The last movie I saw was...

[mavhc]

I watched The Matrix Resurrections (free on Prime with a subscription)

 

Afterward, I wondered why I bothered. I also wondered why they bothered - it seemed to me that they weren't really "into" what they were doing.

 

Oh, well.

 

The film said why "if I didn't make it they were going to make it without me anyway"

[LeMarchand]

The Equalizer 3 (Cinema)

 

McCall is back, this time in Italy. After being shot at the end of a mission, he's ready to give up but is nursed back to life by a friendly doctor and grows to love the small town he's recuperating in and its people. The film was shot on location mainly on the Amalfi coast which looks like something out of LotR and is a fave holiday spot of Denzel's.

 

 

Obviously, it's not long before McCall has to deal with some bad guys, this time in the shape of the Camorra, using his special skills.

 

Quite an entertaining film, but I can't remember the others being quite as gruesome. After the opening sequence we mainly see the results of McCall's actions rather than seeing him engage the bad guys in hand to hand, so fortunately we don't get today's more portly Denzel coming across like Steven Seagal. It was also refreshing to see an action movie that wasn't a big CGI fest. Nothing to match the DIY store scene in the second movie, and it would have been nice to have one last "watch" scene and maybe a hint of the show's theme (though the ending does feature a nod to the show's more "street level" cases, which admittedly doesn't entirely make sense), but not a bad ending to the franchise. Worth a look if you enjoyed the others.

 

Oh, Denzel and Dakota Fanning were also in "Man on Fire" together.

 

[LeMarchand]

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Rental most places)

 

Harold Fry and his wife have been in a fairly loveless marriage since a tragedy 25 years ago. When he receives a letter from a dying friend, he decides that his walking to see her will give her the hope to stay alive, so he sets out to walk from South Devon to Berwick on Tweed.

 

This is one of those movies that feels like it should be a lot more moving than it is but, despite some great acting, it feels curiously muted. I didn't hate it but, had I not had a free voucher that was due to expire, would have regretted having to "waste" a freebie.

[LeMarchand]

Once Upon A Crime (Netflix)

 

In a land where beauty is prized above all else Red Riding Hood comes across Cinderella and, with the help of a couple of witches, they both head to the ball. On the way, their carriage appears to hit someone, but Red (who has Holmesian powers of deduction) works out that the man was already dead. They cover the body and head to the ball, but when the corpse is discovered and they must try to keep from being accused as the killers while attempting to work out who the real killer is before midnight.

 

Japanese live action adaptation of a manga, this features that overly broad humour of such things and some actors who appear to be graduates of the Rita Repulsa School for the Performing Arts. When it calms down a bit once the murder is revealed it improves somewhat, but I wasn't happy with the reveal of who the murderer was and their motive. At least the "Beauty and the Beast" like subplot didn't end with "the beast" being totally physically transformed.

 

I wasn't impressed and would suggest that if you want revisionist fairy tales, check out Bill Willingham's "Fables" comics or Leigh Bardugo's "The Language of Thorns".

[LeMarchand]

Shotgun Wedding (Prime Video)

 

Darcy and Tom are having his dream wedding in Bali, but things move from shaky to scary when pirates take their guests hostage. Can the couple work out their differences and save their families?

 

Action/comedy/romance that feels that could have been much more fun if it had had a tighter script and better director. As it stands, it's merely "OK".

[LeMarchand]

A Haunting In Venice (Cinema)

 

1947. Hercule Poirot is retired in Venice when a writer friend convinces him to attend a Hallowe'en Party (the name of the Christie novel this is loosely based on) and a séance to prove that the psychic is a fraud. Of course, there is a murder that forces him out of retirement.

 

This is less expansive and showy than the previous Branagh adaptations, being mainly set in one palazzo and with only 3 other cast members that are well known Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan and Kelly Reilly). It plays a bit like a horror movie, with jump scares and spooky(?) goings-on, which gives it a bit of a different tone. I enjoyed it, while Mme LeMarchand loved it.

 

There is one mystery that I want solved, though: Death on the Nile took place in 1937 and its (Branagh) epilogue showed Poirot doing something fairly significant. What happened in the intervening decade to cause him to revert to "type"?

[LeMarchand]

Flora and Son (Apple TV+)

 

 

A young single mum in Dublin takes up the guitar to try to connect with her son.

 

If you've seen one of John Carney's previous films (Once, Begin Again, Sing Street), you'll know what to expect from this one: some laughs, some romance, some music ...and a somewhat too low key ending. (This one is a bit more upbeat that usual for him). Worth a look if the trailer takes your fancy or if you've enjoyed the others. Warning: Features rap music and blatant Apple product placement.

[FN-GM]

Talk To Me

 

This is a low budget thriller, it's not until I started watching I discovered it was filmed in my adopted home city - Adelaide. I was pleasantly surprised, the rotten Tomatoes score is good!

 

[Simcfc73]

I noticed Wargames had popped up on Prime so I decided to watch it while ironing.

 

Lovely nostalgic film from a simpler time. A lot of famous actors in it including a Reservoir Dog before his ear phase.... and I had such a crush on Dadney Coleman back in high school.

 

[LeMarchand]

Joy Ride (Premium rental most places)

 

Trailer NSFW, and this isn't even the red band one!

 

 

4 friends head to China together and end up in a series of misadventures.

 

A fun raunchy comedy from Seth Rogen (so also lots of substance use). If that's your sort of thing it's worth a look when it's on a service you subscribe to, but not worth a premium rental.

[Garacesh]

Finally watched the fourth Matrix movie yesterday as I noticed it was on Prime.

