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

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Kill Bill Vol. 1 - 7/10.

I would probably put it between Death Proof and Jackie Brown in my list above. Some good qualities, but didn't totally love it. Honestly wasn't a huge fan of the huge fight scene at the end. There were some fun parts within it, but just didn't love it from beginning to end.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I found the juxtaposition between the more serious scenes and the almost comical slapstick of the Basterds at times rather jarring.

I get that it's supposed to provoke a reaction but I almost felt like the comedy diluted the overall effect. There's no way the hapless Italian disguises would have worked.

The shootout in the basement restaurant, the chilling opening scene, the actress and the shoe, the projection room conflict, these scenes were absolute gold.

I found that it landed very well with me personally, but I cant understand how it may not. But yeah, this movie produced a lot of my favorite scenes of Tarantino's. The opening scene is just so well done.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

The Witch
7/10

Recommended for anyone who can take a slow burn of a film. Robert Eggers' direction is excellent throughout, can't wait to watch The Lighthouse.

Ratatouille
8/10

Still one of my all time favorite animated films. Puts a constant smile on my face.

Alita: Battle Angel
5/10

Cheesy dialogue, confusing character motivations + plot, and I'd argue the animation still isn't quite there to be fully immersed. Liked the action sequences, and Rosa Salazar is a delight as Alita. Honestly wouldn't mind seeing a sequel just for her.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

The Hateful Eight - 8/10

I actually really enjoyed this movie. Not sure why, but all the drama and dialogue really worked for me. Found myself curious what was going to happen the entire time. There’s one characters motive I question a little, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the movie for me. I will say - I did find the whole scene with the general’s son kind of odd. Just seemed so random and kind of out of place (unless that whole story was false to get the general to react? I couldn’t tell. If that’s the case, then it makes more sense). But it was whatever. Not a killer for me, either. I was more caught up in the drama of what would occur in the house.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Last Year at Marienbad (1961) - A work of sheer genius. The narrative construct is familiar to Robbe-Grillet's (the screenwriter of the film) novel Jealousy, which I've read recently and which I believe helped with my approach to the movie. I may have been a bit more lost or baffled if I hadn't been familiar with a previous work. Still, the film, released four years after the book - and it's important to know that the film is not an adaptation. They're two different stories, in two differenr mediums, with a style that relates to the other - seems to nail the aesthetic just a little more. The sets and costumes are at once sumptuous, sordid and mysterious which accompanies the movie's narrative to perfection. I adore the way the movie was constructed, with the man and the woman creating a story or their stories as they interacted. Rarely have I seen a movie nail its atmosphere - and not just on a visceral level - and imagery as well. I had knots in my stomach. I could feel the entire weight of the film creeping upon me, and it was a transcendent experience. Anyone who tries to approach the film with a linear line of thinking is ultimately going to end up shorting themselves here. It is not interested in Point A-Point B at all. It is interested in Point X, having already arrived to destination by the beginning of the film. This makes for a circular narrative, which is executed with consistent masterstrokes by both the writer and the director, Resnais, who accentuates the fluid, dreamy plot with technical brilliance. The movie wouldn't work without it, since the pacing, editing and scene order are just as important to the narrative as the dialogue and narration. Many shots are absolutely breathtaking. A unique aesthetical experience, and I mean this in a way that goes far beyond the images shown on the screen.

Maybe this is just the shock from a first viewing speaking but it might possibly be my favorite movie of all-time. I've recently started getting into Alain Robbe-Grillet and he's quickly rising up amongst my favorite artists, even though I haven't read/seen too much of him. His novel Jealousy is also a unique experience.

I'll echo your reply to my comment on Buffalo 66: I love that film so much! I like your review a lot too. I wish I could go back to a first viewing of this masterpiece. And Robbe-Grillet is probably my favorite author, one of the few I've read entirely. I even gave a conference about his use of intertextuality at NYU (many years ago, in another life).

As for Marienbad, top-3 of all time for me for sure.

