MadS
After trying a new drug, a man picks up an injured woman on the side of the road, which leads to a harrowing night that changes his life in a horrific way.
This is:
a zombie film
But a brand new take, mainly due to the one take nature of it. That adds to the stress and anxiety of the film and doesn't feel like a gimmick. It really adds a lot.
Loved the simple story and the way it was told was really inventive, although I feel like the characters could (and should) have been explored more.
Watched this last night based on your recommendation. It was good. Wish they would have gone more into his friends' lives, at least show more of them on camera.
A friend of a friend has a son, Cooper, with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the disease that afflicted Mads. My friend's son has a band called Poppy Harlow, and it has been awesome to see this kid's friends stick with him and do the band with him even as he has lost mobility and has to use a motorized wheelchair. These musicians are all around 21 years old.
The Ibelin story had me bawling like a baby but I think it's because I see Cooper in the same boat as Mads. It's all so fecking unfair.
In a PoliSci class in university we had a seminar on how you are assigned things at birth essentially on a lottery system, and the goal of gov't and the mechanisms of gov't should be geared towards leveling the playing field. I just think how fecking cruel it is to have some genetic wiring that leads to a terminal condition like Duchenne's, and the seeming indifference of the world at large to the costs -- financial as well as emotional -- that such a condition entails.
Watched this last night based on your recommendation. It was good. Wish they would have gone more into his friends' lives, at least show more of them on camera.
A friend of a friend has a son, Cooper, with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the disease that afflicted Mads. My friend's son has a band called Poppy Harlow, and it has been awesome to see this kid's friends stick with him and do the band with him even as he has lost mobility and has to use a motorized wheelchair. These musicians are all around 21 years old.
The Ibelin story had me bawling like a baby but I think it's because I see Cooper in the same boat as Mads. It's all so fecking unfair.
In a PoliSci class in university we had a seminar on how you are assigned things at birth essentially on a lottery system, and the goal of gov't and the mechanisms of gov't should be geared towards leveling the playing field. I just think how fecking cruel it is to have some genetic wiring that leads to a terminal condition like Duchenne's, and the seeming indifference of the world at large to the costs -- financial as well as emotional -- that such a condition entails.
Megalopolis:
Is it good overall? NO.
Does it have coherent ideas? Mostly, no.
Is the acting good? Probably not.
Are the visuals good? Very inconsistent.
Is the runtime correct? Either too long or too short.
Does the plot make sense, are loose ends tied up? NO NO NO. IT IS WRITTEN BY JOE BIDEN.
Did it need a Roman setting, did it need all the side characters, did it need the pedophiilia/metoo subplot, did it need a dead wife and a mystery around it, did it even need the megalopolis material, did it need the time stopping? NO NO NO NONE OF IT.
Was it insanely fun to watch? YES.
Was it the most laugher I've heard and taken part in in a theater? YES.
One of those films I keep wanting to watch but never quite got round to. Can’t believe it’s nearly 20 years old already. It’s a David Cronenburg adaptation of a graphic novel which never really feels like a graphic novel at all. A young (and very handsome) Viggo Mortensen plays an aw shucks family guy who runs a diner in an idyllic American country town. One day some hoods try to rob the diner, shit gets real and it turns out there might be more to him than meets the eye.
In a way it’s all very straightforward but it has some interesting - and quite leftfield - ideas for a film of this genre. From kinky sex in a long term marriage to Cronenburgian body horror, it constantly finds a way to avoid becoming the sort of clichéd paint by numbers thriller it could easily have been. That said , it doesn’t hold back on delivering some straight up action too. The fight scenes are extremely well shot and choreographed. As good as any mainstream action flick, better than most. Although much much nastier.
The cast are all excellent, especially William Hurt in what might be one of his best ever roles. It is kind of clunky in parts, feels more dated than it should be (mainly because of the score) and the final act will probably divide opinions but it’s never not interesting.
I didn’t love it but I would definitely recommend it. Well worth a watch. Solid 7/10.
I watched bad boys ride or die while being drunk on my flight.
Martin Lawrence is, still, fecking awful.
However, what i really didn’t understand was the entire concept of the movie.
Essentially, everything kicks off as a result of «Captain» being framed for working with the drug cartels, but at no point prior to this they actually mention any investigations going into any of it. There’s no story to why they actually felt a need to frame the cnut in the first place, which kicks off everything.
I mean, i don’t expect much from Martin Lawrence in the first place, but a chubby Will Smith running around sort of explains how seriously they took things in the first place.
