The Movie (and TV show) Watching Thread

[T'Chenka]

I just finished Border (2018 swedish film) and I'm halfway through The Other Boleyn Girl (2009).

[T'Chenka]

-The original Swedish version of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo': I have only seen the American version previously (while good, the American version is better), and currently I am in the process of watching the sequel, 'The Girl Who Played with Fire.'

Keep your expectatioms low for the third one.

[T'Chenka]

My house has been rotating who chooses the entertainment night by night. Tonight was my choice, so I picked Martin Scorsese's Silence, which is easily in my top five movies from the past decade. I'm really confused by religious people who like this movie; it's pretty obvious that the Christian missionaries come across as terrible people in it. But I suppose the fact that it managed to trick some Christians into thinking that it was affirming their faith makes it all the more enjoyably subversive.

What did the Driver or Garfield character do that made them bad people? The last time I saw it was in theaters and I don't recall that.

[T'Chenka]

My house has been rotating who chooses the entertainment night by night. Tonight was my choice, so I picked Martin Scorsese's Silence, which is easily in my top five movies from the past decade. I'm really confused by religious people who like this movie; it's pretty obvious that the Christian missionaries come across as terrible people in it. But I suppose the fact that it managed to trick some Christians into thinking that it was affirming their faith makes it all the more enjoyably subversive.

What did the Driver or Garfield character do that made them bad people? The last time I saw it was in theaters and I don't recall that.

They watch from a distance as the Japanese officials torture and kill their followers. They actively evangelize despite knowing the danger that it poses to the natives. They show no respect for Japanese customs or culture and are entirely focused on spreading their own subjective beliefs. When Garfield is captured, he even has a moment of panic in which he yells at the Japanese Christians and asks "Why are you so calm? We're all going to die!" before remembering that he'd told them to believe in the afterlife and martyrdom. Just all-around reprehensible people who are deliberately made out to be intolerably self-righteous.

From what I remember, they go to Japan, there are already christian converts there that they didn't convert themselves, they witness torture and killing with no real power to stop it, they meet up with some cheistians who basicaly want blessings / prayers, so there's no conversions or pushing of christianity. I don't recall disrespect to the Japanese culture either.

Maybe I should just watch it again.

[T'Chenka]

Gonna try out Murder On The Orient Express or The Last Airbender (which is supposedly a trainwreck) tonight.

[T'Chenka]

How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

It wasn't bad at all actually. It wasn't especually good either, mind you. Worth a watch if you like McConaghey.

[T'Chenka]

Erin Brockovich

Next up: Megan Leavey

[T'Chenka]

Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) is not for the light-hearted, but the film production and tension are tremendous and extreme respectively.



I found this enthralling, but a little difficult to watch. It is loosely based on an ancient Greek mythological story.

This one was just too f___ed up, and I'm a person that LOVES f___ed up movies. I REALLY like Yorgos Lanthimos films, but this was sick and he probably needs therapy. His next movie after this was brilliant (The Favourite) and he only directed it with another person writing the script. Hopefully he continues this trend, or gets therapy.

[T'Chenka]

I loved 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' too. And to T'Chenka, maybe this film will be more tolerable for you if you understand how it's a retelling of a Greek myth. But even with that in mind, it is still a really hard movie to watch and is just so unsettling yet also darkly comedic at times. This movie made me despise Barry Keoghan though. It was the first movie I ever saw him in and every movie I saw him in after that just made me want to see him die. I got my wish with his role in 'Dunkirk.' I legitimately applauded when he died. F***ed up, I know. But he is such a despicable little s*** in 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer' and *SPOILERS* didn't get much of a comeuppance in that one. I guess it also doesn't help that he has an incredibly punchable face already.

He was fine in Chernobyl, almost likeable.

[T'Chenka]

Watching Into The Forest with Rachel Evan Wood and Ellen Page. It's keeping my interest but there's nothing special going on here. Not sure I'd recommend it, I'll have to decide at the end of the film. It makes prepper gun-owner libertarians look smart.

