The Official Movie Discussion Thread

[guyver3]

Just got home from No Way Home and man was it a fun movie. Not spoiling anything about who is or isn’t in it I will say Dafoe and Molina were so good it makes me even more irked that they died in their movies. There is some great banter and rewarding character moments, my only real complaint fresh out of the theater was some of the jokes before the big final fight were just eye rolling but I’m sure others will enjoy them.

[BHK1978]

Just got home from No Way Home and man was it a fun movie. Not spoiling anything about who is or isn’t in it I will say Dafoe and Molina were so good it makes me even more irked that they died in their movies. There is some great banter and rewarding character moments, my only real complaint fresh out of the theater was some of the jokes before the big final fight were just eye rolling but I’m sure others will enjoy them.

 

I really dislike Tom Holland as Spider-Man. Maybe not as much as the weirdo who plays the Flash in the Justice League movie, but yeah to me Tom Holland is just not good in the role.

 

I saw a headline the other day that said something along the lines of, "A new Matrix movie is coming out. But do we really need it?" I think the better question is, why were any of them made. To me, the Matrix, alongside Avatar, is one of the most overhyped series there is. I always felt that it was all style and very little substance when it came to an actual story. Yes I do understand the story but I still do not think it is good.

[Jaysin]

Someone peed in your cheerios today

[The Swanton825]

<p>I don't share the same level of hate for the Matrix films (my feelings are best described as intense apathy) but there is an argument to be made that a good portion of the philosophy of the films come from fan interpretation rather than any actual deep thought. Like how people can read Catcher in the Rye find a great statement on humanity and others just see an angsty story about a whiny brat.</p><p> </p><p>

The Wachowskis' other films like V for Vendetta (I know they didn't direct it but they were still the producers and screenwriters) and Jupiter Ascending have a serious problem of acting like they're profound when they're really just cheesy action films. Without either the Christian or Zen Buddhist symbolism that you see in The Matrix, audiences don't give either of those films the same benefit of the doubt. (Off-topic, Man of Steel is another great example of a film using Christian symbolism to seem deep or profound)</p><p> </p><p>

What I think is neat about The Matrix is that it's become so much about the fanbase, the philosophy they glean from the films and the first movie's long-reaching influence on pop culture that it's almost pointless to argue whether the depth is actually there or not because the impact is the same regardless.</p><p> </p><p>

I'd like to thank everyone for coming to my TED Talk. There are free cookies waiting for everyone in the lobby.</p>

[BHK1978]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25823" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Someone peed in your cheerios today</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> What do you want me to make multiple posts day after day saying, "Oh joyous of joy I just saw so and so movie and it was the best movie. I am not going to lie it brought a tear to my eye and I am not afraid to admit it. I can't wait for a sequel!"<img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> There are plenty of bad movies, in fact, I would say the vast majority of the movies are either bad or average, and people are allowed to dislike them and post about their dislike of them. </p><p> </p><p> I find a post like <strong>Swanton's</strong> far more interesting because Swanton goes in-depth as to why they do not like the movie. It is far better than reading people saying how great every movie they watch is.</p>

[Jaysin]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25823" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>What do you want me to make multiple posts day after day saying, "Oh joyous of joy I just saw so and so movie and it was the best movie. I am not going to lie it brought a tear to my eye and I am not afraid to admit it. I can't wait for a sequel!"<img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p><p> There are plenty of bad movies, in fact, I would say the vast majority of the movies are either bad or average, and people are allowed to dislike them and post about their dislike of them. </p><p> </p><p> I find a post like <strong>Swanton's</strong> far more interesting because Swanton goes in-depth as to why they do not like the movie. It is far better than reading people saying how great every movie they watch is.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm just giving you a hard time bud. We've been antagonistic to each other in the past, but I was genuinely just kidding around. Water under the bridge and all that. </p><p> </p><p> But yeah, a lot of my posts are praising movies I've seen recently as I'm constantly seeking out movies to watch and figured I'd share the love. </p><p> </p><p> We disagree on Holland, but definitely agree on the Matrix movies. I enjoy the first one for what it is, a inventive action movie. The second and third weren't very good at all. I am interested in the new one, but mostly because I have the hardest time ignoring Keanu movies. </p><p> </p><p> I also don't think Avatar is nearly as great as people made it out to be. It was about 20 minutes too long and the plot is just a rehash of Fern Gully. I wouldn't say I hate it, but I watched it once and that's more than enough for me. </p><p> </p><p> I watched Road To Perdition last night for the first time and found it incredibly enjoyable. </p><p> </p><p> Planning on watching Psycho Goreman and The Last Duel this week sometime even if Ridley Scott blames Millennials for his movie bombing <img alt=":rolleyes:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[BHK1978]

I don't share the same level of hate for the Matrix films (my feelings are best described as intense apathy) but there is an argument to be made that a good portion of the philosophy of the films come from fan interpretation rather than any actual deep thought. Like how people can read Catcher in the Rye find a great statement on humanity and others just see an angsty story about a whiny brat.

