What have you watched recently: Electric Boogaloo

Tony EH

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

While they were there for the operation?

I am by no means an expert on this, I have literally read one book. That one book did make me question all these historical films though. How do we know anything beyond hard facts really happened? Does it matter if they imagine some scenes to frame the the facts?

They weren't there for the attack IIRC, and they weren't hiding in the church afterwards either, where the assassins eventually met their end.

According to wiki, Anna Malinova and Marie Opalkova (an aunt of one of the assassins) ended up in camps after the SS rounded up their suspects.

They're probably the women that are in the trailer.

I've only read on book that dealt with the assassination in any detail myself, 'Hitler's Hangman' (an unfortunate title for a quite balanced view of the man), but I've known the basic story for donkey's years.

I like historical films to stick to facts, although this never happens. Which, I find strange, as most war stories (especially) are exciting enough without the unnecessary embellishment.

fin12

Tony EH wrote: »

They weren't there for the attack IIRC, and they weren't hiding in the church afterwards either, where the assassins eventually met their end.

According to wiki, Anna Malinova and Marie Opalkova (an aunt of one of the assassins) ended up in camps after the SS rounded up their suspects.

They're probably the women that are in the trailer.

I've only read on book that dealt with the assassination in any detail myself, 'Hitler's Hangman' (an unfortunate title for a quite balanced view of the man), but I've known the basic story for donkey's years.

I like historical films to stick to facts, although this never happens. Which, I find strange, as most war stories (especially) are exciting enough without the unnecessary embellishment.

But thats not shown in the film, how do you know it doesn't stay to the facts if you haven't seen it.

Tony EH

I don't. I never said that I'd seen it.

My comment is in general. Historical films never stick to facts. There is always embellishment, composite characters, what ifs and outright lies.

My point is that, more often than not, a film about historical events can do without the above entirely.

'Anthropoid' may, indeed, be the most accurate portrayal yet. I didn't say that it wasn't.

Mississippi Grind 2015 Bloodlines Ben Mendleson and Ryan Reynolds play two gamblers, Ben being the complete degenerate one and Reynolds the one that seemingly brings him luck. As a gambler myself I enjoyed this a lot, even if its not a happy film, a lot to relate to in the ups and downs of betting. And an interesting commentary at the end on gambling in general

The Whole Truth 2016 I guess this was a straight to DVD flick, with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Jones. Essentially a courtroom drama with a twist. Nothing spectacular by any means but not an offensive way to pass the time.

Prime Cut 1972 A Lee Marvin and Mean Gene Hackman movie which is quite interesting to say the least just for its bizarreness. The introduction is really superbly crafted. It feels big in some ways and then feels really tiny in other ways. Its kind of a collection of very well set up scenes put together that delivers a movie that just about holds together, where I found myself saying "WTF" and "look at these f***** guys" a bunch of times. Marvin and Hackman could do these roles in their sleep, Sissy Spacek also appears in one of her first roles, quite beautiful she was too in her day.

droidman123

Could someone please start a "let me in" thread seperate from this one.

Sad Professor

droidman123 wrote: »

Could someone please start a "let me in" thread seperate from this one.

On my phone at the moment but I'll split it into its own thread when I'm at my computer.

Sad Professor

Okay, so I've split the Let Me In discussion into it's own thread. Follow along here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057647429

droidman123

Just finished watching the larry clark movie bully (2001) powerful movie and really gritty.i didnt realise it was based on a true story.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0242193/

Heckler

The Shallows.

Ok first hour or so. (apart from the superb signal on a beach in the middle of nowhere). Solid concept.

Then

she becomes an avian vet, sews her wounds with jewellery, sets the water on fire with a flare gun (no a flare gun won't set the seeping oil from a whale carcass on fire).

Crap CGI and the superhero killing of the shark.

Was looking forward to this but absolute rubbish.

An australian film The Reef did it years ago and so much better.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320291/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14

pixelburp

Spoiler-tags Heckler, if you insist on posting cliff notes of the whole movie for everyone to read :rolleyes:

Heckler

Sorry bout that.

fin12

Heckler wrote: »

The Shallows.

Ok first hour or so. (apart from the superb signal on a beach in the middle of nowhere). Solid concept.

Then

she becomes an avian vet, sews her wounds with jewellery, sets the water on fire with a flare gun (no a flare gun won't set the seeping oil from a whale carcass on fire).

Crap CGI and the superhero killing of the shark.

Was looking forward to this but absolute rubbish.

An australian film The Reef did it years ago and so much better.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320291/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14

I actually really liked the shallows movie, first good shark film that's been realeased in ages.

