The last movie I saw was...

[FN-GM]

Top Gun (1986)

 

I hadn't seen the original and my Girlfriend wants to see the new one. So I watched this whilst she was at work as prep. I thought it was ok but I don't see what the hype is. I might be disappointed with the new one.

 

[FN-GM]

WarGames (1983)

 

This movie has cropped up a few times in the 8-Bit Guy videos so I thought I would watch it. I thought it was quite good. Although I wasn't keen on the end part where the computer is guessing the launch codes. I think that part wasn't actually needed.

 

[LeMarchand]

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (PPV, still playing in some cinemas)

Newt Scamander is trying to help the birth of a Qilin, a magical deer that can see into one's soul as well as the future, when he is attacked by Grindlewald's forces whose master has plans for the beast. Dumbledore assembles a team to try to thwart Grindlewald, but the odds are stacked against them.

 

Not bad, but way too much plot going on for one film. As they were wanting more than a trilogy out of the series, I can't help but feel that some stuff should have been shifted to later films or, even better, they had gone down the prestige limited series route. There were also some odd decisions like Tina being clumsily written out for most of the film (admittedly her replacement, Lally, was a lot more interesting). Nagini also disappeared (along with one or two of the cases Bunty had made) and Credence was suddenly mortally ill. Even though my favourite ship in the series got their happy ending, even that seemed rushed and unearned (and why did Dumbledore pose moodily outside their party rather than go in?). At least Grindlewald changing from Johnny Depp to Mads Mikkelsen didn't seem to be detrimental. They could have made some sort of joke about it, though.

 

Unless you're a BIG Wizarding World fan, I'd wait until sensible price release. If you've yet to be drawn into the WW this isn't the film to start with, nor will it convince dabblers to leap into the pool.

[CHiLL]

Jurrasic World: Dominion - 4/10

 

Very much a meh film. Fine if you just want an action film with dinosaurs, but just don't go in expecting anything decent from the Jurrasic Park series. In my opinion, the film was stuck trying to give enough screen time to both the new cast and the old cast, whilst also trying to do far too many call back phrases and scenes from previous films. For me, the best thing about the film was the unusual BBFC rating screen.

[Dos_Box]

I watched Cosmos on Amazon last night. It's a low budget British indie sci-fi movie about thee astronomers/scientists out for a nights sky watching who pick up a signal.

 

https://youtu.be/st2Whd5Dngs

 

As you would expect from a (very) low budget flick, it's often wooden, the script needs tightening and the character development really needs scaling back, but the underlying story is really, really good with plenty of science explained and tension generated.

It just goes awry about the half way point where the writers start to employ every cliche, action line (lot's of 'Let's do it!') and trope employed. Still, this doesn't detract from the underlying premis.

If they could remake this with a better script that ditches the personal issues between all the characters and really concentrate on the science and tension than I'm sure it would be much better known.

Still, I highly recommend this small UK indie flick (it's over 2 hours btw!), just grit your teeth at the bits which...well, you'll see.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Dos_Box

[LeMarchand]

I watched Cosmos on Amazon last night. It's a low budget British indie sci-fi movie about thee astronomers/scientists out for a nights sky watching who pick up a signal.

 

It's been on the watchlist for a while, and has been there for so long as I suspected that it would much as you said. Might move it up a bit!

[Dos_Box]

It's been on the watchlist for a while, and has been there for so long as I suspected that it would much as you said. Might move it up a bit!

 

It's well worth it. A well done remake would be epic though. As it is, this is a hidden gem which you should make time for.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Dos_Box

[Simcfc73]

Sort of a film recommendation.

 

Just been to Asda where they are doing 2 pizzas and a bottle of pop with a sky store movie for £6

 

.. and Batman just came out at £5.50 so thats my Saturday night sorted.

[LeMarchand]

Interceptor (Netflix)

 

Captain J. J. Collins has been transferred to one of the USA's two "Interceptor" bases - the country's seemingly only defence against nuclear missile attack - after reporting her superior officer for a number of sexual harassment incidents. However, when terrorists steal a number of missiles from Russia and manage to take out the other base and most of the staff where she is, it's up to her to hold the line to prevent the missiles being used on American cities.

 

Chris Hemsworth Exec Produces and casts his wife in the John McClane role in what is basically "Die Hard on an oil rig/missile platform, but mainly confined to one room" (he also gives himself an extended comedy cameo). It's actually a bit better than that sounds, but a bit all over the place. The US Army isn't presented in the best light, but is still held as worth dying for. The villain's motives and plan is murky, though most would agree with some of his statements - which are at odds with those of the one member of is team that gets more than a couple of lines. As for the layout of the "impenetrable" control room, most of us could/would probably have used the route that didn't need high-powered cutters to access. We would have also cut the video feed by turning off the handheld camera.

[JATSO]

Last night we watched "House Of Gucci" on prime.