 

The Wachowskis' other films like V for Vendetta (I know they didn't direct it but they were still the producers and screenwriters) and Jupiter Ascending have a serious problem of acting like they're profound when they're really just cheesy action films. Without either the Christian or Zen Buddhist symbolism that you see in The Matrix, audiences don't give either of those films the same benefit of the doubt. (Off-topic, Man of Steel is another great example of a film using Christian symbolism to seem deep or profound)

 

What I think is neat about The Matrix is that it's become so much about the fanbase, the philosophy they glean from the films and the first movie's long-reaching influence on pop culture that it's almost pointless to argue whether the depth is actually there or not because the impact is the same regardless.

 

I'd like to thank everyone for coming to my TED Talk. There are free cookies waiting for everyone in the lobby.

 

First off I did not know they were the writers of V for Vendetta. Learn something new each day.

 

That very well could be the case. Meaning the fans are the ones who are placing far more importance on the meanings or hidden meanings of the movies.

 

There was an article that I read that the Matrix is a transgender metaphor. This comes directly from Lilly Wachowski herself. She said, and this is a direct quote from the BBC article, "The Matrix stuff was all about the desire for transformation but it was all coming from a closeted point of view."

 

I love your line about Catcher in the Rye because I am one of those people who fall into the Holden was whiny brat category. A good portion of academics fall into the other category and therefore if you fall into the whiny brat category then you obviously do not understand the true meaning of the story.

 

A little sidebar here. I am one of those people who never bothers to try to find a greater meeting in any form of art. Maybe it is because I lack critical thinking or maybe I just do not care.

 

To me when I go to a movie, listen to music, or watch television, I do so to be entertained. I just want to shut my brain off and not think about other things like what this scene means or what have you. I don't want to write a thesis paper in my head about anything.

 

When I watch something I either like it or I do not like it and that is the extent of how I feel. I often could not even say why I liked something, but I can always tell you why I do not like something.

 

When I was in college I was in a film studies class. One week the professor assigned us the task of watching I believe the opening scene of the movie Rear Window (It has been twenty years so my memory is a little foggy). The scene sees Jimmy Stewart, who is bound to a wheelchair, watching his neighbors through binoculars. We see what he sees in the various apartments.

 

The task was for us the students to watch that scene and give the hidden meanings of what was going on. I must have watched that scene over seventy times in a row and for the life of me I could not figure out what was the hidden meaning. I looked at it as more of an opening shot in which Hitchcock was introducing the various other secondary characters in the movie. That was what I got out of it and so that was basically what I wrote. Obviously, I dressed it up a little more but if you were to boil down what I wrote that was it.

 

Well, that was not what she was looking for. The answer she wanted was something about the social commentary of 1950's Greenwich Village. Now I knew that was the answer she wanted but I honestly did not see it and I was not going to bs my way through it and say there was a meaning that I did not see.

 

Needless to say, I got a low mark for that task and from that point forward I forced myself to come up with something about society because I knew that was what she wanted.

 

I remember watching La Jetée (which was a French movie that inspired 12 Monkeys) and then saying some crap about how it was talking about post-war France under the de Gaulle government. What I wrote was complete and utter bs but the professor ate it up and I got an A. She even noted that I brought up points that even she was not thinking about. I laughed when I read that comment.

 

I guess when I want to find the greater/hidden meaning in entertainment I can bs my way into finding it. Even if I do not believe a word I wrote.

 

What is my point too all this? Heck if I know and if anyone read this entire thing I applauded you for doing so. I wrote it and I am not going to even bother to look it over for the numerous grammatical errors or misspelled words that I am sure are there.

 

I watched Road To Perdition last night for the first time and found it incredibly enjoyable.

