Movies Rate and Discuss the Last Movie You Saw v.16

[eddymotto]

quick hits from last weekend:

The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (Hong Kong, 1984) - 5/5
hands down my favorite Shaw Brothers martial arts film. at one point, you see a man take another man out of his shoes w/ a pole, yet the movie still manages to up the ante w/ its totally batshit insane choreography. *chef's kiss* masterpiece

Last Night in Soho (UK, 2021) - 3/5
interesting thriller w/ two great lead performances by Thomasin McKenzie & Anya Taylor-Joy. gets a little muddled in its messaging by the end, & it maybe could've left 20min or so on the cutting room floor, but enjoyed it overall. my friend who was diagnosed w/ schizophrenia said that he could really relate to the imagery of the shadowy ghouls who plague McKenzie's character.

Sexy Beast (UK, 2000) - 5/5
Glazer's directorial debut is a certified "anytime, anywhere, w/ anyone" movie for me.

Bound (USA, 1996) - 4/5
there's a lot to be said about the sexual identity & lust breadcrumb trail left by the Wachowskis in Bound, but what really stood out to me about this neo-noir thriller is the visual & stylistic sauce slathered all over it. insanely good directorial debut from the Wachowskis.

Popeye USA, 1980) - 3/5
the songs were pretty fucking awful, but there was a ton of charm throughout to make up for its failures. it honestly wasn't as bad a film as the audiences & critics would have you believe. i quite liked it tbh

Abigail (USA, 2024) - 3.5/5
Renfield should take note—this is how you do splatstick. each character felt well-defined & unique, even if they were just pigs to the slaughter.

Real Life USA, 1979) - 4.5/5
the hardest i laughed at a movie in a long while. the "role reversal circle" & "face mapping technology" sequences had me in tears. time for me to dig into some more Albert Brooks comedies ASAP

thanks for the reviews.

random comments:

8 Diagram is definitely a top tier Shaw film. Not quite my favourite but definitely a classic.

Sexy Beast is sooo good. I watch it every couple of years and I always love it. Did you watch the tv prequel series that they did? I have not because the film is perfect already.

Bound. I re-watched it a few months ago for the first time since I saw it in the 90's. While it was not quite as good as I remember, I still really liked it. Really well executed film. Incredibly 90's. The Wachowskis have largely stopped making films or other projects that interest me. It is a shame because they demonstrated such incredible craft in Bound and The Matrix (special effects aside, The Matrix is an incredibly well told story)

Real Life was not on my list. I am not a huge Albert Brooks fan. On your recommendation, I will keep an eye out for it.

 

[HenryFlower]

thanks for the reviews.

random comments:

8 Diagram is definitely a top tier Shaw film. Not quite my favourite but definitely a classic.

what are some of your favorites?

Sexy Beast is sooo good. I watch it every couple of years and I always love it. Did you watch the tv prequel series that they did? I have not because the film is perfect already.

oh god no. i refuse to acknowledge its existence tbh

Bound. I re-watched it a few months ago for the first time since I saw it in the 90's. While it was not quite as good as I remember, I still really liked it. Really well executed film. Incredibly 90's. The Wachowskis have largely stopped making films or other projects that interest me. It is a shame because they demonstrated such incredible craft in Bound and The Matrix (special effects aside, The Matrix is an incredibly well told story)

if you dabble in podcasts at all, i highly rec Karina Longworth's episode about Bound from her podcast, You Must Remember This. it's basically a really good, in-depth audio form essay (really, the entire Erotic 90s mini series is great)
https://www.youmustrememberthispodc...nd-anne-heche-in-wild-side-erotic-90s-part-15

Real Life was not on my list. I am not a huge Albert Brooks fan. On your recommendation, I will keep an eye out for it.

i loved it. it's an absurd mockumentary that has the bastardized DNA of Rouch & Morin's Chronicle of a Summer & reminded me a lot of Nathan Fielder's work, The Rehearsal especially

 

[eddymotto]

what are some of your favorites?


oh god no. i refuse to acknowledge its existence tbh


if you dabble in podcasts at all, i highly rec Karina Longworth's episode about Bound from her podcast, You Must Remember This. it's basically a really good, in-depth audio form essay (really, the entire Erotic 90s mini series is great)
https://www.youmustrememberthispodc...nd-anne-heche-in-wild-side-erotic-90s-part-15


i loved it. it's an absurd mockumentary that has the bastardized DNA of Rouch & Morin's Chronicle of a Summer & reminded me a lot of Nathan Fielder's work, The Rehearsal especially

I will check out the podcast. thanks.

for Shaw Brother movies, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is probably my fave. Top tier would include The One Armed Swordsman, The Boxer from Shantung, King Boxer, and Five Element Ninjas. 8 Diagrams is in that top tier too.

There are still a lot of Shaw Brothers' films that I have not watched. any suggestions?

