Watched Eternals last night. Its OK but not as good as a lot of the previous Marvel stuff. The mid credits introduction of a couple of new characters was pretty awful in terms of effects and acting!
Think Marvel films in general are going through a bit of a lull. That's possibly due to saturation with there being so many and the fact they're trying to introduce new sets of characters you aren't really invested in.
Watched Eternals last night. Its OK but not as good as a lot of the previous Marvel stuff. The mid credits introduction of a couple of new characters was pretty awful in terms of effects and acting!
Think Marvel films in general are going through a bit of a lull. That's possibly due to saturation with there being so many and the fact they're trying to introduce new sets of characters you aren't really invested in.
Releasing all their decent content on Disney+
Doesn't help either that since Black Widow it's been two new films from Marvel - From December onwards (Spider-Man looks like it should be huge) there are eight planned releases
Six of them will be sequels which I imagine will largely follow on from Loki and WandaVision, whilst one will be the Fantastic Four reboot (again!!).
This period with Shang Chi and Etermals was always going to be the difficult section in the next phase of their Movies.
Finally got around to seeing Dune. Missed my chance at IMAX so went to my local Odeon having just moved house. The screen was bloody awful. Been really spoilt with having a Luxe up the road for the last two years.
I soon regretted it. Dune needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Really enjoyed the film however. Villeneuve is not afraid to pace a film slowly which I love about his stuff. And as a more show-don’t-tell style of director, it was fascinating to see him have to build a huge mythology early on without ramming the exposition down our throats. It was a bit heavy handed at times but once he got past the backstory stuff I thought it was riveting.
Definitely odd to release what’s clearly an unfinished story without really communicating that it’s intended to be 2 or 3 parts (it’s about as standalone as Fellowship of the Ring was). The ending in that sense is sudden, although it did feel like a natural pause point.
About 2/3 of the way through the book Dune (and knowing where the film ends) I have to say that there's not really a "natural" end point in the same way that Fellowship had a climax to its own plot whilst still being one part of the bigger story.
I think the point they chose is as good a choice as they could go for given that there is a bit of an internal time skip anyway, so actors looking older etc in the next one would not be a deal breaker.
Just seen the latest Wes Anderson film The French Dispatch - I really enjoyed it and loved the visuals.
If you're not a Wes Anderson fan you'll obviously hate it given his style of filmaking.
I saw this on Saturday and enjoyed it somewhat. I wouldn't call myself a 'fan' of Wes but my girlfriend is and she really enjoyed it. Just left me wondering what the point was really, but that's just how his films are.
Do enjoy the visuals and style though, especially in the final segment
I'm not afraid to admit that I was really looking forward to this one! An unashamedly nostalgic sequel/ reboot that director Jason Reitman (son of Ghostbusters director Ivan) is as qualified to make as anyone, and his love for and familiarity with the franchise is what got it made.
The first hour is a big tease, almost like a trailer for the movie inside the movie. It only really makes sense if someone put a blindfold on you and didn't tell you what movie you were about to watch. Still, the slow burn before finally unleashing the big hitters - the proton packs, music, Gozer and so on - does work.
Some of the characters are horrifically under-written. Not least the mother of the kids who, I thought, were cast a little too young and acted like adults (the kid called Podcast delivering exposition that could have been written for a 60-year-old was a bit much). That said, the girl playing Egon's granddaughter (McKenna Grace) was outstanding. A genuine talent.
They deal really well with the death of Harold Ramis, and I must admit I got a little choked up at one point.
It has some flaws - It delves into a more slapstick tone at some points which didn't quite fit, and I think it might have been chopped up a bit in the edit suite which makes the odd subplot fail to pay off. Also, there's a frustrating lack of people around the town who aren't the main characters. There are two or three other things that I really liked but that would require spoilers and I can't remember how to do spoilers on here!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I hope it's a hit, because I'd happily watch more of this.
Caught The French Dispatch last night. As ever with his movies it will divide viewers. I am a fan of Wes Anderson, except for the Life Aquatic...which I hated, but I really, really enjoyed it. It's unmistakably a Wes Anderson film - if you knew nothing about it, you'd know it was his work within 30 secs. And for me, thats not bad thing.