I didn’t realise how influential this movie was on Home Alone. The premise is one of the best in horror cinema but the actual film is very hit and miss. The high points are memorable gore set pieces and Craven can at times build up great horror tension.
Heather Langenkamp and Amanda Wyss
put in a mostly good performances but everyone else is lacking. The energy drops off a cliff when the film tries to explain the origins of the freddy krueger character and the ending is a terrible mess. At its worst it comes across as a TV movie. Plus it’s strange to see a film made and set in mid 80’s but the characters are from the 1950’s(Must have been a trend at the time as Blue Velvet does the same as well).
Still overall its a solid good fun halloween watch.
I was skeptical that Andy Weir could pull off another ‘super science to the rescue’ story, but he did. It’s really gratifying reading the the thought process that guides the protagonist through one crisis after another.
Just wanted to thank you guys for the Project Hail Mary mentions, I started reading it a few days ago and I'm really enjoying it. Very addictive, fun read. The fact Weir is begging for a movie adaptation is a bit too on-the-nose at time, some of the writing feels closer to a script than a novel, but it works well despite that and it's a lot of fun.
Just wanted to thank you guys for the Project Hail Mary mentions, I started reading it a few days ago and I'm really enjoying it. Very addictive, fun read. The fact Weir is begging for a movie adaptation is a bit too on-the-nose at time, some of the writing feels closer to a script than a novel, but it works well despite that and it's a lot of fun.
I didn’t realise how influential this movie was on Home Alone. The premise is one of the best in horror cinema but the actual film is very hit and miss. The high points are memorable gore set pieces and Craven can at times build up great horror tension.
Heather Langenkamp and Amanda Wyss
put in a mostly good performances but everyone else is lacking. The energy drops off a cliff when the film tries to explain the origins of the freddy krueger character and the ending is a terrible mess. At its worst it comes across as a TV movie. Plus it’s strange to see a film made and set in mid 80’s but the characters are from the 1950’s(Must have been a trend at the time as Blue Velvet does the same as well).
Still overall its a solid good fun halloween watch.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is also hugely influential on basically all the self referential meta stuff we’re inundated with now. 2 years before Scream with an obvious direct line to it. The Kruger films were nothing if not experimental
The 80s/50s thing is the 30 year nostalgia cycle. the point at which people of formative age in one decade become early middle aged power brokers with disappointing marriages and children who hate them in another. And thus, we must now make only things about when life was good for them.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is also hugely influential on basically all the self referential meta stuff we’re inundated with now. 2 years before Scream with an obvious direct line to it. The Kruger films were nothing if not experimental
Cheers. I will have to check out New Nightmare. I’m sort of interested in checking out the other Kruger films although I’ve heard the quality massively drops off.
Scream for me is Craven masterpiece. It’s a perfect horror film. Last House On The Left is a horrible film but I get it’s importance. Plus I love the story that in order to get it a rating certificate so it could play in cinemas Craven used a fake 18 rated image (Completely illegal to do)and hoped no one would find out.
The 80s/50s thing is the 30 year nostalgia cycle. the point at which people of formative age in one decade become early middle aged power brokers with disappointing marriages and children who hate them in another. And thus, we must now make only things about when life was good for them.
That make sense. I did sort of hope it was Craven showing how behind times the suburbs were. It’s just jarring to see in this movie. One of the characters is a full 50’s rocker and even carries a pocket knife.
Cheers. I will have to check out New Nightmare. I’m sort of interested in checking out the other Kruger films although I’ve heard the quality massively drops off.
Scream for me is Craven masterpiece. It’s a perfect horror film. Last House On The Left is a horrible film but I get its importance. Plus I love the story that in order to get it a rating certificate so it could play in cinemas Craven used a fake 18 rated image (Completely illegal to do)and hoped no one would find out.
I think 3 is considered the best one?I haven’t watched it in ages though. 2 is supposed to be a really interesting secret gay film - in that the writer explicitly wrote it as a gay parable but didn’t tell anyone and the actor was secretly gay and both were just making sure it was as big a big ol’ gay film as possible without New Line knowing. They’ve all got some weird little thing about them. But are dated and cheesy, obvs.
Scream has the best hit rate of any the multi-sequel horror franchises in that none of them are outright bad. I personally think Scream 2 is possibly my favourite?
That make sense. I did sort of hope it was Craven showing how behind times the suburbs were. It’s just jarring to see in this movie. One of the characters is a full 50’s rocker and even carries a pocket knife.
