Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | {Insert Appropriate Seasonal Greeting Here}

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

White Noise. This book was given to me when I was in college and has now moved with me through god 7-8 different homes and multiple book shelves over 20+ years. Sad to say it took the release of an adaptation of it to finally get me to read it, but such is life. So within the last week I both read the book and watched the movie. LIked the book. Kinda indifferent to the movie. The oddest thing about this binge is that I feel like I actually like the movie MORE having read the book first than I would have if I just saw the movie. I might have even hated the movie had I not read the book. Normally it feels like it's the other way around.

The book prepped me for people who I otherwise might have found intolerable.

Novelist Don DeLillo really deserves a co-writing credit on the screenplay, which is incredibly faithful to his dialogue. The dialogue plays great in the book, but less so on screen. I admire the fealty although I'm not sure it totally works. Some of it does. There are some quite funny sequences and exchanges, but as a whole I was left sorta "meh" about the whole affair.

The big sin is that despite their best efforts I'm not sure Adam Driver and especially Greta Gerwig are the right fits for their roles. There's a big confrontation about two-thirds in that is true to the book, but while it's dryly funny in the novel, it's played for emotion here and it completely falls flat because the leads and their relationship just isn't established in a way where we really care about these people it suddenly asks us to care for. The final third (again despite being fairly true to the book) didn't work for me because of that shift.

Looks pretty good. Great Spielberg Face moment (you'll know it when you see it). A few genuinely funny scenes (the river evacuation, a discussion with a nun to name two).

But again, I'm more indifferent to it than down on it. Ironically that is perhaps a fitting reaction given its tone.

 

[kihei]

Utama (2022) Directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi 7A

Do you need to see a movie about aged llama herders in the barren Bolivia highlands? Well, no, technically, but you will miss a beautiful, visually dazzling movie if you don't. Virginio and Sisa are probably in their late seventies or early eighties but they still continue with a life they have lived for decades, as had their ancestors before them. Living in a small two-room ramshackle hut, their days pass in the same way as they always have--but change is happening beyond their control. Virginio takes their flock of llamas (with incongruously festive pink ribbons on their ears to identify the herd) on a long trek for what meager foliage he can find while Sisa makes the long trek to the village for water. But there is no water, thanks to a year long drought (climate change is not once mentioned, but it is at the heart of this story). She, along with all the other village women, must travel further to a makeshift narrow irrigation canal to find water. Virginio has a persistent cough which worries their visiting grandson Clever; he tries to talk Virginio and Siso to give up the land and come to the city. For Virginio that would be far worse than death, and Sisa doesn't wish to give up her home either.

Utama (which means "our home" in the Spanish dialect of Aymara) allows us to see the story from the old couple's perspective. This movie isn't about some cranky patriarch resisting change out of spite, rather the movie is about people whose way of life is deeply threatened by forces over which they have no power. Director Alejandro Loayza Grisi has an empathetic touch, especially in presenting the loving nature of the old couple's relationship and the importance of the land to them. As one critic put it, "{Grisi} is interested in the enormity of seemingly small lives." Humane though Utama is what takes this movie into another realm entirely is the spectacular cinematography, something I was not expecting from a movie of such modest scope. I even was comparing it to Lawrence of Arabia at one point before I came to my senses. It's not that good, but the fact that the comparison even tentatively crossed my mind tells you something about how visually stunning this movie is.

Sidenote: It is a small crime that Utama did not make the Academy's short list of 15 international films. It never really had a chance, an unheralded movie from Bolivia going up against Netflix blockbusters like All Quiet on the Western Front and other financially well sponsored films from major film making countries. But the film is a remarkable achievement nonetheless.

subtitles

 

[kihei]

Was Fabelmans any good? I'm kind of burned out on the whole "Hollywood's ode to Hollywood" genre. Cinema Paradiso pretty much covered it.

To me, there were two movies. The half that dealt with Spielberg's fascination and love of movies was good, but it was severely compromised by the other half, which dealt with his family dynamics growing up as a kid which I found a bit of a yawn despite Michelle Williams' fine performance. Overall, the movie just seemed bland to me.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

I liked it quite a bit. There's definitely some "magic of movies" stuff in it but I thought it played more fun than saccharine. It's used more as the Spielberg stand in clearly being gifted at making movies and a little less "wow, ain't the old movie great!" So you see him making movies more than you get him sitting in a theater all wide eyed. It's more of an active love than a passive one, if that makes sense. It plays as a refuge for him, something he can control, as opposed to his turbulent home life which he cannot.

