Movies: Last Movie You Watched and Rate It | Part#: Some High Number +2

[ItsFineImFine]

Wag The Dog (1997) - 6.5/10
This Psy-ops film released before the Clinton scandal has so much potential at the start but it's a bit too silly for its own good. Starts off well but then just gets into a repetitive groove, but it's only 90ish minutes long and it has Dustin Hoffman & Robert DeNiro in it so that's a good enough reason to watch it, it was fine.

Joker (2019) - 7.5/10
Well-directed and well-acted by Phoenix but the plot isn't very interesting. Probably because I've already seen variations of the same plot and it's quite predictable for a Superhero (or villain) film. It isn't the most nuanced either but I wasn't expecting that based on the director's cinematography, and it doesn't feel like it's saying much outside of filling his own fantasy but it's a fun watch. It's just that the Joker is so built up in my head as being the villain orchestrating chaos rather than being the subject of chaos that it never feels quite right.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Ford v. Ferrari - 9.75/10

Literally the only “complaints” I have about this movie were it took me maybe 20-25 minutes to get fully invested and there were times I struggled to understand what was being said. But once it took me I , I was hooked the whole time. And the hearing issues didn’t really mean too much in the end.

Incredible performance all across the board, IMO. I was blown away.

 

[Live in the Now]

I haven't see Glass yet either (maybe one of these days ...) but the set up seems a little odd considering he already made two movies showing these guys being superheroes/villains. I don't know if he really leans into a "maybe they're crazy/maybe its imaginary" angle but it seems like a weird and undramatic choice if he does.

He leans into a "make this movie as boring as humanly possible" angle. Watching this in theater was a terrible experience.

 

[ORRFForever]

The Good Liar [2019] :

The problem with con movies is they have been done to death. The Good Liar is as predictable as the cold in November... and just as bland.

Well acted but not worth your time.

Spoiler

Thank God, since this is 2019, there is a MeToo element to the con - insert eye rolling here.

3.5/10

 

[ORRFForever]

Elizabeth Banks directed Charlie's Angels and reviews are poor.

Can someone please explain to me why she continually gets to direct movies? I have yet to see one that is good.

 

[NyQuil]

Can someone please explain to me why she continually gets to direct movies? I have yet to see one that is good.

They make money?

Pitch Perfect made ~$115M on a $17M budget.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I saw Gerald's Game. I didn't go in with high expectations with it being a Netflix original and the generally negative nature of King adaptations (never read the book and just know it based on what I've seen in the trailer), but I'd put this right up there among the best horror movies I've seen recently. When I saw the trailer I was a bit hesitant because bottle films can get really boring for me but this was smartly written, explores some incredibly disturbing topics in an incredibly effective way, and had some genuinely unsettling moments and twists. I was late to the party on this one but I can't recommend this enough. Flanagan is doing a lot to legitimize horror movies that have more of a mainstream vibe to them.

 

[Mario Lemieux fan 66]

Antigone: 6.8/10 This year pick to represent Canada in the Oscar race. Average movie.

 

[ORRFForever]

I saw Gerald's Game. I didn't go in with high expectations with it being a Netflix original and the generally negative nature of King adaptations (never read the book and just know it based on what I've seen in the trailer), but I'd put this right up there among the best horror movies I've seen recently. When I saw the trailer I was a bit hesitant because bottle films can get really boring for me but this was smartly written, explores some incredibly disturbing topics in an incredibly effective way, and had some genuinely unsettling moments and twists. I was late to the party on this one but I can't recommend this enough. Flanagan is doing a lot to legitimize horror movies that have more of a mainstream vibe to them.

It is definitely a pleasant surprise.