Shame about the first scene of Maurizio Gucci, but still not a bad watch though and made me want to read up on the web about the Gucci family.

Edited June 22, 2022 by JATSO

[mavhc]

Jurassic Park 6. It's ok, quite a few funny references. You can see the machinations of the plot in real time though. Oh yeah, they had to do this so that the ending would have a this thing.

 

I was surprised there wasn't a reveal about the main bad guy.

 

If only they were as good as Safety Not Guaranteed.

 

On the plus side it was on at the time we arrived at the cinema with 2 hours to kill

[LeMarchand]

Jurassic World: Dominion (Cinema)

 

Less a film with a story than a collection of set pieces/shots/Easter Eggs strung together by a tenuous plot, I still really enjoyed this. If you can turn your brain sufficiently off, it's a lot of fun and a nice conclusion to the story - though as it's made lots of dosh, a reboot or extension seems inevitable. The trailers that featured the drive-in and camping in the woods sequences were specially shot and only feature briefly in news reports, btw.

 

I do have to call out three bits that I found hard to overlook: How the heck did the dinos spread so quickly, and why did the evil tech genius decide that his money-making insectoid plan would ever work or allow a purge system that still left an exit easily big enough for the creatures stored there?

 

P.S. Sam Neill needs to release a health/diet/grooming book for guys; it's hard to believe that he's 75 this year!

Edited June 27, 2022 by LeMarchand

[LeMarchand]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Sky Movies recording)

 

Wanted to see this when it came out, but Mme LeMarchand is Carrey-phobic and never got round to it. Sonic the Hedgehog seemed to at least partially cure her of her phobia, so we went for this one last night. I wish I'd picked something different to use as one of my "ones the other half is reluctant to watch" ones. Some films, like "Citizen Kane", I may not particularly like but can appreciate why people love them. This one? A film about a saddo who gets involved with an annoying "free spirit"; I can't see the appeal.

[paulkerton]

Some films, like "Citizen Kane", I may not particularly like but can appreciate why people love them. This one? A film about a saddo who gets involved with an annoying "free spirit"; I can't see the appeal.

Meanwhile I think Citizen Kane is overrated navel gazing and ESOTSM it's one of the greatest films of the 21st Century so far - but each to their own.

[LeMarchand]

ESOTSM it's one of the greatest films of the 21st Century so far - but each to their own.

 

Maybe my years helping run "Alternative" Club Nights, and hence contact with lots of real life manic pixie dream girls, has coloured my opinion of their appeal.

[mavhc]

I doubt Orson Welles would agree that the first film he made was his best film.

 

Both films about the importance of memory

[Simcfc73]

I never got Eternal.. don't think I ever stomached the whole film when it came out.

 

Saying that I walked out of Anchorman at the cinema and now love it so should give it a chance.

[LeMarchand]

The Sea Beast (Netflix)

 

 

Fantasy/Adventure/Children's/Comedy/Animation

 

In a land where terrifying sea monsters wait to wreak havoc in the oceans, The Hunters (think openly recognised pirates) keep the seas relatively safe by hunting and killing the beasts. Foremost amongst these is Captain Jim Crow (Jared Harris) of The Inevitable. His sea-faring days are drawing to a close, but Crow and his adopted son Jacob (Karl Urban) are set on destroying their Moby Dick, The Red Brute. When an orphan stows aboard the ship and Jacob finds himself tossed overboard with her, the two learn that what they have been told about their world may be quite different to the truth.

 

Fun animation with a bit of a subversive message at the end. If you enjoy this sort of movie it's well worth a look. Gets extra kudos for the animation - some of the water and wood looks "real". Avatar 2 has some competition!

Edited July 10, 2022 by LeMarchand

[Mrpower]

Zone Troopers (1985)

Very enjoyable film from Empire Pictures / MGM / Full Moon features. A nice little action, comedy, sci-fi film from the 80's direct to video craze. Other notable films from this stable include, Re-animator, Troll, Dolls, Puppet-master films and Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity.

[LeMarchand]

Other notable films from this stable include, Re-animator, Troll, Dolls, Puppet-master films and Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity.

 

What? No love for Trancers? Is your hair dry? Dry hair's for squids.

[Jawloms]

Canonball Run II.......

[FantasticF]

Kingsman: The Secret Service. Great Film

[Alex0x7F]

Went to see Thor: Love & Thunder last weekend. What a disappointment!

[LeMarchand]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Various PPV)

 

Maybe it was because I had low expectations of the first one that it seemed entertaining and higher expectations of this one led it to seem a bit dull, but I wasn't impressed and Mme LeMarchand was asleep through much of it.

[Simcfc73]

Just watched Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

 

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - Rotten Tomatoes

 

Really enjoyed it, not into romantics tbh but Carrell play them brilliantly and Keira is quite likeable in this.... loved Dan in real life too with Carrell.