It's a lot more about him than Hollywood.

I went in thinking I'd be bothered by it but wasn't at all.

To me, there were two movies. The half that dealt with Spielberg's fascination and love of movies was good, but it was severely compromised by the other half, which dealt with his family dynamics growing up as a kid which I found a bit of a yawn despite Michelle Williams' fine performance. Overall, the movie just seemed bland to me.

Thank you both for the responses! And from two of the MVPs of this forum no less . Sounds like it's worth giving it a shot when it makes its way to streaming.

 

[OzzyFan]

Golden Globes 2023: ‘Fabelmans,”Banshees of Inisherin’ take home top prizes - National | Globalnews.ca

The 2023 Golden Globes featured a diverse slate of nominees and winners as the beleaguered award show sought to rekindle its pre-pandemic and pre-scandal glamour.

globalnews.ca

Glad to see Farrell get his due. And it bares repeating how Blanchette in Tar is going to kill Yeoh's chances at an Oscar. Surprised by Butler in Elvis winning over the heavily touted Fraser in The Whale. Glad to see Ghibli's Inu-Oh get a nomination on the animated list. I still can't get over how I've seen The Fablemans as best picture favorites on so many lists, I know it wouldn't make it into my top 10 this year, I wonder how much farther down actually it would go. Even more crazy, just skimming Spielberg's filmography, I don't think it's in his top 15 films that he's directed and he's trending to win his 2nd best picture Oscar for it?

 

[Puck]

Glad to see Farrell get his due. And it bares repeating how Blanchette in Tar is going to kill Yeoh's chances at an Oscar. Surprised by Butler in Elvis winning over the heavily touted Fraser in The Whale. Glad to see Ghibli's Inu-Oh get a nomination on the animated list. I still can't get over how I've seen The Fablemans as best picture favorites on so many lists, I know it wouldn't make it into my top 10 this year, I wonder how much farther down actually it would go. Even more crazy, just skimming Spielberg's filmography, I don't think it's in his top 15 films that he's directed and he's trending to win his 2nd best picture Oscar for it?

Fabelmans is a nice film, I did like it but....I guess Spielberg's name and power in Hollywood gets one the extra votes just like inversely, a lesser known first time Director like Wells for 'Aftersun' gets fewer nods (or Ford for 'Emily'). That's how things work I suppose.

There are still the SAG awards, the Director's Guild and the BAFTAs. If Butler in 'Elvis' takes some of those he will be building momentum. Voters do get influenced I think.

Still too early to tell though. I also agree that it is nice to see some early winners get some time on stage elsewhere even if they ultimately don't win Oscars in the end. They also get some nice statue to stick on their fireplace mantel. It's not called Oscar but it's still a Win and a good story to tell the grandkids later.

My early Oscar pick for Best Pic right now would be 'Banshees' but like we saw last year, the early front-runner (Power of the Dog) can lose steam at the end. Anything can happen.

BAFTA Film Awards Longlists Unveiled: ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ ‘Banshees of Inisherin’ & ‘Everything Everywhere’ Lead Pack

The BAFTA Film Awards have unveiled the 2023 longlists across 24 categories.

variety.com

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I think I've said this before but I really dislike Noah Baumbach as an artist. I just find his movies so insufferable. I've only read one DeLillo book (which I liked for big chunks but definitely found bloated at certain scenes/themes - Cosmopolis) but Baumbach 1000% strikes me as the kind of guy who'll try to adapt a big book instead of actually tailoring a novel into a film.

I have a lot of respect for Kubrick, for example. He didn't always go for the flashiest name/story (though he did both in his career) and seemed far more into the idea of using the spirit of a novel/short-story to craft a film instead of following its content verbatim. I don't know how true it is (though he never seemed to have the pretension of a liar) but I'd read an interview where he said that sometimes he'd just go into a bookstore, cover his eyes and pick a book out at random and see if it's worth making a screenplay out of it. I thought that was pretty ballsy considering how busy he must have been.

 

[shadow1]

Shinjuku Incident (2009) - 6/10

An illegal immigrant in early 1990's Japan forms a Chinese faction of the Yakuza.