 

[kihei]

I'll echo your reply to my comment on Buffalo 66: I love that film so much! I like your review a lot too. I wish I could go back to a first viewing of this masterpiece. And Robbe-Grillet is probably my favorite author, one of the few I've read entirely. I even gave a conference about his use of intertextuality at NYU (many years ago, in another life).

As for Marienbad, top-3 of all time for me for sure.

Banana trees, rows and rows and rows and rows of banana trees. You're the first Robbe-Grillet completist whom I have ever met or heard of.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I'll echo your reply to my comment on Buffalo 66: I love that film so much! I like your review a lot too. I wish I could go back to a first viewing of this masterpiece. And Robbe-Grillet is probably my favorite author, one of the few I've read entirely. I even gave a conference about his use of intertextuality at NYU (many years ago, in another life).

As for Marienbad, top-3 of all time for me for sure.

Yeah, Jealousy was...something else, but I couldn't put it down. I got another one of his books right after reading it. I don't think he ever sold much, though. At least not at the time of release. His appeal/success seems entirely critical/amongst academia.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Banana trees, rows and rows and rows and rows of banana trees. You're the first Robbe-Grillet completist whom I have ever met or heard of.

You didn't like Jealousy, I take it?

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

The Decline of Western Civilization (Parts 1-3). Though most people would know Penelope Spheeris from here comedy work (most notably Wayne's World among other 1990s flicks of declining quality), her most significant undertaking is a 180 from that world. She assembled a three-part documentary series (1980, 1988, 1998) chronicling various L.A. music scenes, bands and fans.

Part 1 looks at punks. Black Flag, X, The Germs, Fear, etc. Ample concert footage mixed with band interviews. It's an interesting range with the comparatively more mature and thoughtful members of X compared with the pure id of someone like The Germs' Darby Crash who can't even be bothered to sing (shout?) into the microphone. Why do these people do what they do? An interesting peek at a place and time and attitude.

Part 2, subtitled The Metal Years, is slighter, though perhaps more entertaining. There's a level of seriousness with most of the punks — some have clear social consciences, others (like Crash) are clearly just self-destructive. Not in part 2, where she focuses on the metal scene, most of which is the classic 80s variety with big hear and thick makeup. We know exactly why these guys do what they do. We don't need this doc for insights into these clowns, but it does make for an entertaining 90 minutes. Anyone who recently enjoyed The Dirt will find pleasure here. Think of it as a commentary track of sorts. Plenty of big names serve as talking heads here (Steven Tyler, Ozzy, Alice Cooper, Lemmy), serving as semi-cautionary tales of excess as that's juxtaposed with younger bands living it up. There's plenty of self destruction here, but while the punks verge on nihilists, these rockers are gleefully shredding and boozing their way down.

Part 3 is the most affecting. Though there are fan interviews in the previous two parts, she puts the focus fully here on the listeners, specifically mid-1990s "gutterpunks," homeless LA kids (teens and 20-somethings) who live on the streets, scrounging and barging their way into punk shows. This is a motley bunch of characters — several very charming and photogenic — but they all share a fatalistic view on the world. Indeed, two of the interviewees died between production and release. Spheeris gets a lot of access here to the boozing and partying. Drug use is discussed though never shown. For the most part, these are thoughtful individuals, but bad homes and personal philosophies have led them to where they are. It's a fairly engrossing snapshot. It begs for a follow-up on these kids though I fear what that might be.

 

[Osprey]

The Decline of Western Civilization (Parts 1-3). Though most people would know Penelope Spheeris from here comedy work (most notably Wayne's World among other 1990s flicks of declining quality), her most significant undertaking is a 180 from that world. She assembled a three-part documentary series (1980, 1988, 1998) chronicling various L.A. music scenes, bands and fans.