Yes, it's essentially a collection of short stories built around one character but I still enjoyed them. All the usual actors you'd expect in a Wes Anderson film are there and, having deliberately avoid any reviews, etc. I really enjoyed the "surprise" cameos and appearances too.
Don't bother if you don't like his films, it won't change your mind, but recommended if you do.
Caught The French Dispatch last night. As ever with his movies it will divide viewers. I am a fan of Wes Anderson, except for the Life Aquatic...which I hated, but I really, really enjoyed it. It's unmistakably a Wes Anderson film - if you knew nothing about it, you'd know it was his work within 30 secs. And for me, thats not bad thing.
Yes, it's essentially a collection of short stories built around one character but I still enjoyed them. All the usual actors you'd expect in a Wes Anderson film are there and, having deliberately avoid any reviews, etc. I really enjoyed the "surprise" cameos and appearances too.
Don't bother if you don't like his films, it won't change your mind, but recommended if you do.
been stuck indoors with (a supposedly) non-covid virus .. chance to catch up .. most striking so far ? ..
from a while ago 'The Death of Stalin' .. superbly set and acted satire .. also despite (perhaps even because of) the comedy, a film that shows up like not many films and documentaries had done before, the horror and terror endured by the Russian people at the hands of grubby little Uncle Joe and his psychotic, drunken acolytes and henchmen
been stuck indoors with (a supposedly) non-covid virus .. chance to catch up .. most striking so far ? ..
from a while ago 'The Death of Stalin' .. superbly set and acted satire .. also despite (perhaps even because of) the comedy, a film that shows up like not many films and documentaries had done before, the horror and terror endured by the Russian people at the hands of grubby little Uncle Joe and his psychotic, drunken acolytes and henchmen
been stuck indoors with (a supposedly) non-covid virus .. chance to catch up .. most striking so far ? ..
from a while ago 'The Death of Stalin' .. superbly set and acted satire .. also despite (perhaps even because of) the comedy, a film that shows up like not many films and documentaries had done before, the horror and terror endured by the Russian people at the hands of grubby little Uncle Joe and his psychotic, drunken acolytes and henchmen
great film
Indeed.
Just off out to see Ghostbusters: afterlife at Catford Mews.
I'm not afraid to admit that I was really looking forward to this one! An unashamedly nostalgic sequel/ reboot that director Jason Reitman (son of Ghostbusters director Ivan) is as qualified to make as anyone, and his love for and familiarity with the franchise is what got it made.
The first hour is a big tease, almost like a trailer for the movie inside the movie. It only really makes sense if someone put a blindfold on you and didn't tell you what movie you were about to watch. Still, the slow burn before finally unleashing the big hitters - the proton packs, music, Gozer and so on - does work.
Some of the characters are horrifically under-written. Not least the mother of the kids who, I thought, were cast a little too young and acted like adults (the kid called Podcast delivering exposition that could have been written for a 60-year-old was a bit much). That said, the girl playing Egon's granddaughter (McKenna Grace) was outstanding. A genuine talent.
They deal really well with the death of Harold Ramis, and I must admit I got a little choked up at one point.
It has some flaws - It delves into a more slapstick tone at some points which didn't quite fit, and I think it might have been chopped up a bit in the edit suite which makes the odd subplot fail to pay off. Also, there's a frustrating lack of people around the town who aren't the main characters. There are two or three other things that I really liked but that would require spoilers and I can't remember how to do spoilers on here!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I hope it's a hit, because I'd happily watch more of this.
4/6.5
Must admit I was looking forward to it and I loved it, had a tear in my eye, maybe two tears as I missed the Plymouth game too but there’s still time for that to get fucked up 😱👻
Not a recent film by a long shot, being 1963, but I watched The Small World of Sammy Lee again. One of the great London location films, mostly Soho and a bit of the East End, and a career-best performance by Anthony Newley. A lot of people have said that Uncut Gems is basically a remake of this.
Watched The Last Duel last night. Had high expectations with the director (Ridley Scott) and cast (Adam Driver & Matt Damon) but parts of it grated. It's the same story told from three different people's point of view, but the differences in the POVs are only subtle, so you end up replaying the same scenes three times and with only very subtle differences, and it's incredibly dull to watch the same scenes over and over again.
