Movie Night (Official Movie Discussion Thread)

Origin




True Connections

PRAISE: Ava DuVernay’s Origin may be her most effective and memorable movie yet. The story based on Isabel Wilkerson's landmark book to frame the conversation about segregation and inequality on a global scale and the raw emotion coupled with it.
The movie is effective with a capital E the performances from the cast are so true and down to Earth so praise to the cast including: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Emily Yancy, Blair Underwood and Vera Farmiga.
The movie truly displays how love and friendship can defy any hurdles the pain and power of racism may have.
The visuals are soul stirring and then some. Some are very triggering. When the film turns to Allison and Elizabeth Davis, Black anthropologists who saw first-hand the book burning in Nazi Germany and White anthropologists Burleigh and Mary Gardner and their brave and then some undercover work it was an eye opening revelation to me and I definitely want to read their book Deep South. The film reveals how some connections were for the good in the research of racism and how some studies and connections were sinister.
The film is so many things,part family drama and lecture with a bit of a documentary vibe blended in and it really works for the most part.

PROBLEMS: I would have liked to have spent more time with certain characters that inhabit the film instead of long dwelling shots of humiliation. Some parts of the movie are to on the nose and blatant.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8½




Love Lies Bleeding




Boundless Love !!!!

PRAISE: Yes its a love story....a crazy,tension filled, blood soaked one !!
The story Lou is a reclusive gym manager who falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder who's heading to Las Vegas to pursue her dream....that slowly turns into a nightmare. Director and writer Rose Glass and co writer Weronika Tofilska put together a story with all of the small town connections and grit of a nineties thriller that has an enthusiastic and then some cast including : Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian who is a revelation even though i know her from The Mandalorian, Anna Baryshnikov, Jena Malone Ed Harris, and Dave Franco. The passion and love at first sight between the main characters is very believable as the story lays out tension and ties to pasts that are filled with sinister doings but also couple with dreams of wanting more in life and wanting to escape from certain paths in life. The violence in the movie is definitely not for the faint of heart and some visuals are very shocking. Speaking of visuals there are some that are really well done and trippy. The film gets so many things right as the characters find themselves painted into corners,even when some of their hearts are in the right place it has shocking outcomes. There is a great running gag about trying to quit a vice.

PROBLEMS: Thinking back on a nod to an animated classic in the movie, I should have seen a unintentionally funny visual coming. It happens late in the film but it's so crazy it did take me out of the film. I'm really curious to how other people will have a just go with it feeling about it or did it disrupt all of the great things the movie has going for it.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8
 
3 months, 2024 has been a bit of a struggle film wise lol (my 2024 list at the moment)

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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire



Going Bust !!

PRAISE : Fourty Years after the first movie brings fans of the series to Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and its story about the discovery of an ancient artifact that unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old team up to try and stop it. The strongest parts of the story involve McKenna Grace’s Phoebe and and Emily Alyn Lind as Melody. Even though I could see where their part of the story was going it was definitely the most charming and involving thread. Grace does well with the sense of longing and wonder for Phoebe has.
If anyone is looking for GB nostalgia there is tons of it here and I really didn't mind some of it.I liked that Ernie Hudsons Winston Zeddlemore was the voice of reason. There is a great scene with him and Dan Akroyds Ray Stantz
The villain and look of the villain was very interesting also it's power set was thrilling to see. There are some great scenes involving animation, new ghost busting tech and a handful of new ghosts. There are never really any laugh out loud moments but definitely a few chuckle worthy moments. Yes its still great to see the veteran, core Ghostbusters even though they are underused.

PROBLEMS: To many cast members with not much to do. I can just see the producers and casting standing around saying: well this actor/comedian has a fan base let's put them in the movie for a scene or two. Unfortunately those scenes are painfully unfunny and dull. The shtick that worked in previous GB films is overdone in this movie so much so I found myself begging the movie to move on. Some moments felt tacked on and cheesy. I guess it all depends on how much cash the movie can scare up if another GB movie will be made but I'm fine with the films ending here.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 5½


Roadhouse




Rocky Road

PRAISE: The original Roadhouse starring the late great Patrick Swayze is the go to fun, intense, action and memorable one liner movies of all time. I respect this 2024 version for trying to be it's own thing. Changing things up with the background of the main character and the settings. This versions story Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
I thought Jake Gyllenhaal delivered a good and subdued but ready for action performance. As Ben Brandt, Billy Magnussen is funny as a jerk off living in his daddy's shadow and wanting to take over the Roadhouse.Conor McGregor as Knox, a sociopath is a cartoon character, complete with a Popeye stance and walk and he was entertaining for the most part. The action sequences are well done for the most part and I can see why Director Doug Liman wanted his movie to be seen on the big screen some would have definitely looked great on an IMAX screen. There are a few funny one liners.

PROBLEMS: The romantic part of the story with Ellie (Daniela Melchior) is watered down almost literally. Some of the fight scenes feel muted and over choreographed. I can almost see the director saying when you raise your left leg I want you to tilt and......
So many other characters are underwritten and I never really go to know them enough to care about them.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
 
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire



Monster Mash

PRAISE: Going back to Hollow Earth a few months after the season finale of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is fine by me especially when the movie starts with a well enough foundation of everyone and thing adjusting.
The world adjusting to Godzilla,Kong and other Kaiju creatures. Jia (Kaylee Hottle), the mute child with a special connection with Kong adjusting to life on Earth. The best parts of the film for me are all of the interactions and fights between the creatures. The standout is Kongs discovery of and face offs with other giant gorillas ruled over by the cruel, vicious Skar King and a younger simian creature that bonds with Kong. There's some great CGI work throughout the movie that still brings back memories of movies like The Land That Time Forgot. Oh and also the latest Planet of the Apes movies.The action sequences are fun and exciting and I applaud the designers and SFX crews who came up with some great creature designs.

PROBLEMS: Godzilla kind of takes a back seat in this one. It's as if the movie says let's see what he's up to for a few minutes oh OK back to Kongs story and the humans being silly for the most part, Godzilla will be back for the inevitable team up.I think i laughed once at the human antics.There are a couple of predictable moments especially an ultra predictable moment when a character that gets taken out rather quickly.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
 
Prey




This is a strange movie and not because of the plot about a young couple who after being threatened with death by an extremist militant gang; after crashing their aircraft, they must battle man and beast for their lives.
but the decisions the writer and Director make. Starts off very dull and oddly a lot of action happens off screen. Only screaming and yelling are heard. I give it points for some good kills they actually show and some great unintentional laughs. Nice shots of the African plains.Mena Suvari has oddly only been in a few movies as of late for only about 10 to 15 minutes. One character suddenly switches up from my way or the highway to caring for no real reason at all. Definitely on my worst of 2024 list

Scale of 1 to 10 a 2½



Heart of the Hunter




This movie is definitely the Nigerian version of Jason Bourne but it definitely has its own thrilling,suspenseful, surprising moments and story paths with a plot about a retired assassin who is pulled back into action when his friend uncovers a dangerous conspiracy at the heart of the South African government. The actors turn in great performances. The action sequences are choreographed to a T,along with some great hand to hand fighting sequences.
The only flaws are some bad green screen shots,and it's a bit to on the nose and clichéd at times.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8½
 
Finally saw Everything Everywhere All at Once

15/10

This was one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life. It was so fuckin good.

Tried to find the thread but fuck it. This film deserved ALL the awards it got. What a ride
 
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