Last Movie You Watched and Rate it | New Year New thread

[The Macho King]

I am! But I rewatched and put down my Fast Time thoughts before listening to the episode. I try not to be too swayed by the #twofriends.

Chungking is so great, man.

Yeah I try to watch before too. Thought their praise of Fast Times was a bit too effusive? But they get like that sometimes.

Anyway don't want to derail anymore. In the great In the Mood For Love v. Chungking Express debate, I think I come down on the former maybe being a better movie, but it makes me so sad I am less likely to rewatch, while Chungking gives me butterflies and an appreciation for the Mama's and the Papas.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Yeah I try to watch before too. Thought their praise of Fast Times was a bit too effusive? But they get like that sometimes.

Anyway don't want to derail anymore. In the great In the Mood For Love v. Chungking Express debate, I think I come down on the former maybe being a better movie, but it makes me so sad I am less likely to rewatch, while Chungking gives me butterflies and an appreciation for the Mama's and the Papas.

Yeah. I don't think it is as hilarious as they think (and as the general reputation is).

I'm exactly with you Chungking vs. Mood. B

 

[The Macho King]

Lincoln. If you cut the first five minutes of this and the last five minutes of this I'd be tempted to argue it's a perfect movie. The opening is so ham-handed I wanted to carve it and serve it for Easter dinner. The closing (everything after Lincoln leaves his office, noting he's running late to the theater) is just unnecessary. But what's in between is a damn entertaining mass of surprisingly funny political scheming and charming speechifying and bluster. Absolute murders row of character actors with wonderful faces, often popping up for just a scene or two to either yell or get yelled at. Fantastic stuff.

Wanted to call out this specifically. The frustration i have with the end of Lincoln is that's the thing he so deftly avoids doing early in his career. We don't need a post script on Jaws or Close Encounters. He had the confidence to end the movie and believe the audience was still with him.

It makes me wonder if it was a studio note, but also who is going to give Steven f***ing Spielberg a studio note at this point?

I don't know... Spielberg is a guy I respect more than love, and as you say that movie is so close to perfection it feels nit picky to harp on what is at most one note that hits the ear oddly in what is otherwise a masterpiece, but it f***ing bugs me still.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Wanted to call out this specifically. The frustration i have with the end of Lincoln is that's the thing he so deftly avoids doing early in his career. We don't need a post script on Jaws or Close Encounters. He had the confidence to end the movie and believe the audience was still with him.

It makes me wonder if it was a studio note, but also who is going to give Steven f***ing Spielberg a studio note at this point?

I don't know... Spielberg is a guy I respect more than love, and as you say that movie is so close to perfection it feels nit picky to harp on what is at most one note that hits the ear oddly in what is otherwise a masterpiece, but it f***ing bugs me still.

Again, you're right on. He's walking out the door ... boom end credits or even just a brief postscript noting the assassination. That feels like such a perfect note to end on. But the even WEIRDER thing about the ending is the brief theater fake-out showing Tad at a different theater getting the news. If you're going to do it, then do it. The bait-and-switch is just odd.

 

[flyersnorth]

View attachment 1015337
Primer (2004) - Directed by Shane Carruth - 8.5/10

Primer is a very interesting film which follows the story of engineer/inventors Abe and Aaron who accidentally stumble upon the discovery of time travel while working on a device that can lower the weight of objects.

Abe (David Sullivan) and Aaron (Shane Carruth) use the device that they've invented to manipulate the timeline of their lives, play stocks, and change things to their liking. The two characters run through multiple instances of the same week when, predictably, things start to unravel.

Primer isn't a movie that you'll fully understand the first, second, or maybe even third time through without the assistance of breakdowns and explanations outside of the film itself. I generally recommend that people watch the film, and then watch a detailed breakdown (with illustrations), and then watch the film again to see it in context.

I've read that some have said that Primer is one of the better portrayals of this type of scientific and time travel films. Creator Shane Carruth was adamant about not dumbing the dialogue and science down to keep the authentic feeling of true engineers creating a highly technical experience.


Amazingly the film was shot on a $7,000 budget with some of the actors also acting as crew members as well. Shane Carruth was the Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, and did the music for the film. Carruth was a former software engineer and Mathematics student who very clearly used his education as the skeleton of this film.

