Movies You've Watched Recently

Watched Phoenix, a neat hitchcockian sort of drama out of Germany. Really have to suspend your disbelief but in a vacuum, it's a great little movie. Unfortunately it exists in a world where Isreal is a terrible country, so the implied pro-Isreal sentiment threatens to ruin the whole thing.

I saw Spectre. It was terrible. I wasn't expecting much and thought i might even like it but...nope.

Caught Spectre tonight and... eh. I can't agree that it was terrible but it was a big disappointment. The girl didn't make much sense as a character, it was too long, Christoph Waltz played the same guy as in Inglorious Bastards with worse writing. He worked well as a Bond villain but the inspiration is so painfully obvious, even more than Silva/Joker was.

I felt like Skyfall took some of the Bond cliches and gave them a clever twist to create something that felt like Bond but also entirely new. This felt more like a generic action movie (complete with faux-illuminati story. thanks, videogames) with a whole bunch of self-aware* Bond cliches. Might please the people who didn't like Skyfall but I'd say it's the 2nd worst Craig Bond in front of Quantum of Solace.

New M and Moneypenny are still good, though. And Q is better this time around. So that's good. The next Bond should be shot with a small budget, double-down on the surreal villain stuff and just be wild, creative, and fun. But good things don't happen when I'm not a studio exec.

*Except apparently it takes itself seriously when it comes to women having sex with him for no reason?

I'll be seeing Spectre this Sunday with my brother. I've only waited this long since previous attempts to see it with him fell through. I'm still looking forward to it despite the mixed reviews. Then again, I loved Jupiter Ascending so it feels like I like almost anything.

Rented The Man From U.N.C.L.E. earlier this week and watched it twice. I feel so stupid for missing it during its theatrical run (which was brief since it flopped domestically) because it is such a fucking blast. The plot is nothing spectacular enough but it is solid enough for the foundation of the true appeal: the 60s-era production design (the film even looks like it was shot in that decade), the delightful rapport between the three main leads (Armie Hammer's best work so far; Henry Cavill could make a great Bond; Alicia Vikander is gorgeous and holds her own against everyone else), and Guy Ritchie's visual stylings (I think he gets better with each film). Well worth a rental.

I finally watched Mad Max: Fury Road and it was insane. I loved it. Wow that was fucking cool.

That makes me happy, Trip

Watched Goodnight Mommy. The big plot twist is fairly obvious (especially if you're familiar with horror movies) but the movie takes it in an unexpected direction that's genuinely disturbing, and it answered every question I had effortlessly. Probably the best horror movie of the year if not the past few years, though I'd hesitate to call it horror.

Going to Star Wars this afternoon...super stoked.

How was Star Wars? I may go see it this coming week.

I don't spoil things, so worry not people. I thought it was really great, kept me entertained from beginning to end. There was only one gripe I had with the movie, and I'll explain that once everyone goes and sees it.

I thought they did a great job with the casting of the 2 new characters, they both interact so well together. There's a chance I'll watch it again at some point.

I thought it was awesome. There were elements that weren't perfect but...whatever, it's Star Wars! It's exactly what I wanted from a Star Wars film. AND it made me excited that there's more because I liked all the new characters so that's a big plus.

I definitely want to see it again.

All I'm saying on it is I loved it but it felt like it was focusing too much on calling back to the original and setting up sequels. But what worked works really well.

I would agree with that statement. But I think knowing it's such a big "set up" film will allow me to appreciate it for what it is more the second time around.

Yeah, it didn't bug me that much because the movie focused so much on the characters and that's what it nailed. I'm really excited to see more adventures with them.

I saw it Saturday afternoon and loved it.

I think I'm the only one that watches Girls, but when Kylo Ren took off his mask and Adam Driver was there, it was all I could see. His mannerisms were just like his character from Girls, which seemed odd to me based off of some of the things that character does on the show.

You think that's weird? How about the time Ren and Poe Dameron made a song with Justin Timberlake?



Now you don't know what the hell to do.

Yeah, I thought of that movie too!!!!

Saw it tonight. Loved the protagonists but the villains all sort of felt like jokes. Lots of forced references but some were really funny. I'd give it a 6/10 as is, maybe 7. Not a great movie but it was entertaining and I got some good laughs. I think the sequel could be a lot better when they get away from all of the throwbacks a bit.

Best part of Star Wars 7:

This has nothing to do with the movie itself but when the credits started, the theater instantly cranked the volume way down and turned up the lights. That really annoyed me. It's like "movie's over, get out"

Saw Slow West and I liked it. It was a bit weak in what it was trying to convey but watchable and some really striking images (that last shoot out...so purdy). I'd recommend it to any Western fans in the group.

Was looking through what was OnDemand and decided to give Guardians of the Galaxy a shot. I think it was on Starz. I thought it was really funny. Now I may try to go back and watch the rest of these Marvel movies. I kind of figured if I just searched cable/OnDemand I'd be able to watch Iron Man for free somewhere, but no dice at the moment. I set a couple of the other ones to record. Will just leave them on the DVR until I get around to them.

Going to see the Hateful Eight 70mm show tomorrow. I'm pretty excited

I'm going on Tuesday! I got $5 tickets! It will be glorious!

$5?! How?!

And it was pretty great. I'd go so far to say as one of the best films Tarantino has made to date.

That's an impressive thing to say, seeing as that man made...time to rank them!

1. Pulp Fiction
2. Reservoir Dogs
3. Kill Bill Vol. 2
4. Kill Bill Vol. 1
5. Deathproof (I really enjoy it, especially Stuntman Mike)
6. Inglorious Basterds
7. Jackie Brown

Haven't watched Django yet, which is a huge disappointment to myself. I do own it on blu-ray, I'm going to watch it in before I go and see Hateful 8 though. I own Inglorious Basterds, but only watched it in theater. I remember being extremely disappointed with how little Brad Pitt and his crew were in the movie, since the trailers made it look as if the film revolved around them, which it barely did. Going to watch that one again as well before seeing the new one.

Just finished watching Inglorious Basterds again. I've only owned it on blu-ray since it came out so probably about time. The second viewing I liked a lot more, but like I said above I'm still disappointed the Basterds weren't in it more. I'll have to dwell on it to see if I think it moves above Deathproof, because I'm just not sure. It's definitely not moving above the top 4 though. Pondering calling in to work tomorrow because I'm sick, and if I do I'll finally watch Django tomorrow.

I love Inglorious Bastards for what it is. The Bastards acts are definitely the better parts, but Acts 1 and 3 are still top notch, offering some of the best suspense I've seen in a movie.

I like the whole movie, it just isn't no where near the best Tarantino movie in my opinion. I mean come on, he didn't really have an ass reference in it!

Just think of how much cooler the movie would have been if we would have seen more of the Bear Jew. There's a really cool special feature in it where you can watch everything they shot for Nation's Pride. 6 minutes of retro fun!

Ranking time! I'm sad you ranked Jackie Brown so low...

1. Django
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Inglorious Basterds
4. Hateful Eight
5. Kill Bill Vol. 1
6. Kill Bill Vol. 2
7. Reservoir Dogs

That was hard to rank because I like all of those movies.

I'd go 

1. Pulp Fiction
2. Inglorious Bastards
3. Django
4. Reservoir Dogs
5. Kill Bills

Haven't seen Jackie Brown. Excited to see Hateful Eight though. I still say what we got from Bastards was near perfect, just a little too much misdirection in the advertising. The suspense of Act 1 is so phenomenal and the way everything intersects is fantastic. Plus the best ending of any WWII movie ever