Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

All the members of the Fellowship do have motivation.

[DavidW]

Mission Impossible - Did Reckoning (Part One) (2023) w/ Cruise and MANY others; the 7th film in the series since 1996 (Cruise aging about 30 years between the two movies) - the specials were great but the film was about a half hour too long for me; however, on Rotten Tomatoes (RT), 96% from the critics and 94% audience.  I've stopped watching these MIs since numbers 3 or 4, BUT if a fan, then recommended.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) - 32 year follow-up w/ new younger characters and return of the stars from the previous films, including the deceased Harold Ramis as a 'ghostly' character at the end finale. Entertaining with great specials, as expected - just 64% on RT from the critics but more liked by the audience, 94% - I do own the first Ghostbusters (1984) so worth a watch for fans.  Dave

Dave, I also thought that MI movie was too long.  I loved the ones that came before, so it was a big flop for me.  You missed the best ones!  Fallout and Rogue Nation are great.  You should watch them.

As for that Ghostbusters, it was okay.  Not bad, not great either.

[relm1]

Not the feel good movie of the year but a very important documentary for those willing to watch.

"Hearts and Minds" is a 1974 documentary about the Vietnam war.  Those who spoke didn't know how things would turn out a year later during the fall of Saigon and it's both heartbreaking, savage, and prophetic to current times.  One of the things I appreciated most about this documentary is how it fearlessly showed all sides.  Hearing from Vietnamese civilians who suffered greatly, while also following American troops hiring hookers.  Moments later, burning rural villages than saying they don't really understand the war.  I was particularly shocked by the various stances of soldiers under the guise of patriotism - at one point even telling children they might fight and die in wars too and that this returning soldier would sign up again if he had to.  It's a deeply disturbing film because it's so honest and most of those talking don't know how the events would play out.  Very much worth seeing for anyone willing to re-experience an extremely dark period that feels all too familiar. 

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I also thought that MI movie was too long.  I loved the ones that came before, so it was a big flop for me.  You missed the best ones!  Fallout and Rogue Nation are great.  You should watch them.

As for that Ghostbusters, it was okay.  Not bad, not great either.

Hi David - looks like we have similar feelings; as suggested above l've seen all of the MI films just cannot remember them that well. Dave

[Karl Henning]

Hi David - looks like we have similar feelings; as suggested above l've seen all of the MI films just cannot remember them that well. Dave

I may or may not get around to watching the latest.

[Karl Henning]

The Return of the King, Extended Interminable Edition. j/k (although, yes, each disc runs longer than any of the earlier ones.) I watched the first disc. Even given my objections, there is a lot to enjoy (hence my sticking with it.) And I watched a 20-minute segment of the Appendix. I feel there's some gaslighting in their presentation of preparing the script. I mean, if all of them "love the books" and know the Ur-text so thoroughly, I don't see how they think it's a sound idea to have Frodo telling Sam to go home on the Morgul stair. this is both inhumanely impractical (what, Sam traipse all the way back to the Shire alone? As if he wouldn't end up being eaten by orcs) as well as a betrayal of the friendship which is the emotional center of the entire story. Visually, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli on the Paths of the Dead is wonderful, but the rewritten scene is pathetic. Instead of Isildur's Heir commanding the faithless dead, we have Aragorn repeating "What say you?" so many times, it could be a drinking game. I'm not crazy about Elrond serving as a courier delivering  Andúril to Aragorn, but let that pass. Pippin tells Denethor that he doesn't know any songs suitable to the hour, but then, rather than singing a cheerful Hobbit Pub song to underscore the point, he sings a poignant number more suited to an Enya EP. I see the reasons for essentially dispensing with "The Scouring of the Shire." So I do not protest moving Saruman's death up to the conference at Orthanc. My only complaint is that in a series of movies with so many wonderful SFX, the nature of Saruman's death is nothing like in Tolkien: it's just a meat puppet dropping from a great height. It does not rank high among my disappointments in the endeavor, but it is a disappointment.

[Karl Henning]

The Return of the King, Extended Interminable Edition. j/k (although, yes, each disc runs longer than any of the earlier ones.) I watched the first disc. Even given my objections, there is a lot to enjoy (hence my sticking with it.) And I watched a 20-minute segment of the Appendix. I feel there's some gaslighting in their presentation of preparing the script. I mean, if all of them "love the books" and know the Ur-text so thoroughly, I don't see how they think it's a sound idea to have Frodo telling Sam to go home on the Morgul stair. this is both inhumanely impractical (what, Sam traipse all the way back to the Shire alone? As if he wouldn't end up being eaten by orcs) as well as a betrayal of the friendship which is the emotional center of the entire story. Visually, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli on the Paths of the Dead is wonderful, but the rewritten scene is pathetic. Instead of Isildur's Heir commanding the faithless dead, we have Aragorn repeating "What say you?" so many times, it could be a drinking game. I'm not crazy about Elrond serving as a courier delivering  Andúril to Aragorn, but let that pass. Pippin tells Denethor that he doesn't know any songs suitable to the hour, but then, rather than singing a cheerful Hobbit Pub song to underscore the point, he sings a poignant number more suited to an Enya EP. I see the reasons for essentially dispensing with "The Scouring of the Shire." So I do not protest moving Saruman's death up to the conference at Orthanc. My only complaint is that in a series of movies with so many wonderful SFX, the nature of Saruman's death is nothing like in Tolkien: it's just a meat puppet dropping from a great height. It does not rank high among my disappointments in the endeavor, but it is a disappointment.

