What Was the Last Movie You Watched?

[blueharvest]

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 

[Kane52630]

Terminator: Dark Fate

Finally a Terminator sequel that's a worthwhile entry in the series. It's what Terminator Genisys should have been. I wasn't really sure what to expect going in. I necessarily didn't have super high hopes, but I went in with an open mind. Just from the opening scene alone, Tim Miller does a litmus test on whether or not you accept this sequel right off the bat. It's a radical change that will divide fans, but for me, it's a change I'm totally fine with and one that is needed to advance the story. They also made it clear early on, this movie is not intended for the "gamergate" crowd.

The big emotional crux of this movie is Linda Hamilton returning as Sarah Conner. You realize she is the centerpiece to the series that was missing since T2. Mackenzie Davis does indeed bring it as a badass on a mission. They also did the smart thing by not making her some flawless super soldier. Gabriel Luna as a Rev-9 is interesting, he's got elements of Robert Patrick, but brings in a different kind of menace. With his abilities, they basically made him Noob Saibot as a Terminator. And as for Dani Ramos, I thought Natalia Reyes does a pretty good job trying to be the Sarah Connor of the original Terminator movie who's thrust into the story trying to survive.

While at first it might feel like a fast paced roller coaster action ride, they do have some downtime that I thought was so beneficial to the movie. For me, they are some of the best scenes in the movie... particularly when Arnold shows up. What they do with the T-800 worked so well for me. In so many ways, I feel like Tim Miller looked at Terminator Genisys and thought "How can I do this 100x better?" There's some levity throughout the movie that helps not making the movie so dry and serious. The action and fight scenes are pretty well choreographed.

Despite the great things in the movie, it's not quite on the level as T1 and T2. While they have some stellar visual effects early on, there's some noticeable CG with the Rev-9 that kinda takes you out. What they do with the future scenes was great at first, but I would have loved some ambiguity towards the end. The movie also shares some sequelitis where it felt the need to go bigger with the set pieces than the previous movies. I thought 3rd act was not nearly as efficient as the first two.

Overall, it's definitely the The Force Awakens for the Terminator franchise however, it's more similar to The Last Jedi where the movie will be the dividing line among fans. For me, it's without question the best Terminator movie since T2 but that's sadly not saying much.
8/10

 

[psylockolussus]

The Hunger Games

 

[NotNickFury]

Parasite. A great film with some very good commentary on class warfare. Has one of the biggest tonal shifts I've seen in a film as of recent, but the film doesn't fall apart because of that. Hell, I'd say the shift makes it even better. Easily one of the best films I've seen of the year.

Admittedly, I haven't seen that many, but I'd put this alongside Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Lighthouse as my top favorites.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light

 

[squeekness]

Charlie says

 

[Teelie]

Terminator: Dark Fate

I really enjoyed this movie. A few minor quibbles aside it was the best Terminator movie since Terminator 2 no doubt. If only they had left it off with Terminator 3 or even Salvation. Genisys really tainted the franchise.

 

[Sculder]

The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
Ned Kelly (2003)
Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969)

 

[squeekness]

Patriot's Day

 

[Iceman]

Terminator: Genisys

 

[Luigi]

Joker

Really liked the look and feel of this film's Gotham City. Joaquin Phoenix was phenomenal.

8.5/10

 

[blueharvest]

Wonder Woman

 

[Iceman]

Get Smart - Carell and Hathaway can watch these guys together any day haha, especially with The Rock in tow.

 

[Captain Tired]

Doctor Who (1996)

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Columbo: Etude in Black

 

[Doctor Jones]

The Phantom - 8/10

I loved this. I was expecting a trashy, low budget crap-fest, but I was pleasantly surprised this was an actual Hollywood production. This whole movie is fun from start to finish. It's not perfect, The Phantom's mythology and backstory is pretty unclear and should have been set up at the beginning, and the dramatic thru line of his father's death is unclear. But this movie makes it pretty easy to get past that because it's so much damn fun. The directing is sincere, embracing the fun and ridiculous pulp roots. With cool set pieces, set design, cinematography, with some great stunts, you can tell everyone cared. Zane is really ideal to embody that spirit. He is self effacing and having a good time. This is much better than The Shadow but isn't as good as The Rocketeer, but I enjoyed this a bit more because I could connect with The Phantom better than that film's title character. I would have liked to see more of these. So yeah, if you're looking for a breezy fun time, check this out.

