Film The Redcafe Movie review thread
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Thanks very much, both. 
Thanks very much, both.
Waiting for you to watch that movie with the growing number of endorsements was akin to washing Ollie trying to get something across the line in the Tinder thread.
Just consider yourself lucky that I'm not still droning on about True Detective, chief.Fast & Furious 8
Enjoyed it far more at home than I did in the cinema. Silly, meat head macho fun 7/10
Upgrade
Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant called Stem. Been excited about this since it's premier on SXSW and heard some great things. Plus I'm a fan of writer/director Leigh Whannell. I was unfortunately disappointed. A lot of people said it's takes an unexpected left turn, but I pretty much predicted it from the off. The acting was iffy, it's looked cheap and a lot reviews talked about the insane gore... didn't notice any of that either. I did, however, enjoy the way the action scenes were filmed... that was great. So yes, disappointed but not to say I hated it. It felt like a decent B-movie 6/10
Enjoyed it far more at home than I did in the cinema. Silly, meat head macho fun 7/10
Upgrade
Set in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when Grey, a self-identified technophobe, has his world turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant called Stem. Been excited about this since it's premier on SXSW and heard some great things. Plus I'm a fan of writer/director Leigh Whannell. I was unfortunately disappointed. A lot of people said it's takes an unexpected left turn, but I pretty much predicted it from the off. The acting was iffy, it's looked cheap and a lot reviews talked about the insane gore... didn't notice any of that either. I did, however, enjoy the way the action scenes were filmed... that was great. So yes, disappointed but not to say I hated it. It felt like a decent B-movie 6/10
Annabelle
A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. Remember not enjoying this too much at the cinema but read the screenplay recently for research and thought I'd watch it to see how different it was from the original story. It's pretty much the same until about the mid-point, then becomes a completely different movie. Think the actual original script was better than the movie, you can see a lot of studio-style interference. Still, kinda enjoyed it this time round 6/10
A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists. Remember not enjoying this too much at the cinema but read the screenplay recently for research and thought I'd watch it to see how different it was from the original story. It's pretty much the same until about the mid-point, then becomes a completely different movie. Think the actual original script was better than the movie, you can see a lot of studio-style interference. Still, kinda enjoyed it this time round 6/10
The newly released film, Upgrade.
Thanks.
The gulf in class between Ex Machina and Upgrade is huge though. Upgrade is fun, but ultimately a B-movie.
The greasy strangler
Finally got round to watching this. It's kinda ok and funny in parts, but fairly offbeat and arguably aiming to offend. Plus I can't remember the end.
The greasy strangler bits felt cheap tbh.
6/10
Finally got round to watching this. It's kinda ok and funny in parts, but fairly offbeat and arguably aiming to offend. Plus I can't remember the end.
The greasy strangler bits felt cheap tbh.
6/10
Skyscraper - Made Rampage look like Citizen Kane. What a shite show. Rock needs to quit saying yes to everything.
Who the feck recommended Sudden Death? It was absolutely terrible, cliche after cliche and utterly nonsensical sequences. I like a JCVD movie like the next guy, but this was awful. He didn't even do the splits.
Watched St Vincent earlier, absolutely cracking film, never heard of it before tonight but id highly recommend it, 8/10.
Yes, nice little film that one. Got to love Bill Murray!
I'm so sorry
Was that the hockey one?
Yeah. JCVD even jumps into the match to save a penalty
Yeah. JCVD even jumps into the match to save a penalty
I remember watching it when it came out, can't remember anything about it though, apart from being set around a hockey match.
Sudden Death is awesome
I was very hungover and watched Dr Zhivago last saturday. Thought it was brilliant. 11/10
Surely only Bloodsport and Kickboxer were the only watchable ones he did.Timecop is great. That one where the homeless are being hunted by Lance Henriksen.
Haven't seen it for years, but I remember enjoying Universal Soldier when I was a kid, Timecop too.
Hard Target. Was on tv the other night, cheesy as hell, but great fun.
Hereditary. I found it boring, badly acted in spots, self important and too derivative. The attempts at scares, emotion, dread and tension all failed for me. The odd and surreal moments never sold me and as such they just looked silly and stupid. Weak imitations of Lynch, Polanski, Bunuel et al. In truth I've seen episodes of Are You Afraid of the Dark? that have covered some of these ideas better.
It seems to be trying really hard to place itself beside things like The Witch, It follows and krisha/It Comes at Night, but I felt it lacked the imagination and inventive direction of the really good indie horrors. Over 2 hours too which is perhaps why I'm being quite so harsh. I suspect if someone like James Wan was attatched then critics would have shit all over it. There are a couple of good shots towards the end and I guess it deserves praise for not relying on cheap jump scares but it didn't work as a film for me horror or otherwise.
It seems to be trying really hard to place itself beside things like The Witch, It follows and krisha/It Comes at Night, but I felt it lacked the imagination and inventive direction of the really good indie horrors. Over 2 hours too which is perhaps why I'm being quite so harsh. I suspect if someone like James Wan was attatched then critics would have shit all over it. There are a couple of good shots towards the end and I guess it deserves praise for not relying on cheap jump scares but it didn't work as a film for me horror or otherwise.
Critics don’t shit all over James Wan.
Ghost in the Shell (not the live-action one).
