What have you watched recently: Electric Boogaloo

Tony EH

'Elysium' *********WARNING - Spoilers***********************

2154 sees Earth looking the worst for wear. With the focus squarely on an L.A. that has descended into a sprawling shantytown of epic proportion. Escaping the Earth and choosing to live on a gigantic torus shaped obital space station, ahem Elysium, are the "beautiful" people, or those rich enough to do so. The rest have to tough it out on the stinking mess that is Earth. The citizens of Elysium enjoy a suitably futuristic enhanced way of life, complete with hi-tec, almost instantaneous healing machines that seem to be able to handle any malaise, so long as you're a citizen that is. There are open air gardens and beautiful suburban type American houses, where nice parties can be thrown and Jodie Foster can overact.

On Earth, in L.A. at any rate, there are no such amenities. None that we see anyway and daily life and work appear to be a desperate, struggling grind. The racial divide is clearly marked too, with all kinds of creed slugging it out on the American west coast, compared to a largely white population enjoying the pleasures of their super space station and blow any ship out of the sky that attempts to land. Those nice white folk clearly don't want smelly Earth people on their lovely space station.

It's this space station that the central character, Max (Matt Damon) wants to get to, after suffering an accident at his horrible job which will render him dead in 5 days. Nothing a quick spin in one of Elysiums super-dooper healing machines won't sort out. Armed with his new impending doom, a bolted on exoskeleton and stolen data that will change Elysiums programming to make everybody on Earth a citizen, he sets off on his journey to the stars.

While Neill Blomkamp's previous well known effort 'District 9' was a largely unassuming picture, made on a modest budget, it succeeded because the focus was contained and the story remained tight. The subjects of "haves and have nots" played well and seen through the eyes of the "Fookin Prons" offered an new insight. 'Elysium' has the "haves and have nots" angle too and the awful depiction of L.A. (shot in Mexico) is well realised. But, it doesn't have the same impact for some reason. Maybe it's because we don't see that much of Elysium itself or the people who live there and the contrast ends up being a little flat. In fact there is really only focus on one person in Elysium, Secretary of Defence Jessica Delacourt, played by Jodie Foster, who chews up so much scenery that it's a wonder that Elysium has the structural integrity to remain in orbit. The rest of Elysium's citizens are backgrounders or light sketches.

Earth's population, on the other hand seems to run the gamut of street people to working poor to wannabe revolutionaries to outright criminals all grafting a living in appalling conditions. It's the depressing scenes on Earth where Elysium really excels and the possible future Earth looks uncomfortably realistic.

As the lead, Matt Damon is ok. But he's still just Matt Damon. He does nothing here that anyone else couldn't do. Although, no doubt he's a much better choice than Eminem would have been. The rapper was also up for the role, but didn't want to film in Mexico. Damon's "unrealised" love interest is played Alice Braga who occupies are largely ineffectual sub-plot involving a sick daughter. But the relationship between her and Damon's character never once seems genuine or realistic.

Best of all is the villain of the piece, played by Sharlto Copley, who played the lead in 'District 9'. A real nasty piece of work, Kruger is an Earth based agent that carries out the dirty work for Elysium's Secretary of Defence.

The effects are the star of the show, though and in the main are pretty flawless. At least on a first viewing anyway. The hardware is especially well done, with vehicles and equipment that looks like it could exist.

Elysium certainly isn't a terrible film, in fact some parts work very well and in it's own right, it's an entertaining enough hour-fifty, even if it is eminently predictable.

It just all feels a little deflated at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIBtePb-dGY

salacious crumb

Jodie Foster was atrocious in that movie.

pixelburp

Something of a forgotten film from Terry Gilliam's CV, I watched The Adventures of Baron Munchausen for the first time in years, decades even, and certainly the first since I was a kid. I barely remember it at all, only fleeting moments and the feeling of wonder at the bizarre tale & its imagery, so watching it with adult eyes was an interesting experience to say the least; part of me loved its innocence and beauty, the other part kept thinking 'wtf?'

In many respects it's a much more surreal experience than his more familiar surrealist work such as Time Bandits or Brazil, yet Munchausen is equally as enjoyable if you're willing to ignore the part of your brain railing against how little sense it all makes. It's imaginative, magical nonsense, the sort that only Gilliam could ever get away with and I suspect couldn't be done today (that said, it's closest genetic cousin would be Tarsem Singh's The Fall, and I wonder if Singh looked to this film for his inspiration)

What also struck me was just how many famous faces appear in it, ones I didn't notice as a kid: Robin Williams, Eric Idle, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Jonathon Pryce to name a few, as well as a young Sarah Polloy playing the little girl around which the adventures take place. If you're a fan of the aforementioned Time Bandits, it's worth checking out as a companion film.

mewe

Went to see About Time tonight. Full of flaws and disjointed at times but i enjoyed it. Typical Richard Curtis feel good movie really.