 

[kihei]

Ford v Ferrari (2019) Directed by James Mangold 6A

Having been insulted by the Italians, Henry Ford II decides that his staid, conservative car company is going to build a racing car that can knock Ferrari off its pedestal at Le Mans. Ford v Ferrari starts by spinning its wheels while it ticks off a host of standard cliches--"can do" Americans versus snooty Europeans; talented creators versus corporate suits; long-suffering wife who hangs in there anyway, and so on. I thought this movie was doomed before it really got underway. But I was wrong. Some fabulous driving sequences, especially in the rain at night at Le Mans, and two very entertaining performances by Matt Damon as renegade race car designer Carrol Shelby and Christian Bale as racing car driver Ken Miles, quickly come to the rescue and a fun movie breaks out. While they have inconsistent accents with Damon fading in and out of a southwest drawl and Bale concocting a thick accent that sounds more Australian than English, their charm and charisma take over the movie and that keeps things moving in fine fettle between racing sequences. Everybody else in the cast is a one-dimensional cliche, but that hardly gets in the way of the camaraderie and high speed thrills. The end of the movie hints at darker themes that the movie throws out there, like maybe Shelby isn't quite the hero the rest of the movie makes him out to be. But there is no room to explore these themes while keeping the largely fun vibe. Bottom line is don't worry too much about the implications and just go with the flow, and if you do, you will likely find Ford v Ferrari a rousing couple of hours at the movies.

 

[nameless1]

Elizabeth Banks directed Charlie's Angels and reviews are poor.

Can someone please explain to me why she continually gets to direct movies? I have yet to see one that is good.

She has her own production company, and she makes movies that cater to the mainstream crowd. After the Pitch Perfect trilogy, she has earned enough goodwill to do whatever she wants.

To be fair, Charlie's Angel reboot is not the worst idea in the world. It is just about what people would expect, so even if the reviews are bad, it could still make money. That is just another day in Hollywood.

 

[Osprey]

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) - 5/10 (Didn't like or dislike it)

Keanu Reeves finally meets his match. The actress that plays the Adjudicator might be as bad at acting as him. Ok, that's not fair. Keanu is probably still worse. Seriously, I don't get it. I've watched all three John Wick films now and just don't get it. I can maybe see why 90% of audiences likes them, but why 90% of critics, too? There's almost no plot, what there is is confusing or silly, the acting is bad and it's mostly just mind-numbing violence. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big proponent of violence. There's just something about the fighting that doesn't click with me, whether it's because there's so much of it or it's so obviously CGIed or something else. I don't know, but what I really don't know is why these movies aren't the poster children for the disconnect between critics and general audiences. For some reason, a trio of mindless action movies are what bring both groups together in harmonic praise? Color me confused. Anyways, it's not that I dislike any of the films. I just wish that I could like them as nearly everyone else does. Maybe with Chapter 4...

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) - 5/10 (Didn't like or dislike it)

Keanu Reeves finally meets his match. The actress that plays the Adjudicator might be as bad at acting as him. Ok, that's not fair. Keanu is probably still worse. Seriously, I don't get it. I've watched all three John Wick films now and just don't get it. I can maybe see why 90% of audiences likes them, but why 90% of critics, too? There's almost no plot, what there is is confusing or silly, the acting is bad and it's mostly just mind-numbing violence. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big proponent of violence. There's just something about the fighting that doesn't click with me, whether it's because there's so much of it or it's so obviously CGIed or something else. I don't know, but what I really don't know is why these movies aren't the poster children for the disconnect between critics and general audiences. For some reason, a trio of mindless action movies are what bring both groups together in harmonic praise? Color me confused. Anyways, it's not that I dislike any of the films. I just wish that I could like them as nearly everyone else does. Maybe with Chapter 4...

I heard Chapter 4 is John Wick vs Neo.... started because of an innocent mistake by a time traveler named Ted Theodore Logan...