Yeah you're right... It's the horror fans that can't stand him because his stuff is mainstream and it's hipster to hate all things mainstream.
I love his movies!
If you as an horror fan dislike James Wan you are someone just trying to be contrary. He makes great stuff.
Good shout.
In favour of the Live action one (which I agree, isn't as good as the anime) it looks very pretty at least. I went in expecting not to like it and ended up really enjoying it
Upgrade
Not sure why some are calling it a B movie? Didn't see any real signs of it lacking in budget. Solid near future sci-fi. 7.5/10.
Not sure why some are calling it a B movie? Didn't see any real signs of it lacking in budget. Solid near future sci-fi. 7.5/10.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/james_wan/
Few good, some mixed, some bad. I have no problem with Wan though, the point was that I doubt whether a more established, mainstream production would be afforded the same self indulgence as a hip young filmaker (Ari Aster in this case) under an acclaimed indie studio (A24 in this case). A dig at the integrity and judgements of today's in step movie critics (see bloggers) rather than the filmmakers. And even as I recognise that Hereditary genuinely works for many people.
Few good, some mixed, some bad. I have no problem with Wan though, the point was that I doubt whether a more established, mainstream production would be afforded the same self indulgence as a hip young filmaker (Ari Aster in this case) under an acclaimed indie studio (A24 in this case). A dig at the integrity and judgements of today's in step movie critics (see bloggers) rather than the filmmakers. And even as I recognise that Hereditary genuinely works for many people.
Look what the doge dragged in
My planet needed me.
First Reformed or Paul Schrader's Winter Light - There was a lot of Schrader in this, there's Travis Bickle, there's Bresson, there's some of the carnality. It didn't move me. The transcendental moments felt rather trite and it didn't really feel like he had an idea where he was going with it all and ended up opting for an ending that felt like a slight nod to the ending of:
, an ending that stands out as one of my least favorite endings in cinema ever, so this one naturally didn't sit well with me either.
Zama - Now, this was quite a head scratcher. Gorgoeus looking with some incredible sound design, but totally lacking any sort of vigor and with an obtuse Kafka-esque story. With Martel and Lisandro Alonso it seems like Argentina is the foremost exporter of opaque cinema at the moment. Jauja being the finest example I've seen so far. Zama might be a grower, just like that one.
Ordet
Zama - Now, this was quite a head scratcher. Gorgoeus looking with some incredible sound design, but totally lacking any sort of vigor and with an obtuse Kafka-esque story. With Martel and Lisandro Alonso it seems like Argentina is the foremost exporter of opaque cinema at the moment. Jauja being the finest example I've seen so far. Zama might be a grower, just like that one.
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How good was the dry-hump/Microsoft screensaver sequence.
I like it overall cos Hawke is really good but the ending could’ve gone in any other direction than the one it did and improved the film.
Ps see Cold War whenever you get the chance. I think it’s even better than Ida.
Definitely, think it premiers in November or something in Sweden.
I Tonya. A very funny and exciting film. It's very Goodfellas on ice (without even looking I know I can't be the first to say it), from the voice over and 4th wall breaking to the swooping camera and dynamic editing. It even has a Pescian performance by the mother. The skating scenes are pretty great and are shot in a way that is balletic and yet more aggressively punchy than you can expect from most of today's action movies. Whilst certainly no character rehabilitation, I liked that the film plays as a sort of white trash feck you to the establishment of all levels that sought to cannibalise Tonya Harding. If I had one criticism it would be that - although a technique it often uses effectively - it becomes over reliant on non-diegetic pop songs to score the action.
A better made film and a lot more fun than most of the Oscar nominated films.
I loved Zama personally. It seems every year there's another take on the dark heart of colonialism in the new world (Embrace of the Serpent, City of Z, etc.) and this type of film had become a little stale for me. Zama was the first one Ive seen in a while that seemed to not take it's tonal cues from Conrad and Herzog, instead it felt more like Beckett purgatory meets The Saragossa Manuscript. Jauja is something I'll have to track down.
A better made film and a lot more fun than most of the Oscar nominated films.
I loved Zama personally. It seems every year there's another take on the dark heart of colonialism in the new world (Embrace of the Serpent, City of Z, etc.) and this type of film had become a little stale for me. Zama was the first one Ive seen in a while that seemed to not take it's tonal cues from Conrad and Herzog, instead it felt more like Beckett purgatory meets The Saragossa Manuscript. Jauja is something I'll have to track down.
Blade Runner 2049
Extinction
A father has a recurring dream of losing his family. His nightmare turns into reality when the planet is invaded by a force bent on destruction. Fighting for their lives, he comes to realize an unknown strength to keep them safe from harm. Despite really poor reviews, I quite liked this. I am a sucker for apocalyptic movie so slightly biased. This had a great twist as well that completely got me off guard. Only criticism is some of the dumb character decisions and the children were super annoying 7/10
A father has a recurring dream of losing his family. His nightmare turns into reality when the planet is invaded by a force bent on destruction. Fighting for their lives, he comes to realize an unknown strength to keep them safe from harm. Despite really poor reviews, I quite liked this. I am a sucker for apocalyptic movie so slightly biased. This had a great twist as well that completely got me off guard. Only criticism is some of the dumb character decisions and the children were super annoying 7/10