Films you've seen/film discussion

[Butts]

Today, I also saw the film Dunkirk which I enjoyed although I understand difficult to portray all the action in a film of less than 2 hours. They must have gone to great lengths to get the detail correct except........
... Towards the end of the film the train taking them home (filmed on the Swanage Railway) was composed of BR carriages and the soldiers were clearly seen sitting on BR moquete covered seating.

And amazingly they were all in no-smoking carriages :roll: - does the detail you refer to extend to smoking ?

 

[DaleCooper]

Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow - Entertaining but shallow action/sci-fi film, I'm glad I only paid £1 for the DVD. There's really only two characters, of them only the Tom Cruise character has any depth and even then not much, Emily Blunt's character is paper thin, this is criticism of the writing/direction not the actors. The rest of the cast are virtually extras. This is another one of those films that relies too heavily on special effects, I assume that's where most of the $178,000,000 budget went. The idea was done far better in Source Code. 6.0/10

 

[fowler9]

Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow - Entertaining but shallow action/sci-fi film, I'm glad I only paid £1 for the DVD. There's really only two characters, of them only the Tom Cruise character has any depth and even then not much, Emily Blunt's character is paper thin, this is criticism of the writing/direction not the actors. The rest of the cast are virtually extras. This is another one of those films that relies too heavily on special effects, I assume that's where most of the $178,000,000 budget went. The idea was done far better in Source Code. 6.0/10

Its bad when you are saying that Tom Cruise was the character with depth. I thought it was a so so Sci Fi film. It passed a couple of hours.

 

[DaleCooper]

Its bad when you are saying that Tom Cruise was the character with depth. I thought it was a so so Sci Fi film. It passed a couple of hours.

I think Tom Cruise is a good actor (see Tropic Thunder) but I can't abide him always standing on a box when appearing with women. According to IMDb both he and Emily Blunt are 5'7". He must have used two boxes when married to Nicole Kidman (5'11")

 

[fowler9]

I think Tom Cruise is a good actor (see Tropic Thunder) but I can't abide him always standing on a box when appearing with women. According to IMDb both he and Emily Blunt are 5'7". He must have used two boxes when married to Nicole Kidman (5'11")

Mate now you say it Tom Cruise is ace in Tropic Thunder. Dancing with the big hairy hands. Ha ha. It is brilliant. One of the funniest things I have seen in a film.

 

[fowler9]

Hope this is allowed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr9_GfeoCjk

 

[HSTEd]

I wasn't a big fan of Dunkirk - as is standard for Nolan the cinematography was very impressive. However there was virtually no characterisation of any of the characters and the plotting seemed paper thin.

It was more of a series of vignettes peripherally connected to Dunkirk.
I would have preferred something more on the lines of A Bridge too Far or The Longest Day.

 

[fowler9]

I wasn't a big fan of Dunkirk - as is standard for Nolan the cinematography was very impressive. However there was virtually no characterisation of any of the characters and the plotting seemed paper thin.

It was more of a series of vignettes peripherally connected to Dunkirk.
I would have preferred something more on the lines of A Bridge too Far or The Longest Day.

As I understand it it was meant to put across the fact that a hell of a lot of people were involved none of whom had a clue what was going on and everyone or at least almost everyone was just trying to survive. Giving it a driving story line with someone in control would have made it not true.

 

[HSTEd]

As I understand it it was meant to put across the fact that a hell of a lot of people were involved none of whom had a clue what was going on and everyone or at least almost everyone was just trying to survive. Giving it a driving story line with someone in control would have made it not true.

I had serious trouble working out who was who from one scene to the next unfortunately.

 

[fowler9]

I had serious trouble working out who was who from one scene to the next unfortunately.

I understand what you are saying but I think that was the idea. It isn't going to entertain everyone unfortunately. As I understand it, and I might be totally wrong, it was intended to reflect the total chaos.

 

[DarloRich]

Just been to see Dunkirk this morning.

Nolans new film is not bad but it's not nearly gory enough (12A) to depict the real horror of war.

Also theres plenty of smoke (from explosions etc) but very little from anyone having a cigarette - completely implausible :roll:

maybe they were more worried about not getting smoked than they were about getting smokes

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Just watched Kandahar (2010) on Amazon Prime. It is a Russian made film about the 1995 capture of a Russian freight plane in southern Afghanistan by the Taliban.