 

Planning on watching Psycho Goreman and The Last Duel this week sometime even if Ridley Scott blames Millennials for his movie bombing

 

Road to Perdition was very good. Though I have not watched it since going to see it when it came out. I remember having a jump scare near the end of the movie. I don't really want to go into details for those who have not yet watched it. Granted giving me a jump scare is not that big of a deal. I jump out of the seat at the slightest of loud noises.

 

I don't know who is to blame for the modern day shape cinema is in. If you look back at the stuff from the 70's and 80's a lot of that stuff is leaps and bounds better than the vast majority of stuff that has come out recently. That being said there was a ton of crap made as well, Dolemite I am looking at you.

 

Now is that me viewing the past through rose-colored glasses? Yeah, that argument could be made. Though I would say, they really do not make movies like Chinatown, The Conversation, Platoon, or Apocalypse Now (just naming a few off the top of my head) anymore. Or when they do make movies at that level it is few and far between.

 

Could the audiences be blamed? Possibly. I never saw either of the two films you are talking about so I have no idea if they are good or bad.

 

That being said, I am a Gen-Xer but I am far closer in age to Millennials and have many friends who would fall into the Millennial generation. I have noticed a lot of them, this antidotal to the people that I know, are not able to focus for long periods of time. They tend to get bored easily so sitting through something like Godfather II is not something a lot of them would be willing to do or if they do then they are constantly checking their phones.

 

Then again maybe Ridley is just not making good movies anymore. I don't really have an answer for it.

[Blake Trask]

I actually was just about to post about Matrix and found BHK has touched on the topic before I got in.

 

Philosophical talk notwithstanding, knowing now about the Wachoswkis transitioning, it's really, really difficult not to draw parallels within a transgender experience in the first matrix movie. If it wasn't intentional by them both to start out with then there were certainly layers that were being called up subconsciously. (maybe that's where Lilly's closeted point of view quote comes in). Watching Matrix as a kid it was a cool action film, as an adult it's sometimes made me lean back and go 'damn' because of some of the metaphor I can see.

 

but honestly, a big chunk of critique on the media comes from how people can read and interpret things so there are always going to be different meanings drawn by different people.

[The Swanton825]

Applicability is something I think a lot of academics ignore when insisting others find hidden meaning in things. For example, I have a deep connection to Lilo & Stitch because I was in the middle of being adopted by my grandparents and that fear of one mistake or one of my biological parents changing their minds before everything was finalized and I get taken away was a legit fear of mine for years. So this cute little Disney film comes out and all the moments of Lilo almost getting taken away resonated with me in a different way than most viewers. So is the whole movie a metaphor for troubled youths and the stress of their guardians/adopters? To me it feels like it, but it'd be pretty arrogant of me to claim my interpretation is proof that's what the creators intended and anyone who can't see it is incapable of "deeper thinking".

 

I think we'd all be happier if people could just go "this is how I see this movie/tv show/video game/etc." and the response was just "Interesting. Here's how I see it".

 

As for Ridley Scott's BS, maybe if his films weren't so inconsistent in quality that most of us would rather wait until we can stream it and maybe if he hadn't made a film about an ugly, miserable moment in history at a time when everyone's already miserable, The Last Duel would seem appealing to more than just history nerds and film buffs.

[Jaysin]

<p>I finally got to see Spider-Man: No Way Home and much to BHK's chagrin( <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> ), it was perfection in my opinion. I have had the same favorite movie since I was 5 years old, Nightmare Before Christmas, and No Way Home is the first to ever come along and threaten that top spot. I felt every emotional possible. It's a roller coaster ride with high stakes, drama, consequences, and a few emotional gut punches. </p><p> </p><p>

I'll admit, I have a personal bias as I learned to read by reading Spider-Man comics that belonged to my dad. I cried for 20 minutes straight after the movie ended because I wish my dad could have seen this. He passed away 3.5 years ago and he's responsible for so many of my likes and tastes. It had everything I have ever loved about Spider-Man in one glorious package. </p><p> </p><p>

There's a few movies I watch multiple times a year and when this one comes out on home media, it'll be instantly added to my rotation.</p>

[Jaysin]

I know it won't happen, but I need a third movie in The Fugitive/US Marshals universe where Tommy Lee Jones's Sam Gerard is about to retire but has to chase one last fugitive played by Danny Glover

[The Swanton825]

I know it won't happen, but I need a third movie in The Fugitive/US Marshals universe where Tommy Lee Jones's Sam Gerard is about to retire but has to chase one last fugitive played by Danny Glover

 

We can put that right next to my dream of a road trip buddy comedy starring Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as themselves. Both of these movies would make money but since they're not remakes, reboots or soft reboots, Hollywood won't do it.

