Movie Night (Official Movie Discussion Thread)

Unfrosted



Pop Culture Craziness

PRAISE: Right out the gate Jerry Seinfeld hit me with nostalgia as the first frames of this parody movie about the competitive food war between Kelloggs and Post start to roll. Seinfeld gets some things right as he includesa lot of nods to toys,crazes, fake comic book ads and politics of the mid 1960's and gives them comedic flavoring. Some of the sight gags and references to the competitive nature of companies that sometimes produce nearly similar products really worked for me. There's a who's who of Hollywood in this including Amy Schumer ,Bill Burr · Fred Armisen · Christian Slater · Tony Hale · Dean Norris · Maria Bakalova · Peter Dinklage · Jack McBrayer and that's just naming a few . I'm actually shocked Seinfeld didn't include more of his comedian buddies in this. Seinfeld even includes some of the latest political scandals through some funny lines and visuals. The movie actually reminded me of how much I miss the show Mad Men.

PROBLEMS: After about 45 minutes the humor and fun became very spotty. Some scenes and situations felt like filler to me just to get the movie to the over 90 minute mark. There was more of a Saturday Night Live this skit is going on to long feel to certain scenes. Theres a monotone reading of some of the lines by the characters that was so noticeable i started to unintentionally laugh. There are a couple of odd and cringey moments Seinfeld attempts to wring laughs out of but fails.There are plenty of scenes that have no connection to how things play out in the movie. At one point a character asks: Is this overkill? I said yes yes it is !!

Scale of 1 to 10 a 6





Cash Out





Not worth a full review. I only watched this because I was curious about what kind of movies John Travolta is making these days. He still can bring something to a movie even one as bad as this.This was a mainly boring movie about a couple of heists that go left due to betrayal and the incompetence of this supposedly elite group of thieves. So much bad dialogue and nearly lifeless performances. I didn't even recognize Quavo at first I did laugh at some of his lines during a heist. I laughed at how ridiculously things played out.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 2
 
Breathe





There are a few good things in this post apocalyptic movie. Jennifer Hudsons performance and her consistently yelling out salty dialogue. The art work and CGI of a completely devastated New York ,some good kills/deaths and Sam Worthington turning in a crazed performance. Other than that it's a basic oh I want what you have and do whatever I have to get it scenarios. One characters heart is in the right place but makes a terrible, head scratching decision. The pacing is pretty bad with characters just literally sitting around.
All of a sudden a character conveniently knows how to do something that kept saying they couldn't do the entire movie.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 4
 
1715384649627.png


Watching this movie was so frustrating for the sole reason that I kept expecting to hear the Simon Says beat to start playing. 😭 Amazing film, though.

 
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes



Nearly perfect Planet

PRAISE: Seven years after War of The Planet of the Apes I'm beyond satisfied that even though this assortment of Planet of the Apes films have been passed on to different writers and directors since 2011 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes boldly states these films continue to be exciting, charming and involving. The story in this POTA chapter a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past. I think this movie flawlessly connects the previous movies to this present movie. While simultaneously bringing closure to the previous movies and pulling me into what is to be a new set of movies. High praise to the entire cast including:Noa (Owen Teague), Soona (Lydia Peckham), Anaya (Travis Jeffery) Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand),and Raka (Peter Macon)for their voice work, expressive motion capture displaying joy,anger and raw emotion. Freya Allan also does quite well as the human Mae. The film is in the capable and then some hands of Wes Ball. He directs some really great action sequences with suspense around the edges. Throughout the movie there are strong messages about twisting words for power and dominance and using the bad parts of history to also do the aforementioned. The motion capture work is still on point and looks incredibly flawless. Another strong thread in this story is the near selfishly caring about ones own survival this comes into play several times and I thought it was really effective. When it comes to the set design I was trying to tell what was practical and what was CGI,that's how great it looked,maybe I should watch a making of video of the movie but then again just enjoy the wonder of it all. There are great nods to the original Planet of the Apes movie.