 

[Jussi]

Ford v Ferrari (2019) Directed by James Mangold 6A

Having been insulted by the Italians, Henry Ford II decides that his staid, conservative car company is going to build a racing car that can knock Ferrari off its pedestal at Le Mans. Ford v Ferrari starts by spinning its wheels while it ticks off a host of standard cliches--"can do" Americans versus snooty Europeans; talented creators versus corporate suits; long-suffering wife who hangs in there anyway, and so on. I thought this movie was doomed before it really got underway. But I was wrong. Some fabulous driving sequences, especially in the rain at night at Le Mans, and two very entertaining performances by Matt Damon as renegade race car designer Carrol Shelby and Christian Bale as racing car driver Ken Miles, quickly come to the rescue and a fun movie breaks out. While they have inconsistent accents with Damon fading in and out of a southwest drawl and Bale concocting a thick accent that sounds more Australian than English, their charm and charisma take over the movie and that keeps things moving in fine fettle between racing sequences. Everybody else in the cast is a one-dimensional cliche, but that hardly gets in the way of the camaraderie and high speed thrills. The end of the movie hints at darker themes that the movie throws out there, like maybe Shelby isn't quite the hero the rest of the movie makes him out to be. But there is no room to explore these themes while keeping the largely fun vibe. Bottom line is don't worry too much about the implications and just go with the flow, and if you do, you will likely find Ford v Ferrari a rousing couple of hours at the movies.

From what I gather, that was a fairly accurate depiction. This is how it went:



Bale's accent in the movie is Birmingham so...

 

[Sentinel]

The last movie I saw in theaters was "Yesterday." Despite some glaring flaws, it is far better (not to mention, more original) than average and, ultimately, tells the story of my life.

I'm going to see "Midway" tomorrow.

No interest in seeing "Joker" at all.

 

[kihei]

From what I gather, that was a fairly accurate depiction. This is how it went:



Bale's accent in the movie is Birmingham so...

Minus a few understandable "movie" touches, FvF is a very accurate take on what happened according to this documentary. Which makes me even more curious about the ending. To whit:

Spoiler

Right at the end of the movie in one of its best scenes, Shelby sort of tiptoes around the notion of visiting Miles' wife, but the reception is chilly to say the least. One reason is Miles' death testing a Shelby racing car, but I wondered if the family could have had some very deep residual bitterness about Shelby not standing up for Mills not once, but twice. Shelby didn't go to bat for his driver as much as he maybe should have and. albeit reluctantly, toed the corporate line. Perhaps those betrayals are what Damon is tearing up about in the end. The movie pretty clearly throws this possibility out there but almost as an afterthought.

I wish this notion could have been explored more, but then I'm remaking the movie my way, I guess. As I suggested in the review, though, best not to worry about details and just let this flick take its merry course.

 

[Osprey]

I heard Chapter 4 is John Wick vs Neo.... started because of an innocent mistake by a time traveler named Ted Theodore Logan...

I hated The Matrix, which maybe partly explains my ambivalence to John Wick. I imagine that a lot of the same people like both. I've always liked Keanu much more as Ted, probably because the stupidity of the character is a good fit for his, um, acting style. I'm really looking forward to Bill and Ted Face the Music next year. That should be up my alley much more than these John Wick flicks.

I'd also be down for a Speed 3 with Sandra Bullock, but, sadly, this might be the closest that we get:

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Downhill Racer
Interesting not just for what it is, but what it isn’t. It’s sports story about a competitor striving for Olympic glory. But it isn’t a thrilling crowd pleaser with a soaring score. It’s a character study of a focused, driven skier (Robert Redford). He isn’t much likable. Beyond an occasional roll with a lovely lady, he doesn’t seem interested in much beyond his sport. He is interesting and it’s a compelling performance by Redford who ices much of his natural charisma to an effective degree. The end is great. The photography is stellar (lots of POV, which I read was innovative at the time). Gene Hackman is sturdy in a supporting role. Michael Ritchie remains a family unsung, but solid director.

