Last Good Movie You Saw

[TCP]

14 hours ago, FLD said:

Just got back from seeing The Last Jedi. I kind of expected to be able to point to at least one thing that explained why some people hated it so much but I can't. Reading about it now, it seems to be mostly due to the elements that were... let's go with subverted. There were a few things I wasn't so sure about when I walked out of the theater and the more I think about them the less I like them but overall it's at least as good as The Force Awakens.

 

It felt a bit too long, though. That one subplot in the middle that was kinda boring and ultimately had no impact on the story whatsoever. How did that not get left on the cutting room floor?

Are you on the Discord chat (you should be!)? Someone (Mal?) posted a really good summary about that validated that plotline that went nowhere.

 

Basically, the theme of the movie is failure. As Yoda says, failure is the best teacher. Finn and Rose failed at their plan to turn off the tracker (I'm assuming this is the plot you were talking about). Rey failed at turning Kylo light. Poe failed his mutiny. Even Luke failed Kylo in the flashbacks. The whole point of the movie is failure is the best teacher. Luke learned his lesson and faced Kylo. I guess we'll have to see how Rey, Poe, and Finn respond in episode 9.

Edited December 18, 2017 by Ultra TCP

[toxicitizen]

I'm not on the Discord, no. I didn't even have a Discord account until very recently (and even then I was mostly just sitting in the channel waiting for the ResetEra migration). I was talking specifically about

 

the side-quest to that casino planet. Saying it had zero impact isn't fully accurate but ultimately I think the biggest problem of that section was that it was pretty boring imho. It honestly felt like it was only there so that Finn would have something to do. It's the only part of the movie that I felt they should've cut entirely.

But yeah, the failure thing is absolutely on point. 

 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2017 by FLD

[Mister Jack]

Spoiler

I feel like I'm the only person who enjoyed the casino planet. It offered an interesting set piece we've never seen before in the main film series and it had fun with it. I hear a lot of complaints that it felt like it didn't belong in Star Wars, but I would counter that it only doesn't belong in the Star Wars they remember from years ago. I'm perfectly fine with the new films going outside of the franchise's comfort zone if it means we get to see cool new stuff.

 

[Mr. GOH!]

The Last Jedi is phenomenal. It pushes the saga ahead while retaining everything that makes Star Wars Star Wars. I have a lot more to say, but I will hold off until I have organized my thoughts.

Spoiler

The theme of the movie is not failure; the theme is moving beyond your triumph and the past.

Edited December 19, 2017 by Mr. GOH!

[Mal]

John Wick

 

As I said on Discord: The movie about "Oh".

It ranges from "Oh shit" to "Oh fuck yeah". This action flick is fun and grounded (to a point). Who knew that stealing a guy's car and killing his dog can lead to such a ride? In a day or two I'll watch Chapter 2 to continue this wild ride.

[deanb]

 

It's a great "show don't tell" film. 

[CorgiShinobi]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

 

Anyone who says this movie sucks needs their head checked. I have to be that blunt because it's almost insulting how people will talk-down the strengths of this film. There are problems, but just because your damn theory didn't work out or can't accept lose, don't go ragging on the film.

 

Saw it twice just to make sure I wasn't biased and I wanted to take the family to it. Everyone was laughing, crying, and most were saying they liked it based on the chatter during the credits and leaving the theater. Only ones I heard saying it was stupid were damn man-children or some old farts who probably don't enjoy sci-fi movies in the first place.

 

I'll go over it in the Star Wars thread.

[Mal]

John Wick: Chapter 2

 

"Oh: Chapter 2". This series of movie is just fun. It's grounded in its gunplay yet located in a ridiculous universe of supreme criminal underworld. This universe is as if it is the more serious wider world set in the ridiculous Black Lagoon universe. All this just because Theon had to steal a car and kill a dog.

 

Also I can see why people joke that John Wick, The Matrix and Constantine are interconnected.

Part of the reason why it is sooooooooooooooo good:

 

Edited December 27, 2017 by Mal

[CorgiShinobi]

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

 

Hear me out; it's not that bad of a film as you might think it could be. I laughed more and harder than I thought I would for the duration of the film. It's not nearly as dramatic as the first film. It's more action and comedy focused compared to it as well. It didn't come off cheesy and while there's some obvious Sony product placement, it's never obnoxious with it. Also, while it may be based on "video games," it's just basic old school gaming jargon that's included.

 

You know, three lives, levels, and character stats ("strengths" and "weaknesses").

 

I also thought Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan were all good in their roles. Especially Jack Black who basically had to act like a teenage girl, but not be too stereotypical. There's also a few neat nods to the first film too.

