OT: Let's talk about movies (and TV shows)... Part IX

[GoodKiwi]

Just watched the finale of Wayward Pines. Pretty good science-fiction for a TV series. Looks like it's a one and done show.

Yes, the premise is very interesting. The execution is rather cheap at times, but not the worst way to spend an hour per week.

 

[SergeConstantin74]

I went to see Southpaw last night. I don't know what to say. Is it possible to have great acting in an ordinary movie? Because that's how I feel. Gyllenhaal was very good in the movie but the story wasn't that good and full of clichés. It's like it is going way too fast and some subplots were just forgotten over the course of the story.

 

[hototogisu]

I went to see Southpaw last night. I don't know what to say. Is it possible to have great acting in an ordinary movie? Because that's how I feel. Gyllenhaal was very good in the movie but the story wasn't that good and full of clichés. It's like it is going way too fast and some subplots were just forgotten over the course of the story.

That seems to be the general opinion. The movie just exists as a vehicle for Gyllenhaal's eventual Oscar win. Definitely not a new thing. Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart comes to mind for me as another example of a relatively pedestrian movie elevated by a great performance.

 

[mitchmagic]

I haven't watched the finale yet but Wayward Pines is such a dumb show but I love it...

I still laugh so hard that there's an episode where they literally explain everything in a classroom. It's one of the most blatant reveals I've ever witnessed in TV or film. It was hilarious.

What a dumb show.

Love it.

 

[hototogisu]

I haven't watched the finale yet but Wayward Pines is such a dumb show but I love it...

I still laugh so hard that there's an episode where they literally explain everything in a classroom. It's one of the most blatant reveals I've ever witnessed in TV or film. It was hilarious.

What a dumb show.

Love it.

I think I'm 2 episodes behind but I'm kind of amazed at how well it's hung together so far...like, it's the kind of show that shouldn't work, but somehow it hasn't fallen apart yet. Especially given its pretty ridiculous plot and the explanations behind what's happening.

 

[mitchmagic]

I think I'm 2 episodes behind but I'm kind of amazed at how well it's hung together so far...like, it's the kind of show that shouldn't work, but somehow it hasn't fallen apart yet. Especially given its pretty ridiculous plot and the explanations behind what's happening.

Terrance Howard and his ice cream is also another dumb thing.

 

[hototogisu]

Terrance Howard and his ice cream is also another dumb thing.

That was pretty obnoxious.

"We need to give this character a thing!"
"Hmmm...got it! Ice cream!"
"Perfect!"

 

[Bryson]

Meh, as Oscar-bait as King's Speech was, it was a very good movie, bordering great.

I tend to dislike superhero movies, but that probably has to do with the setting of most of them.

Did watch Dracula Untold, which is, in a way, a historically-inaccurate superhero movie. Perfectly acceptable.

Thanks for suggesting Dracula untold. Ended up watching it last night. Very enjoyable. Seeing the part in the trailer where he lifts his fist in the air and slams the bats to the ground I was like damn! I knew I had to watch it. Very cool.

Interesting that Dracula wasn't the first vampire. One would assume that he was. Who was the vampire in the cave ? Lestat? Or are stolker's and Anne rice's universe completely different ? How was Dracula able to escape the cave ? Wasn't part of the curse that the vampire in the cave had to find someone to replace him ?

 

[mitchmagic]

That was pretty obnoxious.

"We need to give this character a thing!"
"Hmmm...got it! Ice cream!"
"Perfect!"

Such a blatant attempt at something surreal but it just ended up being really stupid.

But that's ok. The show really isn't trying to be more than it is. I like how genuine it feels.

 

[hototogisu]

Such a blatant attempt at something surreal but it just ended up being really stupid.

But that's ok. The show really isn't trying to be more than it is. I like how genuine it feels.

"You see, he'll be a really mean and intimidating character...but he'll be eating a frozen treat that is generally associated with fun! It's the perfect unexpected contrast! Move over David Lynch, there's a new master of balancing light and darkness!"

Dorky screenwriting 101 IMO.

 

[mitchmagic]

"You see, he'll be a really mean and intimidating character...but he'll be eating a frozen treat that is generally associated with fun! It's the perfect unexpected contrast! Move over David Lynch, there's a new master of balancing light and darkness!"

Dorky screenwriting 101 IMO.

Aha.

Love the scene where all of the students are pretend ************ outside of the hospital. All you hear is the sound as two characters have a pretty intense conversation.

I kid you not, that is what happened.

 

[Lebowski]

Got hyped like crazy then got blasted because of said hype but at the end it's a very decent superhero show

At least IMHO

It got hyped like crazy? I don't know, had not really heard of it before I started watching it. Didn't come in expecting something that would rival Breaking Bad or anything. As I said, my frame of reference was Gotham (I haven't watched Arrow or Flash), and the two really don't seem comparable to me 5 episodes in as far as writing, acting, production value, you name it goes.

One very good thing about it is the fact it got me hooked from the first episode. Plenty of great, great series out there where you have to "give it sometime" whereas with this one, they didn't really beat around the bush.