Also i was wondering was this Richard Griffiths last appearance in a film and if it was it was kind of fitting that it was in a scene on stage with Richard E Grant as he'll surely be fondly remembered by most people as Uncle Monty in Withnail and I.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I finally sat down and watched Blackfish.

I was a bit disappointed to be honest. I wrote my long and rambling thoughts about it Here so I'll keep this short.

I didn't fell it told me anything I didn't already know and I found it quite upsetting that, given the responses it's been getting, so many people seem to be ignorant on this issue. I suppose if it opens a few people's eyes to this then it'll have done some good.

It's clearly an anti SeaWorld documentary too. The issue of animals in captivity is so much bigger than just SeaWorld but again... if it stops people from going then it'll have done a little good. Although I can see people saying "I'm not going to SeaWorld because I saw Blackfish and they're horrible, let's go to this other Orca show instead." I don't think they hammered home the impact of keeping animals in captivity enough for people who have no knowledge of this issue to really stop and question that rather than just question SeaWorld.

The Black Oil

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.

I had put off watching this for a while as I figured it would just make me angry. Some many lies and just the sheer recklessness of what was going on. Worth a watch.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

On a documentary binge today. After Blackfish I watched the Banksy documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. What a guy Thierry is. He starts filming his cousin's street art, follows him to LA where he gets to know loads of big names in the street art movement eventually leading him to Banksy, all under the story that he's making a documentary about street art. Really he just has an obsession with filming things and puts the unwatched tapes into boxes and never looks at them again. Following Banksy's massive debut solo show in the US he's a bit annoyed with the image of himself as a sellout that's being branded about so he puts Thierry on the spot to get his film out there and show the world the truth about what the street artists are doing and why they're doing it. What happens after this has to be seen to be believed.

I'll put this bit behind spoilers in case you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin the incredible ending....

I'm gobsmacked by it. I can't tell if Theirry, or Mr. Brainwash, is actually an imbecile or a genius? He basically ripped off a load of other artists styles, had other people physically make them for him and managed to sell millions of dollars worth of it to gullible idiots. He actually brainwashed them into thinking he was a prolific artist when all he'd done was steal other people's ideas. I think he even brainwashed himself into believing it. The worst part of it was when they were talking to people at his debut show and they were practically wetting themselves over how great he was, all of them completely missing the point of art just wanting to be seen at a show that someone else told them was cool. Incredible.

EDIT: I wanted to find out more about Mr. Brainwash and now I don't know whether any of this was real or not?

jcsoulinger

The Banksy movie is a complete hoax, its still pretty good watch tho.

cursai

JOBS

Pirates of Silicon Valley: the Apple endorsed tv series more like. I'd read the book if i was more interested. But Pirate of Silicone Valley did a better job of telling the full 'story'.

ButtersSuki

The Black Oil wrote: »

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room.

I had put off watching this for a while as I figured it would just make me angry. Some many lies and just the sheet recklessness of what was going on. Worth a watch.

Bought and watched this a few years ago, round about the time Fianna Fáil and the last Govt were fling apart. The parallels would be laughable were it not all so serious. Very good documentary.

ButtersSuki

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

On a documentary binge today. After Blackfish I watched the Banksy documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. What a guy Thierry is. He starts filming his cousin's street art, follows him to LA where he gets to know loads of big names in the street art movement eventually leading him to Banksy, all under the story that he's making a documentary about street art. Really he just has an obsession with filming things and puts the unwatched tapes into boxes and never looks at them again. Following Banksy's massive debut solo show in the US he's a bit annoyed with the image of himself as a sellout that's being branded about so he puts Thierry on the spot to get his film out there and show the world the truth about what the street artists are doing and why they're doing it. What happens after this has to be seen to be believed.

I'll put this bit behind spoilers in case you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin the incredible ending....

I'm gobsmacked by it. I can't tell if Theirry, or Mr. Brainwash, is actually an imbecile or a genius? He basically ripped off a load of other artists styles, had other people physically make them for him and managed to sell millions of dollars worth of it to gullible idiots. He actually brainwashed them into thinking he was a prolific artist when all he'd done was steal other people's ideas. I think he even brainwashed himself into believing it. The worst part of it was when they were talking to people at his debut show and they were practically wetting themselves over how great he was, all of them completely missing the point of art just wanting to be seen at a show that someone else told them was cool. Incredible.

EDIT: I wanted to find out more about Mr. Brainwash and now I don't know whether any of this was real or not?

Saw this on Film 4 about a year ago and subsequently bought it to re-watch (something I haven't managed yet). Was strangely drawn to it at the time. Fascinating dude alright is our Thierry!

old hippy

A Channel 4 drama doc - Blackout. Scarily believable "what if" scenario dealing with the aftermath of a cyber attack on the national grid. A bit reactionary and scaremongering but still very well made.