PROBLEMS: I do feel like something that was touched on when it came to a certain faction was pushed to the side and was dissapointted when it wasn't explored more.
There are a few predictable moments.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8½
 
You Can't Run Forever



Sensational Simmons

PRAISE: If you are a big J.K Simmons fan and you would like to see him as an unflinching, murdering psychopath/sociopath this is the movie for you. I really enjoyed this movie about a serial killer who chases an already off balance young woman through the woods. Simmons performance definitely helps raise this film to different levels as he is cold as ice and makes jokes and quips as he goes on his murderous rampage. As the young woman he's pursuing named Miranda Isabelle Anaya does a pretty good job . The character is dealing with her own inner demons as she also attempts to avoid her pursuers bullets. No one quite does a "I'm Done With You Stare" like Simmons. I thought how a couple of story threads were put together was really well done,with slowly but surely reveals about the main characters. Good use is made of the scenic and wooded areas in the movie.

PROBLEMS: The movie definitely stalls at times and I wondered if it really needed to be an hour and fourty two minutes. I guess I can assume how a story thread came to be ,but I thought it was a major turn and was dissapointted when it wasn't explained.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8



Back to Black




Biopic with Blandness

PRAISE: I believe Amy Winehouse was an old soul who was only here for a brief period of time to give people her songs...that five minutes to forget your problems that she spoke of and then she was gone. If I was to take the reincarnation view of her life I would say she was here during that era of classic jazz which she loved and came back briefly to display her love for it.
The best things about this movie are the amazing sounds of her soulful voice and the voice of Marisa Abela,who portrays Winehouse. She truly gives it her all in the performance. Also quite good are Lesley Manville as her grandmother Cynthia and Jack O’Connell as the charming and devilish love of her life Blake.

PROBLEMS: The movie fails to capture Winehouse's true love of music and why she wrote songs the way she did. It feels like the movie loads up on footnotes right to the very end. Sometimes when an entertainers family is deeply involved in a biopic they try to omit things that would make their actions towards her obvious demons and addictions look like plain old obliviousness . Why did her management and music studios behind her let her go out and perform in her condition? So much is left out about why she turned to alcohol even though the film lamely nods to a couple of things. Sure they touched on Blake's part in enabling her but it's summed up quickly. People will be better served watching the documentary about her life 2015's Amy.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 6



The Strangers part 1 2024




Short on Strangeness

PRAISE: This movie at least had me from the beginning with its creepy town setting filled with creepy people foundation.
The 2008 version left me with a bleak and haunting feeling. I did like that this movie supports my stance on one of the reasons why to NEVER stay at an Airbnb. The story this time around is about Maya (Madelaine Petsch ) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez) who are traveling across the country when they take a wrong turn and all of the usual tropes fall into place. Director Renny Harlin comes up with some creepy fun moments. Some work and a couple actually reminded me of the Killer shark bit from Saturday Night Live.

PROBLEMS: The decision to make this movie the start of a trilogy waters down a lot that happens in the movie which is very short. Something like this would work better as a series. There's just a repetitive feel to it because it's saying to me oh we have to hold back because possibly the good stuff will come in the next two movies.
There are a few to obvious turns and predictable moments.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 5
 
TNT JACKSON



Definitely one of the best bad movies i have ever had the pleasure of watching. Praise to Jeanne Bell as Diana "TNT" Jackson and a ton of fun and crazy action sequences all done in B to D level style. Keenen Ivory Wayans must have watched this for inspiration for a couple of action sequences in his blaxploitation parody film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Just for pure laughs i give it a 10 but yes on a bad scale it's a 4
 
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga




Fury,Fire and Fun

PRAISE: George Miller returns to his Mad Max world to bring audiences the origin story of Fury Roads Furiosa. I appreciated the time he spends on the character in this movie. Showing what shaped her over the years with a very thorough origin story. Alyla Browne as Furiosa as a girl does an excellent job portraying her as loving, fearful and vengeful. When the torch is passed to Anya Taylor-Joy all of the aforementioned is maintained especially in scenes with Tom Burke who I almost didn't recognize from one of my favorite shows STRIKE.As
Dr. Dementus Chris Hemsworth does a pretty good job. Though his backstory is not as thorough as Furiosa's a few things are dropped to let the audience know what made him into what he is. Hemsworth takes a bit from previous characters he plays so I almost fell for what he was dishing out but no he's basically sinister. What George Miller and Simon Duggan do visually in this movie is nothing short of incredible. From the vastness of sand dunes and canyons and the passingof time. I was focused on one thing in a scene that was playing out that there was something equally cool happening on the sidelines. The action sequences are perfect in every way. Such a good job is done on the people that make up the various factions that make up the post apocalyptic world in this movie I really wondered who was subhuman and who wasn't for the most part. Mix in Tom Holkenborgs score with the action and it just adds to how incredible they are.