I've seen this one about 6 or 7 times by now, was very shocked I could finally get my wife into watching it and she's watched twice and a couple of illustrated explanations already since... Definitely not a light watch, but something I recommend to everyone. Great film.

Thank you for this. I went and watched the movie after reading your write-up, and loved it!

There's a lot left unspoken and I did watch a YT vid breaking down the mechanics of the time travel, and then of course everything clicked.

Very enjoyable movie!

 

[flyersnorth]

Neighborhood Watch, 6/10 (2025)

Watched this last night. It's a decent film that you've probably seen before. Someone with a mental disability sees something and no one believes him. The dialogue is mediocre and the acting is solid.

A fun watch that I will probably forget in a week.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Thank you for this. I went and watched the movie after reading your write-up, and loved it!

There's a lot left unspoken and I did watch a YT vid breaking down the mechanics of the time travel, and then of course everything clicked.

Very enjoyable movie!

Sure thing. It's definitely a fun unique one. The YT breakdowns with graphics are a godsend to really visualize the time travel. Such a satisfying payoff once you see how it all clicks together.

Glad you liked it, man!

 

[DaaaaB's]

My scale is made in order to distinguish between good films and great films and tend to squash together meh films. 3/10 to me means bland, not doing anything more than what you'd expect, but doesn't mean they're no fun. I manage to enjoy films from all over the scale (well, not these two particular 1/10, but lots of others).
6 - good
7 - very good
8 - great
9 - masterpiece
10 - masterpiece that echoes my personal tastes

After 30 years, I finally got around to watching Powder the other day and thought to myself this the type of 1/10 movie that is still fun, at least for me. It was awful in many ways and the final scene was so bad I had to laugh out loud but I still had fun watching it. Maybe it was 90's nostalgia more than anything but I've also lightened up a bit over the years when it comes to viewing movies. While I've always enjoyed the exploitation/comedy horror genres to some extent, for years I would've quit watching a movie like Powder just because I thought it was too unintentionally corny. I guess it's good to not take movies so seriously sometimes.

 

[Avs2022]

The following post/video may be a spoiler. This is a good criticism of a movie, but perhaps one that leans towards a theistic interpretation. I question whether this video's author gave sufficient credence to the dog-eat-dog world. As he himself says, life, at least in part, depends on the consumption of life.

Terrence Malick movies are hit or miss. For those who appreciate the art of making a movie, you will love his movies and think some of them are the greatest movies ever made. His more recent credits are not as good as previous films, but he made a whole bunch after making like 1 movie every 15 years or so.

Two of his movies are masterpieces - The Thin Red Line and the above Tree of Life. I suggest if you have not seen his movies, watch them when you have the time and pedigree to devote yourself to a movie and watch it from start to finish.

The alternate side is, many think his movies are awful and will not get past the 15th minute of the movie and call it self indulgent horsesh*t. I think most of those people are Maple Leafs fans (I'm just kidding).

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Yeah I try to watch before too. Thought their praise of Fast Times was a bit too effusive? But they get like that sometimes.

Anyway don't want to derail anymore. In the great In the Mood For Love v. Chungking Express debate, I think I come down on the former maybe being a better movie, but it makes me so sad I am less likely to rewatch, while Chungking gives me butterflies and an appreciation for the Mama's and the Papas.

 

[Hippasus]

Terrence Malick movies are hit or miss. For those who appreciate the art of making a movie, you will love his movies and think someone of them are the greatest movies ever made. His more recent credits are not as good as previous films, but he made a whole bunch after making like 1 movie every 15 years or so.

Two of his movies are masterpieces - The Thin Red Line and the above Tree of Life. I suggest if you have not seen his movies, watch them when you have the time and pedigree to devote yourself to a movie and watch it from start to finish.

The alternate side is, many think his movies are awful and will not get past the 15th minute of the movie and call it self indulgent horsesh*t. I think most of those people are Maple Leafs fans (I'm just kidding).

Tree of Life and The Thin Red Line are exactly the movies I had in mind when I posted that. I've seen them from start to finish, but it's been a while. I have Tree of Life on DVD, but would need to set up the entertainment centre. They are both absolutely amazing, in my opinion, but I'm not in the place to give an actual review at the moment.