Could've done without, really. It was alright, there's certainly worse movies to watch, but it didn't really feel like it added much.

 

I can't help but wonder how much the analogy to Keanu's in-the-Matrix game studio essentially being forced to make a fourth Matrix game by the publisher is paralleled in reality?

Edited October 9, 2023 by Garacesh
comparison -> analogy

[DaveTheTech]

Finally watched the fourth Matrix movie yesterday as I noticed it was on Prime.

I never got round to seeing this either. Thats this nights film sorted!

[6Foot2]

Finally watched the fourth Matrix movie yesterday as I noticed it was on Prime...

 

For those who might not be aware, Hellboy (2019, David Harbour) is also on Prime.

[Garacesh]

For those who might not be aware, Hellboy (2019, David Harbour) is also on Prime.

 

I noticed that last night, but I seem to recall that one getting universally panned as yet another terrible hollywood reboot, so didn't really pay it any mind.

[DalekSec]

Rewatching all the Halloweens (bar 3 as i don't class this as Halloween)

1-2 Definitely the best 2 of original series 4-6 still worth a watch for Dr Loomis alone!

 

Next up the H20's, the 2 Rob Zombies and the new trilogy!

[6Foot2]

I noticed that last night, but I seem to recall that one getting universally panned as yet another terrible hollywood reboot, so didn't really pay it any mind.

 

I watched it. I can confirm your sources.

 

[mavhc]

Finally watched the fourth Matrix movie yesterday as I noticed it was on Prime.

Could've done without, really. It was alright, there's certainly worse movies to watch, but it didn't really feel like it added much.

 

I can't help but wonder how much the analogy to Keanu's in-the-Matrix game studio essentially being forced to make a fourth Matrix game by the publisher is paralleled in reality?

 

100% https://movieweb.com/warner-bros-matrix-4-with-without-the-wachowskis-involvement/

[Garacesh]

Huh. Nailed it.

[6Foot2]

NOTE: Blood and violence throughout and some swearing

 

Bloody Hell (Prime Video)

 

 

A military veteran happens to be in a bank where an armed robbery occurs and the choices he makes have significant consequences for him and many around him.

[jaynes]

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

 

I'm still not sure I can get my head around multi-dimension stuff.

[6Foot2]

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

 

I'm still not sure I can get my head around multi-dimension stuff.

 

"If it can happen, it will happen or already has (and will again) in this universe or another."

 

Or something like that.

 

[Dos_Box]

Went to see The Creator last night. A good film that is a mash up of Blade Runner, AI and a Simon Stålenhag book!

The look and feel of it are great, but the story was pretty much on the rails predictable. This didn't stop it from being enjoyable though. It leant to being more of an action movie than serious sci-fi I felt.

 

[LeMarchand]

Was supposed to be seeing "Creator" last night as well, but was feeling a bit rough so our "date night" movie was...

 

Love is in the Air (Netflix)

 

The heir to a British investment capital firm sees a way to impress his dad by identifying a small Australian outfit that is ripe for asset stripping. He doesn't count on being sent to do the job, or falling for the owner's daughter who is the firm's pilot.

 

Joshua "Galavant" Sasse adds another Aussie pop princess to his collection, this time in the leggy shape of Delta Goodrem and her fake eyelashes. (Can't believe they didn't work a karaoke scene in). Unless you want to marvel at the lovely scenery presented (they even make London look good) not really worth your time, but not the worst romcom I've ever seen either.

[LeMarchand]

The Creator (Cinema)

 

These days, I often see trailers and think "I'd watch that as a 2 hour film, but I'm not prepared to spend 6-10 hours on it". This was the opposite, not because it was the greatest thing ever, but because the world building felt like we didn't get enough time to see how things ended up that way. I suspect a lot of it was because it made for a cool visual, though.

 

Anyway, it's a visually stunning film that's worth a look. Surprised it's doing OK at the box office, especially in the US, as it's pretty critical of their foreign policy (in case you didn't guess from the "Vietnam War" imagery). I just wish we'd had explanations as to why the "simulants" had holes in their heads, or required human models, and why Nomad used a visible-for-miles laser to guide missiles in or sometimes just for the hell of it during a stealth mission (and many more such nitpicks). Oh, and remember that this is from the director of "Rogue One".

 

Pathaan (Prime Video)

 

 

When a terrorist group looks set to strike at India, only super-agent Pathaan (Shah Rukh Khan) can stop them.

 

OTT action movie that is fun if you can embrace the sheer ridiculousness of it all. I enjoyed it, but didn't love it (though I had to watch it in two sessions as I demolished our rotting shed on Saturday and just could not stay awake which probably didn't help). Those worried about musical numbers should be OK as there are only two: One that is more like a music promo with Deepika Padukone's introduction and a more traditional one that plays over the end credits.

 

This is actually the fourth in the "YRF Spy Universe" - think Indian spy MCU minus the super-powers but with songs - and has a cameo from the other Khan (Salman) who stars in the first two instalments. The other entries are all on Prime, and I'll probably give them a go.

 

If you only see one Shah Rukh Khan movie this year I'd make it "Jawan", but this one is fun too.

[6Foot2]

Us (iPlayer)

 

 

... Haunted by an unexplainable and unresolved trauma from her past and compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide feels her paranoia elevate to high-alert as she grows increasingly certain that something bad is going to befall her family.

 

After spending a tense beach day with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon), Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home. When darkness falls, the Wilsons discover the silhouette of four figures holding hands as they stand in the driveway. Us pits an endearing American family against a terrifying and uncanny opponent: doppelgängers of themselves. ...