The last movie I saw was...

[LeMarchand]

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

 

For the first few minutes I was pondering what the point was of just "live actioning" the cartoon, but I soon fell under its spell. In the cold (and wet) light of morning I'm back to wondering the point - apart from the obvious $s - but have to admit that I actually rather liked it. Most of the cast acquitted themselves well in the singing stakes, with Luke Evans being particularly impressive. Not overly convinced that Emma Watson will ever become a great actress, but prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt for now. The new songs weren't great, and I did feel that the arrangement of "Beauty and the Beast" during the ballroom scene was a little too strident. Apart from those minor niggles, an enjoyable film.

 

Mme LeMarchand loved it (and doesn't normally like musicals) as did Mlle LeMarchand who is afflicted by Watsonophobia (friends in the acting biz claim EW is a bit of a b, but then they never have anything good to say about anyone their own age who is successful).

[Garacesh]

Yours is probably the first favourable review I've read. I wanted to go see it, but all I've heard is that it's (mostly) a shot-for-shot remake and that they turned the prince/beast into a huge butthole.

[LeMarchand]

Yours is probably the first favourable review I've read. I wanted to go see it, but all I've heard is that it's (mostly) a shot-for-shot remake and that they turned the prince/beast into a huge butthole.

 

Those are fair criticisms, though the prince wasn't particularly nice in the original either. Didn't seem as sulky once he started to fall in love though, but I guess that's the way kids act these days. *shrugs*

 

I did get caught up in it though! Mme LeMarchand wants the DVD, and it's not often she comes out of a film stating that.

[Garacesh]

though the prince wasn't particularly nice in the original either.

To be fair, I find the entire premise of the movie to be absurd anyway.

 

I mean sure, nobles would know that they were expected to offer shelter to those who were stranded. Maybe not in the castle itself, but certainly at least in the stables, so yes, the young Prince was being a bit of a jerk.. but the issue is that the Prince was answering the door alone at night. His servants should have been doing that

[LeMarchand]

To be fair, I find the entire premise of the movie to be absurd anyway.

 

I mean sure, nobles would know that they were expected to offer shelter to those who were stranded. Maybe not in the castle itself, but certainly at least in the stables, so yes, the young Prince was being a bit of a jerk.. but the issue is that the Prince was answering the door alone at night. His servants should have been doing that

 

That's the part you find unrealistic?

 

I've always felt that the end of the story is a cheat, as the morale is "true beauty is within" but the ending seems to add a "but it sure helps to be hot outside" codicil.

[Garacesh]

That's the part you find unrealistic?

A well-trained servant/butler/whatever would have answered the door and responded appropriately, granting the 'stranded elderly lady' shelter, and all would have been well.

Clearly the moral here is give your servants a slap be a good manager.

 

I've always felt that the end of the story is a cheat, as the morale is "true beauty is within" but the ending seems to add a "but it sure helps to be hot outside" codicil.

Well, I mean.. It's not wrong. Though usually attractiveness aids in attracting a mate, not keeping them around after you undergo magical metamorphosis.

 

I also can't help but wonder what happened to all the regular non-people furniture the castle should have contained before the hex. Did they throw it all out? Does Belle have to nip to Ikea now?

Edited March 29, 2017 by Garacesh

[LeMarchand]

'stranded elderly lady'

 

In this film, she's played by

 

 

(OK, she does have crone/ugly makeup on for most of her screen time).

[Garacesh]

Also I can't think about Beauty and the Beast without remember this:

[googlemad]

LIFE

 

Bit of an Alien ripoff and started off well but then started to get a bit rubbish. The ending was one of the most predictable I think I've come across recently in a movie!

 

One thing I do like about living round here is the Odeon cinema, an Everyman opened up pretty much smack bang across the road so Odeon knocked their prices down and now most times of the week you can go and see any film for a fiver

Edited March 29, 2017 by googlemad

[siuko]

Watched Arrival again

 

Enjoyed it even more the second time around as I noticed things I didn't the first viewing!

[browolf]

The Great wall and I liked it although I was not expecting those "enemies". - It's made in the style of (supernatural) Asian epic martial arts/fighting/war movies.

[LeMarchand]

Ghost in the Shell

 

Disclosure: I haven't seen the original and don't really care for anime (I know - blasphemy!). Also not fussed by the "whitewashing" charges as I can totally understand the need to get a big star in there.

 

Anyway, Scarlett Johansson stars as The Major: the first synthesis of a human brain in a cyborg shell. She works for Section 9 as a crime fighter, but is starting to suffer from glitches that may be memories and the terrorist her team is tracking seems to know more about her past than she does...

 

I really liked this. Much like Blade Runner, it felt like it was filmed in a real city in the future. To me, it captured the anime aesthetic but without those weird slapstick humour bits that seem to creep into Japanese-produced films. My main criticisms would be that a change of heart from one character didn't make me want to forgive their earlier actions and the "skin suit" Scarlett sports for some of the film, which seemed a device to keep teenage boys happy. It also seemed as if they'd tried to make her look slightly oriental, which (unless I was imagining it) seems a bit off.