Jackie Chan stars as Steelhead, a poor farmer in China. His fiancé Xiu Xiu (Jinglei Xu) travels to Japan with her aunt to reconnect with wealthy relatives. When Xiu Xiu goes missing, Steelhead illegally immigrates to Japan and lives a life of squalor with other illegal Chinese men, working for slave wages and committing petty crimes to survive. As the group ramps up their illegal activity, they catch the ire of the local Yakuza, which leads to a violent confrontation and set them down a path of no return.

Shinjuku Incident was written and directed by Derek Yee, who's famous for directing bleak movies like People's Hero (1987) and C'est la via, mon cheri (1993). This film is no different, telling a depressing tale of bad things happening to people in challenging circumstances. The film was released in theaters as a category IIB film to reach as big of an audience as possible, but the unedited category III version was released on DVD and is surprisingly gory.

The film tells an interesting story about desperation, greed, and selfishness. Many of the characters in this film begin with good intentions, but as things spiral out of control realize their idealism was unfounded. Daniel Wu gives a good performance as Jie, initially the most savvy of the Chinese men at committing petty crimes, but also the most resistant when the group begins committing serious crimes.

The film is a major change of pace for Jackie Chan. While he had done darker films before (like 1993's Crime Story), there were usually one or two scenes that reminded you that you were watching a "Jackie Chan" movie. Here he doesn't throw a punch or a kick, but does some very bad things and crosses a lot of boundaries the actor never had before, including a sex scene. There's also an extremely gory scene in which one of Jackie's comrade's intenstines spill out in front of him. Needless to say, this movie isn't Rush Hour.

Though Shinjuku Incident is good, it has some clunky storytelling elements. For example, the movie doesn't explain how long Xiu Xiu has been missing initially, and when we later get an idea it seems excessive. In fact, the entire character of Xiu Xiu's feels tacky, as she is shoehorned into the Yakuza storyline; the movie might've been better if she simply vanished and Steelhead was lead down his life of crime. There was also a character or two too many - such as a pointless supporting role by Fan Bing Bing - and I didn't like the direction on some of the violence scenes. For a depressing movie like this, I don't want slow motion violence scenes; it takes me out of the experience and reminds me what I'm seeing isn't real.

Overall, Shinjuku Incident is a good, bleak movie that will leave you feeling hopeless. There are a few bumps along the way with the story, but still manages to accomplish its goals with a strong third act, ending the film in trademark Derek Yee fashion. IMDB has the film scored at a 6.9, and though I think that's a bit high, Shinjuku Incident is definitely worth checking out.

 

[Osprey]

Who knew that there were so many Jackie Chan movies? I'd never even heard of half of these. I may never watch most of them, but I can now go through life with the knowledge that they exist, thanks to shadow1.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Amsterdam - 5/10

Would this movie SHUT THE f*** UP. I've seen chaotic 70s films that were less annoying than whatever Russell's bad attempt at what I think is supposed to be a 'fun' mystery where the mystery is dumb and the style is outdated. I dunno wtf Bale was trying to do here or who directed him this way but everyone and everything is off in this film including Margot Robbie's accent which comes and geos. Film's led by the misbelief that you can make a film entertaining by quirky style choices, characters saying off-hand things in what looks like improvisaiton, and just by having them talk non-stop and constantly having little seances with each-other. It's like a movie directed for teens but with a script that thinks it's serious, it makes the director look immature. And it was a pain to sit through as well.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Amsterdam - 5/10

Would this movie SHUT THE f*** UP. I've seen chaotic 70s films that were less annoying than whatever Russell's bad attempt at what I think is supposed to be a 'fun' mystery where the mystery is dumb and the style is outdated. I dunno wtf Bale was trying to do here or who directed him this way but everyone and everything is off in this film including Margot Robbie's accent which comes and geos. Film's led by the misbelief that you can make a film entertaining by quirky style choices, characters saying off-hand things in what looks like improvisaiton, and just by having them talk non-stop and constantly having little seances with each-other. It's like a movie directed for teens but with a script that thinks it's serious, it makes the director look immature. And it was a pain to sit through as well.

I keep staring at this in my queue and thinking ... is today the day? (It hasn't been the day, yet).

