Brooklyn Zoo
BZ
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I Just Watched... (Movies/TV/DVD)
- Thread starter HarleyQuinn
- Start date
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
This is the only movie that I will cry regularly during.
Youth N Asia
Boners, and farts.
Doing a Metalocalypse rewatch for the first time since it aired. Goddamn this show is so fun. I’d never seen the actual finale. Didn’t even know they made it, or it aired. Looks like it happened a year later.
HBOMAX had some weird issues with season 2. The censored swearing was sometimes censored, sometimes not, and sometimes you’d get the swear, and the censor sound over it. Also a couple episodes where the vocals for the songs were completely dropped.
HBOMAX had some weird issues with season 2. The censored swearing was sometimes censored, sometimes not, and sometimes you’d get the swear, and the censor sound over it. Also a couple episodes where the vocals for the songs were completely dropped.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
In a Valley of Violence (2016) is a Ti West western that walks the line between gritty violence and comedy. It never leans too far into either, and I wish it was about a half hour longer to fill in the western ambience (because the best westerns know to utilize landscapes and silence to amplify the ostracization and tension), but it's a hell of a good time. 7/10
Watched the first two episodes of Paper Girls on Prime, which is about a group of four 12-year-old paper girls (Erin, Mac, KJ, and Tiff) in 1988 who get caught up in a war between two groups of time travelers and thrust forward in time to 2019. It's very uneven, but the moments where it hits on the idea of them finding out their future selves aren't what they envisioned they'd be are genuinely good. The soundtrack is amazing, with some 80s pop hits, remixes of those songs, and modern music. The episode focused on young Erin and older Erin arguing over older Erin's present predicaments are heavier than the show needs, and I almost wish the "warring time travelers" were excised entirely to focus on the kids meeting their futures. It's pretty rare in time travel stories for the younger versions of characters being the focal points, so it's worth a watch just to explore that dynamic.
Watched the first two episodes of Paper Girls on Prime, which is about a group of four 12-year-old paper girls (Erin, Mac, KJ, and Tiff) in 1988 who get caught up in a war between two groups of time travelers and thrust forward in time to 2019. It's very uneven, but the moments where it hits on the idea of them finding out their future selves aren't what they envisioned they'd be are genuinely good. The soundtrack is amazing, with some 80s pop hits, remixes of those songs, and modern music. The episode focused on young Erin and older Erin arguing over older Erin's present predicaments are heavier than the show needs, and I almost wish the "warring time travelers" were excised entirely to focus on the kids meeting their futures. It's pretty rare in time travel stories for the younger versions of characters being the focal points, so it's worth a watch just to explore that dynamic.
Fall of Epic
Epic Reine
Yeah, I definatley appreciate Fargo now more than I did in my early 20s. Burn After Reading was also a lot better upon rewatching a year or so ago.
i don't think we have a thread for Severance, when season 2 happens it deserves one. I'm halfway through the first season and it's fantastic.
Brooklyn Zoo
BZ
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Awesome show. Maybe the best directed show other than “Barry” (Ben Stiller directed like half the episodes).
Gary
Mind. Body. Light. Sound.
"Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" is probably the most heartwarming movie I've seen in a long time. Also, don't be surprised if you tear up watching it.
Slow Horses is even better maybe. They have a second season already filmed and renewed it for 2 more.
Brooklyn Zoo
BZ
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Slow Horses is great. Gary Oldman is putting on a clinic in that show
Youth N Asia
Boners, and farts.
Bill and Ted Face the Music.
I wouldn’t call this a good movie. Story was very thin. But it was just nice seeing the guys in the rolls again. I’m glad it exists. But can’t see ever returning to it.
I wouldn’t call this a good movie. Story was very thin. But it was just nice seeing the guys in the rolls again. I’m glad it exists. But can’t see ever returning to it.
I thought it was a very pleasant movie and it was needed in 2020, but I don't see myself watching it again anytime soon.
