No we are not....though Gollum is one of my all time favourite movie characters. They're great films for sure but my lord was Elijah Wood soooo annoying in this. His constant gurning was just excruciating. He's pretty much ruined a near perfect trilogy for me. And how Astin never got anything for his performances was a travesty.
Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
- Thread starter golden_blunder
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Brightburn (2019)
I missed this when it was released at the cinema so was happy when it finally landed on Sky Cinema. I don't think it got good reviews at the time if I remember correctly but I thought it was great. A low key and unassuming movie that chooses to rally against the conventional good triumphs over evil mantra and maintain it's dark tone throughout with a very satisfying ending that you don't see very often. This movie is right up my street and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though not quite to the same level as The Invisible Man.
Interesting story nonetheless with some great performances and a simmering intensity that comes to the boil just at the right time. Because the film is only around 90 minutes long it dispenses with any unnecessary character/plot explanation and overlong final act. It's also great that it makes no attempt to offer up any form of redemption for the central characters but I guess that's the whole point of the movie. Elizabeth Banks does a great job in portraying a mother's unwavering love for a child who ultimately ends up being unlovable. Great effects that are graphic in places. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I'm giving this a 7.5/10.
I missed this when it was released at the cinema so was happy when it finally landed on Sky Cinema. I don't think it got good reviews at the time if I remember correctly but I thought it was great. A low key and unassuming movie that chooses to rally against the conventional good triumphs over evil mantra and maintain it's dark tone throughout with a very satisfying ending that you don't see very often. This movie is right up my street and I thoroughly enjoyed it, though not quite to the same level as The Invisible Man.
Interesting story nonetheless with some great performances and a simmering intensity that comes to the boil just at the right time. Because the film is only around 90 minutes long it dispenses with any unnecessary character/plot explanation and overlong final act. It's also great that it makes no attempt to offer up any form of redemption for the central characters but I guess that's the whole point of the movie. Elizabeth Banks does a great job in portraying a mother's unwavering love for a child who ultimately ends up being unlovable. Great effects that are graphic in places. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I'm giving this a 7.5/10.
Finally finished my list of movies to watch. Took way to long to watch 21 of them. So here’s a quick run through it.
- V for Vendetta 8/10
- Citizen Kane 7/10
- Space Odyssey 6/10
- Apocalypse Now 9/10
- Platoon 7/10
- Goodfellas 9/10
- Usual Suspects 8/10
- The Big Lebowski 8/10
- American Psycho 7/10
- American Beauty 7/10
- Schindlers list 9/10
- Blade Runner 6/10
- No Country for Old Men 7/10
- There will be Blood 9/10
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 7/10
- Good Morning Vietnam 9/10
- Dead Poets Society 7/10
- Prestige 7/10
- Taxi Driver 6/10
- Casino 8/10
- Children of Men 7/10
Looks like you went from being criminally uneducated in the art of great movies to coming up to speed.
Countdown
After a nurse downloads an app that tells you when you'll die, she realises she has 3 days to live. It's then a race against time to save her life. This probably would have been acceptable in the 90s or early 00s, but now it feels tired and unoriginal. Some tense scenes side, this was a pure borefest 2.5/10
After a nurse downloads an app that tells you when you'll die, she realises she has 3 days to live. It's then a race against time to save her life. This probably would have been acceptable in the 90s or early 00s, but now it feels tired and unoriginal. Some tense scenes side, this was a pure borefest 2.5/10
You saved up a lot of modern classics there. High score for Children of Men though.
You didn't like it ? I can kinda get the complaints about some of the long takes but still I think it's one of the best films of the 21st century(Easily the best sci fi film). It captures both the mood it was in(2006) and todays world so perfectly.
Yeah I thought 7 was a fair score. The characters were good and the plot was too. Some moments were entertaining. The end was a bit strange when everyone just stops. I mean I get it. I thought it was a good movie.