 

[MXD]

Thanks for suggesting Dracula untold. Ended up watching it last night. Very enjoyable. Seeing the part in the trailer where he lifts his fist in the air and slams the bats to the ground I was like damn! I knew I had to watch it. Very cool.

Interesting that Dracula wasn't the first vampire. One would assume that he was. Who was the vampire in the cave ? Lestat? Or are stolker's and Anne rice's universe completely different ? How was Dracula able to escape the cave ? Wasn't part of the curse that the vampire in the cave had to find someone to replace him ?

Probably just a plot device, or an excuse to cast Charles Dance in a Charles Dance's role.

In all likelihood, both.

We're far removed from the Anne Rice/Bram Stoker universe there.

 

[GoodKiwi]

I think I'm 2 episodes behind but I'm kind of amazed at how well it's hung together so far...like, it's the kind of show that shouldn't work, but somehow it hasn't fallen apart yet. Especially given its pretty ridiculous plot and the explanations behind what's happening.

You nailed it. It's dumb, no doubt, but IMO there's something about the plot/setting that holds it together. There's something that makes you want to see what's next. Doesn't mean you don't fast-forward through idiotic dialogues at times, but it holds your interest.

 

[MXD]

Hey guys... Is there any point in revisiting A Knight's Tale or Munich ? Been a while in both cases...

 

[Redux91]

I think you're giving yourself a bit too much credit if you think Training Day is a movie that someone needs to 'get'. There's not much there to begin with.

ha, thats the thing

theres nothing TO get, and if people dont get THAT, then what can i tell ya.

 

[GoodKiwi]

Hey guys... Is there any point in revisiting A Knight's Tale or Munich ? Been a while in both cases...

Yes, if you want to perform a cruel act of a 2 hour and 12 minutes torture on someone.

 

[MXD]

Yes, if you want to perform a cruel act of a 2 hour and 12 minutes torture on someone.

That's the thing... I thought it was utterly offensive back in the days. Like, well made, but offensive.

 

[GoodKiwi]

That's the thing... I thought it was utterly offensive back in the days. Like, well made, but offensive.

So you should skip it. It didn't age well IMO, so the camera/editing work doesn't feel nearly as well made now. But the offensive part you're talking about is still there.

 

[GoodKiwi]

For someone who generally doesn't enjoy sci-fi I surely liked "Edge of Tomorrow" quite a bit. I'm still trying to figure out why that happened. Any opinions on the film?

 

[Zorba]

For someone who generally doesn't enjoy sci-fi I surely liked "Edge of Tomorrow" quite a bit. I'm still trying to figure out why that happened. Any opinions on the film?

Thought it terrific. Absolutely brilliant sci fi film. If it wasn't Cruise in the lead, it woulda been a major box office success. Mission impossible doesn't need to rely only on Cruise thankfully. Good actor , a bit of a ****** thou

 

[Kimota]

I saw the third season of House of Cards and it's been pretty horrible, painful to watch. But not for the reason you would think. It's just boring, nothing happened.

Everything that was great about that show, we saw none of that in the third season. I mean the show was about this two psychos Frank and Claire Underwood that will stop at nothing to get to power and then *spoilers*



He becomes President and he and his wife becomes two ordinary boring people. I mean that makes no sense. Maybe they wanted to say that once you get power, especially when you become President of the US you really have little power. But Frank displayed little bravado to shake things up. When he became Prez I thought, the guy is gonna be a mix of Hitler and Lex Luthor. Instead he does nothing interesting. And his wife displayed none of the cold scalpel ruthlessness that she had before. If anything she became this sort of sensitive woman who feels rejected everytime Frank makes a decision.

I mean where were the two monsters of the first two seasons? It's like watching NBK and in the middle of it it becomes the West Wing.

 

[Zephyr666]

I saw the third season of House of Cards and it's been pretty horrible, painful to watch. But not for the reason you would think. It's just boring, nothing happened.

Everything that was great about that show, we saw none of that in the third season. I mean the show was about this two psychos Frank and Claire Underwood that will stop at nothing to get to power and then *spoilers*



He becomes President and he and his wife becomes two ordinary boring people. I mean that makes no sense. Maybe they wanted to say that once you get power, especially when you become President of the US you really have little power. But Frank displayed little bravado to shake things up. When he became Prez I thought, the guy is gonna be a mix of Hitler and Lex Luthor. Instead he does nothing interesting. And his wife displayed none of the cold scalpel ruthlessness that she had before. If anything she became this sort of sensitive woman who feels rejected everytime Frank makes a decision.

I mean where were the two monsters of the first two seasons? It's like watching NBK and in the middle of it it becomes the West Wing.

Felt the exact same way, but I haven't been able to finish the 3rd season even tough I really liked S1 and S2.

 

[hototogisu]

Felt the exact same way, but I haven't been able to finish the 3rd season even tough I really liked S1 and S2.

Same. Devoured S1 & S2, got about 4-5 episodes into S3 and just haven't gotten back it.

The show got boring almost immediately as soon as Frank came into power. Watching him wrestle his way to the top was way more fun. The chase was better than the catch.

 

[DAChampion]

Edge of Tomorrow had generic marketing and a stupid name, good movie though.