A few days ago, I was reading up on a few hair metal bands and one was mentioned as being interviewed in The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2. Not having heard of it before, I took it for one of those silly titles like The History of the World Part II that had no Part I. I just learned that it's a legitimate documentary series with not just a Part 1, but a Part 3, as well.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Finished Kill Bill Vol. 2, and I have now finished all of Tarantino's films. Here are my final rankings (going to keep the Kill Bills together, even though I found 2 much more enjoyable):

Inglorious Basterds
Reservoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
The Hateful Eight
Django Unchained
Once Upon a Time...
Kill Bill
Jackie Brown
Death Proof

Aside from the top one and bottom one, I really do feel like they're all able to move around. This is how I feel right now. I already feel like I'm going to have to watch these again down the road and get a better feeling on these movies. I enjoyed them all so much - even Death Proof.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

A few days ago, I was reading up on a few hair metal bands and one was mentioned as being interviewed in The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2. Not having heard of it before, I took it for one of those silly titles like The History of the World Part II that had no Part I. I just learned that it's a legitimate documentary series with not just a Part 1, but a Part 3, as well.

I whole-heartedly endorse the whole series. Despite the shared titles and director, each part is fairly stand-alone so you can watch in any order or choose to skip the parts that sound less interesting. Parts 1 & 3 have a clear connection though its more spiritual or philosophical. Part 2 is the outlier. Still good and, like I said, maybe the most entertaining, but definitely the slightest of the three (though WASP's lead singer makes a lasting, sad impression).

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Hell or High Water - 9/10

Not really sure how I came across this movie last night, but I'm sure glad I did.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was on TV the other day, which I hadn't seen since it was first released over 10 years ago. Don't get me wrong, it's not a good movie, but it's also not as bad as I remembered it to be. There's some truly perplexing CGI animal moments, and they certainly botched the ending, but I think they actually captured the feel of an Indiana Jones movie pretty well for the majority of the first half/two thirds.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Tried to watch Spider-Man: Homecoming. Garbage...lasted 40-50 minutes before doing something else.

 

[Mimsy]

The Grand Budapest Hotel:

Watching this one was long overdue. My introduction to Wes Anderson films was seeing "The Royal Tennenbaums" in theatre. It usually falls atop my list of his works when rank-ordering. My favorites are difficult to pin down. Roughly ranked:

--The Royal Tennenbaums
--a toss up between "The Life Aquatic" and "Rushmore"


--Bottle Rocket

I've watched both "The Darjeeling Limited" and "Moonrise Kingdom" only once, even though I own them both. They deserve a second watch, but I've never felt compelled to do so. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "Isle of Dogs" never appealed.

Having been disappointed by Darjeeling and Moonrise Kingdom, I wasn't as jacked about "The Grand Budapest Hotel" as I normally would have been for a new Anderson film, so I never got around to watching it. I knew the reviews were excellent, but I consciously let the film fall off my radar until last week, when it showed up on my streaming service.



"The Grand Budapest Hotel" is perhaps Anderson's finest work. It's a screwball comedy featuring many from his stock company in supporting roles. The set design is a step above the rest. The exterior shots of the hotel are so purposely miniature that they present like a postcard. This is the most picturesque of Anderson's films, with lots of visual treats in most every scene. A foul-mouthed Ralph Fiennes delivers an especially comedic turn. I laughed when he'd begin imparting wisdom on his protege before dismissing it entirely with a well placed F-bomb. Tony Revolori as Lobby Boy, Zero, was a good foil/straight man for Fiennes. Willem Dafoe has a small but memorable role as an almost comic book villain. The pace is often frantic but the film never loses focus.

If I add this film to my ranked list above, it sits alongside "The Royal Tennenbaums", if not displaces it. I've always got a soft spot for The Life Aquatic and a sentimentality for Tennenbaums, but "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is Anderson at his best.

9.5/10

 

[Trap Jesus]

Tried to watch Spider-Man: Homecoming. Garbage...lasted 40-50 minutes before doing something else.

I did this with Into the Spider-Verse. I wouldn't call it garbage, but nothing clicked with me. Got bored and turned it off roughly 40 min in.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I did this with Into the Spider-Verse. I wouldn't call it garbage, but nothing clicked with me. Got bored and turned it off roughly 40 min in.

Damn, you may be the first person I've ever seen say that.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Damn, you may be the first person I've ever seen say that.

