What a perfect film, I've been listening to a podcast called films to be buried with, one of the questions Brett Goldstein asks is what film provokes a certain memory and Gladiator is one. I went to watch it with a couple of mates and ended up pissing in a coke cup as I didn't want to miss any of it.
Oliver Reeds last act, some of the best dialogue to be heard and a proper epic feel and soundtrack
"My name is maximum decimus meridius, commander to the armies of the north, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and in this life of the next, I shall have my vengeance"
Six unrelated stories, told with typical quirkiness. It's exactly what you'd expect a Coen bros. western to be like. Funny, dark, surprising, haunting, gripping. I didn't get distracted at all, at least until the end (the final story is very much a Coen curveball) as the stories zip along and have some brilliant visuals and dialogue ("Pan shot!" / "First time?").
I was surprised that none of the stories connected, I thought something would tie them together. But that's not a criticism. A lack of female characters is probably the only mis-step in an otherwise brilliant film, and by far the best movie Netflix have yet produced.
5/5
Saw this as well. I liked it but did not love it. I am the only person I know who seems to not like the opening story with Buster.
But the story of the gold prospector played by Tom Waits has me on the edge of my seat and I could have watched a whole movie about just his character.
4/5
Buster Scruggs - 4/5
I'm not a huge Coen Bros fan, but I found the concept of this interesting. Was not a fan of the opening tale like you Napa, but the gold prospector and the Wagon Convoy were both brilliant I thought, and the last story gave you a lot to think about. Very dark at times, especially with the "Meal Ticket" story. Enjoyable but wouldn't watch again. I kept thinking I saw links though not sure if I was imagining them if i'm honest.
Ms AA and I both thoroughly enjoyed TBoBS and Ms AA is not a fan of the oater. There were some excellent performances and all the stories had their strong points, even the first.
What a perfect film, I've been listening to a podcast called films to be buried with, one of the questions Brett Goldstein asks is what film provokes a certain memory and Gladiator is one. I went to watch it with a couple of mates and ended up pissing in a coke cup as I didn't want to miss any of it.
Oliver Reeds last act, some of the best dialogue to be heard and a proper epic feel and soundtrack
"My name is maximum decimus meridius, commander to the armies of the north, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and in this life of the next, I shall have my vengeance"
10/10
Gladiator is my favourite ever film. Always watch the Director’s cut version every birthday eating a curry.
Went to watch Mary Poppins Returns yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than I expected.
Enjoyable in parts and Emily Blunt is always excellent. Think it's been mentioned already that none of the songs are particularly memorable and really didn't like the bloke cast as the "cockney" lamp lighter!
@Carter it's astonishing to think Gladiator didn't have a finished script. As I understand it, they wrote it (or rewrote it) as they were shooting! That it came out so well was luck as much as judgment. Especially as Ridley Scott movies tend to be classics when someone else is looking after the story.
@Carter it's astonishing to think Gladiator didn't have a finished script. As I understand it, they wrote it (or rewrote it) as they were shooting! That it came out so well was luck as much as judgment. Especially as Ridley Scott movies tend to be classics when someone else is looking after the story.
My old housemate told me Joaquin Phoenix fell apart as he didn't feel he could perform to the level necessary in the company he was with, he looks so fucked in most of his scenes because he was allegedly, Russel Crowe kept getting him pissed to build up his confidence. The relevance to my former housemate is purely because he was very into film and the background of it when I was a bit more of a pure consumer rather than an appreciator which I'd like to think I am now
The Favourite Depressing as fuck film about two women vying for attention of Queen Anne. This was sold in commercials as a saucy and fun power struggle but in reality it is a grim, not fun study of politics. The best thing is Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne, who deserves an Oscar Nomination. But unless costume period pieces with a deep sense of seriousness and low light are your thing, I would skip it. 5.0/10.0
Went to watch Mary Poppins Returns yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. Much better than I expected.
I took my wife to see it the other day. It was certainly well made capturing the spirit of the original and following the same narrative pattern, but I felt the songs were a little weaker and so was the story. That doesn't make it bad, and I'm sure many will love it, but I found it disapointing overall.
Seen a lot of below average blockbusters recently!
Robin Hood **
Pretty bad. Seems to embrace how stupid it is. And a lot of it is really, really, really stupid. I didn’t hate it, it was mildly entertaining. But it makes Prince of Thieves look like a Ken Burns documentary.