 

[Babe Ruth]

Leather Jackets (1992)

Anyone else seen this?

It's a strange, very Gen X movie. A group of Gen X petty criminals (who oddly dress like 50s greasers) kill a Vietnamese gangster. Then they go on the run to elude law enforcement and the vengeful gangsters. Dumb, graphic violence, including a (I guess) traditional Vietnamese beheading. It's a strange concoction of gangster clichés, petty crime stereotypes, and a completely nihilistic story.. that now feels buried with the 90s. It has Bridget Fonda, looking identical to her role in Singles. This was probably filmed within a year of it..

 

[Unholy Diver]

Thunderbolts - 8/10

Solid movie of characters I was mostly unfamiliar with, interesting to see a superhero team that really didn't have any gods or near gods on it, only, or main beef was how easily they overcame Sentry/the Void considering he was supposed to be stronger than all Avengers combined

 

[Jussi]

Thunderbolts - 8/10

Solid movie of characters I was mostly unfamiliar with, interesting to see a superhero team that really didn't have any gods or near gods on it, only, or main beef was how easily they overcame Sentry/the Void considering he was supposed to be stronger than all Avengers combined

The Void is ying to The Sentry's yang. I thought it was a delightful decision.

 

[End of Line]

Black Bag (2025) - 9/10

As someone who loves the world of Counterintelligence I may rank this higher than most. But it’s a gritty psychological experience with zero thrills as it delves into the psychological world of CI work. I know most intelligence movies are a bit ridiculous but this one was phenomenal (to me). And in the words of former CIA CI chief James Angelton it’s a wilderness of mirrors.

 

[kihei]

Yeah I try to watch before too. Thought their praise of Fast Times was a bit too effusive? But they get like that sometimes.

Anyway don't want to derail anymore. In the great In the Mood For Love v. Chungking Express debate, I think I come down on the former maybe being a better movie, but it makes me so sad I am less likely to rewatch, while Chungking gives me butterflies and an appreciation for the Mama's and the Papas.

Days of Being Wild absolutely, positively has got to be in that debate.

 

[The Macho King]

Days of Being Wild absolutely, positively has got to be in that debate.

I think he has 5 masterpieces - Happy Together and Fallen Angels qualifying as well - but broader discussions of his work tend to focus on those two.

My wife prefers Days of Being Wild, I'm all aboard the Chungking Express, but there's no wrong answer here.

 

[stephenball]

Finally got into town to see Sinners, and strongly considered staying in town to go see it again the same day. I found it so engrossing the whole way through, and I feel like one of the major strengths is that it feels so lived in. Well written, beautifully shot, and just such a sense of life.

One funny thing is that after the movie I was talking with a friend who had already seen it and they said “it’s wild that Michael B Jordan played both brothers”, and I realized I literally didn’t think about it at all. Feels like that’s one of the best compliments you can give an actor in that role, the two characters felt unique from each other.

Can’t finish writing without mentioning: there’s a moment in the middle of this movie that was just enthralling. Sometimes you see a moment where a filmmaker obviously has a dream and a vision to make something happen, and when it’s successfully done it’s so special. That moment here was perfection. I don’t think I need to go in detail, people who have seen the movie probably know.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Babygirl (2024) 1/10

Not even going to bother doing my usual write up for this one. Wife desperately wanted to watch this one (she loves A24 and Nicole Kidman) so I tried to oblige her. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve tapped out on a film and this was one of them.

Tech giant CEO Romy (Kidman) cheats on her husband and gets into some weird situationship with this odd and off putting domineering intern. Nearly every scene is weird and overly sexual. I really don’t care to see Nicole Kidman in some cheesy sex scene every 5 minutes while she grapples with her feelings toward some intern 20+ years her junior.

Garbage smut movie. I’m not exactly sure who this was even meant to appeal to, maybe people who like to be domineered I guess. Watched the first hour of it and when i realized there was 53 minutes left I was out.

Turned on the playoffs on my phone after that. Even my wife didn’t want to keep watching at that point.

Joins Beau is Afraid as one of the few A24 movies I didn’t enjoy.