Irish Aris

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Bought and watched this a few years ago, round about the time Fianna Fáil and the last Govt were fling apart. The parallels would be laughable were it not all so serious. Very good documentary.

I second that. The book was even better as it went into great detail (maybe a bit too many detail, but I am working in accounting and finance, so I found it very interesting)

I saw three new films yesterday:

The Way, Way Back: I found this surprisingly good. Duncan, the main character is the most unlikely film hero I've seen so far this year.

Elysium: First hour was quite good, reminded me of District 9 in the way it was set-up. Alas, second hour it was your average hero vs baddies action film. Not bad overall, wouldn't care to see it a second time.

Insidious Chapter 2: Having not seen Chapter 1, I found it confusing most of the time. In the end it became a bit clear, probably I should have seen the first film before going.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

jcsoulinger wrote: »

The Banksy movie is a complete hoax, its still pretty good watch tho.

It's still debated whether it is or isn't. Even if Mr. Brainwash is just a front for Banksy and Shepherd the show itself really happened and all those idiots really showed up and shelled out millions for his cheap knockoffs. This aspect was what really stood out to me so either way that holds up, real back story or not.

grohlisagod

Watched the Enron documentary too recently. Mind boggling stuff.

jcsoulinger

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

It's still debated whether it is or isn't. Even if Mr. Brainwash is just a front for Banksy and Shepherd the show itself really happened and all those idiots really showed up and shelled out millions for his cheap knockoffs. This aspect was what really stood out to me so either way that holds up, real back story or not.

Thought I read somewhere that it had come out as a hoax but must be wrong and its still an on going debate. Its a while since ive seen it but To my mind the back story about Mr brainwash is made up, it just didn't ring true. How can you be so sure "those idiots" are not acting?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

jcsoulinger wrote: »

Thought I read somewhere that it had come out as a hoax but must be wrong and its still an on going debate. Its a while since ive seen it but To my mind the back story about Mr brainwash is made up, it just didn't ring true. How can you be so sure "those idiots" are not acting?

Because to my mind, if it is fake, the point they were trying to make is about the commercialism and commodification of street art. They created this character and had him put on a meaningless art show promoted purely through hype and people fell for it. The arts section of a paper, or a quote from another high profile street artist was enough to convince people that they had to go to this show, they had to spend money on the art. I mean Madonna paid him to design her greatest hits album cover!

Whether it was real or set up I think that this is the point that Banksy and co were trying to make. He was called a sell out because he put on gallery shows and sold his work but it was the general public and the art world that made that a possibility so I think he was shining the light back on them. Much like the film implies he's turning the camera back on the guy trying to film him, that's what he's doing to the art buying public.

The more I think about it the more I think it probably was a set up, Mr. Brainwash I mean, but I don't think that changes the main point they were making.

Charlie19

The Burbs 1989

I should of kept this in the memory bank, had always regarded it as one of my favorite movies from my childhood. Couldn't even watch it to the end.

Tony EH

It's pretty awful isn't it. I remember, years ago, sitting around at my aunts house, we were all looking at it on video and I came away thinking it was great.

Saw it recently, one Sunday afternoon, and I actually had to quit, I thought it was so bad. I ended up outside, cleaning up the back yard! :eek:

old hippy

Primer - a time travel movie that made my head spin. It's got an indie feel to it and the jargon is almost inpenetrable, so if you're expecting Back to the Future, prepare to be disappointed.

I wasn't disappointed but I'm still trying to figure out what exactly transpired.

miralize

Four Lions - Very funny but surprisingly dark.

Barna77

pixelburp wrote: »

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

It's awesome! But maybe one of those movies you shouldn't watch once you grow up, or all the magic is gone...

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I watched the most recent film version of Great Expectations today. I had sufficiently low expectations about it. It actually wasn't too bad. The worst version I've seen was the recent BBC adaptation with Gillian Anderson and Ray Winstone in it. It was abysmal.

This version though seemed a bit unnecessary. Maybe it's because I've seen so many versions of it but it felt like I'd watched this film before. It didn't bring anything new to the story. Why make an almost scene for scene remake of all the previous versions?

Some things I did like about it though....

1) They included Biddy. Briefly... but I'm 99% sure the other versions I've seen have just left her out completely.

2) I felt they interpreted Estella more like I did when reading the book than any other version I've seen. I always saw it that Estella did love Pip, as much as she was capable of, but knew deep down she was too twisted up by Miss Havisham and knew she could never make him happy. She pushed him away repeatedly to save him. I never felt that this came across in other versions I've seen whereas I felt they were very clear about it here.

If you've never seen any other version of Great Expectations I would say go with this one... probably should just read the book though

old hippy

Barna77 wrote: »

It's awesome! But maybe one of those movies you shouldn't watch once you grow up, or all the magic is gone...

