What was the last movie you watched? Part 2

[InCali]

Bob Marley: One Love

When I was in 8th grade, one day a girl in my class suddenly showed up sporting a black ribbon around her arm. A traditional "mourning ribbon". All of us kids reacted, and worringly asked why (worst case scenario, some close relative might've passed?). Her awesome 14yo girl response of course was:

- The King is dead !!
- Eh, what king..?
- Bob Marley, who else ?!!

The film was fine over all, I guess. Nothing special, but enjoyable enough. Since the Marley estete is behind it, you wouldn't expect any flaws from Marley being exposed here. Hence a quite safe biography (like many of these feels these days IMHO). I personally thought the shiftings between his modern days and the flashbacks wasn't executed really well. As for the acting, Kingsley Ben-Adir did really well in the title role. Lashana Lynch was the clear stand out though. Truly great, and made the most impression for me.

I also enjoyed some of the jam sessions we got to see, even if they maybe didn't elevate the story. But I always want to see some stuff like that in musicians biography flicks, and here especially since The Wailers were (like many old school reggae bands) great and groovy musicians, not the least in live performances. And of course the film is peppered with great songs, many of which are considered classics today. But that's of course expected when it comes to Bob Marley and his musical legacy.

Mars Express

A French animated sci-fi flick I quite enjoyed. I thought the animation was great, and the story about the protagonists (a PI and her sidekick robot) investigating a case of a missing girl that of course leads to some bigger plot, worked for me. There's both a slight noir flick feeling (despite bright colours) but also some subtle humour here. The ending is probably quite divisive for many viewers, partly since it's pretty unexpecting but I also felt like it suddenly turned into another story. But since this flick has an underlaying discourse about robots, AI etc; I kinda went with it.

There's various sci-fi influences here, from Ghost In The Shell, Blade Runner etc, etc. Even a short homage to T2 with a running android chasing the protagonists with a waving sword hand. The story isn't flawless, but I enjoyed this over all much to the animation. Also always nice to hear the beautiful French language in an animated sci-fi film.

I actually saw Bob Marley at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on his Survival Tour. The auditorium held about maybe 3,000 people, and, if you can believe it, the concert sold out. My friend worked at the box office up on the campus and bought about 20 tickets the second they went on sale. I was up near the stage, but it was kinda foggy in there and it smelled funny.

 

[3rdstone]

I actually saw Bob Marley at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on his Survival Tour. The auditorium held about maybe 3,000 people, and, if you can believe it, the concert sold out. My friend worked at the box office up on the campus and bought about 20 tickets the second they went on sale. I was up near the stage, but it was kinda foggy in there and it smelled funny.

That's pretty damn awesome, and a great memory today. Not sure what you mean with foggy and funny smell though.

 

[Ash J. Williams]

The third one is The Curse of the Crying Woman.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[KaijuDude1992]

This was fine but honestly considering the cast attached to it and the talent behind the camera I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed that it wasn't better. It's basically a lesser version of Goodfellas but Austin Butler definitely steals the show. Tom Hardy and Jodie Comer did solid jobs too but man their thick east coast accents were really distracting and even got a bit grating at times.

7/10

 

[Ghostrider87]

It was great seeing this on the big screen again.

View attachment 96103

The Mummy (1999)

It's an excellent remake that stands on its own even with reusing the same plot including the badass protagonist, an Indiana Jones-style action movie, and succeeds giving rules for what the Mummy can do and can't do.

 

[Ghostrider87]

Inside Out 2

8/10

A good direct sequel that avoids the terrible movie sequel flaws that is mostly the same plot as the first movie which has been done with Die Hard 2, Home Alone 2, Another 48 Hours, Escape From LA, etc.
Also, it doesn’t have continuity aspects undone or retconned because of terrible writing.

It’s a good direct sequel that stands on its while still being a similar-toned movie as the first movie.

Riley has challenges after she becomes a teenager including the frustration of being able to smell her body odor, and she has to deal with new emotions including anxiety.

The movie gives strong evidence with show don’t tell that from 1 scene that Riley essentially is a realistic flawed likable character who has a good heart.

That scene does happen in the climax, however, because this movie respects the audience it doesn’t outright state Riley is a realistic flawed character that has a good heart since it’s unmistakable with it being very visible.




The emotion of anxiety succeeds at showing an extremely tunnel negative view of these are all the things that could go wrong.
So the movie succeeds at showing anxiety is valuable, however, it’s not rose colored glasses view with having a realistic optimistic view of things that can go right.