The 80s was full of 50s nostalgia. Back to the Future, Happy Days, Peggy Sue got Married, Stand By Me (All of Stephen Kings stuff really) The Outsiders, Hairspray, Greese was 78… even politics was basically one big Reaganite appeal to 50s values. Then we hit the 90s and it was all Austin Powers, baggy clothes, rebooting Bond as camp and making endless movie remakes of 60s TV shows.
It’s also why all the very worst centrist bores are even more annoyingly than usual now as the long 90s is at It’s logical apex.
Personally looking forward to the frosted tips revival of 2030
I think 3 is considered the best one?I haven’t watched it in ages though.
Scream has the best hit rate of any the multi-sequel horror franchises in that none of them are outright bad. I personally think Scream 2 is possibly my favourite?
Nice. I’ll check out 3. I see it’s directed by Chuck Russell who did the brilliant The Blob remake(Another 50’s nostalgia trip).
I’m biased towards the first Scream as I love Matthew Lillard performance. Scream 2 is the better meta commentary/film-within-a-film post modern horror. Although the true nightmare is Scream movies probably gave us the template for the Deadpool series.
The 80s was full of 50s nostalgia. Back to the Future, Happy Days, Peggy Sue got Married, Stand By Me (All of Stephen Kings stuff really) The Outsiders, Hairspray, Greese was 78… even politics was basically one big Reaganite appeal to 50s values. Then we hit the 90s and it was all Austin Powers, baggy clothes, rebooting Bond as camp and making endless movie remakes of 60s TV shows.
The Devil's Bath
Austria in the 18th century. Forests surround villages. Killing a baby gets a woman sentenced to death. Agnes readies for married life with her beloved. But her mind and heart grow heavy. A gloomy path alone, evil thoughts arising. By the creators of Goodnight Mommy, this is a slow slooooooooow burn movie. After the cold open, it's all drama and character building until the final 30 or so minutes. I don't normally mind this (and a film about historically untreated mental health in females who are part of an super religious group needed this), the title of the film had me ready for a B-Movie I can't knock it for that but at the same time, this is so bleak (and boring in parts) that I can't imagine many people enjoying it. Well shot, acted etc, nothing wrong technically... just a little too slow for my taste 4/10
The Devil's Bath
Austria in the 18th century. Forests surround villages. Killing a baby gets a woman sentenced to death. Agnes readies for married life with her beloved. But her mind and heart grow heavy. A gloomy path alone, evil thoughts arising. By the creators of Goodnight Mommy, this is a slow slooooooooow burn movie. After the cold open, it's all drama and character building until the final 30 or so minutes. I don't normally mind this (and a film about historically untreated mental health in females who are part of an super religious group needed this), the title of the film had me ready for a B-Movie I can't knock it for that but at the same time, this is so bleak (and boring in parts) that I can't imagine many people enjoying it. Well shot, acted etc, nothing wrong technically... just a little too slow for my taste 4/10
I saw Glass, the last part in M. Night Shyamalan's superhero trilogy. I can't say I liked it. The action bits are fine, if derivative from Unbreakable (I haven't seen Split), but everything else is just so slow... There isn't much of interest in the plot or twists, so dragging those elements out is entirely unnecessary. Especially the long treatment/discussions in the clinic are terribly boring - while also feeling like this an episode from a series (the one where the hero gets institutionalized). Funnily though, I'm now interested in seeing Split - which is apparently much better. But Glass I'd give a 3/10.
I've had A Ghost Story on my list of films to watch for quite a while, but decided to watch it last night after seeing that it was going to be disappearing off Prime at some point today/tomorrow. It's not a film that will be to everyone's tastes, especially the first half of the film, which is exceedingly slow at various points. There's a specific scene (quite a low-key important one) where one of the main characters eats a pie and it's a single frame shot for about 4 minutes or so. It does make sense in the wider context of the film, especially in the second half where (without spoiling things) time moves and is shown at a vastly different pace. It's a film about grief and how painful and slow that process can be for the living. I've got to admit that I found it very moving, but the film would no doubt have utterly obliterated me if I had watched this directly after losing a loved one and going through that grieving process. There's a song that repeats at various points in the film ("I Get Overwhelmed") which is not only beautiful and meaningful within the film, but haunting and powerful. Overall, I really enjoyed this. One of those films that I may not watch again (or at least anytime soon), but one that will stay with me forever.
Another film we watched about a week ago was Past Lives. Didn't know a single thing about this film, but had it recommended to me and have seen its name pop up recently in certain groups online. I absolutely loved it and adore it, although it's very painful in a slightly different way to A Ghost Story. Thought the two leads were excellent and the way the plot played out over time was riveting, despite there not being too much in the way of 'what actually happens'. It's similar to films like Lost in Translation and I had similar sorts of feelings towards that as I did here. It's beautiful, sad, thought-provoking, pessimistic and optimistic all rolled into one. Got to admit that I was close to bawling my eyes out during that final sequence/scene at the end. That crucial line that Hae Sung utters during this part ruined me:
Maybe this is a past life.
