The Movie (and TV show) Watching Thread

[John Dule]

I thought this might be an interesting thread, especially given that I've been seeing a lot of good movies lately. Here's my list from the past couple weeks:

One Two Three: A Billy Wilder movie from the early 60s that has held up remarkably well for its age. My girlfriend first introduced me to this because she's a big Wilder fan, and I've honestly come to like this movie more than Some Like it Hot. The dialogue is so densely packed with jokes that it requires repeated viewings to catch some of the best moments, and James Cagney is great as a witty, quick-thinking Coca-Cola executive. Altogether the movie manages to lampoon both sides of the Cold War in a way that would certainly appeal to some people on this site. I'm surprised it hasn't been remade, possibly taking place in Hong Kong.

Key of Life: Another movie my girlfriend introduced me to, and it's almost as good as One Two Three. This is a Japanese film that manages to shift between multiple genres-- romance, comedy, crime thriller-- with speed and fluidity. It would have been very easy for this movie to lose its focus given how many plot twists it packs in, but it moves just slow enough that it's relatively easy to follow. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Tarantino films or just crime/comedies in general. I'd also recommend going into it with very little prior knowledge, because part of the fun is trying to guess which way the story will turn next.

Blow the Man Down: This is a recent Amazon Studios film that managed a staggering 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite comparisons people have made between it and Fargo, I thought it was somewhat lacking in that style of humor-- it's much drearier than a Coen Brothers movie, though I guess you'll probably like it if you liked Inside Llewyn Davis (I did not). The two main actresses worked well together, but I don't think the movie was nearly as clever as I was led to believe. Many of the plot twists are driven solely by characters acting stupidly, which does not make for a satisfying viewing experience.

The Great Escape: One of my all-time favorite movies and probably Steve McQueen's best role. I have probably watched this half a hundred times in my life, but it never gets old. The use of music especially stood out to me this time around-- the score has a tremendous amount of range and just about every scene has memorable music. This is arguably the best WWII movie made in the decades immediately following the war. I think its melancholy ending is very unique among this category of films, which can sometimes verge too much on yee-ha jingoism for my taste.

Moon: Sadly this is still Duncan Jones' best film over a decade after it was released. But even though he went on to make f**king Warcraft, he still gets credit for Moon, which runs with the 2001: A Space Odyssey playbook without outright ripping it off. Still, the movie would not be half as good without Sam Rockwell-- I can't get into his performance without spoiling the plot, but he's great in this movie. He's the kind of actor who's fun just to watch as he moves through a set, and he is well at home in the schleppy everyman role.

Hell or High Water: I'd only seen this movie once (when it first came out), so I'd mostly forgotten how funny it was. Despite being essentially a crime drama, it manages to incorporate a lot of humor, political references, and racist jokes into its script without ever seeming like it's not taking the story seriously. Jeff Bridges outshines the rest of the cast, of course, but the other three leads are excellent as well. The movie does a great job of portraying both sides of the crime spree and making them all relatively sympathetic, and as someone who enjoys morally ambiguous movies, I found the ending extremely satisfying.


So, what have you guys been watching lately? Anything good?

[T'Chenka]

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

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

For schedule reasons, I have actually haven't seen that much of TV or movies. That said, @Dule, Great Escape is amazing and it's nice to run into folks who appreciate it, given that no one in my current friend group seems to be in touch with postwar classics--one of the problems of hegemonic 80s nostalgia (which I do love).

[Meclazine for Israel]

Young Frankenstein (1974) is one of the funniest comedies ever made. I cannot believe this was made in 1974. Clearly set the standard for comedy for the next 10-20 years.



The Witch (2015) started, but will wait for my girlfriend to watch the rest.



Buffalo 66 (1998) started, but will wait for my girlfriend to watch the rest.

Apocalypto (2006) is one of the most amazing pieces of cinematography you will ever see in terms of natural history.



Enter The Void (2009) is a great film about a brother and sister living in Japan. Into the Void is the name of my favourite Black Sabbath song.



Color Out of Space (2019) was a great find if you are into H P Lovecraft. Science Fiction remakes are difficult if the story was written 100 years ago, but Nicholas Cage excels.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Go see my various posts in the "Film Discussion" thread if you want with my thoughts on 'Doctor Sleep,''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' 'Parasite,' 'Samurai Cop,' and 'The Lighthouse.' But other films I've watched for the first time that I didn't comment on in there, during quarantine, include:

-'Fritz the Cat': the infamous and thoroughly unpleasant X-rated animated film from the 1970's about the 1960's.
-Many 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' episodes, which are almost movies in themselves.
-'Midnight Special': Jeff Nichols continues to bore me.
-'Project Metalbeast': a surprisingly boring science fiction werewolf movie.
-'Slithis': a really bad man-in-rubber-suit monster movie from the 1970's.
-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.'
-'The Wicker Man': the original, not the Nicolas Cage schlock classic.
-'Things': Quite possibly the worst film ever, for real.
-'Wolf Cop': Yes, you read that right. Another, more tongue-in-cheek, werewolf movie I found randomly on Hulu.

Young Frankenstein (1973) is one of the funniest comedies ever made.

The Witch (2015) started, but will wait for my girlfriend to watch the rest.

Buffalo 66 (1998) started, but will wait for my girlfriend to watch the rest.

Into The Void (2009) is the name of my favourite Black Sabbath song. Also a great film about a brother and sister living in Japan.
 

You know my thoughts on this one. I'm curious what you think of it.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I've seen Big Hero 6. It was a pretty amazing film from a cultural perspective, and the setting of San Fransokyo was well done.

