Movies General Movie Thread

[Husky_Khan]

So this part of Hollywood is going to celebrate failure? I admit that is surprising🤔

Wouldn't call it celebratory. Just derivative plot fodder. Sometimes it comes in waves like Attack on White House or Aliens Invading Los Angeles or Asteroid Wipeout movies etc.

 

[TheRejectionist]

Wouldn't call it celebratory. Just derivative plot fodder. Sometimes it comes in waves like Attack on White House or Aliens Invading Los Angeles or Asteroid Wipeout movies etc.

It still remains surprising unless I am missing something.

Is it just lack of actual, concrete originality?

 

[Typhonis]

It still remains surprising unless I am missing something.

Is it just lack of actual, concrete originality?

Isn't there a quote somewhere where someone says that at it's core we only have like 8 stories we keep telling over and over again?

 

[Husky_Khan]

It still remains surprising unless I am missing something.

Is it just lack of actual, concrete originality?

It's like in the late Eighties we had a bunch of Vietnam War era movies. First Platoon then people churned out Casualties of War, Hamburger Hill, Full Metal Jacket etc

Then in like 2006-08 to help boost Democrats elections there were a bunch of movies critical of the War on Terror like The Valley of Elah, Stop Loss, Rendition, Lions for Lambs, Redacted, Home of the Brave etc that were critically praised but no one watched.

Then the last flurry of similar war movies I think was stuff "based" on true stories and almost all of them involved NAVY SEALS!!!!1 So Acts of Valor, Thirteen Hours, American Sniper, Zero Dark Thirty and Lone Survivor etc. Oh and 12 Strong but that was about Green Berets thankfully

So yeah... New wave of samey war films.

 

[Typhonis]

You had a mess of Civil War films in the 50's and 60's

 

[The Whispering Monk]

This is Holleywood attempting to pull back the conservative audience.

 

[TheRejectionist]

This is Holleywood attempting to pull back the conservative audience.

How ? Are many milquetoast conservatives that self-loathing?

 

[The Whispering Monk]

How ? Are many milquetoast conservatives that self-loathing?

No, but Hollywood thinks they are.

 

[Captain X]

No, these are the new Vietnam war movies and I would expect the same kind of tone out of them.

 

[TheRejectionist]

 

[Husky_Khan]

Bheed is an Indian movie about the COVID Pandemic and Lockdowns.



Some have been saying the films themes are apparently critical of the national and international response to the COVID outbreak and has attempted to be censored by the government and big tech companies.

 

[Husky_Khan]

In case folks are Horror Movie fans. Apparently around 167 Horror Movies actually came out this year.

Dead Meat had their Second Annual Horror Awards.



Categories include Best Stunts/Choreography, Best Digital Effects, Best Practical Effects, Best Kills, Best Villain, Best Supporting Cast Member, Best Leading Performer, Best Director, Best Sequel/Remake/Prequel, Best Horror Original and Best Fan Favorite Horror Movie.

Also an In Memoriam for cast and crew that passed away.

Fair number of celebrity presenters as well. Matthew Lillard, Tom Savini, Mick Foley, even Howie Mandel lol.

 

[TheRejectionist]

In case folks are Horror Movie fans. Apparently around 167 Horror Movies actually came out this year.

Dead Meat had their Second Annual Horror Awards.



Categories include Best Stunts/Choreography, Best Digital Effects, Best Practical Effects, Best Kills, Best Villain, Best Supporting Cast Member, Best Leading Performer, Best Director, Best Sequel/Remake/Prequel, Best Horror Original and Best Fan Favorite Horror Movie.

Also an In Memoriam for cast and crew that passed away.

Fair number of celebrity presenters as well. Matthew Lillard, Tom Savini, Mick Foley, even Howie Mandel lol.

Well finally a list that doesn't look like someone made it with is own arse as we say in Italy.

 

[Typhonis]

A War of the Worlds movie. Set in England and no Tom Cruise in sight.

 

[Captain X]

Is it too much to ask for one set during the same time period as the actual book?

 

[TheRejectionist]

Is it too much to ask for one set during the same time period as the actual book?

If I did the movie, I would do it only to make it closer to home to our fellow contemporary audiences but I doubt the director/producer/writers/whoever calls the shots had the same mentality in mind.

 

[Husky_Khan]

Is it too much to ask for one set during the same time period as the actual book?

Won't have as diverse a cast unless the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Battle them.

 

[TheRejectionist]

 

[TheRejectionist]

 

[TheRejectionist]

Saw the film and the trailer wasn't lying to us or anything. Film matched the expectations of the trailer. It was a fun movie to watch and basically a Heist film, but of course one that required a series of setup adventures and encounters to lead to the main big heist and all of the interruptions and randomness and side quests for characters that it entails.

The movie was very funny too and thankfully it wasn't where the humor is forced into every nook and cranny like a recent MCU movie. It's just a naturally funny movie. And the party members were very lovable and had character growth and played off of each other in their interactions, bringing their own skills and insights and such to the party. I actually think all of the cast members did a really good job, though the Rege-Jean Page's Paladin was a simply amazing character and did the Lawful Good paladin class justice which is a challenge considering the rest of the party is focused on stealing stuff.

There were some prolonged fight scenes centered around Michelle Rodriguez' Barbarian which were fun to watch. The movie wasn't completely faithful to Dungeons and Dragons mechanics (obviously as you can tell from the trailer) but there were scenes showing geek stuff like using components to cast certain spells (and recognizable spells) and creatures ranging from Axebeaks to Intelligence Devourers seen in the film. Lots of different races popped up as well.

The plot was easy to follow and developed nicely and the villains and everything upon reflection actually made sense to me. Also in spite of going from place to place, introducing various characters, it didn't feel bloated or anything. It followed the outline of a Heist movie fairly closely but thanks to all of the fantasy trappings and setting and character diversions, it fleshed out the movie a lot. Movie had a lot of heart as well. There were some emotional character moments and even the predictable stuff somehow didn't feeling narmy, which is impressive in my humble opinion.

Oh it didn't feel particularly woke either. There was a diverse cast but it's a Dungeons & Dragons movie so that's well within the realm of plausibility IMHO. I didn't sense any overbearing social messaging going on either.

Overall would recommend watching the film on its own merits since it stands on its own merits instead of feeling like some sort of 'franchise launcher' like so many other flicks.

Saw it last night after my wife said she wanted to go. I was prepared to wait for streaming but since she was interested I thought why not? I've been in D&D for nearly forty years, wife just started her first character in February so we have very different perspectives. I saw a LOT of references, this is basically a Forgotten Realms heist movie and it was fun. My wife probably had a better time than I did because she doesn't suffer from Forgotten Realms fatigue that I seem to be suffering. Anyhow, it has Harper's and Red Thay wizards and I guess avoided showing much in the way if orcs and the like but if you were OK with the trailer you will be OK with the movie. Chris Pine et al we're good, the daughter less so but child actors are often underwhelming. If you are a D&D person there are a lot of nods and if that's your thing you'll enjoy a watch for that too.

Chris Pine's character is the planner/leader of the group. I think everyone is made a bit dumb at times for comedy but he does make the plot happen, works the angles and in the end had a heart. The sorcerer on the team is less dumb than lacks confidence/courage. But intellect devourers do just walk by the entire party for a joke - so ymmv.