The film does a great job of posing you with 'What If..?' questions and you can't help but then ask this of your own life. It's clever in a very subtle way, and without trying to be too overly engineered or too in your face with the way it does it. One of the most bittersweet films I think I've ever seen.
I've had A Ghost Story on my list of films to watch for quite a while, but decided to watch it last night after seeing that it was going to be disappearing off Prime at some point today/tomorrow. It's not a film that will be to everyone's tastes, especially the first half of the film, which is exceedingly slow at various points. There's a specific scene (quite a low-key important one) where one of the main characters eats a pie and it's a single frame shot for about 4 minutes or so. It does make sense in the wider context of the film, especially in the second half where (without spoiling things) time moves and is shown at a vastly different pace. It's a film about grief and how painful and slow that process can be for the living. I've got to admit that I found it very moving, but the film would no doubt have utterly obliterated me if I had watched this directly after losing a loved one and going through that grieving process. There's a song that repeats at various points in the film ("I Get Overwhelmed") which is not only beautiful and meaningful within the film, but haunting and powerful. Overall, I really enjoyed this. One of those films that I may not watch again (or at least anytime soon), but one that will stay with me forever.
Another film we watched about a week ago was Past Lives. Didn't know a single thing about this film, but had it recommended to me and have seen its name pop up recently in certain groups online. I absolutely loved it and adore it, although it's very painful in a slightly different way to A Ghost Story. Thought the two leads were excellent and the way the plot played out over time was riveting, despite there not being too much in the way of 'what actually happens'. It's similar to films like Lost in Translation and I had similar sorts of feelings towards that as I did here. It's beautiful, sad, thought-provoking, pessimistic and optimistic all rolled into one. Got to admit that I was close to bawling my eyes out during that final sequence/scene at the end. That crucial line that Hae Sung utters during this part ruined me:
Maybe this is a past life.
The film does a great job of posing you with 'What If..?' questions and you can't help but then ask this of your own life. It's clever in a very subtle way, and without trying to be too overly engineered or too in your face with the way it does it. One of the most bittersweet films I think I've ever seen.
? That made it look like a comedy, or worse, something like the Patrick Swayze movie Ghost.
Past Lives - completely agree. The whole movie was good but not exceptional until the very end, and then the dam broke and I was moved too. The final 5-10 minutes makes you reassess the rest of the film. In a less crowded year it would have taken home a lot of Oscars, but it was a stacked competition that year.
I've had A Ghost Story on my list of films to watch for quite a while, but decided to watch it last night after seeing that it was going to be disappearing off Prime at some point today/tomorrow. It's not a film that will be to everyone's tastes, especially the first half of the film, which is exceedingly slow at various points. There's a specific scene (quite a low-key important one) where one of the main characters eats a pie and it's a single frame shot for about 4 minutes or so. It does make sense in the wider context of the film, especially in the second half where (without spoiling things) time moves and is shown at a vastly different pace. It's a film about grief and how painful and slow that process can be for the living. I've got to admit that I found it very moving, but the film would no doubt have utterly obliterated me if I had watched this directly after losing a loved one and going through that grieving process. There's a song that repeats at various points in the film ("I Get Overwhelmed") which is not only beautiful and meaningful within the film, but haunting and powerful. Overall, I really enjoyed this. One of those films that I may not watch again (or at least anytime soon), but one that will stay with me forever.
Another film we watched about a week ago was Past Lives. Didn't know a single thing about this film, but had it recommended to me and have seen its name pop up recently in certain groups online. I absolutely loved it and adore it, although it's very painful in a slightly different way to A Ghost Story. Thought the two leads were excellent and the way the plot played out over time was riveting, despite there not being too much in the way of 'what actually happens'. It's similar to films like Lost in Translation and I had similar sorts of feelings towards that as I did here. It's beautiful, sad, thought-provoking, pessimistic and optimistic all rolled into one. Got to admit that I was close to bawling my eyes out during that final sequence/scene at the end. That crucial line that Hae Sung utters during this part ruined me:
Maybe this is a past life.
The film does a great job of posing you with 'What If..?' questions and you can't help but then ask this of your own life. It's clever in a very subtle way, and without trying to be too overly engineered or too in your face with the way it does it. One of the most bittersweet films I think I've ever seen.