EDIT - Overall forgettable after the fact, but while watching it I had an alright time. Pretty good acting and a dash of nudity here and there makes it interesting. The plot is the weak point despite strong moments.

[T'Chenka]

Saw In the Line of Fire (1993). Found it really fun, Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich are brilliant in it (Eastwood in particular is one charming bastard throughout the film).

I like that one quite a bit. It's not an incredible film, but Eastwood and Malkovich really elevate the script.

[T'Chenka]

The subplot with Arthur's imaginary relationship with his neighbor felt completely unnecessary to me, we already had moments that displayed his delusional tendencies, what was the point of it? Was it just something else for life to dump on him with?

Yes but also I think that one is more about making the audience realize what's really going on with Arthur, with plot and character considerations secondary to that.

Delving further into something else that bothered me, as far as the character and story is concerned, I also thought the Thomas Wayne subplot was unnecessary. I think a reference to the Waynes' influence in Gotham City at the time was unavoidable, but I don't think it was necessary to make him such a large part of the story and yet another event to lead to Arthur snapping. Arthur could still have learned that he was adopted and abused as a child, and feel betrayed by his mother, without it being so closely linked to Thomas Wayne.

Arthur clearly needs a father figure, see the first hallucination scene with Murray / DeNiro. The film gives him a second more real father, only for that father to totally reject him, and then at the end Murray rejects him too ("call the police"). Arthur loves his mom, but his love for Franklin and Thomas as fathers is idealized and romanticized. Not only was he being rejected / dumped by HIS fathers, he was being dumped by really good loving caring fathers (in Arthur's mind), which is a much bigger loss. It's the same as what happened with the neighbour. If she rejected him, okay sure it hurts. If she was in love with him and they were happy and then suddenly it never existed, he feels lile he lost a lot more, whether or not he ever REALLY had it being irrelevant.

Can I also say that I have seen the Waynes' deaths enough, I know what happens! You don't have to keep doing it!

If there's one thing comic book movie fans love, it's when the more grounded serious films find ways to connect to the larger Marvel / DC universe without negatively affecting the film itself or negatively affecting the film as a stand-alone film. This was a rather nice youch and many of the fan-boys LOVE that they added this in.

Next time I will probably be talking about 'Uncut Gems' when it comes out on Netflix later this week. So look forward to that...if you care.

Please do. I thought it was a very good film and I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially on the directing and cinematography in particular.

[T'Chenka]

Prisoners (2013)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Getting John Dule vibes from Hugh Jackman. What a great underrated under-seen film. The Academy should be disgusted with themselves for not nominating Jackman for actor / supporting actor here. There's NO way he doesn't get that nomination in a just world. Jake Gyllenhaal is great, Paul Dano is overshadowed but also incredible.

I just can't recommend this film enough. 9/10 easily, I'd have to think but maybe 9.5/10 or 10/10.

[T'Chenka]

The Prince Of Egypt - good not great
Only You - good not great
The Greatest Showman - mediocre but entertaining
Anaconda - bad not terrible but entertaining

[T'Chenka]

Watched "Seven Years In Tibet" and it was good but nothing special or amazing. Currently half-way through "The Boxtrolls" which is pretty good so far.

In the next 7 days I'll be watching Titanic, Gol Maal, The Lovely Bones, Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Notting Hill and About A Boy.

[T'Chenka]

... The Greatest Showman - mediocre but entertaining...

The Greatest Showman is pretty good, IMO, but it is what it is, too.  What you REALLY should watch is a video of Loren Allred (the actual singer) singing Never Enough live.  She's frickin' amazing ... and hot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrCBI7O_6I

Incredible voice. The post-chorus gives me chills.

Lol also, in the comments section:


Yayat Kostaman - 2 months ago - 561 Likes

My wife  always sings this song when I give her my salary.