You didn't like it ? I can kinda get the complaints about some of the long takes but still I think it's one of the best films of the 21st century(Easily the best sci fi film). It captures both the mood it was in(2006) and todays world so perfectly.
It was ages ago I saw it, but I just remember it being a bit meh, given the premise was so interesting and it looked good visually. The ending was underwhelming too.
Children of Men is a gorgeous film, one of the best this century.
2012
The effects haven't aged well and the film is still ridiculous bit I had fun with it. Love John Cusack 5.5/10
The effects haven't aged well and the film is still ridiculous bit I had fun with it. Love John Cusack 5.5/10
Yeah I think a person reaction to the film will depend on how interested they are in the idea of there being no more children on the planet. At least listening to Cuaron, he has no interested in that side and didn't bother to read the book and instead used the setting to talk about capitalist realism and immigration. I haven't read the book either but that could be something for you.
I think the ending is suppose to be an answer to the film question - What is to be done ? The answer being the boat because unlike everything else in the film, it doesn't have any roots, it rootless.
Slavoj Zizek - The condition of the renewal means you cut your roots
Also interesting little detail - The only people in the film who help Clive Owen and Clare Ashitey characters are people who genuinely believe in a something - Miriam the buddhist practicing midwife, Jasper(Michael Cane)Hippy lefty and the leninist french commies when they reach France.
Slavoj Zizek - The condition of the renewal means you cut your roots
Also interesting little detail - The only people in the film who help Clive Owen and Clare Ashitey characters are people who genuinely believe in a something - Miriam the buddhist practicing midwife, Jasper(Michael Cane)Hippy lefty and the leninist french commies when they reach France.
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Children of Men is the best Cuaron IMO
It’s also the only thing I even remotely like Clive Owen in.
It’s also the only thing I even remotely like Clive Owen in.
Exactly what I was thinking. Some classics on that list. Makes me wonder what else @AaronRedDevil hasnt seen?
To be fair, I’ve seen lots movies. My friend and I go to cinema twice a week every week for the last 8 years. Even yesterday with the virus going around
. Just a lot of old movie either before my time or didn’t see when I was younger. Slowly catching on now hah.Spenser Confidential
I dunno why I watched this as I don't like Marky Mark or the Funky Bunch. Wahlberg in a shocking twist plays a Boston cop, although weirdly enough this one isn't angry and shouty all the time. Sent to prison for a crime he did commit, but it's ok because he beat up a wife beater and such. Then he gets out and I dunno, he does stuff or something. I don't care. It was shit and I do not know why I watched the whole thing as I specifically recall thinking "I should just turn this off and put Terminator on" at least twice. Iliza Slezinger though...
3/10
I dunno why I watched this as I don't like Marky Mark or the Funky Bunch. Wahlberg in a shocking twist plays a Boston cop, although weirdly enough this one isn't angry and shouty all the time. Sent to prison for a crime he did commit, but it's ok because he beat up a wife beater and such. Then he gets out and I dunno, he does stuff or something. I don't care. It was shit and I do not know why I watched the whole thing as I specifically recall thinking "I should just turn this off and put Terminator on" at least twice. Iliza Slezinger though...
3/10
He was tolerable in a BMW advert directed by War Kar Wai(Yes thats a thing that happened)
He's great in The Knick.
Here's a few more "older" movies to check out if you haven't seen yet:To be fair, I’ve seen lots movies. My friend and I go to cinema twice a week every week for the last 8 years. Even yesterday with the virus going around
- Godfather 1 & 2
- Fargo
- LA Confidential
- Matrix
- Bourne trilogy
- Tombstone
- Shawshank Redemption
- True Romance
- Pulp Fiction
- Jackie Brown
- Scent of a Woman
- Heat
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Gangs of New York
- Trainspotting
- Mystic River
- Office Space
- Adventureland
- Drive
I've seen all of them except adventureland. Any good?