To be fair I'm very anti-superhero though. I do always try to give the big/well-reviewed ones a shot. I've fallen asleep in a couple before but don't remember ever turning anything off. Again, I don't think it was anything horrible, but I just found it boring. I saw Homecoming and thought it was considerably better.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

To be fair I'm very anti-superhero though. I do always try to give the big/well-reviewed ones a shot. I've fallen asleep in a couple before but don't remember ever turning anything off. Again, I don't think it was anything horrible, but I just found it boring. I saw Homecoming and thought it was considerably better.

I found the comedy in Homecoming incredibly poor and the characters obnoxious. They try to make the characters way too relatable. I hate how polished the high school representation was. It always seems so boxed to the point that it's badly executed and obnoxious. The whole operation just comes across as written by airheads. The only reason I struggle with super-hero movies is because they're written in the safest, palatable way for mainstream audiences. The artistic creativity in these things is close to, if not at, zero. I mean, how many times can you have a Stan Lee cameo? It just panders in the worst of ways.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I found the comedy in Homecoming incredibly poor and the characters obnoxious. They try to make the characters way too relatable. I hate how polished the high school representation was. It always seems so boxed to the point that it's badly executed and obnoxious. The whole operation just comes across as written by airheads. The only reason I struggle with super-hero movies is because they're written in the safest, palatable way for mainstream audiences. The artistic creativity in these things is close to, if not at, zero. I mean, how many times can you have a Stan Lee cameo? It just panders in the worst of ways.

Man, of all the things to complain about... the Stan Lee cameos? Your complaints were valid until that point

Ironically, the next Spider-Man one is the first one he's not in, so it looks like you got your wish - though for very unfortunate reasons.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

To be fair I'm very anti-superhero though. I do always try to give the big/well-reviewed ones a shot. I've fallen asleep in a couple before but don't remember ever turning anything off. Again, I don't think it was anything horrible, but I just found it boring. I saw Homecoming and thought it was considerably better.

Ironically, Homecoming is towards the bottom of my MCU films. I loved Spider-Verse, though. Didn't watch it until it was out on Netflix, but I thought it was one of the more thoughtful Spider-Man films out there. I would say it's my favorite Spider-Man films ever, but I find it difficult to compare animated and live action.

 

[Beau Knows]

I found the comedy in Homecoming incredibly poor and the characters obnoxious. They try to make the characters way too relatable. I hate how polished the high school representation was. It always seems so boxed to the point that it's badly executed and obnoxious. The whole operation just comes across as written by airheads. The only reason I struggle with super-hero movies is because they're written in the safest, palatable way for mainstream audiences. The artistic creativity in these things is close to, if not at, zero. I mean, how many times can you have a Stan Lee cameo? It just panders in the worst of ways.

I also had to turn off Homecoming after 20-30 mins, I felt like I had already seen that movie about 10 times now.

Unlike most of the Marvel films, Into the Spider-Verse is fantastic visually, it's really creative and different. A lot of these movies played it so safe visually it sticks out even more as they keep pumping these movies out. The first Avengers film stands out as having particularly poor cinematography, sometimes it feels like the camera and characters never move. Just such an uninspired literal interpretation of the script.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Man, of all the things to complain about... the Stan Lee cameos? Your complaints were valid until that point

Ironically, the next Spider-Man one is the first one he's not in, so it looks like you got your wish - though for very unfortunate reasons.

I don't like constant wink-wink nod-nod to the audience. It's distracting and not particularly original. The only one that I found worked well - if it can even be considered one - was a senile Junior (The Sopranos) thinking he was Larry David and Bobby was Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm while he's looking for something to watch on TV.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I don't like constant wink-wink nod-nod to the audience. It's distracting and not particularly original. The only one that I found worked well - if it can even be considered one - was a senile Junior (The Sopranos) thinking he was Larry David and Bobby was Jeff from Curb Your Enthusiasm while he's looking for something to watch on TV.

It's taking a brief moment out of a movie to pay tribute to the man who made it all possible. No need to overthink it. Plenty of legitimate criticisms when it comes to comic book movies, but this one is odd, I must say.