Random Movie Thoughts Thread

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I first saw Scarface a few years after it came out. I was pretty shocked by it as a teenager. We have seen the Miami coke dealer story many times since but it started it all and was brilliant. Oliver Stone's script was based upon research in Miami with feds, prosecutors, cops, drug dealers, drug smugglers, etc.
It still mostly holds up and is a good movie. Pacino is awesome, explosive and intense, and very different from his Godfather character of a few years earlier.
Shawshank was about friendship more than anything else. Good acting jobs. The story might have been better with a guilty hero, but hard to have a lot of sympathy for a guy who really killed his wife.

Undoubtedly not. I think I should rewatch Shawshank at some point in the near future. I relate to things emotionally in a different way these days than when I saw this last, which was probably over 20 years ago.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

Undoubtedly not. I think I should rewatch Shawshank at some point in the near future. I relate to things emotionally in a different way these days than when I saw this last, which was probably over 20 years ago.

I find it very interesting rewatching films I used to love. I find that I still love some, but there are some I suddenly hate. One of those was "Glen Gary Glen Ross", which I loved the first time and watched numerous times after. I recently rewatched it and decided that I hated all the characters and every one was a pathetic loser, including Alec Baldwin's and Al Pacino's.

 

[Totenkindly]

I think Pulp Fiction is the best of the three. I've seen it the most recently out of all of them. I don't remember me loving or hating Forrest Gump when I saw it, but I think as I learned more about the history of what it was covering, it began to bother me. I tend to see it as a list of Boomer cliches, sort of an annoying cinematic "We Didn't Start the Fire." This is probably unfair, and I should give it a rewatch before going on a long-winded rant about why I don't like it.

While I think there is some interesting stuff in there (mostly the "Captain Dan" sequences), i think that is a pretty apt analogy and why much of it now scans as fluff.

I don't like the Jenny hate that some people espouse; she was an abused kid and grew up big problems and a lack of self-worth leading her to make a lot of mistakes. I think she's an interesting character too.

My favorite King adaption to date is The Shining (RIP Shelley Duvall), which everyone knows King hated. I love atmospheric horror, especially when it centers around isolation. I haven't read very much King so I can't comment on the divergences from the books

Yeah, I have trouble thinking of another King adaptation that is actually a good film but is a terrible representation of most of the book. I mean, it captures some of it, but King's issue was how Jack and his resolution was different. It was Kubrick doing his spin on King.

I can tell you that "The Lawnmower Man" is both a terrible adaptation AND a terrible movie as well, lol; there's a number of those out there.
And that the original "The Running Man" is a lousy adaptation of the book but has its cult fans if they enjoy campy Swartzenegger films.

Pulp Fiction though.... That movie was way ahead of its time. There's just the structure of it. Now lots of movies do nonlinear storytelling, but I don't think they were doing it too much before Pulp Fiction came around. I think the story and characters must also have been unusual. Jules is my favorite, as he must be for most people who watch the movie. The only real issue is that there's something Tarantino decided to do in the movie, and I have to wonder why he thought it would be a good idea to do that. Everyone who has seen the movie probably knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I think Pulp Fiction is the most important for cinema, of the three. I think it showed a different approach to storytelling and generated a TON of imitators over the next few years in particular, and people are still learning from it today.

I also watched The Creator today. I enjoyed it, although I saw a certain plot twist coming.

I really enjoyed the Creator, esp when it came out and I was feeling like all big blockbuster films just sucked ass at the time. I so much wish parts of it were at least a bit MORE solid (there are both cheesy and unnuanced moments in it) -- but it has a heart and soul at least and it made me FEEL something. It was also a film that actually looked like it was made on $200 million but I think only had an $80 million budget, compared to all this overbudgeted Disney stuff that is totally the opposite.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

Pulp Fiction definitely changed cinema. It might be Taratino's best work. He just got too full of himself after this, and while a lot of his later work is entertaining, it isn't as important in film and isn't as good.
Samuel L Jackson is at his best, but it really is near the beginning of his career success. Travolta was a has-been but was ultra cool and had a great new career. Bruce Willis is peak performance Bruce. Michael Clarke Duncan was new but held his own. The script was great.
The '90s were a great film making era. So many great films and most still look great because they were film not digital.

 

[Totenkindly]

I think you might have meant Ving Rhames.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I think you might have meant Ving Rhames.

Right.

 

[SensEye]

Pulp Fiction definitely changed cinema. It might be Taratino's best work. He just got too full of himself after this, and while a lot of his later work is entertaining, it isn't as important in film and isn't as good.

I think Reservoir Dogs might have been better, it also did the non-linear thing. Both were excellent films.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I think Reservoir Dogs might have been better, it also did the non-linear thing. Both were excellent films.

I love Reservoir Dogs. I saw it orginally at midnight showing in Hollywood as that was the only way to see it back 30 years ago. It is a great movie. I put it behind Pulp Fiction, but it is an amazing first film for a new director.