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

To Be Or Not To Be. I don't have anything really insightful to say about this classic Ernst Lubitsch comedy that I've only just now seen other than it's hilarious and works every bit as well today despite being from 1942. How anyone could watch this and then decide that they're also going to try to make a WWII comedy/satire is beyond me. And they did it while the war was still happening! Amazing stuff.

Hard to Kill. The best movie that Steven Seagal is in is Under Siege. But it's also operating at a higher level than pretty much any other movie he was in and I kinda feel like you could swap in any number of actors and still get a good movie. The best Steven Seagal movie, if you get my distinction, is Hard to Kill. Peak action gooberness. Professional ENOUGH, but not too much. Makes him "act" in hilarious ways (the 10 minutes of him coming out of a coma is real chef's kiss stuff). You COULD put a Jeff Speakman or Van Damme in this but I don't think it would improve it. You need serious-face Seagal punching and quipping his way through this nonsense. Everybody rightfully laughs at the "I"m going to take you to the bank ... the blood bank" line, but "f*** off and die" is legit good and well delivered.

The 'Burbs. Joe Dante has a real zaniness to his comedic movies that I just don't see any more (and am not sure it was even present when he was at his peak). Gremlins and Gremlins 2 are outright masterpieces of comedic mayhem. This isn't too far behind it. Suburban life is a pretty easy target for mockery, but this is still an enjoyable skewering about nosy neighbors suspicious of any outsiders (still and probably always relevant). I honestly forgot how funny Tom Hanks' frayed nerves comic persona could be. Saw this a bunch in my youth but still got a lot of genuine belly laughs. Dante's frantic zoom-in, zoom-out on Hanks and Rick Ducommon when they find a bone kills me. That's the type of filmmaking silliness I enjoy. My only real criticism is that the ending pulls its punch. There's an alternative ending out there and while I understand why they made the decision they did, the alternate version is better and really nails the satire in a way the official ending misses.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

I keep staring at this in my queue and thinking ... is today the day? (It hasn't been the day, yet).

Watch See How They Run instead, less shitty version of same genre from last year.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Watch See How They Run instead, less shitty version of same genre from last year.

Funny enough this is the movie right next to Amsterdam in my queue.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

To Be Or Not To Be. I don't have anything really insightful to say about this classic Ernst Lubitsch comedy that I've only just now seen other than it's hilarious and works every bit as well today despite being from 1942. How anyone could watch this and then decide that they're also going to try to make a WWII comedy/satire is beyond me. And they did it while the war was still happening! Amazing stuff.

Hard to Kill. The best movie that Steven Seagal is in is Under Siege. But it's also operating at a higher level than pretty much any other movie he was in and I kinda feel like you could swap in any number of actors and still get a good movie. The best Steven Seagal movie, if you get my distinction, is Hard to Kill. Peak action gooberness. Professional ENOUGH, but not too much. Makes him "act" in hilarious ways (the 10 minutes of him coming out of a coma is real chef's kiss stuff). You COULD put a Jeff Speakman or Van Damme in this but I don't think it would improve it. You need serious-face Seagal punching and quipping his way through this nonsense. Everybody rightfully laughs at the "I"m going to take you to the bank ... the blood bank" line, but "f*** off and die" is legit good and well delivered.

The 'Burbs. Joe Dante has a real zaniness to his comedic movies that I just don't see any more (and am not sure it was even present when he was at his peak). Gremlins and Gremlins 2 are outright masterpieces of comedic mayhem. This isn't too far behind it. Suburban life is a pretty easy target for mockery, but this is still an enjoyable skewering about nosy neighbors suspicious of any outsiders (still and probably always relevant). I honestly forgot how funny Tom Hanks' frayed nerves comic persona could be. Saw this a bunch in my youth but still got a lot of genuine belly laughs. Dante's frantic zoom-in, zoom-out on Hanks and Rick Ducommon when they find a bone kills me. That's the type of filmmaking silliness I enjoy. My only real criticism is that the ending pulls its punch. There's an alternative ending out there and while I understand why they made the decision they did, the alternate version is better and really nails the satire in a way the official ending misses.

The "stair slide" scene in the "Burbs has to be one of the most iconic comedy scenes of the 80s.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

The "stair slide" scene in the "Burbs has to be one of the most iconic comedy scenes of the 80s.