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A League of Their Own Season 1.
Really strong stuff overall. Lots of great characters and world-building while keeping most of the same "beats" of the movie. For being set in 1943, at times it did feel a little heavy on the LGBTQ factor. Good actors that all felt like the characters from the first episode, reminded me a lot of something like Orange is the New Black while making the characters/vibe its own entity separate from the movie.
Really strong stuff overall. Lots of great characters and world-building while keeping most of the same "beats" of the movie. For being set in 1943, at times it did feel a little heavy on the LGBTQ factor. Good actors that all felt like the characters from the first episode, reminded me a lot of something like Orange is the New Black while making the characters/vibe its own entity separate from the movie.
SFH
Integral Poster
Dracula (1931). Blu-Ray disc.
Such a beautifully important piece of film. Some individual scenes are a master class in how to build tension or how to emote with just subtle face and body action. Point of contention with the film is that by 1931 talkies were new but over all common. A lot of kinks should have already been ironed out. Some of the dialogue, when the camera switches between speakers, was too acted. For instance, the initial meeting between Renfield and Count Dracula. Frame on Renfield talking. Cut. Frame on Dracula, uhhh, Bela, we're rolling.... *speaks* cuts to Renfield long pause god damn it man, say your lines.
Not my first viewing of the film, but I've seen it enough that I was able to be more analytical than normal. I still think it's a fine work to visit. It is so important to watch these early films if you love movies, especially horror.
Such a beautifully important piece of film. Some individual scenes are a master class in how to build tension or how to emote with just subtle face and body action. Point of contention with the film is that by 1931 talkies were new but over all common. A lot of kinks should have already been ironed out. Some of the dialogue, when the camera switches between speakers, was too acted. For instance, the initial meeting between Renfield and Count Dracula. Frame on Renfield talking. Cut. Frame on Dracula, uhhh, Bela, we're rolling.... *speaks* cuts to Renfield long pause god damn it man, say your lines.
Not my first viewing of the film, but I've seen it enough that I was able to be more analytical than normal. I still think it's a fine work to visit. It is so important to watch these early films if you love movies, especially horror.
RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
Indeed, I did. At the same time I got some really great laughs out of the sheer wonkyness of this whole concept at times and the writing was really quirky and fun. Such a great mockumentary for sure.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
Peaky Blinders is great. We finished the series last night and I'm champing at the bit for Steven Knight to get the movie made.
Favorite seasons, ranked best to least-best: 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 1
4 was the blow away best, IMO, as it focused on expanding the scope while still having a very personal and small story. I'm a total sucker for smaller stories in grander worlds. Adrien Brody is also so fucking great as Luca Changretta, and this is when Paul Anderson's Arthur shines brightest.
The hardest season to get through is the first, as it starts very, very slow and focuses on the world building. It all pays off in dividends, of course, but it was a bit of a slog until the last episode. Sam Neill shines.
Cillian Murphy is a fucking treasure and we should all be so lucky to get more work from ANY of the cast.
RIP Helen McCrory
Favorite seasons, ranked best to least-best: 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 1
4 was the blow away best, IMO, as it focused on expanding the scope while still having a very personal and small story. I'm a total sucker for smaller stories in grander worlds. Adrien Brody is also so fucking great as Luca Changretta, and this is when Paul Anderson's Arthur shines brightest.
The hardest season to get through is the first, as it starts very, very slow and focuses on the world building. It all pays off in dividends, of course, but it was a bit of a slog until the last episode. Sam Neill shines.
Cillian Murphy is a fucking treasure and we should all be so lucky to get more work from ANY of the cast.
RIP Helen McCrory
muzzington
Donald Dump or whatever
Think I've seen up to season 5 of Peaky Blinders and season 1 might be my favourite but that's probably because I tend to enjoy the earlier season of most shows. Couldn't agree more about Cillian Murphy and Sam Neill. Helen McCrory is a tragic loss.