[Hot Heart]

Watched some films over Christmas, some belong here.

 

Bill

 

First of all, this reminds me of someone I did my TV Scriptwriting MA with, who was going to write a comedy about the "lost years" of Shakespeare. It featured jokes with stuff like a girl called Rose, smelling sweet, and followed some rumour about being guilty of killing livestock and fleeing the country, etc.

 

Unfortunately, in those intervening years, the Horrible Histories team got there first and made something far more Monty Python-esque but more kid-friendly. So it tells the tale of how Shakespeare rose from a guy in Stratford (playing in a band called Mortal Coil), his friendship with Christopher Marlowe and performing for the Queen. It's full of fun little gags and some great performances. Wish I'd actually bothered to watch it sooner, since it was on Prime or Netflix for a while. It's on iPlayer now I believe, anyway.

 

This Is Where I Leave You

 

I got this for my sister because she likes Adam Driver and it seemed like it should be good, judging by the cast. By all rights, this should probably be in the "OK" thread, but the rest of the family enjoyed it so much that I view it more favourably.

 

It tells the tale of a dysfunctional family sitting shiva (Jewish tradition of mourning for seven days) after the death of the father and stars comedy stalwarts like Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Kathryn Hahn as well as a bunch of other good actors. There's the usual drama issues of infidelity, infertility/pregnancy, unrequited teen crushes, etc. and it's all somewhat predictable but there are some fun moments and some snappy bits of dialogue which elevate it.

[deanb]

Coco

Remember me
Though I have to say goodbye
Remember me
Don't let it make you cry

 

Watched this film with my family. Pretty good Pixar film and the end gets you in the feels (sort of Bing-Bong level of feels). Pretty nice animation, really liked the opening credit with the sort of family story/legend in the paper craft. It does feel a little bit like it goes...not so much in circles but the "long way around", but I guess it helps with setting up for the reveals and such. I'd be interested to hear @MetalCaveman's thoughts on it with regards to the day of the dead stuff. I've heard the spirit animal things are a kind of newish "tradition" and from some artist and they became quite popular (in a similar way to the "Keep Calm" posters over here).

I think a fair chunk of the gut-punch feels in it are related to the (unspoken) dementia of Coco, which I think many people have unfortunately some exposure to in their elderly relatives and given how the film relates to memories and such it allows the film to layer itself onto your own existing emotions around the illness.

 

Oh bonus: Since Olafs Frozen Adventure was shown on TV over Christmas period it wasn't part of the films release over here. Which means I've yet to see it at all. No other alternative pixar short though which kind of sucks.

 

I do have some questions around how the economy of the afterlife works....

 

 

 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

 

Watched this with my sister. I had some pre-conceptions going in based on In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths which it didn't really pan out. Like it does have its dark humour moments but it's otherwise more of a drama than the previous films. 

It's a dry film. Enjoyable, though I know my sister was left a bit deflated by the ending but I'd say it kind of telegraphs fairly early on that's how it's going to go. I've maybe read it completely wrong but I'd say it's core part of the films story that assumptions that you have on people/events and the assumptions people form around you are usually not really right. Though some can be quite spot on. "Who else would it have been?"

 

 

[MetalCaveman]

Alebrijes are somewhat recent, created in 1936 or so by an artist, Pedro Linares, and they are pretty popular, though I had never seen them associated with the Day of the Dead stuff until Coco. I liked the way Coco handled the Day of the Dead, its representation of the altars people place, with the pictures, food and all that stuff was pretty neat, it's clear they made some research and that they took this stuff seriously (though with the liberty of mixing in alebrijes, which I thought was cool). The Land of the Dead was pretty interesting, and seeing cameos from people like Cantinflas and Pedro Infante was awesome, though I do prefer the way The Book of Life depicted it.

 

Coco is among my favourite movies from 2017, and I'm glad to see other people are enjoying it. \m/ \m/

[Hot Heart]

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

 

A wonderfully complex drama and dark comedy. It's definitely an "actors' film" with a great cast and performances. It likes to play with your expectations and never provides easy answers. I've seen criticisms about ableism and racism, which I think are important to take onboard, but I think it takes a very character-specific view that pretty much tells you these people are incredibly flawed but looks for ways of making you sympathise with them.

 

It's got some beautiful yet understated cinematography and I will never tire of Sam Rockwell. If anything, it struck me how he is still totally believable as what seems to be a young, immature character despite being nearly 50.

 

My actual thoughts on a couple of moments are that I figured it might have been more effective to use the black billboard character as the one for Dixon's violent outburst and forgiveness. Since we hear about his "POC-torturing". Using a bisexual character for it doesn't feel quite as effective.