This movie is using a very cliche formula of Riley wants to get in with the cool teenagers of a successful High School Hockey team which creates tension with her current 2 friends.
However, since this conflict is happening in Riley’s head with 2 groups of emotions it stands out as fresh territory for a common formula instead of just being mostly the same as other movies.

The movie with flashback scenes shows us how 3 protagonists became friends.
It’s a movie that succeeds at being diverse since has characters that are of different races.
The cool group of teenagers have red streaks for a portion of their hair which was either inspired by (X-Men) Rogue even though she has white streaks, or the badass character Warren Peace who has red streaks from the Disney Superhero movie Sky High.

Riley is a well-written realistic protagonist since she has weaknesses and strengths so she is a shade of gray character that is relatable.
Because of good writing, the movie succeeds at still keeping Riley a likable protagonist that we can sympathize with even with her consistently making bad decisions.

Similar to the first movie the animation style is magnificent, and this animated movie has human characters with realistic bodies, also the environments including the ice skating rink look realistic so it succeeds at being set in a realistic world.

The climax has high stakes, a satisfying resolution, and its style ending is earned.

The movie does succeed at comedy including a not badass video game character that has an ability that is intentionally lame except it does prove useful in a scene that isn’t just plot convenience.


The movie got me to cry tears of joy for a joyful scene.


The movie has great messages including stay connected with friends who are going to a different High School than you.

Anxiety succeeds at being an antagonist that is the opposite of Joy.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

The Last Sharknado: It's About Time

Finally! At least these films know they're crap! Tara Reid looked rough in her closeups; pancake makeup, over-blonde hair and over-white teeth battling valiantly to give her some semblance of how she used to be. There were a lot of songs in this; it amused me that they're credited to a band called 'Quint'.

 

[Ghostrider87]

(2024) Yoga Teacher Killer: The Kaitlin Armstrong Story
9/10

A true crime thriller movie from the Lifetime Ripped From The Headlines category which is common for the Lifetime Channel to do.
Based on the true events of a deadly love triangle which lead to the International Manhunt of a calculating Murderer.

It's a true crime thriller movie that has actors that resemble the real people they are playing.


It is an entertaining great True Crime thriller movie that succeeds with fast pacing, consistent serious tone, good acting, high stakes, good dialogue suspense, flaws that don't have easy solutions, fleshed-out characters, a thrilling climax, and a satisfying open ending.

This Lifetime movie does have a big budget with multiple different locations. 1 of the locations used is the real Costa Rica instead of Florida or some other State that is being used as Costa Rica.
Also, a Toucan Bird does get shown moving briefly so it's unmistakable that it isn't stock footage of that bird which would be very easy to get in the PhotoShop-Fast Internet era.
The toucan birds are easy to see. That is the factual reason why it's unsurprising that the CameraMan was able to get great footage of a Toucan Bird when the location is Costa Rica.


The first-degree murder scene succeeds at being dark and disturbing which is essential to the movie since the audience is supposed to see the messy murder which shows Kaitlin Armstrong to be a calculating remorseless murderer.
The practical effects were used for the blood because looks realistic while CGI blood in a live-action movie will always stick out as utterly fake and very lame.

Moriah Wilson is the rival, and it's very believable that she would wanted a stated detail of what exactly is her relationship with Colin after Colin states he's resumed his serious relationship with Kaitlin.

Kaitlin is shown shooting a hand gun at a Public Shooting Range, and because the writer of the movie respects the audience he never has any characters state the exact reason why Kaitlin is shown in this action scene because it's very easy to understand with the important information that has been communicated.

Kaitlin does have a likable sister in this movie that understands how fragile her sister is mentally which the movie communicates effecitly in 1 scene while still respecting the audience.
The movie also respects the audience because Kaitlin's sister is shown being sad after hearing her sister convicted of first-degree murder of Moriah Wilson.
She doesn't communicate why she is shown being visibly sad because the writer of this movie expects the audience will understand it's because it confirms her worst fear that her sister whom she loves is guilty of the first-degree murder of a stated victim.

Also, it's entirely realistic and completely believable why exactly Colin doesn't move to an Apartment or some other location since the movie outright states a glaring financial flaw that Colin has in the movie.

Kaitlin does show signs in multiple scenes in the movie before the calculated first degree murder that she is a dangerous individual capable of very destructive evil actions including certain lines she says that are not veiled at all.

Colin does outright say that he isn't in love with her which is frustrating for Kaitlin because her conclusion is that Colin is her soulmate, and she loves Colin.