Youth N Asia
Boners, and farts.
I enjoy Peaky Blinders. Finished season 3 recently, but I get way turned around with why they’re enemies with this group, but in good with that group? And where did these people come from? Show seems to confuse me easily, and I’m always playing catch up.
RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
Some quick fire thoughts on basically a month full of theatrical visits.....got some catching up to do!
Bullet Train: A really fun ride of a film, frankly I think Brad Pitts best work since Fight Club. The action and effects were very well done.
Vengeance: Overacheiving stuff here, kinda funny kinda thrilling story that balances those two genres out well. BJ Novak wrote, directed, and starred in this one. This was easily the most unique Blumhouse film to date as well as it had very little horror elements and was more or less a dark comedy, if anything. I hope more kinds of films come from Blumhouse like this.
Bodies Bodies Bodies: A kind of wild who done it mystery/horror but more than anything, a dark comedy really. There was tons of social culture millentials satire, found that part of the script really well done. The final moments of the film are a fuckin hoot.
Leonard Cohen Documentary: This was fantastic stuff, lots of information I had no idea about Cohen. Endearing tribute to a hell of an artist.
Fall: This was quite the anxious film for me, given the concept. The effects were really well done, as they suspended my disbelief that they weren't on top of a 200 foot tower, they sure fooled me. A bit absurd at times, but generally better than expected.
Emily the Criminal: Audrey Plaza nailed it in this one, playing a gal who is kinda down on her luck, and falls into a credit card scheme that leads to alot of wild directions. Similar to Bodies, this has tons of social and cultural commentary intermixed within the shades of grey character story.
ET Re-release: It's been a while since I watched this classic, and the re-issue looked fantastic in IMAX.
Beast: A pretty intense flick at times, cinematography was excellent, the performances were kind of just there though and it was kinda weird seeing Irbis fighting with what obviously was not real lions. Half of the effects looked ok, but when you had humans fighting GCI, this just didn't connect fully.
Prey: I would kind of compare this to Beast, in a way. It had some similar structure but I thought this was a home run in terms of the Predatorverse goes. Where do they go from here then? I heard rumblings they want to do another Alien vs Predator stuff, I sure hope not.
Elvis: This film kind of got me anxious strangely due to the pace and tone of the film. It felt so schitzoprentic in execution, kind of like a drug fueled dream of sorts. Maybe that was the idea, showcasing the chaos and controversy of his career. The guy playing Elvis did a great job with what he was presented with, the Tom Hanks role didn't do much for me, and the way they tried to tell this story was a fucking mess really.
The Invitation: The trailer hooked me, but what a badly executed attempt at a shift in the vampire genre. This was a film that would have probably benefited from a more R rated cut, which apparently is on the way digitally in time. Just felt like another half-ass PG-13 film without much scares or tension.
Alienoid: Korean film that actually is a two part deal, so the sequel will be coming down the road (apparently they were filmed together). While it had moments, and the story had some engaging parts to it (dual stories with aliens invading human hosts, and the search for a special sword that would apparently be able to kill the alien hosts), there was WAY too much going on in this one and way too long of a runtime of almost 3 hours. Technically speaking, it was impressive as fuck with the chase and action scenes, but the dialogue and building of this convuluted story was hard to sit through. Not sure if I will even bother with part 2 (if its even released in the states).
Bullet Train: A really fun ride of a film, frankly I think Brad Pitts best work since Fight Club. The action and effects were very well done.
Vengeance: Overacheiving stuff here, kinda funny kinda thrilling story that balances those two genres out well. BJ Novak wrote, directed, and starred in this one. This was easily the most unique Blumhouse film to date as well as it had very little horror elements and was more or less a dark comedy, if anything. I hope more kinds of films come from Blumhouse like this.
Bodies Bodies Bodies: A kind of wild who done it mystery/horror but more than anything, a dark comedy really. There was tons of social culture millentials satire, found that part of the script really well done. The final moments of the film are a fuckin hoot.