Outlaw Pete

Dragged along to Bridget Jones's Baby last night... but have to say I thought it was okay and in fact quite enjoyed it tbf, in parts at least, which can't be bad considering I'm a million miles from the demographic it would be aimed at and all.

Better than Bad feckin Moms anyway.

Liam McPoyle

Rob Zombies 31.

Just out via VOD, could Zombie reclaim the form he had with The Devils Rejects and shake off the poor Halloween remakes and the dire Lords of Salem?

Not really.

Its not a bad movie, just not a particularly good one.

Set in the 70s, it follows a group of people that get abducted by a mysterious gang and are placed in a 12 hour fight for survival for the enjoyment of a group of rich people, bedecked like 17th French aristocrats and led by Malcolm McDowell.

As always, the cast is led by Sherri Moon Zombie who is frankly a terrible actress.

It's a pretty lackluster affair saved from complete rubbishness by the absolutely scene stealing turn by Richard Brake who plays the lead hunter, Doom Head.

Much was made of the violence prior to its release but tbh there is nothing at all shocking, the likes of the Saw or Hostel franchises are much more violent.

Its worth watching for Brake alone who I'd liken to a cross between Tom Waits and Charles Manson.

5/10

Sugarlumps

Captain America - Civil War
The missus picked it up, not really sure why.
One of the worst films ever made, didn't even make it to the end.

Frank O. Pinion

Saul T Nutzz wrote: »

Rob Zombies 31.

Much was made of the violence prior to its release but tbh there is nothing at all shocking, the likes of the Saw or Hostel franchises are much more violent.

Supposedly, Rob Zombie had to make cuts to avoid a NC-17 rating, and get the R-rating for theatres. He plans to release the uncut version eventually.

Liam McPoyle

Frank O. Pinion wrote: »

Supposedly, Rob Zombie had to make cuts to avoid a NC-17 rating, and get the R-rating for theatres. He plans to release the uncut version eventually.

The Devils Rejects theatrical release was much more violent and sadistic than 31, it also had sexual violence / threat which is a big issue for censors.

R P McMurphy

Saul T Nutzz wrote: »

Rob Zombies 31.

Just out via VOD, could Zombie reclaim the form he had with The Devils Rejects and shake off the poor Halloween remakes and the dire Lords of Salem?

Not really.

Its not a bad movie, just not a particularly good one.

Set in the 70s, it follows a group of people that get abducted by a mysterious gang and are placed in a 12 hour fight for survival for the enjoyment of a group of rich people, bedecked like 17th French aristocrats and led by Malcolm McDowell.

As always, the cast is led by Sherri Moon Zombie who is frankly a terrible actress.

It's a pretty lackluster affair saved from complete rubbishness by the absolutely scene stealing turn by Richard Brake who plays the lead hunter, Doom Head.

Much was made of the violence prior to its release but tbh there is nothing at all shocking, the likes of the Saw or Hostel franchises are much more violent.

Its worth watching for Brake alone who I'd liken to a cross between Tom Waits and Charles Manson.

5/10

Meg Foster was a good addition to the cast. Those eyes of hers really lend to starring in a horror movie. Agree with the scoring though. 5/10 is just about right.

j.s. pill II

Take me to the river (2016)

I don't think it would be productive to provide a plot summary for this one. Suffice to say, it's a 'family secrets' drama and while short on dramatic plot devices, the film manages to sustain a very tense and high pressure atmosphere with very sparse settings and events. It really commands your interest and attention; the running time is absolutely spot on and the performances are excellent (no big names but I did recognise one of the actresses from Sons of Anarchy). Highly recommended

droidman123

j.s. pill II wrote: »

Take me to the river (2016)

I don't think it would be productive to provide a plot summary for this one. Suffice to say, it's a 'family secrets' drama and while short on dramatic plot devices, the film manages to sustain a very tense and high pressure atmosphere with very sparse settings and events. It really commands your interest and attention; the running time is absolutely spot on and the performances are excellent (no big names but I did recognise one of the actresses from Sons of Anarchy). Highly recommended

I planned on watching that Movie today but got sidetracked, I,m going to watch it tomorrow.

Nerdlingr

X-Men Apoclaypse

One big Meh. Very Average. It finished and I thought "riiiight, is that it?".
Nothing actually happens for the most part. Apoclaypse is such a let down. What did he actually do apart

from transporting in and out of places, picking a few buddies and destroying part of Cairo. Very Very weak villain. I was expecting some sort of armageddon ...oh no he stuck cyclops in a wall and chocked Jennifer Lawrence!!! Magneto, although I really like his scenes when he tries to be human, did shag all too expect float about a bit.

The one redeeming feature was Nightcrawler. Thought he was excellent.
6/10.

isntlee

Neon Demon

It's a thriller set in the LA fashion scene, it's excellent. There's one point to the film, and it delivers, well shot too.

