Last Movie You Watched

[relm1]

Yes, but it has been outdone by climbing that hotel in Mumbai, dangling off a plane, the helicopter sequence...

Yeah, but I'll only be impressed when he jumps out of a real spaceship.  Wait...what???  This guy is crazy.

https://people.com/tom-cruise-gives-update-plans-film-movie-in-space-working-on-it-7560301

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yeah, but I'll only be impressed when he jumps out of a real spaceship.  Wait...what???  This guy is crazy.

https://people.com/tom-cruise-gives-update-plans-film-movie-in-space-working-on-it-7560301

Oh, my!

Well, after a frustrating day (paperwork and faxes not working), I checked out Mission Impossible and MI 2 out of the library.  Time for Mama to have a little fun [and destress]!

PD

[Todd]

I wanted to watch a stupid action movie.  I had never watched a Jason Statham vehicle.  Thus, I selected The Beekeeper.  On the action movie stupid scale, it scores a beefy twenty out of ten.  Jason Statham plays Adam Clay.  Mr Clay keeps bees on a farm.  The farm is owned by no less than Clair Huxtable.  Ms Huxtable is nice to Mr Clay.  Ms Huxtable gets swindled by unscrupulous phishermen.  In desperation, she unalives herself.  Mr Clay then takes lethal revenge.  On, like, everyone.  He kills phone center reps.  He kills phone center rep supervisors.  (Who can blame him?)  He kills mercenaries.  He kills or least maims FBI agents, Seal Team Six members, Delta Force members, and CIA goons.  For, you see, a Beekeeper is the most highly trained, most lethal supersecret agent the government has ever produced.  This action movie has everything one could want.  Guns fire.  Bullets whiz.  Knives stab.  Explosives explode.  Fire burns.  Bones break.  Mr Clay cracks wise.  Example: "You sound young. I bet you don't have estate planning."  The film also has Jeremy Irons.  As a stupid action movie, it outperforms. 



As a public service, I opted to have two AI platforms rewrite the above.  Here you go:

#1
I had a desire to view a mindless action film. Having never seen a Jason Statham production before, I opted for The Beekeeper. On the scale of absurdity for action movies, it achieves an impressive twenty out of ten. Jason Statham portrays Adam Clay, a beekeeper on a farm owned by none other than Clair Huxtable. Ms. Huxtable treats Mr. Clay kindly but ultimately falls victim to deceitful phishers, leading her to a tragic end. In his grief, Mr. Clay embarks on a path of ruthless vengeance against all involved. He eliminates call center representatives, their supervisors, and even mercenaries. He also confronts FBI agents, Seal Team Six operatives, Delta Force members, and CIA agents. It turns out that a beekeeper is the most elite and lethal covert operative the government has ever trained. This action film encompasses all the elements one could desire: gunfire, flying bullets, stabbing knives, detonating explosives, raging flames, and breaking bones. Mr. Clay delivers witty remarks, such as, "You sound young. I bet you don't have estate planning." Additionally, the film features Jeremy Irons. As a mindless action movie, it exceeds expectations.


#2
I was in the mood for a mindless action movie, so I decided to watch "The Beekeeper" starring Jason Statham. While the premise of a former secret agent turned beekeeper seeking revenge may sound absurd, the film delivers on over-the-top action sequences and dark humor. Statham's character, Adam Clay, is a skilled operative who unleashes a lethal rampage after the kind-hearted farm owner, played by Clair Huxtable actress Phylicia Rashad, is swindled by unscrupulous criminals. The movie features a relentless barrage of gunfire, explosions, and Statham's trademark quippy one-liners, making it an entertainingly ludicrous addition to the actor's filmography. Despite its outlandish plot, "The Beekeeper" manages to exceed the expectations of a typical stupid action flick, scoring a solid 20 out of 10 on the ridiculousness scale.

[ShineyMcShineShine]

This action movie has everything one could want.

Does it have dogs with bees in their mouths and when they bark they shoot bees at you?

[Todd]

Does it have dogs with bees in their mouths and when they bark they shoot bees at you?

[DavidW]

But that movie sounds like it has Commando vibes: Remember Sully when I promised to kill you last? I lied.

[Todd]

But that movie sounds like it has Commando vibes: Remember Sully when I promised to kill you last? I lied.

It has Commando vibes, but it is nowhere near as good.  Nothing allows the viewer let off some steam like Arnie's classic.

[Karl Henning]

Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution. 
"I was peddling my egg-beaters that afternoon and business was a little slow...."