It does deal with some interesting themes and the performances are good.
Watched The Last Duel last night. Had high expectations with the director (Ridley Scott) and cast (Adam Driver & Matt Damon) but parts of it grated. It's the same story told from three different people's point of view, but the differences in the POVs are only subtle, so you end up replaying the same scenes three times and with only very subtle differences, and it's incredibly dull to watch the same scenes over and over again.
It does deal with some interesting themes and the performances are good.
I enjoyed it and agree with the criticism of it too
Matt Damon was brilliant, Ben Affleck was hamming it right up and had me laughing out loud at some points. Adam Driver plays a bad guy really well and Jodie Comer was good too but her accent kept going all over the place which made me laugh a few times but portrayed the character very well
The new Spider-Man is very good, genuinely got some brilliant moments and goes in directions I didn't expect.
Also BIG potential spoilers ahead...
That said you really need to have seen at least the first two to get the most out of it and preferably the other spider man films (e.g. Maguire and Garfield) too
Comments
Six of them will be sequels which I imagine will largely follow on from Loki and WandaVision, whilst one will be the Fantastic Four reboot (again!!).
This period with Shang Chi and Etermals was always going to be the difficult section in the next phase of their Movies.
I soon regretted it. Dune needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
I think the point they chose is as good a choice as they could go for given that there is a bit of an internal time skip anyway, so actors looking older etc in the next one would not be a deal breaker.
Do enjoy the visuals and style though, especially in the final segment
I'm not afraid to admit that I was really looking forward to this one! An unashamedly nostalgic sequel/ reboot that director Jason Reitman (son of Ghostbusters director Ivan) is as qualified to make as anyone, and his love for and familiarity with the franchise is what got it made.
The first hour is a big tease, almost like a trailer for the movie inside the movie. It only really makes sense if someone put a blindfold on you and didn't tell you what movie you were about to watch. Still, the slow burn before finally unleashing the big hitters - the proton packs, music, Gozer and so on - does work.
Some of the characters are horrifically under-written. Not least the mother of the kids who, I thought, were cast a little too young and acted like adults (the kid called Podcast delivering exposition that could have been written for a 60-year-old was a bit much). That said, the girl playing Egon's granddaughter (McKenna Grace) was outstanding. A genuine talent.
They deal really well with the death of Harold Ramis, and I must admit I got a little choked up at one point.
It has some flaws - It delves into a more slapstick tone at some points which didn't quite fit, and I think it might have been chopped up a bit in the edit suite which makes the odd subplot fail to pay off. Also, there's a frustrating lack of people around the town who aren't the main characters. There are two or three other things that I really liked but that would require spoilers and I can't remember how to do spoilers on here!
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I hope it's a hit, because I'd happily watch more of this.
4/6.5
Yes, it's essentially a collection of short stories built around one character but I still enjoyed them. All the usual actors you'd expect in a Wes Anderson film are there and, having deliberately avoid any reviews, etc. I really enjoyed the "surprise" cameos and appearances too.
Don't bother if you don't like his films, it won't change your mind, but recommended if you do.
from a while ago 'The Death of Stalin' .. superbly set and acted satire .. also despite (perhaps even because of) the comedy, a film that shows up like not many films and documentaries had done before, the horror and terror endured by the Russian people at the hands of grubby little Uncle Joe and his psychotic, drunken acolytes and henchmen
New Disney animation about a displaced family with magical powers. Very enjoyable watch with a good soundtrack.
Thought it was excellent - loved the way it was shot and an excellent cast. One of my favourite soundtracks.
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It does deal with some interesting themes and the performances are good.
Matt Damon was brilliant, Ben Affleck was hamming it right up and had me laughing out loud at some points. Adam Driver plays a bad guy really well and Jodie Comer was good too but her accent kept going all over the place which made me laugh a few times but portrayed the character very well
Very strange but I enjoyed the darkness of it and considering the subject matter is a mythical monster, the acting was pretty good.
Also BIG potential spoilers ahead...
So, I'm not sure I want to tempt fate and end up disliking this one which would ruin the memory of the first one.
I love the original, didnt think the new one added anything and there was a lack of chemistry between Tony and Maria 7/10