Disc 2. Like "no one tosses a dwarf," "You and whose army" is suited to Marvel Comics, not Middle-Earth. Are you really an admirer of LOTR, do you understand even the least thing about Tolkien, if you don't draw the lesson that language matters? The Shelob's Lair episode is pretty wonderful. For all of The Return of the King, I've been choosy about my quibbles. Overall, the three movies are a marvelous achievement, and magnificent to watch. Could the endeavor have been truer to the source? Yes, and ought to have been, and could have been, even with the good embellishments (and some of the embellishments are very good.) As long as I bite my figurative lip here and there, I enjoy it greatly. One mildly funny thing is, in his Gimli make-up/costume, Jn Rhys-Davies fakes me out completely. I do not see Indiana Jones' buddy Sallah.

[relm1]

Yesterday, I watched Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957).  Frequently cited as the worst film ever made, I was curious about it and it was on tv so why not.  It was pretty bad but had some charm which is all I could have hoped for.  Some of the reasons why it felt bad is just horrible production values, too campy, poor acting (the co-pilot literally is reading the script on his lap), poor...well everything is poor.  Seems like everything was a single take without rehearsal.  Don't quite understand why there is a vampire or vampira.  One thing I did like is the sun gun idea.  I thought that was quite interesting in the peak of the atom and hydrogen bomb hysteria to allude to the next generation weapon would be a photon bomb but since photons travel through space everywhere, it would destroy the universe. 

[SonicMan46]

Dune: Part Two (2024) - watched w/ my son in the afternoon (nearly a 3 hr movie!); synopsis below; was the 3-year wait from first one worth it, and when will the next one appear?  I actually own the first Dune as an UHD streamer (i.e. 2021 version; and also the 1984 film, considered a BOMB but I enjoy as a comedic sci-fi production -  ) - however, don't plan to buy 'Part Two'.  Now, the graphics, makeup, etc. are spectacular and the reviews excellent, e.g. 92% (95% audience) Rotten Tomatoes & 8.7/10, IMDB; here's a Forbes Review that reflects some of my thoughts and MUCH more, if interested.  Bottom line for me, too long and a number of misgivings better described in the linked review.  We watched on a 55" HDTV and would have obviously been awesome in a real theater with good sound.  Certainly recommended if you liked the first one (2021).  Dave

Dune: Part Two explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. (from Amazon Prime Video)

 

[Karl Henning]

Dune: Part Two (2024) - watched w/ my son in the afternoon (nearly a 3 hr movie!); synopsis below; was the 3-year wait from first one worth it, and when will the next one appear?  I actually own the first Dune as an UHD streamer (i.e. 2021 version; and also the 1984 film, considered a BOMB but I enjoy as a comedic sci-fi production -  ) - however, don't plan to buy 'Part Two'.  Now, the graphics, makeup, etc. are spectacular and the reviews excellent, e.g. 92% (95% audience) Rotten Tomatoes & 8.7/10, IMDB; here's a Forbes Review that reflects some of my thoughts and MUCH more, if interested.  Bottom line for me, too long and a number of misgivings better described in the linked review.  We watched on a 55" HDTV and would have obviously been awesome in a real theater with good sound.  Certainly recommended if you liked the first one (2021).  Dave

 

And another thumbs up for the Lynch/Dino di Laurentiis movie! How can you not like a movie with Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow and José Ferrer?!

[DavidW]

We watched on a 55" HDTV and would have obviously been awesome in a real theater with good sound.  Certainly recommended if you liked the first one (2021). 

Yes, I saw it in the theater and I think that was the way it was meant to be seen.  However, rewatching it on my new 77 inch oled didn't disappoint either.

[Cato]

And another thumbs up for the Lynch/Dino di Laurentiis movie! How can you not like a movie with Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow and José Ferrer?!

Amen! 

To be sure, David Lynch apparently intended his version to be two movies, and disliked the final cut.

But it sure has its moments!