Mortal Engines **
Don’t know much about the book, but it was painfully obvious that it was an adaptation in that the subplots were half baked. You could almost see where cuts had been made. It might have been ok if the final act was decent, but the villain turns into a generic megalomaniac and it’s all rather obvious. Looks impressive, and one character in particular was really interesting. Worst thing is, I’ve no idea who it’s aimed at. It’s too violent for kids and too childish for adults.
Halloween ***
Decent. Is what it is. No surprises really.
Venom **
Nowhere near as bad as I expected. It’s shit, just not atrociously shit. Tom Hardy was surprisingly irritating, partly because of his accent, and partly because the character was really obnoxious. Upgrade is a low budget movie from this year with a similar plot, and is far more interesting, violent and, frankly, fun.
The Favourite Depressing as fuck film about two women vying for attention of Queen Anne. This was sold in commercials as a saucy and fun power struggle but in reality it is a grim, not fun study of politics. The best thing is Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne, who deserves an Oscar Nomination. But unless costume period pieces with a deep sense of seriousness and low light are your thing, I would skip it. 5.0/10.0
I hope my taste is different from yours, @NapaAddick, as I've been looking forward to seeing this since I caught the trailer a few weeks ago. It seemed like a cross between Anne Boleyn and Bottom. I've enjoyed other films by this director, Lobster and Sacred Deer, for all their weirdness, and Olivia Colman is always excellent, Rachel Weisz always very watchable. I'll try to catch it in the next few days and will add a review.
Watched the latest installment of the Star Wars films, The Last Jedi. It felt like the budget was well spent on the direction, effects and cinematography but man the storyline just didn’t grab me and I couldn’t get emotionally involved with the characters that were introduced by JJ Abrahams in the Force Awakens. The comedic tones in the film were very weird too and contradicted the serious drama it was trying to portray.
Just tried to watch Black Mirror: Bandersnatch on Netflix which you are supposed to dictate by pressing options through the film, changing which way the story goes . It’s Bullshit . The whole concept doesn’t work . It always directs you back to the same question if you pick the wrong option which is maybe the point but ultimately it’s just annoying. Avoid
The Favourite Depressing as fuck film about two women vying for attention of Queen Anne. This was sold in commercials as a saucy and fun power struggle but in reality it is a grim, not fun study of politics. The best thing is Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne, who deserves an Oscar Nomination. But unless costume period pieces with a deep sense of seriousness and low light are your thing, I would skip it. 5.0/10.0
I hope my taste is different from yours, @NapaAddick, as I've been looking forward to seeing this since I caught the trailer a few weeks ago. It seemed like a cross between Anne Boleyn and Bottom. I've enjoyed other films by this director, Lobster and Sacred Deer, for all their weirdness, and Olivia Colman is always excellent, Rachel Weisz always very watchable. I'll try to catch it in the next few days and will add a review.
Saw it last night. It was ok but didn't quite live up to the hype. That said excellent cinematography and the acting by the leads was superb. It just didn't have that intangible magic to make it great. I gave it 7/10 my two accompanists both gave it 8/10. It has made me want to find out more about this period in British history. Which will lead to some enjoyable reading I'm sure.
Watched First Man at home last Sunday. I didn't know Armstrong was such a private/reserved person. The film was quite sad, and the score notably so too. Very different from other traditional space hero films. But I think it is a good film. 8/10. (Much better than La La Land which I thought was simple and over-rated.)
At first Light. Thought this was going to be another Teenager saves the world flick. Surprised that the story actually captured my imagination and kept me entertained for 90 minutes. Decent little sci fi film. 6.5/10
Watched First Man at home last Sunday. I didn't know Armstrong was such a private/reserved person. The film was quite sad, and the score notably so too. Very different from other traditional space hero films. But I think it is a good film. 8/10. (Much better than La La Land which I thought was simple and over-rated.)
Very sombre film but well acted 6.5/10
Yep my dad watched it with me and said it was too somber.
I thought it was excellent - the sombre mood reflected Armstrong's personality. It got across the danger and claustrophobia of space travel better than any film I've seen.
Finally watched The Shape of Water. Not terrible but how that won best picture I'll never know. Del Toro is definitely overrated
THE worst film ever to win best picture in my opinion.