I also True Romance, which is a Tony Scott directed Taratino script from the same era. I would love for QT to make his own version, but I don't know if it would be as good.

 

[Totenkindly]

... and now, the movie event of the century roflmao

 

[Totenkindly]

I love Reservoir Dogs. I saw it orginally at midnight showing in Hollywood as that was the only way to see it back 30 years ago. It is a great movie. I put it behind Pulp Fiction, but it is an amazing first film for a new director.

Yeah, I think it's rougher than Pulp Fiction but still a really decent film and representative of Tarantino's style.

I also True Romance, which is a Tony Scott directed Taratino script from the same era. I would love for QT to make his own version, but I don't know if it would be as good.

I still need to watch that. I might have actually bought it last year (I'll have to check), but just hadn't watched it yet.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I still need to watch that. I might have actually bought it last year (I'll have to check), but just hadn't watched it yet.

I loved it at the time. It still holds up. Look for a young Brad Pitt and a young Val Kilmer, among the many great actors. Samuel L. Jackson even has a very short cameo, though his role in the script was slightly bigger.

It could have been non-linear and might have been written that way, but that isn't how Tony Scott did it. He still got some great scenes out of a talented cast.

 

[SensEye]

Loved True Romance too. Re-watched not too long ago when it showed up on cable TV somewhere. Definitely holds up.

Memento is another great movie if you like the non-linear thing.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

While I think there is some interesting stuff in there (mostly the "Captain Dan" sequences), i think that is a pretty apt analogy and why much of it now scans as fluff.

That's what I was thinking, that the Gary Sinise stuff might make more sense to me and maybe hold up better than the rest of the movie.

I don't like the Jenny hate that some people espouse; she was an abused kid and grew up big problems and a lack of self-worth leading her to make a lot of mistakes. I think she's an interesting character too.


Yeah, I have trouble thinking of another King adaptation that is actually a good film but is a terrible representation of most of the book. I mean, it captures some of it, but King's issue was how Jack and his resolution was different. It was Kubrick doing his spin on King.

I can tell you that "The Lawnmower Man" is both a terrible adaptation AND a terrible movie as well, lol; there's a number of those out there.

What can I say about the Lawnmower Man? The movie is terrible, and I love all the cheezy early 90s CGI. I also love the conception of what virtual reality would be like, which everyone had back then. I loved when the Dean started channeling his inner Jobe on Community, that was great. "Jesus wept!"

I really enjoyed the Creator, esp when it came out and I was feeling like all big blockbuster films just sucked ass at the time. I so much wish parts of it were at least a bit MORE solid (there are both cheesy and unnuanced moments in it) -- but it has a heart and soul at least and it made me FEEL something. It was also a film that actually looked like it was made on $200 million but I think only had an $80 million budget, compared to all this overbudgeted Disney stuff that is totally the opposite.

Was that when all those Phase IV Marvel movies were coming out that, from what I heard from you and others, left something to be desired?

I also think it is important to note that I recognized one of the movies Alpha-Omega was watching from MST3k. It was Invasion of the Neptune Men, with our intrepid hero Space Chief!

The Creator looked incredible. I thought the futuristic cities in particular were well realized. I found myself wanting to luxuriate over every detail to try and learn more about that world.

When I think about it, I'm reminded of The Fountain to some extent, because that was also kind of a mythological story, with both hope and tragedy coming into play during the story.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I like them because they tend to center on unconventional families, bring up considerations of loyalty vs legality, kings and pirates, The importance of respect, integrity, and situational awareness, the dangers of hubris, and the complications that come from living in a bloody world against the narrative.

It seems that they often break their own rules. There's no honor among thieves, except maybe pirates from what I've read, and piracy was preferable to the British Navy, in any case.

 

[Totenkindly]

That's what I was thinking, that the Gary Sinise stuff might make more sense to me and maybe hold up better than the rest of the movie.

I think it does? Because otherwise it's just a bunch of tall tales about all the amazing things Forrest has done in his life. (Yawn.) Captain Dan actually has a story arc, that might be even better defined than Jenny's.

Was that when all those Phase IV Marvel movies were coming out that, from what I heard from you and others, left something to be desired?

Possibly, as only Disney could really sink that amount of money into countless shows and films (all of which were pretty underwhelming and/or amateur).

When I think about it, I'm reminded of The Fountain to some extent, because that was also kind of a mythological story, with both hope and tragedy coming into play during the story.

I kinda put them in different categories a bit, The Creator leans way into the scifi element on a level like District 9, where as The Fountain is more a psychological fantasy film despite a few scifi elements.

I actually like The Fountain even better than the Creator, because it is both gorgeous AND has really nuanced character arcs and philosophical points to be made. I cry every time (every time!) I watch that film, and sometimes end up sobbing during the closing credits, whereas The Creator doesn't quite move me that much. It's a paen and exploration of our desire to survive vs the inevitability of human mortality, and how do we come to peace with that?