The movie provides understandable information as to why exactly Kaitlin finds value as a Yoga teacher including her philosophy with it, and most likely it's what she is most passionate about equal to Bob Ross was most passionate being a Painter, Ultimate Warrior was most passionate being a WWF wrestler before he retired, etc.



Colin connecting with Moriah in a short amount of time resulting in them dating is very believable because the common aspect of both have a background in engineering, both are Professional Cyclists and nothing stressful when talking to her since it's not any money-related.

Colin talking to Kaitlin is stressful and sad because it's about the money issues he has resulting in tension and angry since Kaitlin can pay the cash as a successful Yoga Instructor while Colin has to wait for cash from his sponsors. So the tension in this movie isn't contrived drama or unbelievable it's for a realistic understandable reason.

Also, it's very believable and entirely realistic that they have a Motorcycle and can afford a house because most likely Kaitlin is making a high amount of money to afford these things along with Colin getting sponsorship money as a Professional Cyclist.


It's very believable how Kaitlin can find and track Moriah because of a realistic stated reason instead of unbelievable plot convenience aka terrible writing.
Also, it's very believable and not unbelievable plot convenience for how the Texas Police can find her since a realistic explanation is stated.

The movie succeeds with the trial having high drama including the stated verdict, shown reactions, and Kaitlin waiting a short amount after the Judge asks her does she want to testify as a witness.

Colin is a shade of gray realistic flawed character that has strengths and weaknesses along with using actions that can be criticized for valid reasons as wrong , along with having the understanding that he used actions had unintended drawbacks which is something he'll have to live with.
While he isn't a condemnable character except the movie does show a memorable realistic shade of gray character that people can relate to.

The Texas Police state a factual detail for why they suspect Kaitlin Armstrong is responsible for Murdering Moriah Wilson, along with ballistic information obtained after the autopsy of the victim.
Kaitlin succeeds in giving a believable lie when Colin asks her about a detail since he's fearful she is guilty of the first-degree murder that the Texas Police suspect her of. He does realize she is guilty of the murder she is suspected of after being able to see a glaring flaw.

The movie succeeds at showing a condemnable character that is well written because the audience and characters can understand why this woman is fragile mentally before she crosses the line of no return by committing the heinous predatory act that is first-degree murder.

Also, it's not unbelievable that Colin would feel sorry for her because he understands her to a degree because of having had a long-term serious relationship with her.


Anything that should get explained does get explained.

The movie gives information about the sentence Kaitlin got for the first-degree murder, along with the exact Prison in Texas she is in.

To the credit of the Defense Lawyer, he is a likable character because to the best of his ability, he does defend Kaitlin Armstrong even though most likely he understands she is guilty of the first-degree murder. As for why because most likely he heard all factual information while looking at it objectively since she can't provide factual refutals for the factual evidence that implies greatly she is guilty.


The ending is very satisfying.

 

[emielaen]

 

[Captain Tired]

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Clerks III

 

[3rdstone]

Taxi Driver 1976

I had the TV on in the background, some B-level sci-fi flick with Vin Diesel (Bloodshoot?) was around as I was checking various stuff on my laptop, didn't care much. But then all of a sudden this classic intro bursted up on the telly:



And I'd say it's almost ridiculous how you just by watching that thick fog descending into a classic 70s NYC taxi cab, you instantly know even before Herrmann's iconic score kicks in, which bloody classic film you're about to experience. Once again.

And of course I had to watch it once again, for like the gazillienth billienth times or whatever. My only personally comment regardless of the countless reviews and comments on this film during the decades, would be that Hermann's score gets better for every rewatch. IMHO that is.

 

[ObiWanCon]

LONGLEGS (2024)

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Amazon Hot Box (2018)

Homage to/parody of/new entry in the 1980s 'women in prison' trash-flick genre.

An innocent college student who is in South America to 'save the turtles' is tossed into a jungle hellhole where she must fight for her life against an evil depraved wardress in the style of Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS, perverse psycho inmates, voodoo experiments and the incredible torture machine. Features insane amounts of nudity, violence and gore, including hearts getting ripped out, genital mutilation, throat slashings, stabbings, shootings, torture, and nude shower fist fights.

It's obviously very low budget. There are no 'names' in the cast (although all the main actors have a background in horror or exploitation B movies), and the majority of performances are barely passable, but there are two real standouts; Ellie Church (superbly channelling the late Dyanne Thorne) as sadistic wardress Inga Von Krupp, and Jett Bryant as a hapless dope smuggler named... Jett Bryant(!). Bryant is a dead ringer for an older, not so tall, Jason Momoa, and he's just so God-damn entertaining. He also wrote and sings the song over the end credits. Talented guy.