The Black Hole
A childhood favorite of mine, which I’ve realized an adult was an odd choice given how talky, weird, dark (and even maybe a little scary) this Disney flick is. The John Barry score is excellent as are the sets. The FX are solid if one allows an adjustment for the time period. The action is a bit clunky. The science is pretty poor even if you apply a pretty liberal suspension of disbelief. Pretty sure characters are exposed to open space multiple times without helmets. But it still scores nostalgia points with me and its flaws don’t really undermine it. Even the last five minutes which are a clear (and poor) attempt to riff on 2001 play as oddly amusing to me. This is a “kids” movies that ends with a rather heavy depiction of actual hell. The small cast is loaded with names you’ll recognize who put in better effort than the movie probably deserves. For its positives and negatives, I still whole heartedly recommend it to people. Useless trivia: Along with Star Trek The Motion Picture, it was one of the last theatrical releases to have an oveture (FYI it’s included on the Disney+ version so there is nothing wrong with your TV when you experience the first two minutes with nothing but a black screen. It’s supposed to be that way). Also, it was Disney’s first PG movie.

 

[Jussi]

Minus a few understandable "movie" touches, FvF is a very accurate take on what happened according to this documentary. Which makes me even more curious about the ending. To whit:

Spoiler

Right at the end of the movie in one of its best scenes, Shelby sort of tiptoes around the notion of visiting Miles' wife, but the reception is chilly to say the least. One reason is Miles' death testing a Shelby racing car, but I wondered if the family could have had some very deep residual bitterness about Shelby not standing up for Mills not once, but twice. Shelby didn't go to bat for his driver as much as he maybe should have and. albeit reluctantly, toed the corporate line. Perhaps those betrayals are what Damon is tearing up about in the end. The movie pretty clearly throws this possibility out there but almost as an afterthought.

I wish this notion could have been explored more, but then I'm remaking the movie my way, I guess. As I suggested in the review, though, best not to worry about details and just let this flick take its merry course.

I think there might not be enough information on how that went in real life and they might not have wanted to wing it too much in fear of a law suit.

 

[Osprey]

The Black Hole
A childhood favorite of mine, which I’ve realized an adult was an odd choice given how talky, weird, dark (and even maybe a little scary) this Disney flick is. The John Barry score is excellent as are the sets. The FX are solid if one allows an adjustment for the time period. The action is a bit clunky. The science is pretty poor even if you apply a pretty liberal suspension of disbelief. Pretty sure characters are exposed to open space multiple times without helmets. But it still scores nostalgia points with me and its flaws don’t really undermine it. Even the last five minutes which are a clear (and poor) attempt to riff on 2001 play as oddly amusing to me. This is a “kids” movies that ends with a rather heavy depiction of actual hell. The small cast is loaded with names you’ll recognize who put in better effort than the movie probably deserves. For its positives and negatives, I still whole heartedly recommend it to people. Useless trivia: Along with Star Trek The Motion Picture, it was one of the last theatrical releases to have an oveture (FYI it’s included on the Disney+ version so there is nothing wrong with your TV when you experience the first two minutes with nothing but a black screen. It’s supposed to be that way). Also, it was Disney’s first PG movie.

I haven't seen this since I was a kid. I think that I used to like it, but I have no fond memories of it, if that makes any sense. I think that I was maybe a little traumatized. Maybe I'm scared to watch it again. Why did Disney make so many traumatizing movies from the mid 70s to the mid 80s? The Black Hole, a nice kids movie about space? Nope, traumatizing! Black Beauty, a nice kids movie about a horse? Nope, traumatizing! Escape to Witch Mountain, a nice kids movie about magical siblings? Nope, traumatizing! The Watcher in the Woods, a nice kids movie about a sweet old lady? Nope, traumatizing! The Black Cauldron, a nice animated kids movie about a boy and his pig? Nope, traumatizing! All were from Disney and all were rated G or PG. Sorry, am I ranting?

 

[ORRFForever]

...and, ultimately, tells the story of my life.

???