Leonard Cohen Documentary: This was fantastic stuff, lots of information I had no idea about Cohen. Endearing tribute to a hell of an artist.
Fall: This was quite the anxious film for me, given the concept. The effects were really well done, as they suspended my disbelief that they weren't on top of a 200 foot tower, they sure fooled me. A bit absurd at times, but generally better than expected.
Emily the Criminal: Audrey Plaza nailed it in this one, playing a gal who is kinda down on her luck, and falls into a credit card scheme that leads to alot of wild directions. Similar to Bodies, this has tons of social and cultural commentary intermixed within the shades of grey character story.
ET Re-release: It's been a while since I watched this classic, and the re-issue looked fantastic in IMAX.
Beast: A pretty intense flick at times, cinematography was excellent, the performances were kind of just there though and it was kinda weird seeing Irbis fighting with what obviously was not real lions. Half of the effects looked ok, but when you had humans fighting GCI, this just didn't connect fully.
Prey: I would kind of compare this to Beast, in a way. It had some similar structure but I thought this was a home run in terms of the Predatorverse goes. Where do they go from here then? I heard rumblings they want to do another Alien vs Predator stuff, I sure hope not.
Elvis: This film kind of got me anxious strangely due to the pace and tone of the film. It felt so schitzoprentic in execution, kind of like a drug fueled dream of sorts. Maybe that was the idea, showcasing the chaos and controversy of his career. The guy playing Elvis did a great job with what he was presented with, the Tom Hanks role didn't do much for me, and the way they tried to tell this story was a fucking mess really.
The Invitation: The trailer hooked me, but what a badly executed attempt at a shift in the vampire genre. This was a film that would have probably benefited from a more R rated cut, which apparently is on the way digitally in time. Just felt like another half-ass PG-13 film without much scares or tension.
Alienoid: Korean film that actually is a two part deal, so the sequel will be coming down the road (apparently they were filmed together). While it had moments, and the story had some engaging parts to it (dual stories with aliens invading human hosts, and the search for a special sword that would apparently be able to kill the alien hosts), there was WAY too much going on in this one and way too long of a runtime of almost 3 hours. Technically speaking, it was impressive as fuck with the chase and action scenes, but the dialogue and building of this convuluted story was hard to sit through. Not sure if I will even bother with part 2 (if its even released in the states).
SFH
Integral Poster
In addition to taking the time to knock out Cobra Kai Season 5 I also binged The Devil In Ohio. I may revisit it for my October horror binge but I am not sure it is horror enough for my purposes (though I've done silly movies in the past so it may count). I highly recommend it. It definitely kept me guessing until the credits on the last episode.
Youth N Asia
Boners, and farts.
My kid has been watching a lot of Bluey lately. Which is far, and away the best children’s show on the air.
Whenever we get to an episode called “Sleepytime” she turns into an emotional wreck. It’s sad, and cute at the same time.
…also finished up The Sandman. For someone who’s never read the source material I loved it.
Whenever we get to an episode called “Sleepytime” she turns into an emotional wreck. It’s sad, and cute at the same time.
…also finished up The Sandman. For someone who’s never read the source material I loved it.
RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
Confess, Fletch: So this was a sequel (kinda, more like a full reboot in a way) to the Fletch franchise that was so very much under the radar to say the least. I didn't see one single ad or trailer for this ahead of time. There was very little referencing to the other two films either. Beforehand, gave the original film a relook at it was still a very fun mid-80s vehicle for Chevy Chase basically being off the wall and improvisational. This was NOTHING like that. Instead, Jon Hamm (also producing) kinda went in his own direction with the character but held onto some pillars of the character. like additional personas (not so much in costumes like CC used to do) and similar wit and sarcasm in the output. The film's structure is similar to the others in that its a mystery film in front of it all. Some major shifts included Fletch being more of a world traveler, hob knobbing with high level folks, and the tone of this film, compared to the other two, is so much more dramatic with pretty much zero deadpan comedy moments. While I enjoyed the general story of this, I thought this was certainly a flawed film that really needed other filmmakers involved who were more passionate about the Fletch character and books, and a better lead as well. Hamm didn't totally drop the ball on this, in fact he made it his own pretty well, but it was not what I would want in a revamped Fletch persona.