A slow burn, but with good characterisation and excellent cinematography which makes the climax superbly tense and exciting. Best if you don't know the original story as it keeps you unsure what is going to happen.

 

[DarloRich]

Mars Attacks Ensamble cast in a silly and enjoyable comedy filmed as an homage to 1950's B movie but despite referencing many sci fi classics it isnt as good as it should be.

Blackball rebellious young player concurs the world of bowls - middling humour

Harry Brown a violent vigilante thriller. Caine is superb as the pensioner after revenge but the premise that a now very old man ( despite serious military training) could attack, capture, torture and kill young hoodlums is a little silly.

The Iron Lady Meryl Streep is superb as the evil witch Thatcher and you have to work very hard not to fall for the attempts at humanising her. It is well acted ( for which Streep won an Oscar) and a good film but doesn't really set Thatcher and her policies in any kind of context.

Remains of the day Superb merchant Ivory production.Set in 1950s Britain and focusing on the staff of Darlington Hall during their past service to Lord Darlington who has died as a broken man, his reputation destroyed after he was exposed as a Nazi sympathizer and the impact that had on those involved with a subtext of the relationship between the oppressed butler and the housekeeper. Subtle, thoughtful, elegant, and a showcase for two great performances from Hopkins and Thompson.

Death of a gentleman Documentary focusing on takeover of the governance of cricket by ICC's 'Big Three' ( England/Australia/India) and raises several ethical questions about the current & future direction of cricket.

Hologram for a king comedy drama starring Tom Hanks as a washed-up corporate salesman, who goes to Saudi Arabia to propose a business deal. Would be pretty poor without a typical Hanks performance which lifts the rating to decent.

If.... 1968 British drama satirising English public school life leading to a violent rebellion (perhaps only in the mind of the protagonists). Famous for its depiction of a savage insurrection at a fictitious boys' boarding school and as an allegory the film has as much to say today as it did when it was first released

The Oddessa files Anglo-German 1974 espionage thriller, adaptation of the novel The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth, about a reporter's investigation of a neo-Nazi political-industrial network in post-Second World War West Germany. Jon Voight & Maximilian Schell but despite good source material the film is a plodder.

Cockneys v Zombies silly comedy zombie film. Very stupid but watchable especially pensioners led by Alan Ford fighting off the undead plus Michelle Ryan is in it.

Zombieland a much better comedy horror zombie fest. a bit of a cult classic and i think it is really smart, clever, funny and great fun

 

[TheNewNo2]

I wasn't a big fan of Dunkirk - as is standard for Nolan the cinematography was very impressive. However there was virtually no characterisation of any of the characters and the plotting seemed paper thin.

It was more of a series of vignettes peripherally connected to Dunkirk.

I more or less agree. It was technically impressive, but I can't say I thought that much of it. I rated it 3/5 "Not bad".

What I did find problematic about it was that as best I could tell there were precisely two lines spoken by women. I get that it's a war film and that there wouldn't have been many women around, but it stuck out to me.

 

[DarloRich]

In the heat of the night tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi while facing racist abuse and attacks - A classic starring Sir Sidney Poitier with the memorable line: They call me Mr. Tibbs! and the slap by the black detective to the southern racist

Clockwork Orange Kubrick directed dystopian crime film. It employs disturbing, violent images to comment on psychiatry, juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, and other social, political, and economic subjects in a near-future Britain. It is disturbing and though provoking in equal measure washed with a strange dark humour. Very good but a hard watch

Pixels sci fi comedy that is really thin and poor. Avoid

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage Terrible. What should be an exciting thriller is reduced to a steaming pile of pooh. Clunky, boring and almost unwatchable. Nicolas Cage was once a proper actor wasn't he? AVOID!

Hamburger Hill Vietnam war film. The story of the ten day assault on Hill 937, dubbed Hamburger Hill because of the bloody cost in life, in Vietnam as seen through the eyes of one company of American soldiers. Deals a great deal with brotherhood and slaughter, loss and how ordinary men deal with that - A think it is a very underrated film

Dunkirk (1958 version) proper old style British war film starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough & Bernard Lee. The story is told from the perspective of the high command, the ordinary tommy and from the civilians who helped. John Mills is very good as the corporal trying to get his squad of men home & Attenbrough turns is a great show as a timid and frightened man, but summons up enough courage to help his country out in its darkest hour - another overlooked classic?

