Random Movie Thoughts Thread

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

So the real Native Americans were supposed to be Caucasian (ever though they were nowhere near the Caucasus), kind of like how the real Jews were African (at least for Kanye)? These people sound a little confused.

In general, anything like this really bothers me on a few different levels.

The swastika was featured in Native American stuff ages before the Nazi party existed, and a bunch of other cultures around the world have had their own variants too. Finland's military still uses it, but they've always had it oriented vertically instead of diagonally, which is one way you can tell the good guys from the bad guys at a glance.

Yeah, all of that is true; it's typically a symbol of the sun. Before the war, the state highways in New Mexico featured swastikas for the road signs. I think the people behind the post are trying to take its appearance in Native American art to suggest that Native Americans must have been white.

 

[Red Herring]

Artwork by Simon de Tuillières

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I wish Longlegs beat Despicable Me. I am so sick of those Minions.

 

[Red Herring]

 

[Totenkindly]

Box Office: ‘Longlegs’ Bedevils With Phenomenal $22.6 Million Debut, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Struggles to Lift Off With $10 Million

'Longlegs,' a Nicolas Cage horror-thriller, out-grossed the rom-com 'Fly Me to the Moon' while 'Despicable Me 4' topped the box office

variety.com

Anyway, I went to see Longlegs this morning.

My main complaint has nothing to do with the film. it's that I had literally half an hour -- 30 WHOLE MINUTES -- of trailers and advertisements mixed together (so it wasn't even broken up into two categories, every time you thought you were done with trailers because they did an add, it would go back to trailers!) for a101 minute film. So yeah, 25% of my time in the seat was being bombarded by stuff I didn't necessarily go there to see. I have been annoyed by 15-20 minutes, but this was quite the leap into absurdity.

While the story itself isn't quite as great, it's dressed up really nice in Oz Perkins' hands -- he's at full directing force here, the performances are great, and visually, musically, sound editing, look and feel, the whole film is extremely unsettling and creepy. One always knew he had this ability in him with his earlier films, except they tended to be longer and slower; Longlegs is trimmed down, more streamlined, feels like it has all the extra fat chopped off.

Alicia Witt and Maika Monroe are really great. I did not realize Monroe was the lead from It Follows, this part is completely different from her prior role -- so hey, wow, she's acting! I would say Nick Cage was decent except if you've seen his most whacked-out performances, this isn't much different. There's a screaming bit in the car that reminds me of something he did in Face/Off. In any case, he did what he needed to do here, but it's not a performance that blew me away (like Pig). I was wondering if his appearance was nodding to The Silence of the Lambs a bit, but I think it's more an addendum to the heavy feminized male rock star "fake satanists" of the 70's and 80's based on what we see in the film.

I like that the film is set in the 90's and flashes back to some 70's items. It was shot in Nova Scotia and I think is assumed to take place in Oregon, but aside from the huge quantity of pine, this reminds me a lot of what PA looked like back in my day growing up. Even when he goes into the parts shop, yeah, that reminds me of old-time stores I'd been in before mega-chains started taking over in the 80's and 90's.

The central conceit of the film feels rather cobbled together, but the ambiance is wonderful. I'd rather see more stuff like this coming out versus more big-production slasher films, honestly.

And it made an absurd $22.6 million on opening weekend, on a budget at most of only $10 million -- so it's already doubled the budget and is a big winner for Neon. That's incredible for a film like this. I'm sure Nick Cage helped draw the audience but word of mouth as well. I hope Perkins continues to work into the future.

 

[SensEye]

My main complaint has nothing to do with the film. it's that I had literally half an hour -- 30 WHOLE MINUTES -- of trailers and advertisements mixed together (so it wasn't even broken up into two categories, every time you thought you were done with trailers because they did an add, it would go back to trailers!) for a101 minute film. So yeah, 25% of my time in the seat was being bombarded by stuff I didn't necessarily go there to see. I have been annoyed by 15-20 minutes, but this was quite the leap into absurdity.

This is another reason I don't go to theatres often. I don't mind a few previews pre movie (kind of enjoy them actually) but only a reasonable amount. Also, I get morally outraged when I have to watch ads after paying for a ticket. That payment is supposed to inoculate me from ads.

This movie looks interesting though, I'll be sure to catch it when it come out on video.

 

[Totenkindly]

This is another reason I don't go to theatres often. I don't mind a few previews pre movie (kind of enjoy them actually) but only a reasonable amount. Also, I get morally outraged when I have to watch ads after paying for a ticket. That payment is supposed to inoculate me from ads.

This movie looks interesting though, I'll be sure to catch it when it come out on video.

I typically don't mind trailers either, I'd just be happy if they stopped after about 5-6 instead of 10-11 mixed with multiple advertisements for things I will never buy + public service messages.