Cackling Co Pilot Kamala
Integral Poster
I was quite surprised that after being in development hell for 30 years that the Fletch reboot gets dumped in a limited release. Jon Hamm's post Mad Men career is so bizarrely underwhelming.
RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
No kidding! And this was not the role for him. He tried to make it his own for sure (along with keeping that dryness the Fletch character kinda originally had, along with the Lakers love) but it just didn not click, nor did the story adapted from the book. It just felt all over the place. The guy who did Superbad directed this, and he wasn't the right guy for the job either.
I know there was rumors for years that Kevin Smith was tryin to adapt Fletch Won as a third film, and I think he was hoping for Jason Lee. That would have probably been so much better than this.
I know there was rumors for years that Kevin Smith was tryin to adapt Fletch Won as a third film, and I think he was hoping for Jason Lee. That would have probably been so much better than this.
Spaceman Spiff
Integral Poster
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I'd never seen Predator previously, so the gf decided that needed to be rectified. When Arnold & Carl locked hands I immediately blurted out "Oh! That's that meme!".
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Do Revenge - It had Maya Hawke, Camila Mendes, and Sarah Michelle Gellar!
I actually liked Moxie more than this. The plot was pretty straight forward but the movie went too long (it did not have to be 2 Hours with 40 songs thrown in... typical Netflix style). Towards the 3rd act it did feel like the plot got a bit convoluted in trying to twist/turn where it didn't need to while getting wrapped up very quickly compared to the initial build-up.
5.5/10 - closer to 6/10? I was hoping it'd be a Neon Demon/The Favorite situation but it fell short of that, unfortunately.
I actually liked Moxie more than this. The plot was pretty straight forward but the movie went too long (it did not have to be 2 Hours with 40 songs thrown in... typical Netflix style). Towards the 3rd act it did feel like the plot got a bit convoluted in trying to twist/turn where it didn't need to while getting wrapped up very quickly compared to the initial build-up.
5.5/10 - closer to 6/10? I was hoping it'd be a Neon Demon/The Favorite situation but it fell short of that, unfortunately.
Gary
Mind. Body. Light. Sound.
Blonde-I think this is an impressive movie, but I can see why people might take issue with it, and I don't know if I can see myself watching it again (unless someone like Criterion gives it a Blu release). It's a very blunt, disturbing film that even some who do watch this kind of movie usually may find themselves having trouble with it (especially the JFK scene, which is one of the most horrifying I've seen in a more recent movie)
At the same time, while I don't know if I can recommend it, I can say that you might want to watch it if you are a fan of the film's director Andrew Dominik (he also did "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", "Killing Them Softly" and "Chopper"). It's an impeccably made and acted film, and I kinda love how it's a confrontational look at both the idea of Marilyn Monroe, the events that made and damaged her, and the American myth and those who are ultimately unknowable. Plus, in a world where studios usually tend to feel like corporations and Disney practically owns pop culture, we need movies that aren't afraid to shake the audience to the core.
At the same time, while I don't know if I can recommend it, I can say that you might want to watch it if you are a fan of the film's director Andrew Dominik (he also did "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", "Killing Them Softly" and "Chopper"). It's an impeccably made and acted film, and I kinda love how it's a confrontational look at both the idea of Marilyn Monroe, the events that made and damaged her, and the American myth and those who are ultimately unknowable. Plus, in a world where studios usually tend to feel like corporations and Disney practically owns pop culture, we need movies that aren't afraid to shake the audience to the core.