School of Rock Jack Black led musical comedy which is enjoyable and lifted by the performance of the lead actor - fun

Mr Nicea loose film adaptation of Mr Nice, the 1997 cult autobiography by Howard Marks starring Rhys Ifans. Should have been a made for role for the star but the film is a let down. Doesn't come close to capturing the excitement of the book.

Deepwater Horizon Ensemble cast in a disaster movie about an explosion on a BP drilling rig. Not sure about this one. I don't think it gets to the heart of the disaster and deals quite superficially with the reasons behind it. Good action sequences but thin on character.

The Hunt for Red October a rogue Soviet naval captain who wishes to defect to the United States with his officers and the Soviet Navy's newest and most advanced nuclear missile submarine - I have always really liked this film even if it doesn't tax the old brain cells much. Won an Oscar!

I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama film directed by Ken Loach. It stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, who is denied employment and support allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit to work. Hayley Squires co-stars as Katie, a struggling single mother whom Daniel befriends - deeply political, moving, touching, funny, anger inducing and a cutting indictment of the benefit system. The food bank scene is deeply moving and the I am Spartacus like graffiti scene is superb. The ending, even if you expect it, is terribly sad in a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory way. That such things should happen in 21st century Britain (and they do every day) should shame us all.

"They’ll fuch you around,make it as miserable as possible – that’s the plan" - never a truer word spoken.

 

[Butts]

I more or less agree. It was technically impressive, but I can't say I thought that much of it. I rated it 3/5 "Not bad".

What I did find problematic about it was that as best I could tell there were precisely two lines spoken by women. I get that it's a war film and that there wouldn't have been many women around, but it stuck out to me.

I totally agree, one line would have been more than ample

 

[DarloRich]

What I did find problematic about it was that as best I could tell there were precisely two lines spoken by women. I get that it's a war film and that there wouldn't have been many women around, but it stuck out to me.

Short of showing the civilian impact, or the impact "in the office in Whitehall" where would the parts for women fit in a film about the 1940's? We cant project our current position backwards surely.

 

[TheNewNo2]

Short of showing the civilian impact, or the impact "in the office in Whitehall" where would the parts for women fit in a film about the 1940's? We cant project our current position backwards surely.

You're right on that, and for that reason I think it's somewhat acceptable here, but it does stick in the craw a bit. I don't believe that all films need to pass the Bechdel Test (or the Mako Mori test), but a similar number as fail Bechdel (roughly 50%) should fail a male-equivalent.

 

[HSTEd]

I more or less agree. It was technically impressive, but I can't say I thought that much of it. I rated it 3/5 "Not bad".

It was a serious missed opportunity for me I think, if they wanted to convey not knowing if you were going to escape or not they should have ditched the non-linear storytelling and followed one or maybe two groups through the entire event, trying to limit the number of cuts between them.

Kind of like the 50s Dunkirk film where the soldier is trying to get whats left of his section back to blighty. Shoot it with a single camera in the style of Band of Brothers (not shakeycam, but not stabilised).
The spitfire pilot could have provided an interesting perspective but the constant cuts between different groups and times just served to confuse the viewer - which might have been the point but it does make it hard to work out who is actually who.

 

[fowler9]

I more or less agree. It was technically impressive, but I can't say I thought that much of it. I rated it 3/5 "Not bad".

What I did find problematic about it was that as best I could tell there were precisely two lines spoken by women. I get that it's a war film and that there wouldn't have been many women around, but it stuck out to me.

Its a good point but in many conflicts that have been fought women really haven't had much of a role in the stuff the film is about (I mean the front line). I think there is plenty of scope for films about the effect of war on women and the amazing things they did, someone has to research them and write them though. I have seen a good few foreign language films about wars where women feature more prominently. One about the Warsaw Uprising springs to mind.

I hope that didn't come across as sexist because it wasn't meant to. I mean these days both the USAF and RAF have female frontline pilots and also in the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and Red Arrows. The Navy Seals have a real life GI Jane training at the moment.

 

[fowler9]

The Drop was really good, Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini are excellent (Although I had to crank the volume up to make out what Tom Hardy was saying in his (to me at least) convincing New York accent. Loved the ending which, whilst not really a twist, certainly surprised me. Well worth a watch, New York crime thriller.