[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.

[Meclazine for Israel]

You know my thoughts on this one. I'm curious what you think of it.

I only watched the start and turned it off. Once i get to see it all with the missus, will write it up.

[John Dule]

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.

[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.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Movies I've watched since the start of the quarantine so far:


First time

- After Hours
- Catch Me If You Can
- Empire of the Sun
- King of Comedy
- Mid90s
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado
- Train to Busan


Rewatch

- Airplane!
- Baby Driver
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (animated)
- Batman: Under the Red Hood (animated)
- Contagion
- The Departed
- Jaws
- Joker
- Sicario
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
- Wind River

[John Dule]

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.

[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.

[Mr. Smith]

Lots of The Walking Dead TV Series.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I also forgot to mention that I had also seen 'The Nice Guys' for the first time. I don't know why it took me such a long time to see it, it's a really entertaining movie...minus the actual mystery that Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are trying to solve. I really found that uninteresting. Otherwise I would love to see another movie with these two (and Gosling's character's daughter too) and a more interesting mystery-they were a delight to watch.

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.

I actually had the same thoughts when I first watched it too. Sure, the Japanese Shogunite is being s***ty for persecuting Christians, but the priests' sanctimoniousness in converting Japanese citizens made them culpable in ways too. I actually found that more interesting than it being a routine Christians good, pagans bad sort of film; whether that was intentional or not.

I think this was one of Scorcese's more underrated films too, but I really had a problem with the actors and their bad attempts at Portuguese accents. Hell, Liam Neeson didn't even try to do one. I wish they cast actual Portuguese actors, even if it took big name actor appeal from the film. Bad accents and dialects are always a pet peeve of mine in movies though, so maybe it's just me. And I never really like Andrew Garfield in anything, he's okay but never really impresses me. Other than 'Under the Silver Lake,' that is. That was the first film I actually really liked him in. Maybe it's because he plays an uncompromising douche-bag in that one.

[An American Tail: Fubart Goes West]

I also forgot to mention that I had also seen 'The Nice Guys' for the first time. I don't know why it took me such a long time to see it, it's a really entertaining movie...minus the actual mystery that Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are trying to solve. I really found that uninteresting. Otherwise I would love to see another movie with these two (and Gosling's character's daughter too) and a more interesting mystery-they were a delight to watch.

I love that movie! Hadn’t heard of it before my former housemates and I went to see it (one of them is in film school) in theaters. Glad I went!

[T'Chenka]

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

[RINO Tom]

Lots of The Walking Dead TV Series.

Rewatching it with my girlfriend, who’s never seen it.  I ended up quitting because I thought it got boring, but I have to say it is a lot better when you can binge it.  Waiting a whole week for a well-made-but-uneventful episode was tough, but that’s nothing when they’re all on Netflix.

[John Dule]

I also forgot to mention that I had also seen 'The Nice Guys' for the first time. I don't know why it took me such a long time to see it, it's a really entertaining movie...minus the actual mystery that Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are trying to solve. I really found that uninteresting. Otherwise I would love to see another movie with these two (and Gosling's character's daughter too) and a more interesting mystery-they were a delight to watch.

Have you seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? You'd probably like it if you liked The Nice Guys; it's from the same director and I think it was the better film of the two.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Not a movie but I've been watching Star Trek: DS9 which is arguably the best Star Trek series.

Maybe I should rewatch Dune (1984) before the new one is released later this year.

[Progressive Pessimist]

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

'The Last Airbender' is one of the worst movies of the 2010's. It's even worse if you're a fan of the series. I saw the movie before I got into the series, and it was already horrible. After watching the series and becoming a huge fan of it it's somehow so much worse!

I also forgot to mention that I had also seen 'The Nice Guys' for the first time. I don't know why it took me such a long time to see it, it's a really entertaining movie...minus the actual mystery that Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are trying to solve. I really found that uninteresting. Otherwise I would love to see another movie with these two (and Gosling's character's daughter too) and a more interesting mystery-they were a delight to watch.

Have you seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? You'd probably like it if you liked The Nice Guys; it's from the same director and I think it was the better film of the two.

I've never seen it, I am interested to see it now though.

[Dr. MB]

lemme think

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Mudbound
Django Unchained
The Hateful Eight
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Little Miss Sunshine
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Lawless
The Death of Stalin
Up In Smoke
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

TV:

Better Call Saul
Ozark (s3)
Killing Eve
Waco
Longmire

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

It's mostly been big movies from the lat couple of years that for one reason or another I couldn't see at the theater when they came out

Captain Marvel, Ant-Man and the Wasp (the last two MCU movies I hadn't seen, other than Hulk), Shazam, Moana, Onward, Despicable Me (1), The Wave (2015), Alice through the looking glass, Into the Woods and maybe a couple more

Other than Alice 2 and the second half of Into, I liked all of them

[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.

[Lumine]

Not a movie but I've been watching Star Trek: DS9 which is arguably the best Star Trek series.

A fellow man of culture, I see. Saw it last year and couldn't stop watching, it's truly remarkable.

Outside of rewatching several favorites (Apocalpyse Now Redux in particular) I've been trying to catch up with a few I had on a viewing list but always postponed for different reasons. Really liked The Parallax View (love 70's movies, particularly the conspiracy thrillers), liked The Conversation (but found it terribly depressing) and found Jaws 2 surprisingly decent (and an outright good movie on the first half).

When I take a break from my thesis I'll probably rewatch The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which became my actual favorite movie a few years ago.