[T'Chenka]

Titanic - 3.75 out of 5 stars
Midsommar - 4.5 out of 5 stars

Jesus, I couldn't stop thinking about Midsommar and had to watch it again. What an incredible movie.

The script and acting are very good. The cinematography, production design and Florence Pugh are all more or less perfect and flawless. The movie is SO f___ed up and one-of-a-kind. The only other movie remotely close to this is Hereditary by the same director, though that one is scarier and this one is more unique.

Basically it's thought-provoking, thematically rich, very unique and of very high quality. What else do you want in a movie? My highest possible recommendation for Midsommar.

[T'Chenka]

The Lighthouse
Overall good, but I can't say I "got" it in terms of the ending. As I write this, I have told my brother only minutes ago (right before he left my house) "How could I have known Uncut Gems would f#ck me up more than The Lighthouse?" Writing the review at this time does not seem fair. Nevertheless: solid performances by our two costars, and definitely looking forward to what Robert Pattinson can bring to future roles. My favorite feature would have to be the tendency of Defoe's character to lapse into ocean-inspired verse at the drop of a hat. Nevertheless, I'm not sure that viewers are supposed to walk away with anything more than an "Oh, that happened."

I found some interesting thoughts online. It makes more sense if you view the film as a Prometheus-esque Greek/Roman god ancient story. Another interesting opinion piece I read online said the message if the movie was about the futility and the lie of the American Dream, specifically on regards to labour and heirarchy, implying that the film's message is socialist and/or Marxist.

[T'Chenka]

Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels - very very good
Notting Hill - good but not very good
About A Boy - kinda good / average but above-average cinematography for that genre

[T'Chenka]

Pet Sematary (2019)

Meh.

[T'Chenka]

We have been binge watching every Milla Jovovich movie in chronological order.

I hope you like Hellboy (2019). It isn't great but IMO it isn't the steaming pile of s___ that critics say it is.

[T'Chenka]

1977 Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Not nearly as good as I had hoped. A good movie. Not amazing, not even close to "E.T.".

1989 The Dream Team
An "average" film (in a good way) and just that, nothing more. Keaton and the script's comedy are good.

2001 Wet Hot American Summer
Funny but akward and cringe humour mostly. Sloppy script but also seems intentionally sloppy.

2008 Mamma Mia!
Not a good film but it's way more entertaining than it has any right being.

2014 How To Train Your Dragon 2
Pretty good film. Not amazing, not great, but definitely above average.

2020 Disclosure
"Not bad" / "kind of good". They got into illogical politics a bit and not a great doc really.

[T'Chenka]

How dare you criticize one of Meryl's brilliant works.

Mamma Mia! was one of the most egregious cases of anti-Meryl bias that dominates the industry and makes her so criminally underrated. One of the 50 or so movies I would just watch again-and-again before my post-March 15 experimentation sessions. If you don't tear up with her skills on "The Winner Takes It All" then you have no soul.

(Of course, it's even better on Broadway! That goes without saying and cannot be pinned on Meryl. She does her best to help me relive those memories.)

Meryl is pretty good, though there is a bit of over-acting going on. Most of my complaints are about the script and director. Most actors were okay or good.

[T'Chenka]

Game Night (2019)

Above average comedy. Should be talked about and hyped more than I've seen. The first half is better than the second half, but it's an entertaining and cleverly written watch that I would definitely recommend.

[T'Chenka]

For the first time in four months I've been to the cinema.

Last film I had seen seen in the theater in early March was The Invisible Man with Elizabeth Moss. Today I went to If Beale Street Could Talk.

Due to the ongoing lack of new international releases they're showing a lot of films from last year or so. Even Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West and Stanley Kubrick's The Shining have reentered the regular program. But Christopher Nolan's new film Tenet will come soon.

Did you like it?

I found it to be extremely well made but the plot didn't "flow" in a good way IMO. Good movie, could have been great.