Also enjoyed Black Mass. I'd not read up on it before hand and didn't realise Johnny Depp was in it, I also didn't recognise him at all at first. Ha ha. Its a true story based on the Irish and Italian mob in Boston, principally James "Whitey" Bulger played by Depp. Again well worth a watch.

Even if you don't normally like crime films these are both good enough to keep you entertained.

 

[ComUtoR]

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 2h 17mins
Sci-Fi by Luc Besson.

Think Fifth Element but ramped up in terms of colour, effects, CGI etc.

I rather enjoyed it and so did the kids. There is almost zero story and is more of a generic chase film where the protagonists run through a series of sets more elaborate than the previous. Cara Delevingne totally stole the show and very much surprised me with her acting ability.

The whole film looks gorgeous. The denizens of Alpha and this imagined universe are pretty flawless. You can really see where the $177m went. It will never make this budget back because the critics have typically panned it. If you like the genre then you will like it. It's not serious in any way and the story is thin and fragmented in places. You can almost see the script edits on the screen. I think they missed a potentially good story here.

This is based on a comic so you can understand why the look is more important than the story.

If this movie was a car, it would be a concept car.

Ignore any critic reviews and drag the kids to see it. My Daughter didn't want to go see it but enjoyed it and came out smiling.

 

[fowler9]

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 2h 17mins
Sci-Fi by Luc Besson.

Think Fifth Element but ramped up in terms of colour, effects, CGI etc.

I rather enjoyed it and so did the kids. There is almost zero story and is more of a generic chase film where the protagonists run through a series of sets more elaborate than the previous. Cara Delevingne totally stole the show and very much surprised me with her acting ability.

The whole film looks gorgeous. The denizens of Alpha and this imagined universe are pretty flawless. You can really see where the $177m went. It will never make this budget back because the critics have typically panned it. If you like the genre then you will like it. It's not serious in any way and the story is thin and fragmented in places. You can almost see the script edits on the screen. I think they missed a potentially good story here.

This is based on a comic so you can understand why the look is more important than the story.

If this movie was a car, it would be a concept car.

Ignore any critic reviews and drag the kids to see it. My Daughter didn't want to go see it but enjoyed it and came out smiling.

I'll probably give this one a go on the telly, not forking out for the cinema.

 

[DaleCooper]

I'll probably give this one a go on the telly, not forking out for the cinema.

I'll wait until I can pick up the DVD for a quid at a boot sale - hang on, no I won't because I'm sick of these plotless, characterless, CGI extravaganzas which, in my experience, are always a disappointment, like Avatar.

 

[amateur]

I don't watch any films. My concentration span is zilch.

 

[EM2]

I watched one of my guilty pleasure last night, the late '80s (actually, might be early '90s?) Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan vehicle 'Joe Versus The Volcano'.
It's a bit naff, but I do find it enjoyable, and noteworthy for the fact that Meg Ryan plays three characters!

 

[Butts]

I'll probably give this one a go on the telly, not forking out for the cinema.

What a tightwad

Get yourself a Cineworld Unlimited Pass which at £17 odd a month is a bargain.
See as many films as you like - if it's crap you can walk without feeling you've lost anything !!

 

[fowler9]

What a tightwad

Get yourself a Cineworld Unlimited Pass which at £17 odd a month is a bargain.
See as many films as you like - if it's crap you can walk without feeling you've lost anything !!

Ha ha. Cheers for the tip, there isn't one in Liverpool alas. Mind you the one on Edge Lane was awful.

 

[Butts]

Ha ha. Cheers for the tip, there isn't one in Liverpool alas. Mind you the one on Edge Lane was awful.

No problem - it is honestly the best value paid for pass I have ever had.

Two visits a month and you are in profit - sometimes I do two films in one day

 

[fowler9]

No problem - it is honestly the best value paid for pass I have ever had.

Two visits a month and you are in profit - sometimes I do two films in one day

Actually I really appreciate the advice even more. There is a new cinema being built at the retail park by the old Liverpool Airport which I can see from my desk, the new cinema is an 11 screen Cineworld one! Once it is finished I'll be able to walk it there in about 10 mins from the office. Plus I live like a 15 minute bus ride away. I shall be investing.