 

[HenryFlower]

I will check out the podcast. thanks.

for Shaw Brother movies, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is probably my fave. Top tier would include The One Armed Swordsman, The Boxer from Shantung, King Boxer, and Five Element Ninjas. 8 Diagrams is in that top tier too.

There are still a lot of Shaw Brothers' films that I have not watched. any suggestions?

have you seen Dirty Ho yet? it’s one of the “lesser known” Lau Kar-leung/Gordon Liu collabs, but i like it just as much as 36th Chamber tbh. it’s also hilarious

 

[Yoel Bromero]

Dune 2 (2024)

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Just like the first movie, the direction and cinematography are very good, as is the atmosphere. Villeneuve has a way of making his films feel dreamlike (similar to Nolan) without making them overtly stylish, though it definitely doesnt lack any.

I thought the pacing was very good and it doesnt waste any scenes. At the same time though, I had to pause and rewind once because I swore I accidentally skipped over some time. Once you get used to how the film is paced and edited though you just roll with it. And I think it adds to the dreamlike feel of the movie.


The action is very good, several big moments I wish I would've seen in the theater. Did good at continuing the story of the first and continuing on the world building. I'm glad I havent read the books at this point because from what I've heard the 3rd movie might be a bit of a letdown from those who read it. But for me I'm looking forward to it.

My biggest issue with the film is that they really, really shove the whole messiah thing down your throat. Javier Bardem's character is the biggest culprit to the point is starts feeling a bit comical. However he might also be my MVP of the film so it's a bit of a double edge for me.

With this one, like the first and with most 3 part films (star wars, Lotr) i guess it is hard to gauge everything until the entire story is completed. Overall I thought it was a very good part 2 of an epic action/adventure story so far. I was satisfactorily escapismed.

7.8/10 but might move up. I liked the first more the second time i watched it so might be the same with this one.

Everything in that movie looks and sounds wonderful, very impressive. It could have been in a language I didn't understand and I still would have been glued to it

 

[eddymotto]

have you seen Dirty Ho yet? it’s one of the “lesser known” Lau Kar-leung/Gordon Liu collabs, but i like it just as much as 36th Chamber tbh. it’s also hilarious

literally sitting second place in my kung fu queue right now (Heroes of the East is in front of it)

 

[HenryFlower]

literally sitting second place in my kung fu queue right now (Heroes of the East is in front of it)

hell yeah! that’s the stuff. it’s such a joy. Gordon Liu & Wong Yue (who had small roles in 8 Diagram & 36th Chamber) make a great comedic duo.

 

[eddymotto]

hell yeah! that’s the stuff. it’s such a joy. Gordon Liu & Wong Yue (who had small roles in 8 Diagram & 36th Chamber) make a great comedic duo.

I forgot to mention Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan. Watched that recently. Really liked it

 

[Kryptt]

Reservoir Dogs

Six criminals with pseudonyms, and each strangers to one another, are hired to carry out a robbery.

...Nuff Said

9/10

X

A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts,

Weird flick, kinda typical but keeps to theme.

5/10

Last Night in Soho

An aspiring fashion designer is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer. However, the glamour is not all it appears to be

Enjoyable enough watch. Reminded me of Sucker Punch somewhat but not the same reflection.

6.5/10

 

[HenryFlower]

Henry Fool (USA, 1997) - 4.5/5


an enigmatic odyssey that follows the working-class Grim family—aspiring writer Simon (James Urbaniak), his sister Fay (Parker Posey), & their mother—whose existences are simultaneously given some much-needed juice & turned upsidedown when chaotic stranger Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan, who owns the screen every second he's on it) shows up & buries himself like a tick into their home life.

Henry Fool presents as a simple meditation on themes such as poetry/pornography, celebrity/privacy, & politics/pop culture (this one is scarily relevant, nearly 30 years later). still, director/writer Hal Hartley successfully merges lyrical abstraction & deliberate clarity as his mode of storytelling. Simon, the de facto protagonist, is a POV vessel who uses his own words rarely but is nonetheless fully defined & developed courtesy of those who surround him, Fool, especially, who almost exists as some sort of Faustian subconscious come to life from deep within Simon. not a single spoken word or gesture feels superfluous—each moment is precise, even if the purpose is ambiguous.

loved it!

 

[eddymotto]

Henry Fool (USA, 1997) - 4.5/5
View attachment 1046751

an enigmatic odyssey that follows the working-class Grim family—aspiring writer Simon (James Urbaniak), his sister Fay (Parker Posey), & their mother—whose existences are simultaneously given some much-needed juice & turned upsidedown when chaotic stranger Henry Fool (Thomas Jay Ryan, who owns the screen every second he's on it) shows up & buries himself like a tick into their home life.

Henry Fool presents as a simple meditation on themes such as poetry/pornography, celebrity/privacy, & politics/pop culture (this one is scarily relevant, nearly 30 years later). still, director/writer Hal Hartley successfully merges lyrical abstraction & deliberate clarity as his mode of storytelling. Simon, the de facto protagonist, is a POV vessel who uses his own words rarely but is nonetheless fully defined & developed courtesy of those who surround him, Fool, especially, who almost exists as some sort of Faustian subconscious come to life from deep within Simon. not a single spoken word or gesture feels superfluous—each moment is precise, even if the purpose is ambiguous.

loved it!