 

If you're a fan of the original, you may well take issue with this. Otherwise I'd say it's worth a look.

[phreak]

Watched the last instalment in the Resident Evil : The Final Chapter.

 

I must admit that I loved the first Resident Evil movie. The 2nd one was still good. Then it went downhill with each subsequent one IMO. However this last once was better than the ones leading up to it. Perhaps as good as the 2nd one for me. Not the first one though.

It had all the feeling of the game, with things always happening and jumping out at Alice. Any time things were calmer (cut scenes) things quickly heated up after that.

I did feel the ending had a few logic holes in it.. But hey, what do you want from a movie based on a video game.

 

Also watched Assassins Creed recently. Didn't really care for it and was bored by the end of the film despite the big fight scenes and action

[LeMarchand]

Central Intelligence

 

After a final humiliation at High School, fat young Robbie Weirdicht drops out of sight. 20 years later he arranges a meeting with the one person in school who was nice to him. The intervening 20 years has seen his unwitting friend fail to fulfil his youthful potential, while "Fat Robbie" has turned into The Rock and is a CIA agent (or is he just deluded?).

 

Sporadically amusing, but very screechy and it never sits right that someone as messed up as Robbie still is could possibly be a top agent. Glad I didn't watch this at the cinema, and quite sad that I wasted a couple of hours on it.

[sparkeh]

So, being connoisseurs of bad films, mrs_sparkeh and I settled down to watch The Cage on Netflix. The premise is that a girl who works on a chat line agrees to meet one of her clients and gets kidnapped and locked in a cell.

 

Now, I have never been kidnapped and locked in a cell so I can't say with 100% accuracy what my reaction would be, but we were left confused by just how unfazed the girl appears to be about her predicament. She has her mobile so calls her boyfriend for a chat and explain that she is locked up but "will probably be released in a few days so don't worry"... what? Call the police? Nah we'll just leave it. Eh? The douchey boyfriend seems equally unbothered by her abduction and seems genuinely pissed at her for getting her self kidnapped.

 

About 1/2 way through the girl finally seems to understand her situation so we are treated to a quick montage of fear/anger/despair. The police are finally contacted, but wait, they aren't that bothered either? Oh you work on a chat line do you? Ah these things are fairly common madam. Whaaaat? Fairly common?

 

After a couple of improbable plots twists and a bit of family drama, we are at the end feeling wholey unsatisfied and fairly confused. We love a bad film, but the kind of "good bad film", this is just "bad bad"

[mavhc]

Mr Smith Goes To Washington, pretty good

[LeMarchand]

Risen

 

 

Tribune Clavius is tasked with finding Jesus's body after it goes missing from its tomb, but finds out that maybe Christ's followers aren't just religious zealots. Starts off a bit like Law and Order: The Resurrection, but kind of peters out at the end. Jesus is played by Fear the Walking Dead's Cliff Curtis in an odd inversion. Tolerably interesting, but not one I'd particularly recommend.

 

Finding Dory

 

Not as good as Nemo, but OK once you start to forget how annoying Dory's problem makes her.

[fredbayker]

Locked in AKA Monolith

Frustratingly bad movie but the premise is different (which is all it has going for it)

A dim-witted, quick tempered mother manages to get herself into a right mess with a futuristic car.

It's hard to imagine somebody being that careless.

[mavhc]

Ghost in the Shell and The Handmaiden (extended version), both good

[LeMarchand]

Fast & Furious 8

 

It is big, but it sure ain't clever. If you like the later Fast films or big, dumb action movies this is a lot of fun. If it's not your sort of thing, you probably lready know to avoid.

 

Nine Lives

 

Self-obsessedbusinessman finds himselfbody-swapped into the cat he has reluctantly bought his daughter. Far too much wrong with this to waste your time on. It's not truly hideous, but you'd be better off playing with your cat for 90 minutes.

[LeMarchand]

3 Days to Kill

 

 

Geriactioner with Kevin Costner as an ageing CIA agent who finds he has a terminal condition and just wants to reconnect with his estranged wife and daughter. He is (of course) lured back in for one last job by the promise of an experimental cure. Tolerably fun way to waste a couple of hours.

[GuyJD]

Went to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 last night, was really looking forward to it after hearing good reviews from friends and being a fan of the first one, I came out feeling pretty disappointed to be honest, it's nowhere near as good as the first one IMO and the story was a bit weak. Edited May 3, 2017 by GuyJD

[witch]

Story was weak, yes, but I liked the film and the comedy

[pooley]

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - Really enjoyed, some proper laugh out loud moments early on.

 

Logan - One of the best movies i've seen this year. Could of possibly been about 20 mins shorter though.

[Joanne]

I saw Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on Monday and enjoyed it. Fun, take out your brain film.