PROBLEMS: I do think there was a gap or two in the story in which A couple of things weren't explained. The pacing really slows down in the movies last twenty minutes I kind of knew how things would play out but I was expecting more thrills with it.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8




Atlas





Artificial Story Arcsl

PRAISE: Jennifer Lopez is another actress finishing up her contract with Netflix and this time around its in Atlas a movie about a data analyst who has to track down a superior AI with the help of an AI despite her mistrust of all AI.
There is some fun to be had watching this flick. Lopez gives it her all in several scenes and she makes some dramatic moments work. The movie borrows a bit from movies like Alien but at least they do something with it here and there. The movie actually brought back some fond memories I have of my old Exo Squad action figures. Speaking of action there are some pretty good CGI filled action sequences. There are some amusing moments as Lopez's character bonds with her AI assistant. There were several good moments with an AI that takes a licking but keeps on ticking.

PROBLEMS: Far to many plot holes. Does any character especially those in the military know anything about stealth?
Simi Liu is wasted in his role he just stares at the camera and says a few sinister things. Absolutely no intimidation from his character. Abraham Popoolas character actually steals his thunder as another AI called Casca in several scenes. Sterling K Brown fairs a bit better but not much and I was actually confused about something that happens with the character but maybe I dosed off and missed something. The way certain things play out should have been told better giving characters a better foundation. What was done briefly in the movie I,Robot gave it that dramatic punch it needed but in this movie it just felt lackluster. When the flick reaches what I thought was it's climax I was shocked there was still twenty four minutes to go.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 5
 
Boy Kills World




Bloody Boy !!!!

Part revenge flick parody,part video game BKW definitely has its moments as Boy portrayed with ultra enthusiasm by Bill Skarsgård seeks revenge against those who rule the dystopian future in this film that killed his family. A lot of fun to be had with ultra violence and at times made me feel like I was in Mojos world from Marvel Comics. The cast gives it there all chewing up scenery and doling out salty dialogue. There's some good CGI and creative moments. The movie is partially predictable and becomes repetitive in the second half . Still a lot of fun

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½


Movie Pass Movie Crash





Great behind the scenes documentary about Movie Pass.Finacing,cant get financing because of race,or and skeptics.Founders of the company getting pushed out. Scheming by the new heads of the company.
As a person that was at a Multiplex theatre almost every Thursday,Friday and Saturday,until i developed a deep relationship with the Alamo Draft House Movie Pass was that to good to be true dream discount for me. I mean 10 bucks a month any movie you want to see? No waiting 2 or 3 weeks to see a new movie deal. GREAT but of course the bubble burst. I still remember the day the clerks and ushers yelling at the AMC theatre they were no longer honoring Movie Pass deals. It's still around but far less popular due to lame credit lines and not really saving any money.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 10
 
Poolman





I was amused an laughed a bit at some of the banter and how kooky and quirky some of the characters were in this movie about Darren a poolman who gets mixed up in city hall corruption. He reminds me of those skateboarders who show up at city council meetings to demand that their skateboard sites wont be replaced by a McDonald's. Some fun things are done stylishly blending clothing and cars from different time periods. The movie runs out of steam fast as things become sillier and characters become extremely obnoxious,and i could barely make sense of the script. It's trying to be The Big Lebowski, Bowfinger and a parody of bumbling detective films but never quite reaches those heights.The last 40 minutes were a chore for me to get through as I found myself not caring much. How first time Director Chris Pine was able to assemble so much talent for this is beyond me.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 3
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top