 

Secondly, I thought there was going to be a fake-out with Dixon's happenstance "super-sleuthing" in that we see him take note of the licence plate but he doesn't actually survive the bar encounter then either the DNA under his fingernails is found to be a match but they can't trace the guy or this happens and maybe they can, but Mildred's already killed him after seeing him again. Still not easy answers but yeah...

[toxicitizen]

The Cloverfield Paradox

 

I loved the first two Cloverfield movies so I've been anticipating God Particle ever since I first heard of it. It's kind of insane that they officially revealed it AND just dropped it on Netflix today. I kinda hope this starts happening more because being able to watch the movie right away, when my excitement for it is at its highest sure as hell beats paying 20 bucks to sit with a bunch of obnoxious, loud assholes in a crowded movie theater.

 

Anyway, I think it might actually be my favorite of the three. I just love this kind of sci-fi thriller way more than what the first two movies were. I won't say any more than that because I feel like this one really benefits from going in as blind as possible. My advice would be to not watch the trailer and don't even read the Netflix summary page (it spoils something huge that I really wish I had only found out during the movie), just click through as quickly as you can. I didn't watch the trailer until after the movie and I'm really glad I didn't because it would've ruined even more. Really makes you wonder wtf they were thinking with that trailer because they were dropping the movie out of nowhere anyway. They had the perfect opportunity to keep this super mysterious.

Edited February 5, 2018 by FLD

[danielpholt]

The Founder.

 

I don't have much to say about this except that it really nailed what it was trying to do. Great performances by all, fantastic score and an interesting plot.

 

Also left me with a massive craving for a Big Tasty with Bacon.

[TheMightyEthan]

Black Panther.

 

It was quite good. At least the third, possibly the second best Marvel movie of the past year (2017 was very good for Marvel movies).

[TCP]

"Of the three Marvel films to come out this year, it's at least the third best" - Ethan's hot take 

[deanb]

Yeah, I watched it last week and still sort of mulling it over. I don't think it's a film that I'll be immediately planning to dive into again. Enjoyable, and far superior to most other films (aside from a bit of a cruddy CGI suited heroes fighting scene, though still better than the efforts of that other comic cinematic franchise...), though within the MCU I wouldn't rank it overly high, though this day n age being the 18th film it's got a fair chunk of competition.

 

I guess I feel a bit down on the "self-contained" films of the MCU and Black Panther might have fared much better in my opinion had it come in Phase 2 for example. Instead it's right before Infinity War, where I'd say something like Civil War would have been better positioned as an "escalation". Though it'll be great to see more of Wakanda in Infinity War....even if it seems it's gonna get totally fucked over.

 

Some absolutely production design in the film though, from the architecture, to clothing, props, etc.

 

[Hot Heart]

Black Panther

 

Great film with a charismatic cast and a strong throughline in its story and theme without having to feel too tied into the greater MCU. It's bright and optimistic but not too cheesy. Killmonger is a well-done sympathetic villain, too. M'Baku aka. "Dominic from Person of Interest" is also a funny scene-stealer at some points.

 

Only downside is that while there are lots of cool bits of action there's a few instances of messy, shaky-cam stuff, particularly when it's two black suits duking it out in darkness with nothing but some purple and gold to distinguish them (maybe a thematic point).

 

Character: "Impressive move"
Me: I'm glad you saw it...

[TheMightyEthan]

1 hour ago, Ultra TCP said:

"Of the three Marvel films to come out this year, it's at least the third best" - Ethan's hot take 

 

There were 4: Spider-Man, GotG, Black Panther, and Thor. My point was the fact that this is only third best shows how good Marvel movies have been recently.

[deanb]

Wait...so which of Spider-man, Thor and GotG 2 was the worst MCU film of last year?

[Mr. GOH!]

GotG2 hands-down.It was a strong year for the MCU overall, though.

[TheMightyEthan]

Yeah, GotG2 wasn't even close to as good as the rest of them.

[CorgiShinobi]

I tried to go see the film today, but a lot of the showings were sold out. Decided to go see it later once it wasn't a holiday (and less school children).

[Mister Jack]

Black Panther

 

I don't think it's Dark Knight good like Metacritic would have you believe, but it's still quite good. People kept going on about how it has a strong message, so going into it I was concerned it might be preachy or even racially charged, but it really isn't. There's a message, but it doesn't dominate everything. The white characters aren't made evil or buffoons just because they're white. The message was fine. More political than racial, honestly. Strong performances all around, though slightly hampered by questionable CG and cinematography at times. Killmonger is one of the better villains in the MCU, surprisingly. One question bugs me though. If vibranium absorbs all kinetic energy, how did the Wakandans manage to mine it in the first place?