They were mainly horror trailers, which again is fine, and for films I didn't even know were releasing (most of them) -- but then again, one in particular they are saying "GO IN COLD! KNOW AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THIS FILM!" in the freaking trailer, yet they are showing a 120 second trailer that is revealing plot points. (Like, you bunch of mofo's!) I shut my eyes for much of that trailer and thought of other things to block out the sound, just so I could eventually see that film fresh, but that was really frustrating -- almost like "Terminator Genisys" spoiler reveal level annoying.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Idk what happened but moving this down:

I wish Longlegs beat Despicable Me. I am so sick of those Minions.

 

[Totenkindly]

So I also just watched Late Night with the Devil. As typical for most low-budget horror, sometimes you get away with it and sometimes the story isn't as strong as it could be.

The real strength of this film is David Dastmalchian as the central figure, talk show host Jack Delroy. The way it is shot and written, it actually FEELS like a 70's late-night talk show and they just take it and run with it -- the visuals, the music, the look and feel, the commercial cards, etc.

Some of it also reflect actual things that happened, in terms of skeptic Carmichael Hunt being modeled after the famed James Randi down to and include a cash reward if someone ever could prove a psychic phenomena occurred. Earlier in the show, there's a "psychic" who communes with the dead who is doing classic cold reading.

I think where the film fails is in the last half hour as it tries to tie everything together. There's some great stuff in there but also a bit disjointed and not quite fitting together as well as it needs to.

Still, one of the most enjoyable parts is watching this episode of the talk show unfold and realizing eventually that it's going to end in a total demonic shitshow and savoring each step along the way... Not bad for a film with a special effects budget of $150K and probably $2 million or less overall budget.

Also, a fun tidbit is that as soon as Carmichael Hunt started to speak, I'm like "I know that guy's voice!" As well as I should have -- it's Ian Bliss, the guy who channeled Hugo Weaving as Bane in The Matrix 2 & 3. So distinctive!

Idk what happened but moving this down:
I wish Longlegs beat Despicable Me. I am so sick of those Minions.

I liked the minions when they first showed up and like the idea, but they're become too commercial.

Still, they've brought some enjoyment to my life over the years -- like before COVID, when I bought one of those Minion packs of Tic Tacs (with 400 inside) and proceeded to hide some of them all over the cubicle of a friend of mine at work. He was finding Minion Tic Tacs in the weirdest places even a month later.

 

[Totenkindly]

I did see the full trailer for Eggers' Nosferatu (releasing at Christmas).

This is going to be delicious.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I liked the minions when they first showed up and like the idea, but they're become too commercial.

Oh dear, I think that's how I've started to feel about Baby Yoda. But I can say more about that elsewhere.

I did see the full trailer for Eggers' Nosferatu (releasing at Christmas).

This is going to be delicious.

I was intrigued by the shot of his hand's shadow outstretched over the city. That reminds me of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which is not a bad thing at all.

 

[The Cat]

I did see the full trailer for Eggers' Nosferatu (releasing at Christmas).

This is going to be delicious.

I'm looking forward to it a lot. I love Eggers' slow burn style of horror.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Related: TIL Winslet is a natural blonde.

 

[Totenkindly]

Related: TIL Winslet is a natural blonde.

Weirdly, Lee Miller (Dunst's character) from "Civil War" was named (creatively?) after this earlier real-life war correspondent. Kind of weird, isn't it -- they both release the same year? I never even heard of her until now.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Weirdly, Lee Miller (Dunst's character) from "Civil War" was named (creatively?) after this earlier real-life war correspondent. Kind of weird, isn't it -- they both release the same year? I never even heard of her until now.

I haven't seen Civil War, but I did remember that Kristen Dunst's character had the same name. I haven't heard of her, either.

 

[The Cat]

omg that's it. lolol. They are just paperview wkwf main event wrestling events.
I can't stop imagining a bunch of retired kaiju in interviews telling stories of the behind the scenes life of being part of the World Kaiju Wrestling Federation. I wonder when the Undertaker is gonna have a cameo?​

 

[Totenkindly]

I guess they finally accepted they don't have anyone with actual skills to handle the Avengers and their big movies, after so many flops.

Marvel's 'Infinity War' and 'Endgame' directors could return for 'Avengers' 5 and 6

Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of Marvel's 'Infinity War' and 'Endgame,' are reportedly in early talks to return for the fifth and sixth 'Avengers' movies.

ew.com

 

[Red Herring]

I think neither of these deserves #1 but The Godfather is still the best option among them...

 

[The Cat]

This is still one of the best movies.
Tony Shaloub's character being high through the whole movie is one of my favorite little things they do that makes it feel real.

Sam Rockwell is just the bees knees throughout too​

 

[Totenkindly]

This is still one of the best movies.
Tony Shaloub's character being high through the whole movie is one of my favorite little things they do that makes it feel real.

Sam Rockwell is just the bees knees throughout too​

Yeah, this stuff can be so hit or miss, but Galaxy Quest is pretty special. It manages to be campy and fun, yet evoke sweetness and have substantial character arcs.

And the casting is so dead-on, especially with some of the character actors they pulled into this. They all nail their roles -- even Sigourney in a blonde wig, playing against type.

I laughed pretty hard when the actor playing Balthazar eventually showed up as an "Agent Smith" style knockoff in Deadpool.