[LKB]

Yeah, but I'll only be impressed when he jumps out of a real spaceship.  Wait...what???  This guy is crazy.

https://people.com/tom-cruise-gives-update-plans-film-movie-in-space-working-on-it-7560301

Crazy indeed, perhaps, but not because of his stunting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology_and_celebrities

[relm1]

The Witch (2015)



A very fine, dark, gloomy, tense horror film with fantastic performances and directing.  SPOILERS: A puritan family is kicked out of their 16th century colonial village over theological disputes resulting in them trying to survive on their own.  Unfortunately, there are sinister forces putting stress on this innocent, young family.  An incredible performance by then 18 year old Anna Taylor Joy who is incredibly striking and talented.  Highly recommended for those who like sophisticated, tense horror films with no jump scares.  I realized after watching this film that it was directed by Robert Eggers who I think quite highly of and also enjoyed his grimy period drama, "The Northman" based on the original story that became Shakespeare's Hamlet.  These movies are bloody, dirty, grimy, dark, gloomy, but suspenseful and have an air of authenticity such as the lived in look and old style dialog.  Highly recommended.

[LKB]

The Witch (2015)



A very fine, dark, gloomy, tense horror film with fantastic performances and directing.  SPOILERS: A puritan family is kicked out of their 16th century colonial village over theological disputes resulting in them trying to survive on their own.  Unfortunately, there are sinister forces putting stress on this innocent, young family.  An incredible performance by then 18 year old Anna Taylor Joy who is incredibly striking and talented.  Highly recommended for those who like sophisticated, tense horror films with no jump scares.  I realized after watching this film that it was directed by Robert Eggers who I think quite highly of and also enjoyed his grimy period drama, "The Northman" based on the original story that became Shakespeare's Hamlet.  These movies are bloody, dirty, grimy, dark, gloomy, but suspenseful and have an air of authenticity such as the lived in look and old style dialog.  Highly recommended.

If you like the Eggers brothers' work, try The Lighthouse.

[Karl Henning]

Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution.
"I was peddling my egg-beaters that afternoon and business was a little slow...."

I'd forgotten the very ending. What fun!

[ShineyMcShineShine]

The Witch (2015)



A very fine, dark, gloomy, tense horror film with fantastic performances and directing.  SPOILERS: A puritan family is kicked out of their 16th century colonial village over theological disputes resulting in them trying to survive on their own.  Unfortunately, there are sinister forces putting stress on this innocent, young family.  An incredible performance by then 18 year old Anna Taylor Joy who is incredibly striking and talented.  Highly recommended for those who like sophisticated, tense horror films with no jump scares.  I realized after watching this film that it was directed by Robert Eggers who I think quite highly of and also enjoyed his grimy period drama, "The Northman" based on the original story that became Shakespeare's Hamlet.  These movies are bloody, dirty, grimy, dark, gloomy, but suspenseful and have an air of authenticity such as the lived in look and old style dialog.  Highly recommended.

It's been a while since I saw the film, but IIRC this video is apropo:  https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/yw0ftx/a_black_goat_imitating_human_by_walking_with_hind/

[Karl Henning]

For but a second time: Man on Fire

[Cato]

Recently...a 5-star movie from Ireland:



Highly recommended: it is subtitled because much of it is in Irish Gaelic.


The next was quite a find: we recently passed by Andersonville, Georgia, where a Confederate prison was located.

Conditions were so awful that the commander was put on trial after the Civil War.

The Andersonville Trial is a play based on the trial: actual transcripts from the trial were incorporated into the script.

A live performance was broadcast in 1970: it is difficult to find today, but YouTube offers a copy in not bad condition (not really sharp).

It was riveting!

Directed by George C. Scott!  Stars were Richard Basehart, William Shatner, Albert Salmi and many other fine actors from that era.

Of interest is that those three had appeared as brothers in The Brothers Karamazov with Yul Brynner in the mid-1950's.

Anyway, another highly recommended piece, although it is a recorded production of a stage performance, and not a "movie" per se.

[SimonNZ]

For but a second time: Man on Fire

I rewatched that recently.

As adorable as 8-year old Dakota Fanning is they could have cut out all the swimming lessons stuff and had a half-hour shorter film that stuck to its action/thriller genre.

[Madiel]

Recently...a 5-star movie from Ireland:



Highly recommended: it is subtitled because much of it is in Irish Gaelic.

I've been meaning to watch this one, thanks for the reminder.

[Cato]

I've been meaning to watch this one, thanks for the reminder.

The young actress has an ability to appear lacking in affect, yet at the same time subtly conveys her inner emotions to the audience.

[Karl Henning]

The Purple Rose of Cairo - Woody Allen. A masterpiece. Partly a film within a film format. The production of a monochrome cinema within the movie is incredible. Nice acting by Jeff Daniels as Gil Shepherd- actor, and Tom Baxter- Shepherd's act in a movie.

Love it!

[Karl Henning]

Last night, Black Panther



Now that I'm back home I'm continuing on my Marvel journey. And... is this the best of the films? I don't really think so. It's one of the better ones, certainly, but then that's not a terribly high bar to clear. I don't think it's that good of a movie dramatically, even if it does touch on some interesting ideas. It could've done a lot more, for example, with the Wakandan attitude to an "outsider" who apparently has a legal claim to the throne. I'm glad it did something, but I wanted more.

I enjoyed it, but could not enthuse over it.