 

[93LEAFS]

Just saw The Irishman. I'd give it an 8.5 to 9 on a scale of 10. It is not Raging Bull, Goodfellas or Taxi Driver, but behind those 3 it will be in the discussion for Scorsese's best flick. The de-aging has some issues, and I will repeat what one reviewer said, Frank Sheeran, come across as the mafia's Forrest Gump and the book it is based on seems clearly based on the tales of an unreliable narrator. But, film-wise, it is unreal. Holding off on giving it a 9 or higher because I feel I need to re-watch it to say that (and excited to do so in two weeks). Anyone who lives in a city where you can get tickets to see it in theatre I recommend doing so.

 

[nameless1]

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) - 5/10 (Didn't like or dislike it)

Keanu Reeves finally meets his match. The actress that plays the Adjudicator might be as bad at acting as him. Ok, that's not fair. Keanu is probably still worse. Seriously, I don't get it. I've watched all three John Wick films now and just don't get it. I can maybe see why 90% of audiences likes them, but why 90% of critics, too? There's almost no plot, what there is is confusing or silly, the acting is bad and it's mostly just mind-numbing violence. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big proponent of violence. There's just something about the fighting that doesn't click with me, whether it's because there's so much of it or it's so obviously CGIed or something else. I don't know, but what I really don't know is why these movies aren't the poster children for the disconnect between critics and general audiences. For some reason, a trio of mindless action movies are what bring both groups together in harmonic praise? Color me confused. Anyways, it's not that I dislike any of the films. I just wish that I could like them as nearly everyone else does. Maybe with Chapter 4...

John Wick is a fun series. That said, I do think it is up-and-down.

People love the first one, but I am more mixed on it. It is a good introduction to the series and character, with fun and brilliant action scenes, but it is rather plain action movie, with a dime-a-dozen revenge plot. Like you, I am not that impressed with Reeves' performance, but he knows his limitation, and he stays within it, so I can accept his portrayal. Thus, I have it as a 6/10, and I do not have that high of a hope for the sequel. The filmmakers, though, proved me wrong. They show me the vast potential of the series, as more of the fascinating John Wick universe is explored, and the already impressive action sequences are even more ramped up. I absolutely love the world building, and some of the supporting characters that was introduced, because it reminds me of Japanese manga, something I grew up with, but I wish the filmmakers would expand more on the side characters, because some of them deserves more explanation to make the movie even more interesting. Regardless, it is still a 7.25/10 to me, as I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think it is probably one of the best action sequels ever made.

That is why I am quite excited for the third, but I left a little disappointed. Again, the action is even more jacked up, which is a really impressive feat, but the world building that I had hoped for never quite come to fruition. More characters are introduced, and the audience finally sees a glimpse ruling force behind everything, but they are rather plain caricatures. Even the main antagonist with the most screen time does not do anything for me, because even though he has a lot of potential, we know absolutely nothing about him, so he is really boring. This is really the main issue with the series, and it is the writing. The writers have flashes of good ideas, but they are never able to fully realize or expand on them. This time, they have the whole world to work with, but they really squander the opportunity, and did absolutely nothing with it. Now, it is still a fun movie, and it hits all the right buttons, but it is definitely a step down for me, so I gave it a 6.5/10.

I will still watch the fourth one, but I will really temper my expectations. What you see is what you get with this franchise. It checks all the boxes for a fun action-filled movie, but there is not much depth with them. You go in there to have a good time, and nothing more.

 

[Jussi]

I thought the second one was easily the worst. Things felt convoluted and the flow wasn't quite as good as in the first one. I also fell asleep a couple of times during the rave/party segments. 3rd is easily the most ridiculous when it comes to unrealistic action scenes but they're the best ones in the franchise. Plot does get even crazier but there's some semblance of a clear plot thread detectable. First one was the easiest to follow plotwise.

 

[NyQuil]

Yeah, the Black Hole hellscape was one of those childhood trauma memories.