This whole bit has the vibe of a classic Western with our weary "hero" emerging from some tumult. That subtle push in on Duccomun's awe face really nails it. Just some smart, funny filmmaking.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

This whole bit has the vibe of a classic Western with our weary "hero" emerging from some tumult. That subtle push in on Duccomun's awe face really nails it. Just some smart, funny filmmaking.

It will sound cliched, but they don’t make comedies like this anymore.

My other favorite scene is the gurney one that Hanks ad-libbed:



“I’m sick take me to the hospital”

When she asks if he’s ok and muffles out “I’m ok, Carol” - cracks me up every time.

The whole scene is perfect, especially when he bolts over to choke Art.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

It will sound cliched, but they don’t make comedies like this anymore.

My other favorite scene is the gurney one that Hanks ad-libbed:



“I’m sick take me to the hospital”

When she asks if he’s ok and muffles out “I’m ok, Carol” - cracks me up every time.

The whole scene is perfect, especially when he bolts over to choke Art.

I'm old enough that I grew up with all these 80s/early 90s Hanks comedies and though I know they existed and watched them many times (Bachelor Party, The Money Pit, even Dragnet, etc.), he's been so dignified for 30 years now that part of me genuinely forgot what comedy whirlwind he used to be.

 

[OzzyFan]

Scarface (1932)
3.35 out of 4stars

“Based loosely on Al Capone, an ambitious and nearly insane violent gangster named Tony Camonte climbs the ladder of success in the mob during the time of prohibition, but his weaknesses prove to be his downfall.”
An excellent gangster/crime action drama that is a stylish and brutal character study strongly headed by a relentless and animalistic Paul Muni turn. Packed with gun violence, high body counts, a touch of fisticuffs, some car action scenes, and a little comic relief. Similarly controversial to its Pacino remake, each for their time, because of its containing and supposed glorification of crime and extreme violence, but without the drug use and profanity of its contemporary. Muni’s character can be summed up with 2 of his film quotes: on mob life “Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doing it” and on a street sign stating "The World is Yours” “she’s mine”. Ultimately a pursuit of excess through non-stop first hand criminality and murder, or in other words, an illegal colonial imperialism dark style of the american dream. Muni does anything and everything he can to acquire everything and anything infinitely. Conclusively the whole movie feels like a condemnation of capitalism, specifically or moreso in a society where laws are not enforced and criminals thrive unchecked.

Interview with the Vampire (1994)
3.10 out of 4stars

“Born as an 18th-century lord, Louis is now a bicentennial vampire, telling his story to an eager biographer. Suicidal after the death of his family, he meets Lestat, a vampire who persuades him to choose immortality over death and become his companion.”
A great supernatural horror drama that is a dark blood soaked ponderance on the meaning, importance, and value of life through the use of vampirism and immortality. Imperfect but stylish, full of Fabio-esque hair, and continually thought provoking. The film shows different ideologies and angles of what life is or can be. Is it self-indulgence or thoughtfulness? Wealth and power? A religious or non-theological conscience driven life? Connections? Companionship love and/or a child/family-drive lifestyle/loving-bond? Is it emotional expression and feeling, the highs and lows for progressive events one lives through while those most important, good and bad, never truly fade from memory? Obtaining of knowledge and wisdom? Suffering or thriving? Survival or excess? Adaptability? Knowing or learning of one’s self to its truest capacity? Is life a blessing, a curse, meaninglessly empty, or variance of those options? While obviously there is no answer, it appears one should be trying to find peace or make peace with whatever their own answer is. The real question after that is though, is this all the result of one’s personal choices, fate, coincidence, one’s environment, one’s brain chemistry/genetics, a nature vs nurture combo, or something beyond comprehension?

Raw (2016) (subtitles)
2.80 out of 4stars

“A young vegetarian woman, studying to be a vet in her first year of college, develops a craving for human flesh.”
A great horror drama that uses cannibalism to tell a hormonally driven coming out of one’s shell tale with primal carnal instinct overtones. The theme or metaphor seems to be that no matter how hard we try to act civilized, are groomed or sheltered by guardians, or intelligent we are, at the end of the day there are deep instinctual animal-like needs waiting to break out that will show themselves (especially sexual). Also, one never truly knows themselves until the experiment and get out of their comfort zones. Maybe a bit of acceptance of self and others thrown in there too, possibly addiction as well. Successfully earns its shocks and laughs with an ever curious developing attitude, but feels a bit hit and miss with some secondary notes it tries to touch on.