I've never heard of her but after this, she's massively on my radar
Yah, I like it. Coming of age comedy set in the 80s. Good cast and soundtrack.
I've seen a few of her stand up shows. She used to be really good, but the last one I saw wasn't great. Her older stuff is good though if you ignore the stuff flashing up about hashtags and tweeting. Her legs are phenomenal.I've never heard of her but after this, she's massively on my radar
Found my Netflix intake has gone up significantly due to covid-19. Just finished American Factory, a documentary about a Chinese billionaire opening an auto glass manufacturing plant in job-starved Dayton, OH. Good film that addresses all the themes of culture differences, freedom, group mentality vs individualism, global capitalism, automation, etc that one would expect from such a doc. Especially found the generalizations the Chinese make about "fat fingered" Americans telling and humorous.
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Batman Returns was on TV today. Dear Lord, how were these films even made?? A complete shower. Now Predator 2 on the other hand...
The Secret World Of Arrietty
Small borrower people must evacuate their home after being discovered by humans. Nice story, beautiful animation, just wish it had a bit more for the adults. Still, a lovely film 7.5/10
Small borrower people must evacuate their home after being discovered by humans. Nice story, beautiful animation, just wish it had a bit more for the adults. Still, a lovely film 7.5/10
Interesting, thanks, maybe I need to rewatch it. I saw it years ago- not sure about the boat theory though.
I might check out the book too- I need to buy a stack anyway.
Batman Returns is one of the best Batmans you weirdo!
Watched this recently for the first time. Great little movie. Good 7.5/10
That's a fair score. I know it's not perfect for everyone, it just clicks perfectly with my funny bone.
Children of men and V for Vendetta are personal favourites. Out of interest, can someone explain the ending of Space Oddesy? The whole huge baby just lost me after a very intriguing build up.
If I'm honest. I stopped watching it after 6 hours of seeing the cast dress up in monkey suits and get high. I think they forgot the camera was on.
Haha don't blame you lad, took me 4 tries before I actually watched it from begging to end.
The aliens turned Dave Bowman into the star child. Sent him back to earth as an evolved, enlightened being to save us.
Well damn. Makes so much sense..... apart from, what the hell is a star child?
Also, would you recommend 2010? I've heard the books are far more enticing. Love any film or novel exploring the science of the cosmos.
Yeah right.
Yeah the boat theory is just something from Zizek although from a quick google this is Cuaron view
Let’s talk about the final scene, when Theo and Kee are in the rowboat, waiting for the Human Project’s ship.
What was important was the metaphor of the boat.
What is that metaphor?
We are naturally migrants. I mean, the reason we’re having this conversation is that it’s in the nature of humans to migrate. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. There wouldn’t be humans here; they would still be in Africa.
Also, we’re all floating around in an unsafe world, so we have to be good to each other in the way that Theo and Kee are.
That is the thing. You want to have a safe neighborhood? Create social infrastructure around your neighborhood so the neighbors of your neighborhood are better off. It is going to be safer.
Theo and Kee and the baby are, in that moment, a kind of blended family. It’s like the movie is telling us to think of family as something that goes beyond genetic bonds.
That is the other thing. Family is beyond this patriarchal thing of descendancy.
What was important was the metaphor of the boat.
What is that metaphor?
We are naturally migrants. I mean, the reason we’re having this conversation is that it’s in the nature of humans to migrate. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here. There wouldn’t be humans here; they would still be in Africa.
Also, we’re all floating around in an unsafe world, so we have to be good to each other in the way that Theo and Kee are.
That is the thing. You want to have a safe neighborhood? Create social infrastructure around your neighborhood so the neighbors of your neighborhood are better off. It is going to be safer.
Theo and Kee and the baby are, in that moment, a kind of blended family. It’s like the movie is telling us to think of family as something that goes beyond genetic bonds.
That is the other thing. Family is beyond this patriarchal thing of descendancy.