Technically the gore is there, although most of it is more cartoonish than shocking, and not all of it is directly shown. Some of the fight choreography is poor, in a way that almost feels deliberate, although parts of the shower fight are pretty good. The end result is that - for better, or worse - it really does have a feel of the films it's aping. There's also a strangely touching montage sequence near the end where we get to see the final fates of most of the principal characters. Oh, and there are zombies.

It's really hard to rate it. Just judging it on quality of film making the current IMDb rating of 3.9 seems fair (maybe a little low). But if I was to rate it on how much I enjoyed it I'd maybe go with a 7.

Entertaining if you like trashy 'women in prison' flicks (and who doesn't enjoy a trashy 'women in prison' flick at least once in a while?). On reflection I'll stick with 7/10

 

[Ash J. Williams]

 

[HBarnill]

Ice Age. It's Three Godfathers meets Shrek.

 

[Dave McFly]

Six Days, Seven Nights

still one of my top ten Harrison Ford films where he is not Solo or Indy he is both funny and a bad ass in this

 

[Dave McFly]

Bad Boys For Life

I never saw it even tho I loved the last 2, gonna see the 4th film later today

 

[Gothamsknight]

 

[InCali]

I went to see Maxxxine the other day. It was sort of interesting, but I hadn't seen the other 2 movies. The ending was kind of a hoot. I love happy endings.

 

[InCali]

That's pretty damn awesome, and a great memory today. Not sure what you mean with foggy and funny smell though.

 

[Batgirl0202]

7/10

 

[KaijuDude1992]

 

[Sculder]

Mother of the Bride (2024)
Stöld / Stolen (2024)
Lost in Perfection (2023)
Cleveland Abduction (2015)
Wild (2014)
Golden Kamuy (2024)
Aerobi-Cide (1987)

 

[3rdstone]

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Such classic scenes here, which includes the tournament fights, the mirror scene etc. It's cool that one of the characters that felt somewhat of a loser at the beginning yet is around until the end, yet a disappointment still that one of the coolest characters didn't make it through. I love that this flick actually has a classic Bond villian as well, and that Lee has a kind of mission here regardless the whole tournament thing. Damn good Lee flick.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Murphy is back in high form. I'm not sure if I've actually watched the third one, but this felt like the first two in modern times. The typical 80s Murphy humour and jokes could've aged badly like some comedy does during decades, but most of it worked for me. I loved for instance when he's about to check in at this fancy hotel, and starts his trademark imitation mannerisms but suddenly "no, I'm too tired" a just asks for a room. They brought back the classic characters which was nice, even though I would've liked more of Reinhold. JGL was a good addition, and Taylor Paige as his daughter did really well. They succeeded in making me really enjoy the dynamics between her and Murphy, which also could've failed and just becoming annoying. This was a really decent sequel after so many years which could've failed miserably, but it worked very well IMHO. I don't even remember the last time I enjoyed Murphy as much as here.

The Bikeriders

I'd say one of IMO the best things here is that they chose Jodie Comer's character for the narrative. She's being interviewed some years later on how she met Austin Butler's character and got friendly with the whole biker gang. The story undfolds from there and I found that as a kinda fresh take. We see the gang from her eyes, which varies from disgust to fascination and friendship, and everything in between. Tom Hardy is the president/leader of the gang, and when we get insight there it gets rather more like a classic gangster gang story; who's loyal, the new younger members and expanding chapters being more brutal, fear of an eventual decline of the club etc.

As a non American I reacted to Comer's and Hardy's thick accents. Maybe it is just because I'm not from the US, and it would've felt natural otherwise, but personally it kinda felt ..a bit unnatural? Also have to say I'd liked to see more of Michael Shannon's character, he was truly great as always but in way too small doses. One thing I turned out to be wrong about, was the hippie-esque "Funny Sonny" character (Norman Reedus) from California that suddenly turns up and stays with The Vandals. Since his name was Sonny, I was pretty certain he'd turn out to be Sonny Barger, a founding member of Hells Angels. But nope, just a rather random character without any further development.

This flick is inspired from a photo book, and one of the iconic shots is from someone riding on a bridge and turning their head backwards, which I've once found and saved not knowing what it was from, and we actually get to see the scene in the film when Benny is fleeing from cops. This film was fine over all, but I found it a slight lacking somehow. Maybe I expected more from this cast?

But of course I highly enjoyed all these beautiful Harleys from the 50s and 60s. Mostly Duo Glides with the classic Panhead engine. A huge fortune racking these up now.