Saw this over the weekend. Was equally appalled!

In fact, I have begun ordering all physical copies of the movie to pull it out of circulation and also if anyone sees it playing on cable please alert me immediately and I will report it to the proper authorities. Especially if you're catching it before the opening scene. Or about 30 minutes in. And definitely, especially before they go to the hotel room. Please, don't hesitate to let me know. It's not a bother. I will take this burden on.

 

[kihei]

Who saw this one coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/05/trumps-movie-tariffs-are-designed-to-destroy-the-international-film-industry

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Who saw this one coming?

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/05/trumps-movie-tariffs-are-designed-to-destroy-the-international-film-industry

There are things we are not supposed to discuss around here. But yeah, no big surprise.

 

[Osprey]

Someone made a thread about that early this morning. A mod deleted it. So, yeah, we're not supposed to discuss it. We can spoil The Last of Us, though!

 

[Jussi]

Someone made a thread about that early this morning. A mod deleted it. So, yeah, we're not supposed to discuss it. We can spoil The Last of Us, though!

Damn, I was about post later the part from the John Campea Show, where they are discussing it right now and will clip out the segment and post it later on his channel. The discussion has been very facts based so far.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Rewatched the creatively titled Brian De Palma documentary De Palma which motivated me to catch up with several films of his that I've never seen. They fell into two pretty clear pots – comedies (most from early pre-Carrie days) and memory holed latter day movies.

The Wedding Party, Greetings and Hi Mom. His first three movies. All staring Robert DeNiro (and a few other recognizable faces). All three have a zany Richard Lester A Hard Day's Night energy. I have a bit of a low threshold for that sorta sped-up wacky walking shtick when it's not A Hard Day's Night, so I wasn't particularly charmed though it is a little amusing to see a young DeNiro doing such things and being a goof. Greetings has the added burden of a soundtrack from a Beatles soundalike band that does the movie no favors. I liked Hi Mom the best of the bunch but it's hard not to see the greatest selling point of these as being curiosities uncharacteristic of the De Palma and DeNiro to come. I appreciate the messiness of the ideas and execution (almost a series of bits and skits), but that appreciation never transformed into actual enjoyment.

Get to Know Your Rabbit. I wish I didn't. Theoretically funny, but not actually funny.

It's interesting to me that De Palma tried comedy so hard early in his career. Though that would eventually be uncharacteristic of him you do see a lot of the eventual De Palma here. Obsession with conspiracies, interest in revolution and counter-culture, voyeurism, quite horny. He's always had a real visual verve. Rabbit has multiple pretty cool overhead tracking shots, for example. Lots of playful editing. But I'm glad he found the proper home for his skills within horror and smutty thrillers.

I did enjoy Wise Guys just enough. De Palma worked this mafia comedy into his schedule between Body Double and The Untouchables. Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo play a couple of bumbling low-level mobsters. I found their relationship genuinely funny and sweet. And Captain Lou Albano (of all people) gives a funny, though turned up to 11, performance, as an angry gangster. I don't know if I'll ever be motivated to watch it again, but I chuckled a few times over its 90 minutes.

Haven't gotten to Domino or Redacted either, two late career movies.

 

[kihei]

Saw this over the weekend. Was equally appalled!

In fact, I have begun ordering all physical copies of the movie to pull it out of circulation and also if anyone sees it playing on cable please alert me immediately and I will report it to the proper authorities. Especially if you're catching it before the opening scene. Or about 30 minutes in. And definitely, especially before they go to the hotel room. Please, don't hesitate to let me know. It's not a bother. I will take this burden on.

I kept trying to turn the ghastly thing off, honest, I did, but I'm ashamed to say I am not good with technology. I decided to pull the plug, all other efforts failing, right after the opening scene, but then my cat distracted me, and the movie continued as I engaged in a game of "where's the mouse" with Luna. Later, approaching the hotel scene, just when I was about to understandably call it a day, my nacho chips fell on the floor. Of course, cleaning them up became the priority, and I lost the remote control in the process. So what could I do? I watched to the end, albeit totally against my will. Yes, I feel scarred by the process, but I really should watch it again just to determine how scarred I actually am. Already, I've watched the opening scene several times, and I am still uncertain. I blame the cat.