According to this interview in the book it's actually men who can't have children to going sterile. But yeah I think there's going to be plenty of reading over the next few months,
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When Dave Bowman is dying in bed as an old man, the monolith shows up and turns him into the star child, who is supposed to be this evolved, Christ-like figure that gets sent back to earth. Here's a YouTube video explaining the ending if you're interested.Well damn. Makes so much sense..... apart from, what the hell is a star child?
Also, would you recommend 2010? I've heard the books are far more enticing. Love any film or novel exploring the science of the cosmos.
As for 2010, haven't seen it myself.
Hell Is Where The Home Is (AKA Trespassers)
Two dysfunctional couples rent a modern luxury desert home for the weekend hoping to sort out their messed-up lives. However, a neighbour arrives after her car breaks down... from there, the group get into a world of trouble. I enjoyed the first two thirds of this movie. Slightly different take on home invasion but the final third just falls into bang average genre tropes and becomes massively boring. There was a good film in there somewhere, I just think the script needed another draft or two 5/10
Two dysfunctional couples rent a modern luxury desert home for the weekend hoping to sort out their messed-up lives. However, a neighbour arrives after her car breaks down... from there, the group get into a world of trouble. I enjoyed the first two thirds of this movie. Slightly different take on home invasion but the final third just falls into bang average genre tropes and becomes massively boring. There was a good film in there somewhere, I just think the script needed another draft or two 5/10
The Lion King (2019)
Very disappointing, underwhelming and completely unnecessary update of Disney's 2D classic. Apart from the jawdropping rendering of the animals and scenery, what actually made the original version so great is sadly missing in this effort. The voice characterizations were bland with the actors clearly sounding like they are in the sound booth reading their lines and devoid of the same gusto that the perfectly cast original crew put into their performances. Another issue with updating the film to 3D is that all the animals lost their personality, charm and the humorous traits that endeared them to so many millions first time round. The lack of expressive detail that the director overlooked meant that you weren't able to have that same connection with the characters. Perhaps it would have blown the budget through the roof but just having their mouths moving throughout the film just didn't cut it for me. I couldn't tell whether they were happy, sad, angry, confused etc. half of the time. Perhaps I'm being too picky.
The songs didn't feel like showpieces anymore and some of the best lines were changed or left out completely. Some of my favourite lines like when Scar says "I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool" and when Timon shouts "the jugular!, the jugular!" are omitted as well as most of the comedic sequences and the Morning Report was updated to reflect the times we're living in now. It was perfectly fine as it was before. I wonder how first time viewers see it. I found it difficult to view this film objectively on it's own merits but full marks go to the awesome effects and overall look of the film.
I'm giving this a 5/10.
Very disappointing, underwhelming and completely unnecessary update of Disney's 2D classic. Apart from the jawdropping rendering of the animals and scenery, what actually made the original version so great is sadly missing in this effort. The voice characterizations were bland with the actors clearly sounding like they are in the sound booth reading their lines and devoid of the same gusto that the perfectly cast original crew put into their performances. Another issue with updating the film to 3D is that all the animals lost their personality, charm and the humorous traits that endeared them to so many millions first time round. The lack of expressive detail that the director overlooked meant that you weren't able to have that same connection with the characters. Perhaps it would have blown the budget through the roof but just having their mouths moving throughout the film just didn't cut it for me. I couldn't tell whether they were happy, sad, angry, confused etc. half of the time. Perhaps I'm being too picky.
The songs didn't feel like showpieces anymore and some of the best lines were changed or left out completely. Some of my favourite lines like when Scar says "I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool" and when Timon shouts "the jugular!, the jugular!" are omitted as well as most of the comedic sequences and the Morning Report was updated to reflect the times we're living in now. It was perfectly fine as it was before. I wonder how first time viewers see it. I found it difficult to view this film objectively on it's own merits but full marks go to the awesome effects and overall look of the film.
I'm giving this a 5/10.