I forgot I even saw The Giver, and and fortunately I've blocked out a lot of going to see Project Almanac), I'd like thoughts or a simple letter grade on Mortdecai Kingsman Chappie Spy Terminator Genysis I try and watch as many movies as possible, even if they look so-so. Watching movies is one of my favorite things to do, so I often give a lot of movies that look ok to bad a shot, and am sometimes surprised. I usually only skip movies that look horrible and/or get awful overall critic ratings. Mortdecai looked awful in previews, but I'd like to know if it's worth a rent. Chappie I can't figure out, I like the director, I liked the previews, but reviews were mixed and it did poorly and the more footage I saw of it the more it looked not as good. Didn't grow up a Terminator fan, so I actually liked Salvation more than most others, Genysis I can't tell though. Examples of movies that recently surprised me, G.I. Joe Retaliation and Robocop (2014). I hated the first G.I. Joe movie, put off seeing the 2nd for a loooong time, but my uncle wanted to watch it, and I actually thought it was mindless fun. Enjoyed the action scenes, the over the top characters felt used correctly this time, and the villains plot was crazy and out there enough to.. I dunno, make me smile or enjoy the ridiculously large scale of it. Villains always threaten mass destruction, this time they actually did it, and it was good spectacle. Wow that was more than I intended to write. The other film, I didn't grow up watching the original Robocop, so I had no nostalgic bias or attachment to it, so I thought the remake or reboot was a lot better than I was expecting. I guess going in with low or no expectations helped a lot. The scene where they revealed what was left of Murphy's body to him was especially disturbing, and I thought pretty well done. I did see the original Robocop finally recently too, and enjoyed that as well. It felt like something perfect for its time that couldn't be done today and be pulled off like it was. The over the top gore and violence that somehow doesn't feel gross or real/serious like it would if some today, if that makes sense. I don't get how kids I knew and my cousins all grew up with this movie and others like it from the time when its so gory and clearly not for kids, but it seems to have that feel to it, it doesn't take itself seriously and it works. The practical effects, the stop-motion animation, it's really well done and it helps give this and other movies from that time a feel we can't get with today's movies and their CGI. Stuff like this used to feel cheesy fun at the same time as being graphic, now when they do the same stuff it feels too real, and at times will actually make me feel kinda grossed out or sick, instead of over the top, cheesy fun. Don't know if any of that made sense, but I've rarely posted in this thread and I guess my love of talking movies got the best of me here ha ha.
Mortdecai B-/C+ This IS my cup of tea, but it wasn't my wife's. I laughed a lot, but I could imagine some people not digging on it. Kingsman B- Really did not expect to like this one, but it was well done. A bit like a Guy Ritchie film in some ways. A great addition to the genre. Maybe a better way of thinking of it is a more over-the-top British version of XXX (which I loved). Chappie B Pleasantly surprising, very charming, and really interesting. Pulled at the heart strings. With machine guns. Spy B-/C+ I know; I know, but I laughed at it a lot. Terminator Genysis I gave it a C+ on page 12. I could go B-/C+, honestly. High entertainment value, especially if you like Terminator (the first one).
Thank you, trodgers. I will give all of these a watch at some point. Mortdecai looks like quirky fun to me, the negative reviews seemed to be mostly about Depp quirky character fatigue more than the movie. Kingsman looked odd to me from the start, but it continued to look better with more trailers, and it got some really positive reviews. Spy actually did look really funny to me as well, I like McCarthy, even though I skipped Identity Thief, the Heat, and Tammy because they looked the her same routine starting to get worn out. As for Terminator, yes I like the first one. I go against the majority with the franchise, as I did not grow up watching these films. I only saw them for the first time 8 years ago or so at most. The first one was my favorite, I did not enjoy the 2nd one more as most do, I didn't like or hate the 3rd one, and like I said I enjoyed Salvation, though not nearly as much as 1 or even 2. I'll be watching Genysis if only for those reasons, and because I really like Emilia Clarke and like that they brought Ahnold back.
Kingsman is legit. Felt like a modern take on the old-school Bond movies if that makes any sense... All those old Bond movies are cheesy and fun instead of the far more serious and dark toned Daniel Craig ones we get now (which I like, don't get me wrong). Kingsman isn't afraid to be a little cheesy which made it vastly more entertaining than I expected.
Saw Mission Impossible today. Nothing really new or ground breaking, but it was a solid job of following a formula that works. The stunts were excellent. Action scenes excellent. One great extended vehicle chase. Story was pretty good. The new female lead was very good. Cruise was solid. They didn't give Renner or Ving enough to do.
Just saw The Butler. I thought it was great! Very interesting perspective on the Civil Rights movement. Even cooler that it was loosely based on a true story. I think it was the first Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey film I've seen, wow they're a great duo. Best part was when MLK was talking to Whitaker's son about how being a butler is actually a subtle way of breaking racial stereotypes. Gave me an insight to maybe who MLK was:
@TIME agreed. Saw it this past weekend, if you're a fan of the franchise then you'll really like it. It had some of the best moments of the franchise. Some of the set pieces they setup for the action scenes were insane - the opera, the chase, and the underwater scenes. Cruise might be bat s*** crazy and he's starting to age more noticeably, but you've got to give it to him. He does some stunts that puts other actors to shame -- holding on to a side of a plane for 8 takes, training for the water scene and having to be able to hold his breath for 6 minutes under water, and he did some of the motorcycle work (without a helmet). My biggest complaint was Renner was given zero action. He at least had a few action scenes in the last one. His best bit was in court.
I absolutely loved Madmax. It's probably in my top 15 movies ever right now. Maybe higher actually. Before i saw it, 3 of my best friends (back in LA) saw it together and said they were walking out of the theatre thinking that movie was made for me and which scenes id like the most. They were right. It was like they took every stupid joke or idea I ever laughed at with my friends and turned it into a movie. It was also perfectly aligned with the old MM movies with the over the top characters too. I mean, do you remember Master blaster from one of the old MM movies (I'm on my phone, otherwise I'd post a picture)? They were ridiculous just like this movie is. None of the old Madmax movies had much dialogue or very insightful thoughts when people did speak, so this one recreated that perfectly. Over the top rediculous and so much fun. I love Madmax :Magic:
He was solid in HL. I don't remember him in The Town. Affleck dominated. As usual. Btw, I'm an affleck fan. But I think he looks amazing as batman.
He definitely has the look. If nothing else goes right for Batman vs. Superman I think Cavill and Affleck are perfect looking casts.
Yeah, he didn't have much to work with. I'm hoping the eventual pairing with Damon (think they're each doing another solo one first...unless something changes), Damon will bring his Bourne crew and the quality will be much better.
Maggie - not your run of the mill zombie fare but a drama with Arnold Schwarzennger. Slow but not bad. C Gunman - good action flick with Penn who I don't ever remember being in such a genre. Well paced. B
Vacation: C-/D+ I think I really laughed twice, but there were a bunch of "Okay, that's fairly funny" moments. Chevy Chase's cameo isn't terribly funny, unfortunately.
I had a feeling that it was going to be dull. Helms is and never was that funny to me. Reminds me of a non-descript P.E. teacher...apologies to those who are one.
Watched the movie chef with Jon Favreau and John leguizamo and really surprised me how good the movie was. And a bonus to see how delicious they make the food look