ButtersSuki

The Shallows Wow - and not in a good way. Utterly, utterly ridiculous shark movie. I haven't seen Sharknado (though I own it on Blu Ray) yet but it couldn't be any worse than this. If I was to list all of its flaws it would take me longer to type them than the movie lasted. The only redeeming feature it has is there are some stunningly shot beach scenes and maybe seeing Blake Lively in a bikini for most of the movie gets it a point - even with that it's just a 3/10.

Better Call Saul Seasons 1+2 binge watch. Hmm, a little confused by this. The pace is very slow (much slower than Breaking Bad, esp. S1); but when it's good, it's very good. Unfortunately there were only two real standout episodes for me

the one where Jonathan Banks tells the story of how his son was killed, and the penultimate episode in Season 2 where you had real Breaking Bad-like tension

. In fact I'd go so far as to say

Banks' Mike Ehrmantrout character is more more interesting thus far than Jimmy/Saul

. They overdo the

brother who has a reaction to electro magnetic fields

story and the

tape recorded confession was a bit obvious

but I also found Breaking Bad Seasons 1-3 to be slow so I will likely stick with this. I feel part of the problem with it is you know ultimately where these people will end up so it would be interesting to see how someone who's never seen Breaking Bad would find it? 7/10

Chain Smoker

Better Call Saul season 2 got a very easy ride from critics imo.

They completely backtracked on the ending of season 1 to spend most the season trying to get to the same destination. Michael McKean is a great actor and all, but **** me they aren't half dragging out his arc. Had he died in the penultimate episode it would have been justified, another whole season of him scheming is not at all appealing.
The buildup for Mike through the season had an astoundingly flat ending (even more so when you account for the fact that the reveal of who it was wasn't meant to happen).

There's a difference between being slow paced and being meandering in search of a purpose.

Del.Monte

Finally caught up with James Bond on the last three consecutive nights but forgot to watch them in order.

Quantum of Solace (2008); Skyfall (2012) and Casino Royale (2006) - in that order. Best I can says is that Casino Royale was better than the annoying 1967 original starring David Niven. The franchise has had its day and best to let it 'Die Today' while remembering it at its best with Sean Connery. 6/10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoQwKe0lggw

8-10

Del.Monte wrote: »

Best I can says is that Casino Royale was better than the annoying 1967 original starring David Niven.

Well it's not really a fair comparison, the original was completely different type of movie

Chain Smoker

Blood Father
Not very good really, Mel Gibson is by far the best thing in it but that alone isn't enough in this case. Find the positive reviews very interesting in a way, it's as if people miss Mel Gibson being a captivating presence in films so much that the very fact that he's still pretty good in the right role results in them hugely overcompensating for the quality of the film overall.

ButtersSuki

Valhalla Rising I quite like Nicholas Winding Refn's recent work and just hadn't gotten around to this yet despite the fact that I pretty much have a man crush on Mads Mikkelsen too. Typical of Refn's work, it's simply stunning to look at; and though there's less of a score/soundtrack than usual it still delivers atmospherically. It starts off with a particularly brutal combat scene, but the action pretty much ends after the first act and it becomes a more cerebral journey thereafter, to its detriment IMO. Mads is Mads (i.e. excellent) but despite all of this, I found it a bit shallow and not as interesting as Refn's other work. 6/10

ButtersSuki

Rainy day so doing some catch-ups:

Leave The World Behind on Blu Ray. Documentary about the break-up and final world tour of the Swedish House Mafia. Whilst it does shed some insight into the creative differences that ultimately caused the break-up of the group, it feels for the majority of it like they were uninterested and dialing it in. I'd possibly have liked it more if I was a fan. 6/10.

Starred Up on Blu Ray. I'm a bit late to the party on this one and didn't even know Ben Mendelsohn was in it until he appeared on screen (would likely have watched it sooner had I known he was in it). British prison drama that starts very promisingly before it gives in to a somewhat disappointingly saccharine last act (that's a relative statement though). Excellent performances from Jack O'Connell (tbh, I had wondered what the hype was about him as I didn't think he was amazing in '71), Mendelsohn and Rupert Friend, with strong support from the majority of the rest of the cast too. Reminded me a lot of my first time watching "Scum", which is high-praise I guess. 7.5/10.

R P McMurphy

Holy Hell

Documentary on Netflix about a new age style cult that started out in California and focusing primarily on their bizarre leader. An ex porno star with a penchant for strutting around in speedos and mascara. How he fell into the role of cult leader and quite what made hundreds of people flock to him over the decades is still a mystery after watching it. Crazy people. Worth and investment of two hours however as the footage was shot by a member over the course of two decades so gives a good exposition of life inside the group