See e.g. a commenter on YouTube:

I... unironically love this version of Dune. It has a certain quality to it like a recital of Beowulf, or the reading of a historical saga. It's a lot of "Paul was here and did this. Paul went there and said that." to it. It's stilted. But enthralling.

And, for me, the sheer grandeur of some scenes - the music and the visuals - even though static, or perhaps because they are static, have the feeling of a great imperial hall, or a place burdened by a history of empire and rule.

There is something about Lynch's Dune which, for me, captures better than anything else the sheer scale of the story. The fact that you aren't watching a tale about the rebel prince. You are watching the terrible, inexorable unfolding of history before your eyes. Like standing at the foot of the mountain and seeing the avalanche thunder down upon you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12pJNX3CmYg

[DavidW]

And another thumbs up for the Lynch/Dino di Laurentiis movie! How can you not like a movie with Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow and José Ferrer?!

Funny enough I'm rereading the novel now and my mental image of the characters doesn't match either movie nor the miniseries. 

All three bring something special.  Lynch's version tried the hardest to capture the subtle unspoken thoughts, dialog and inferences.  The recent one is the most visually stunning and the only one to try to honor the intentions behind Dune Messiah.  And the tv miniseries is by far the most faithful adaptation.

[Karl Henning]

The recent one is the most visually stunning

Having seen Part I, I am apt to agree.

[Iota]

Watched Top Gun: Maverick recently. Some great flying scenes and a few fun moments, but I came away from it feeling it was all rather tired, the same old cliched male posturing, with Tom Cruise seeming like he was playing Tom Cruise just once too often. A shame, I generally like him, and think he plays the all-action, witty, rule-breaking leads well.

Hard on it's heels, I watched Nobody, a 2021 movie with Bob Odenkirk. Graphically violent once it gets going, also in seen-the-plot/characters-a-thousand-times-before territory, but unlike Top Gun it seemed very self-aware, and consequently felt fresh/amusing and well worth the ride. This was perhaps largely down to Odenkirk, who really grabs the attention, but some good supporting contributions too.

[George]

Hard on it's heels, I watched Nobody, a 2021 movie with Bob Odenkirk. Graphically violent once it gets going, also in seen-the-plot/characters-a-thousand-times-before territory, but unlike Top Gun it seemed very self-aware, and consequently felt fresh/amusing and well worth the ride. This was perhaps largely down to Odenkirk, who really grabs the attention, but some good supporting contributions too.

Really enjoyed that one (twice!)

[Karl Henning]

Watched Top Gun: Maverick recently. Some great flying scenes and a few fun moments, but I came away from it feeling it was all rather tired, the same old cliched male posturing, with Tom Cruise seeming like he was playing Tom Cruise just once too often. A shame, I generally like him, and think he plays the all-action, witty, rule-breaking leads well.

Hard on it's heels, I watched Nobody, a 2021 movie with Bob Odenkirk. Graphically violent once it gets going, also in seen-the-plot/characters-a-thousand-times-before territory, but unlike Top Gun it seemed very self-aware, and consequently felt fresh/amusing and well worth the ride. This was perhaps largely down to Odenkirk, who really grabs the attention, but some good supporting contributions too.

I think you've hit on something. Even though I've enjoyed all the MI movies, I haven't bothered with the latest, nor with TG:Maverick. I feel he's gone to the well once too many, perhaps. 

[LKB]

And another thumbs up for the Lynch/Dino di Laurentiis movie! How can you not like a movie with Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow and José Ferrer?!

I'll watch pretty much anything involving Patrick Stewart. His renderings of Ahab, Scrooge, the knight in Excalibur ( Gawain maybe? ), even the minor part he played in Lifeforce ( which I'll happily admit to occasionally cherry-picking because of one of the other " actors " ) are exemplar.

And I would defy anyone to present a performance more astonishing than Stewart's in TNG's " Sarek ".

[Karl Henning]

And I would defy anyone to present a performance more astonishing than Stewart's in TNG's " Sarek ".

Outstanding! He was exceptional in "Chain of Command." as well.

[Cato]

I'll watch pretty much anything involving Patrick Stewart.

And I would defy anyone to present a performance more astonishing than Stewart's in TNG's " Sarek ".

Yes, there are certain character actors/actresses, who are worth watching, even if the movie/T.V. show is mediocre.

My nominations are (off the top of my head, sort of chronologically)...


Billy Gilbert
Royal Dano
James Hong
Warren Oates
Woody Strode
Dennis Hopper
Billy Bob Thornton
Dennis Haysbert
Steve Zahn
Don Cheadle


Kathleen Howard
Eve Arden
Lillian Gish*
Patricia Collinge
Phyllis Thaxter
Joan Hackett
Jessica Harper
Octavia Spencer
Pamela Adlon



*Lillian Gish was a major star, of course, in silent movies, but in her later years accepted what could be called character roles in sound movies.