[CQI13]

I feel Roger Ebert's review of The Usual Suspects applies to a lot of these pseudo intellectual movies, or those where the audience applies much more meaning than actually exists:

 

To the degree that I do understand, I don't care." It was, however, somewhat reassuring at the end of the movie to discover that I had, after all, understood everything I was intended to understand. It was just that there was less to understand than the movie at first suggests.

[scmurph01]

I know it won't happen, but I need a third movie in The Fugitive/US Marshals universe where Tommy Lee Jones's Sam Gerard is about to retire but has to chase one last fugitive played by Danny Glover

 

[dvdWarrior]

As a near lifelong fan of the show I Love Lucy, I just watched Being The Ricardos on the Amazon Prime, and ... I liked it quite a lot. Also, mild side note, I thought it was pretty cool to actually get to see what a filming of Lucy's radio show My Favorite Husband - which was the original basis for I Love Lucy - was probably like. I've listened to several episodes of that on the I Love Lucy DVD sets, so... yeah.

 

That was fun.

 

Also, very into the whole Scream franchise right now, in anticipation of the new movie. I've watched the first Scream about four times in the past few weeks. And the rest of them once, each. I like the first one best, what can I say? Can't way for the new one to come out though. Looking forward to that.

[BHK1978]

I finally got to see Spider-Man: No Way Home and much to BHK's chagrin( ), it was perfection in my opinion.

 

I honestly don't care if you like it or dislike it. You are entitled to your opinion just as I am entitled to my own. I am not one to get mad when people disagree with me or when they talk positively or negatively about something I like or dislike. After all, this isn't the AEW thread where you used to flip out on people for being critical of the promotion.

 

Also, I am obviously an outlier when it comes to Tom Holland and this film series as the movie made something over a billion dollars. Like I said I find him to be highly annoying as Spider-Man and I really don't understand why the heck they have Marisa Tomei playing Aunt May. Aunt May is not supposed to be uber-hot like Marisa Tomei is.

 

The one that really is going to suck for me is the upcoming Flash movie. I really would like to see Michael Keaton as Batman again but I really do not ever want to see Ezra Miller as The Flash again. That dude is highly annoying in the role. I wish they could have worked something out where Grant Gustin played the role in the movie.

[Dawn]

I honestly don't care if you like it or dislike it. You are entitled to your opinion just as I am entitled to my own. I am not one to get mad when people disagree with me or when they talk positively or negatively about something I like or dislike. After all, this isn't the AEW thread where you used to flip out on people for being critical of the promotion.

 

Also, I am obviously an outlier when it comes to Tom Holland and this film series as the movie made something over a billion dollars. Like I said I find him to be highly annoying as Spider-Man and I really don't understand why the heck they have Marisa Tomei playing Aunt May. Aunt May is not supposed to be uber-hot like Marisa Tomei is.

 

The one that really is going to suck for me is the upcoming Flash movie. I really would like to see Michael Keaton as Batman again but I really do not ever want to see Ezra Miller as The Flash again. That dude is highly annoying in the role. I wish they could have worked something out where Grant Gustin played the role in the movie.

 

Honestly the only thing that made the Marisa Tomei casting choice more bearable to me were the Robert Downey Jr. gags in Homecoming. After the movies became complete Spider-Man standalones and they moved the Aunt May pseudo romance to Happy I mentally checked out as well. Not that she isn't a good actress, she just isn't anything near an Aunt May to me

 

Speaking of RDJ and believing we've gone long enough since NWH released to be able to talk more openly about it, I cannot stress how glad I am that this version of Spider-Man finally ditched the Stark tech suits at the ending. I grew up watching and reading stories with none of that jazz involved, Spider-Man is supposed to be self-made as he embarks in his self discovery. So thank goodness they finally did away with that garbage. As for my opinion of the movie itself, I'll have an essay of sorts ready at some point.