Ah but isn't that kind of what the theme of it is?

grohlisagod

The Two Escobars. Interesting documentary about the murder of Andres Escobar after the 1994 World Cup and the rise of Pablo Escobar's drug cartel.

briany

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I finally sat down and watched Blackfish.

I was a bit disappointed to be honest. I wrote my long and rambling thoughts about it Here so I'll keep this short.

I didn't fell it told me anything I didn't already know and I found it quite upsetting that, given the responses it's been getting, so many people seem to be ignorant on this issue. I suppose if it opens a few people's eyes to this then it'll have done some good.

It's clearly an anti SeaWorld documentary too. The issue of animals in captivity is so much bigger than just SeaWorld but again... if it stops people from going then it'll have done a little good. Although I can see people saying "I'm not going to SeaWorld because I saw Blackfish and they're horrible, let's go to this other Orca show instead." I don't think they hammered home the impact of keeping animals in captivity enough for people who have no knowledge of this issue to really stop and question that rather than just question SeaWorld.

This film, along with The Cove, are certainly capable of tugging at the heart strings but they both make the mistake of beating you over the head with their message. We get it. Harming intelligent aquatic mammals is bad. We don't need the happy montage where they show us the rich lives of these animals in the wild and how they're probably better than us in many ways juxtaposed against their sad lives in captivity or scenes of their deaths to know this, nor do we need the token story of the guy who used to be on the 'bad side' but then had an epiphany and is now on the 'good side'.

I'm sure both documentaries have their heart in the right place but because I watched both close together, I noticed marked similarities in the way they told their story and too many stories like this being told in a similar way means they could eventually become written off as preachy and formulaic which hinders the message.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

^ I agree with you to a degree but unfortunately I think it's been proven that the message does need to be hammered home over and over.

There's a documentary called "Lolita - Slave to Entertainment" (worth watching if Blackfish made you interested in this issue) which focuses on "Lolita" an Orca taken from Puget Sound in the 70's, in that original Orca hunt that they show at the start of Blackfish. She was sold to Miami Seaquarium for practically nothing. She's been there ever since in a tank that has been deemed illegal and despite a 30 year protest to have her released she's still there, still drawing the crowds in, still earning the place millions of dollars.

In the issue of animal captivity the main problem is that there is a demand for these places still. As long as people keep handing over their money to watch these shows the animals will be kept in captivity. The only way to wake people up to this is to keep hammering home the same point over and over. The world went nuts over Free Willy over 20 years ago, Keiko actually got released back into the wild and lived a few years at least with freedom, but then everyone just forgot about the issue and here we are still looking at the same problem.

I will say though that there are a slew of documentaries that cover the same issue and none of them say anything new. Maybe someone should make one that hammers home the point that it's the general public that persist in going to these places that are the problem. Maybe take a few of them and lock them in a bathtub sized room for a few years.... maybe not.

Tony EH

briany wrote: »

This film, along with The Cove, are certainly capable of tugging at the heart strings but they both make the mistake of beating you over the head with their message. We get it. Harming intelligent aquatic mammals is bad. We don't need the happy montage where they show us the rich lives of these animals in the wild and how they're probably better than us in many ways juxtaposed against their sad lives in captivity or scenes of their deaths to know this, nor do we need the token story of the guy who used to be on the 'bad side' but then had an epiphany and is now on the 'good side'.

I'm sure both documentaries have their heart in the right place but because I watched both close together, I noticed marked similarities in the way they told their story and too many stories like this being told in a similar way means they could eventually become written off as preachy and formulaic which hinders the message.

Have to agree. To be honest, I didn't like 'The Cove' at all. The producers came across as a bunch of self-righteous dicks in that. They turned me right off any message they were trying to convey. All in all, the documentary was just too "American", if you know what I mean.

'Blackfish' is probably the better of the two, because it's more straightforward, but you're correct, it suffers from the same problems.

Documentaries work best when the heart-string pulling is left to a minimum, or eliminated completely and facts are displayed without recourse to the "look how terrible this is/these people are" angle.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Tony EH wrote: »

Documentaries work best when the heart-string pulling is left to a minimum, or eliminated completely and facts are displayed without recourse to the "look how terrible this is/these people are" angle.

My main problem with Blackfish was that it felt like a documentary about how awful SeaWorld was. Like that was their main point, don't go to SeaWorld. Tilikum was almost a secondary thought.

mikemac1

Rush

Thought it was excellent, thumbs up

Certainly a film best watched in the cinema to get the surround sound and the best experience. You may not get this with the DVD at home, well maybe you will.

I used to be big into F1 but not since Jordan were around. I had a vague recollection of how the 1976 season went but didn't remember

the confusion of the last few laps in Fuji, some finish!

Hans Zimmer with another cracking soundtrack, particulary this one which was used in the trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2awZx487ETw