But it is definitely a film that was made for a lower budget ($35 million?) just like The Creator, where the shots of the tree in its various guises + also those great moments like when Tomas is looking at Isabella inside her throne area are just absolutely stunning. If they ever released a polished 4K version of this film (on physical media, it's only been in blu-ray), I would buy it immediately.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I kinda put them in different categories a bit, The Creator leans way into the scifi element on a level like District 9, where as The Fountain is more a psychological fantasy film despite a few scifi elements.

I actually like The Fountain even better than the Creator, because it is both gorgeous AND has really nuanced character arcs and philosophical points to be made. I cry every time (every time!) I watch that film, and sometimes end up sobbing during the closing credits, whereas The Creator doesn't quite move me that much. It's a paen and exploration of our desire to survive vs the inevitability of human mortality, and how do we come to peace with that?

But it is definitely a film that was made for a lower budget ($35 million?) just like The Creator, where the shots of the tree in its various guises + also those great moments like when Tomas is looking at Isabella inside her throne area are just absolutely stunning. If they ever released a polished 4K version of this film (on physical media, it's only been in blu-ray), I would buy it immediately.

I suppose I would put them in different categories, too. But there were things I saw as similarities; one reminded me of the other. It's about the quest to save or reunite with the lover who you can't save, and there's something beautiful and tragic about the failure of that. I suppose the ending of The Creator is upbeat because at least others benefit from it; whereas The Fountain suggests it will be forever out of our reach. They both had a mythic dimension to them, too.

 

[Totenkindly]

I finished Hit Man today (I've been watching it on and off). It's a comedy and a Linklater film, so it's got an amicable easy-going charm to it, although I don't really feel like it has much depth and remains mostly on the surface, however.

I think it will be an important film (aside from it not sucking) in the sense it really is helping to catapult Glen Powell into the public eye. Netflix is a huge venue, a lot of people have seen this film, and it + Twister which just released will get him a LOT of attention. I expect him to get even more opportunities over the next few years because of his 2024 performances.

Along with being easy on the eyes, I think he really shows his skills here, as he's playing an undercover police officer and gets a lot of different opportunities in the film to portray different characters -- and he's actually really good. His two primary characters ("himself" + Ron the tough version of a hit man) really show different ends of his range; he can play the nerdy milquetoast intellectual quiet guy, and he is also believable as a kind of frightening tough guy who kills people for a living, although that's just a cover story since his job is to go to stings to get the goods on people trying to hire a professional killer. The main contention occurs when he goes to one such meetup, feels bad for the woman (who he is also attracted to), and manages to convince her (without blatantly blowing the sting) to not put a hit on her abusive husband and just to leave him instead.... and everything that unfolds after.

The film itself was enjoyable but kind of unengaging until the irony of the last 10-15 minutes, whereupon it actually does stick the landing nicely.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I finished Hit Man today (I've been watching it on and off). It's a comedy and a Linklater film, so it's got an amicable easy-going charm to it, although I don't really feel like it has much depth and remains mostly on the surface, however.

I think it will be an important film (aside from it not sucking) in the sense it really is helping to catapult Glen Powell into the public eye. Netflix is a huge venue, a lot of people have seen this film, and it + Twister which just released will get him a LOT of attention. I expect him to get even more opportunities over the next few years because of his 2024 performances.

Along with being easy on the eyes, I think he really shows his skills here, as he's playing an undercover police officer and gets a lot of different opportunities in the film to portray different characters -- and he's actually really good. His two primary characters ("himself" + Ron the tough version of a hit man) really show different ends of his range; he can play the nerdy milquetoast intellectual quiet guy, and he is also believable as a kind of frightening tough guy who kills people for a living, although that's just a cover story since his job is to go to stings to get the goods on people trying to hire a professional killer. The main contention occurs when he goes to one such meetup, feels bad for the woman (who he is also attracted to), and manages to convince her (without blatantly blowing the sting) to not put a hit on her abusive husband and just to leave him instead.... and everything that unfolds after.

The film itself was enjoyable but kind of unengaging until the irony of the last 10-15 minutes, whereupon it actually does stick the landing nicely.

I liked it. Powell is a good new leading man with good talent and range. He really stood out in Top Gun Maverick and I am glad he is making it now.

 

[Totenkindly]

Best part of the New Mutants film (casting)-- fight me.

 

[The Cat]

Juliette Lewis is always a good choice in a movie. Her voice work is always a treat, whether singing your soul out through your ears in Strange Days, or rasping like the Kurgan in this.
Dinklage never comes up short either. He kicks ass in everything he does.
Like the look of the cast, diversity really brings westerns to life, want more westerns, from more perspectives, it could be the next best thing to time travel with enough different stories.
Looks like there could be some horror/supernatural elements suggested in the Trailer, and Lord knows, I love me some weird west, even more than steampunk.

Tubi is clearly going places, I might should check it out.​