Have not seen this one but did watch Ned Rifle

 

[GSP_37]

Transformers Rise of the Beasts - 5 out of 10

Probably less annoying than past Transformers movies, but still kinda shit like made for dumb kids but with profanity. Good that they made Mirage the main robot since Bumblebee still talks only using movie quotes.

 

[I Am Legion]

The First Omen--7/10
I am not sure we needed another Omen film, but this is a prequel and they did a very nice job staying in the lane of the framework previously built. This really isn't about Damien, nut about his disturbing entrance to the world. Not really scary, but some really creepy imagery and scenes. They really pushed the boundaries with a few shots. I liked the cast, and it was cool to see Sonia Braga. Movie takes place in Rome in a religious orphanage run by Nuns.

 

[revoltub]

Godzilla minus one (2023)

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I would describe this film as if a sequel to Letters from Iwo Jima was made into a Godzilla film. A lot of the core of the film involves Shikishima, the main character, struggling to deal with abandoning his part in the war and the shame that comes with it among Japanese society.

It isnt one of those Godzilla films where everything outside of the giant monster stuff sucks. This movie could work even if Godzilla wasnt in it. Not to say it doesnt need Godzilla, just that the film is very balanced between Godzilla and the human characters.

As for the design of the big G, I liked that it looked more like retro godzilla compared to the hulking, thick, solid and tight design from the American films. Although to be honest I thought the special effects and CGI were good but I can't say I was completely blown away by them.

Spoiler

was also cool to see Godzilla as a big villain again. I was expecting the usual face turn but never got it which was refreshing.

The biggest win of the film for me was making me care more about the human characters than Godzilla. I was surprised how much of an emotional impact the film ended up having too. Especially with the ending, although I think the film could've gotten there without having to do what it did with a certain character.

Apparently this is supposed to be a sister film/requel to the original Godzilla so I might check that out now. One of those classics I just keep forgetting to watch.

8.25/10 range but could go higher.

side note: Netflix tried to pull a fast one on me by playing the dubbed version as the default. Luckily it has the original Japanese audio if anyone else is particular about that stuff like me.

 

[GSP_37]

For foreign TV shows, HULU seems to have separate listing or clickable episodes for DUB vs SUB. I didn't realize iOS digital movies don't have both languages, but each as a separate purchaseable listing.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

This Hulk has been MIA for 16 years.

 

[HenryFlower]

yeah but that movie was fucking trash.

 

[eddymotto]

Monkey Man (USA, 2024)

American action thriller, set in India, written, directed and produced by Dev Patel.

KId (Patel) is a poor young man in Mumbai. He fights in an underground boxing club wearing a monkey mask. He generally loses.

Kid runs a con to get hired as a low level worker in an exclusive brothel. He is fixated on getting revenge on some powerful business, political, and police leaders who frequent the establishment.

The film has been often called "Indian John Wick" but that is a poor description. John Wick was constant action with occasional breaks for dialogue or plot. Monkey Man is the opposite. There are only two full on fight scenes and while both of them are exceptionally well done, the film is much more interested in exploring themes of corruption and exploitation in Indian society via Kid's character.

Monkey Man is much more of a traditional kung fu film

Spoiler

Kid's family is killed by evil doers when he is a child. He vows revenge against the murderers but his kung fu is not strong enough and he is defeated. He is saved by the members of a temple who nurse him back to health and teach him new kung fu. Now a kung fu master, the protagonist returns to defeat the evil doers and their small army of henchmen.

Throw in some bad wigs and over the top sound effects and you would have the outline of a Shaw Brothers film.

I found the film a little too long and it felt muddled during the middle. The camera work was a bit jumpy but the style worked well most of the time. There are some scenes and specific shots that are gorgeous. The fight scenes are first rate and much more bloody than I was expecting.

Shout out to Sharlto Copley playing the bombastic and shady fight promoter (if you are running an underground fight club you are probably not going to be straight arrow.). If you cast that dude in the film as a villain, he is going to show up, dial it up to 130%, and chew up the scene.

Rating: 7/10

 

[llperez22]

million ways to die in the west (2014)

7/10

Ive watched this movie probably 4 or 5 times now over the years. It ages well and is just an enjoyable movie from beginning to end

 

[eddymotto]

Run Lola Run (Germany, 1998)

Late 90's indie thriller that was just re-released in theatres.

I recently re-watched the film (first time in 20 years) and reviewed it. I love this film.

Seeing it back on the big screen was an even better experience. Watching it in a theatre in an audience really highlights the dark humour and cool little edits. It was a great experience.

Highly recommend that you try to catch this film on the big screen if you can.

@Dragonlordxxxxx