Million Dollar Baby for me. Then Crash and Shakespeare In Love (ahead of Saving Private Ryan!).
I thought Crash was surprisingly good.... Shakespeare in Love though was indeed very average.
It must be my age, but I'm shocked that no-one mentions Forrest Gump or in Titanic in such illustrious company.
By no means the best films of the year, and, in the case of Titanic, utter shite.
But, then again, I'm a miserable oul fecker.
[Edit. I've only dipped in for the first time in a while, and apologise if I've missed anyone rightly slagging the two off....]
I was only 10, 11 when I saw Titanic in the cinema. I must say I loved it. I haven't watched it again since. I'm not sure if I'd like it now. But I play the soundtrack sometimes.
Not a fan of Forest Gump either.
Oh you just had to rub in the fact that you're a young person, didn't you!!!!
I now feel ancient.
Mostly because I am, obviously...
Which is a good thing, as it gives me an excuse for my afternoon naps.
Thought the script for Shakespeare in Love was superb. I'd have to look at other films out that year to see if I liked them more.
Despised Titanic. It's the kind of film I think should be an ensemble piece. The Billy Zane, psycho boyfriend, plot really turned me off. In fact I thought it showed a real lack of respect.
Comments
Great fun, pretty silly but a good use of 90 minutes
Watch it for what it is and it's a solid 7/10
A very good cast all playing it seriously tongue in cheek
What a perfect film, I've been listening to a podcast called films to be buried with, one of the questions Brett Goldstein asks is what film provokes a certain memory and Gladiator is one. I went to watch it with a couple of mates and ended up pissing in a coke cup as I didn't want to miss any of it.
Oliver Reeds last act, some of the best dialogue to be heard and a proper epic feel and soundtrack
"My name is maximum decimus meridius, commander to the armies of the north, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and in this life of the next, I shall have my vengeance"
10/10
Two things. Glad to hear Arsene Wenger still gets namechecked. The lion cub is cute as hell.
Interesting animation but overall a bit of a disappointment. The plot was too busy for my liking and the film didn't live up to its reviews. 6/10
Agree about the cockerney lamplighter who I thought was given the instruction to have at least as bad an accent as Divk Van Dyke in the original.
Depressing as fuck film about two women vying for attention of Queen Anne. This was sold in commercials as a saucy and fun power struggle but in reality it is a grim, not fun study of politics. The best thing is Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne, who deserves an Oscar Nomination. But unless costume period pieces with a deep sense of seriousness and low light are your thing, I would skip it.
5.0/10.0
Robin Hood **
Pretty bad. Seems to embrace how stupid it is. And a lot of it is really, really, really stupid. I didn’t hate it, it was mildly entertaining. But it makes Prince of Thieves look like a Ken Burns documentary.
Mortal Engines **
Don’t know much about the book, but it was painfully obvious that it was an adaptation in that the subplots were half baked. You could almost see where cuts had been made. It might have been ok if the final act was decent, but the villain turns into a generic megalomaniac and it’s all rather obvious. Looks impressive, and one character in particular was really interesting. Worst thing is, I’ve no idea who it’s aimed at. It’s too violent for kids and too childish for adults.
Halloween ***
Decent. Is what it is. No surprises really.
Venom **
Nowhere near as bad as I expected. It’s shit, just not atrociously shit. Tom Hardy was surprisingly irritating, partly because of his accent, and partly because the character was really obnoxious. Upgrade is a low budget movie from this year with a similar plot, and is far more interesting, violent and, frankly, fun.
I'll try to catch it in the next few days and will add a review.
Avoid
2 out of 10
That said excellent cinematography and the acting by the leads was superb. It just didn't have that intangible magic to make it great.
I gave it 7/10 my two accompanists both gave it 8/10.
It has made me want to find out more about this period in British history.
Which will lead to some enjoyable reading I'm sure.
By no means the best films of the year, and, in the case of Titanic, utter shite.
But, then again, I'm a miserable oul fecker.
[Edit. I've only dipped in for the first time in a while, and apologise if I've missed anyone rightly slagging the two off....]
I now feel ancient.
Mostly because I am, obviously...
Which is a good thing, as it gives me an excuse for my afternoon naps.
Despised Titanic. It's the kind of film I think should be an ensemble piece. The Billy Zane, psycho boyfriend, plot really turned me off. In fact I thought it showed a real lack of respect.