[Jaysin]

<p>Decided to watch Eternals this evening just for MCU completion sake. I understand a lot of the criticism it has received, and I wouldn't say I love it, but there were pieces and parts of a good movie throughout. Whoever had final cut decision really did a disservice to what was being made because it has a lot of pacing issues. The cast was mostly good to great and there were some very good chemistry between actors. Don Lee as Gilgamesh was massively underused. He's just so likable and he gets such little screen time. </p><p> </p><p>

As usual with MCU entries, the post credit scenes are quite exciting...especially the second one which made me quite giddy.</p>

[Jaysin]

Watched Encanto recently and as usual, Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs are brilliant and catchy as hell. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the breakout song and replaced that Frozen song as the most successful Disney song, but man, "Surface Pressure" is so relatable and wonderful. The animation and voice cast are stellar.

 

I have been looking for sci fi and horror cult classics I've never seen and stumbled on the 1985 movie Lifeforce directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Dan O'Bannon. The premise was very intriguing, but man, the execution was real bad. It did make me want to read the book it's based on though. Hopefully that's better.

 

I'm really excited to check out Nightmare Alley as del Toro rarely disappoints.

[The Swanton825]

Watched Encanto recently and as usual, Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs are brilliant and catchy as hell. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the breakout song and replaced that Frozen song as the most successful Disney song, but man, "Surface Pressure" is so relatable and wonderful. The animation and voice cast are stellar.

 

I have been looking for sci fi and horror cult classics I've never seen and stumbled on the 1985 movie Lifeforce directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Dan O'Bannon. The premise was very intriguing, but man, the execution was real bad. It did make me want to read the book it's based on though. Hopefully that's better.

 

I'm really excited to check out Nightmare Alley as del Toro rarely disappoints.

 

I actually enjoyed Lifeforce. Not as a genuinely good film, mind you, but as a fun late night B-movie that just runs with the fact that it's about a naked space vampire.

[CQI13]

Watched Encanto recently and as usual, Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs are brilliant and catchy as hell. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is the breakout song and replaced that Frozen song as the most successful Disney song, but man, "Surface Pressure" is so relatable and wonderful. The animation and voice cast are stellar.

 

I have been looking for sci fi and horror cult classics I've never seen and stumbled on the 1985 movie Lifeforce directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Dan O'Bannon. The premise was very intriguing, but man, the execution was real bad. It did make me want to read the book it's based on though. Hopefully that's better.

 

I'm really excited to check out Nightmare Alley as del Toro rarely disappoints.

 

The one thing that has kept me away from Encanto is his involvement in it. Find him to be "meh" at best. I guess I can put him away in my head and enjoy the movie for what it is.

[The Swanton825]

Finally watched the new Candyman and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The original is one of my favorite horror movies and after being tormented by the first two godawful sequels, it's great to finally get a good one. My biggest critique would be that it feels like it should've been 20-30 minutes longer because the climax tries to throw in too much too fast for my liking.

 

It blows my mind that this is Nia DaCosta's first horror film. Some of the shots this movie has with this budget is what you'd expect to see from someone who spent a decade grinding it out working for Roger Corman or John Carpenter, not a director relatively fresh out of film school with only one previous feature film under her belt.

[Jaysin]

The Batman was such a phenomenal experience all around. It felt like a gritty neo noir Batman graphic novel from the 80s.

 

I'm not going to say any spoilers, but there is so much foreshadowing for potential sequels without making any promises.

 

If you enjoy story arcs like Long Halloween, Hush, or Year One, you're going to have a good time. The action and fight scenes are top notch, but this one is more psychological than previous Batman big screen appearances and there's a mystery that unravels throughout.

 

Highly recommend.

[The Swanton825]

The Batman was such a phenomenal experience all around. It felt like a gritty neo noir Batman graphic novel from the 80s.

 

I'm not going to say any spoilers, but there is so much foreshadowing for potential sequels without making any promises.

 

If you enjoy story arcs like Long Halloween, Hush, or Year One, you're going to have a good time. The action and fight scenes are top notch, but this one is more psychological than previous Batman big screen appearances and there's a mystery that unravels throughout.

 

Highly recommend.

 

I am so pumped for this to come out on HBO Max next month! I'm really tempted to go to the theater and see it, but the cheapskate side of my brain keeps winning out.

[Jaysin]

I am so pumped for this to come out on HBO Max next month! I'm really tempted to go to the theater and see it, but the cheapskate side of my brain keeps winning out.

 

I was recently given a bunch of random gift cards that were in my Grandpa's wallet when he passed. There was a total of $50 just for Regal Cinemas. Going to use the rest to see Dr Strange 2 in May hopefully opening night. I can't have anything spoiled for that movie.

 

Dr Strange+Danny Elfman+Sam Raimi= GOLD