 

[Sculder]

Posse from Hell (1961)

 

[Web-Head]

 

[Ninjablade]

The Lighthouse

 

[Mandon Knight]

Did quite a few over weekend with my partner....

Trick r Treat
Eli (Netflix film)
Brightburn
Angel Heart
Scary Stories to tell in the Dark

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Dad's Army (2016)

 

[Luigi]

Gemini Man

Deeply silly 90s-esque thriller that's one of the best action films of the year. The Colombian chase sequence is killer stuff.

9/10

 

[Ash J. Williams]

 

[blueharvest]

Shazam!

 

[nightwing06]

MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN





MR. Norton you've been gone to long


PRAISE: First things first i have to say i loved this movie for the most part.Maybe im a little biased because my old neighborhood is mentioned 20 times in this film about a detective trying to find out how deeply his boss/friend was connected to shakedowns and corruption involving politicians.
The entire cast does a great job including:Bruce Willis,Gugu Mbatha-Raw,Bobby Cannavale,Cherry Jones,Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe.
Norton is terrific as Tourette syndrome plagued gumshoe Lionel Essrog.His direction is on point as the twists and turns of the story pulled me in,and everything is set to this wonderful ,jazzy ,romantic real feel of the 50's coupled with well placed drama and humor.A love letter to a New York that has long gone by but in which the players may have changed but the game remains the same.


PROBLEMSH OH OH the pacing hits several lightpoles so much so i started thinking back to some scenes that could have definitely been edited here and there

In the end this is one of the best movies of the year IMO and definitely will be one of my all time favorites


Scale of 1-10 a 9








THE LIGHTHOUSE




Ever have that boss or co worker you just didnt like...even though you tried?


PRAISE: Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson are both equally great as two lighthouse workers who become stranded at a lighthouse in New England.Trying to put up with each other's eccentricies and personalities becomes increasingly harder as the film plays out and Director Robert Eggers captures their growing madness and involves the audience with paranoia,fever dreams,fantasies and drunkeness of the two characters.


PROBLEMS:The film starts to feel drawn out as repetitive clouds start to hover over the film

Still if you want to see two great actors go at it this ones for you

Scale of 1-10 an 8




Harriet



Did we really need all of the hokum though?



PRAISE:Cynthia Erivo continues to prove her acting skills are as sharp as her vocal skills portraying
slave-turned-abolitionist Harriet Tubman in Harriet.Not only displaying a lot of raw emotion but unflinching strength
Another good thing the film displays is the strong sense of family throughout the film.
I found the familial scenes to be the most effective and soul stirring.
It's finely acted by the entire cast which includes:Leslie Odom Jr.,Joe Alwyn,Janelle Monáe and Clarke Peters.
The writers accomplish their goal of making me hate the delusional and racist Gideon who relentlessly pursues Tubman.

PROBLEMS:Having read a lot about Tubman over the years i was disappointed by how some of the key people in her life were watered down in the film.
The hokey moments werent necessary and took me out of the film.Tubman the woman and what she stood for were strong enough for this story,without adding silliness about premonitions and her having some type of imminent danger senses.
There was a cliched feel to some of the film
Not the best biopic but a good one

Scale of 1-10 a 7½





Terminator: Dark Fate



No fate but what you make


PRAISE:The movie hits the ground running with an amazing and relentless action sequence as once again from the future one is sent to protect Mackenzie Davis as Grace an enhanced cyborg,and one to kill Gabriel Luna as Gabriel / Rev-9, an advanced Terminator prototype.In this case their subject is Daniella "Dani" Ramos (Natalia Reyes) who may possibly be the key to stopping Terminators in the future.
Was it great to see Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the big screen together again...YES !! They bring so much to the table with humor and charisma.
The plot does attempt to bring something new to the Terminator table which i appreciated
Ramos did ok with her role and Davis always brings her A game.
The action sequences and CGI were on point for the most part


PROBLEMS:I couldnt fully get on board with some of the paths the story goes down.
Luna who was great as Ghost Rider in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D lacks prescense here.
Some of the CGI and SFX were choppy.It really makes me wonder if SFX crews meet up with the film editors and say well that's close enough but let's put more effort into this scene and not that one.
Do i want to see another Terminator film after this?....i dont know.They would have to get it back to that involving and creative movie that was T2:Judgement Day but after all these years and films it may not be possible.


Scale of 1-10 a 7½