The Harbinger (2022) (Mitton)
2.65 out of 4stars

“Monique ventures out of COVID quarantine to visit an old friend who's plagued by nightmares. She finds herself drawn into a hellish dreamscape where she must face her greatest fears - or risk never having existed at all.”
A good psychological horror about the bleak COVID isolated quarantine lifestyle that explores the mental issues developed with a reality distortion ride as death and sickness exists all around. Full of ideas and concepts, but messy. Cabin fever is taken to new heights with questions of one’s mortality and insignificance to go alongside the general anxiety and depression of the situation. The plague doctor mask was a nice touch for the “evil entity”. Some things aren’t fully explained or connected properly that should have been, but altogether an entertaining and under-examined element of the serious damage done and lived through from the COVID pandemic.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Funny enough this is the movie right next to Amsterdam in my queue.

Found that one to be decidedly "eh," but at least it seems like it'd be less obnoxiously so in comparison. I'm not touching Amsterdam with a 10-foot pole.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Short reviews for long movies!

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). C+
Visually deep, emotionally shallow. The most interesting character is the world itself, which is either a great accomplishment or huge minus depending on what kind of mood you're in. I'll still continue seeing these movies in the theaters, and only in the theaters.

Ran (1985). A
Couldn't pass up the chance to see this one on the big screen at the local art house theater. Tatsuya Nakadai's face alone is worth the price of admission. Incredible spectacle, and as indelible of a final shot as you'll find in cinema.

Love Exposure (2008). B+
The cinematic equivalent of a double-album that has numerous bangers, but when you sit down and actually listen to the whole thing, you realize there are plenty of tracks you could probably do without. Corinthians 13 topped the Hot 100 for months -- yet another case of the cover surpassing the original.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

Hard to Kill. The best movie that Steven Seagal is in is Under Siege. But it's also operating at a higher level than pretty much any other movie he was in and I kinda feel like you could swap in any number of actors and still get a good movie. The best Steven Seagal movie, if you get my distinction, is Hard to Kill. Peak action gooberness. Professional ENOUGH, but not too much. Makes him "act" in hilarious ways (the 10 minutes of him coming out of a coma is real chef's kiss stuff). You COULD put a Jeff Speakman or Van Damme in this but I don't think it would improve it. You need serious-face Seagal punching and quipping his way through this nonsense. Everybody rightfully laughs at the "I"m going to take you to the bank ... the blood bank" line, but "f*** off and die" is legit good and well delivered.

I love that you make that distinction and I agree, though Out for Justice is right up there with Hard to Kill.

Reminds me of how I feel about Steve McQueen (obviously a much better actor). While The Great Escape or The Magnificent Seven is the best movie that McQueen is in, Bullitt is the best McQueen movie.

 

[OzzyFan]

Skinamarink (2022)
2.65 out of 4stars

“Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find that their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. And something may be lurking within the house.”
A good art experimental horror film with a great story premise and concept, but is deservedly divisive. This movie needs lots of patience and buying into or endearing of its methods or you are going to be in for a frustrating experience. No way around it, the first half of the film is very boring and almost entirely uneventful filler. And while its unique style is rewarding, it’s not for everyone. Its usage of white noise, noise distortion, odd angles, lighting/darkness, extended still shots, slow pacing, and grainy focus throughout can be as off-putting as it is intriguing. That said, the 2nd half is great and delivers a heavily creepy atmosphere, albeit mileage will vary based on the above. It plays with the mind and imagination in mostly all the right ways while adding some supernatural and occasionally chilling events to the mix. Not to mention, there are a couple of intense jump scares. Thematically, it feels the film is about helplessness, or childish helplessness and incomprehension, which I would say it succeeded on expressing.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

I love that you make that distinction and I agree, though Out for Justice is right up there with Hard to Kill.

Reminds me of how I feel about Steve McQueen (obviously a much better actor). While The Great Escape or The Magnificent Seven is the best movie that McQueen is in, Bullitt is the best McQueen movie.

It's a fun game to play with the right actors!

I have a buddy who made an argument for Out for Justice too. Gonna revisit it soon to see if it changes my mind.

 

[kihei]

Found that one to be decidedly "eh," but at least it seems like it'd be less obnoxiously so in comparison. I'm not touching Amsterdam with a 10-foot pole.

Good call. Amsterdam is not worth anyone's time.