# Movies you've seen recently (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 29, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906 "2014-09-29T21:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 204
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4074 "2022-05-02T16:44:36Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > Gerard may eventually find a breakout role. > > I thought that was King Leonidas in _300_. So memorable…but then I couldn’t find him in anything else, practically ever. I heard he was in a romance comedy, but I never watch those. > > I remember I had to keep asking my colleague what his name was, “that guy in 300,” because I couldn’t remember it. Something tells me he’s not going to be a substitute for Arnold or Bruce or Sly. Probably not, but he was pretty good in both _Olympus Has Fallen_, I thought, and _Coriolanus_ with Ralph Fiennes. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4075 "2022-05-02T17:20:27Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Tried watching the new Spiderman movie last night. Only made it about 20 minutes before shutting it off. How did this get RT ratings in the high 90s? I literally cried at least three times watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4076 "2022-05-02T17:33:32Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > I thought that was King Leonidas in _300_ . So memorable…but then I couldn’t find him in anything else, practically ever. I heard he was in a romance comedy, but I never watch those. He is in **[Copshop](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5748448/)**, streaming on Peacock. It is stupid. Really stupid. But surprisingly, a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4077 "2022-05-02T17:51:07Z")
I think what’s even weirder than Gerard Butler’s failure to break out is Sam Worthington’s career or lack thereof. Thirteen years ago he was the male lead in Avatar, and since then has had a couple of roles each year, but he’s hardly a major star. (Meanwhile Leonardo DiCaprio became an A-list actor after Titanic.) ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4078 "2022-05-02T17:54:30Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I think what’s even weirder than Gerard Butler’s failure to break out is Sam Worthington’s career or lack thereof. Yeah…not sure how to explain this, except uneven acting energy / commitment? Bad interpersonal skills? > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Probably not, but he was pretty good in both _Olympus Has Fallen_ , I thought, and _Coriolanus_ with Ralph Fiennes. Thank you. I looked them up, and they are 9 and 11 years old, respectively. So all his good stuff is in the past…? > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > He is in **[Copshop](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5748448/)** , streaming on Peacock. > > It is stupid. Really stupid. But surprisingly, a lot of fun. At least it’s fun. I guess not all actors who seem “highest caliber” at first can keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4079 "2022-05-02T18:08:23Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I enjoyed _The Batman_ more than I expected. I liked it’s remix of the Wayne family story and the very “down to earth” - almost non-comic book-y - take on Batman and The Riddler. No penguins with missiles or billion-dollar bespoke batjets in this movie. The cinematography was excellent and I liked the direction overall. I completely disagree about Paul Dano - he was excellent, veering from understated to over the top in a very unpredictable way. And the threat he posed and the form it took - which I won’t reveal anything about here - was extremely believable in our current moment. I agree. I liked it very much. Batman seemed more human…fallible and vulnerable. . Loved Paul Dano and I had absolutely no idea that was Colin Farrell as Penguin. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4080 "2022-05-02T18:54:05Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > > > Probably not, but he was pretty good in both _Olympus Has Fallen_ , I thought, and _Coriolanus_ with Ralph Fiennes. > > Thank you. I looked them up, and they are 9 and 11 years old, respectively. So all his good stuff is in the past…? Well, no. It’s more about what movies I’ve actually seen of his than just how good his more recent stuff is. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4081 "2022-05-02T19:59:20Z")
Watched some stoopid alien invasion flick called Skyline. No story, no plot, nothing but simple CGI wanking. No real begining, no real end except for the lamest gimmick in the world. Avoid!!! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4082 "2022-05-03T02:03:56Z")
OMG people, [Bombay Rose.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImTUp6HY5ak) Hand-painted 2D animation feature by Gitanjali Rao. If you have any liking for Bollywood movies and/or classic Indian cinema and/or traditional frame-by-frame animation, and you want to see a charming movie that isn’t quite like anything else you’ve seen, check it out. It’s currently on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4083 "2022-05-04T12:51:42Z")
We just watched _The Gentlemen_ the other night. I thought it was very good. It reminded me of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. And for good reason. I didn’t know it at the time but Guy Ritchie is behind all three. I don’t know why but I find Colin Farrell to be hilarious in these kinds of roles. (in Bruges comes to mind). Other than me having a hard time at points dealing with the accents, I have nothing bad to say about the flick. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4084 "2022-05-04T18:45:21Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > Other than me having a hard time at points dealing with the accents… Watched an Australian flick called _The Dry_ last night. A murder/mystery kinda thing. Couldn’t understand half the dialog. Very hard to follow with constant flashbacks and, _“What the hell did they just say???”_. Not all bad, and they wrapped it up pretty tight in the end, but nothing too special. Interesting architecture down there. I thought they spoke English Down Under. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4085 "2022-05-05T13:32:00Z")
“The Survivor”, a biopic on HBO about Harry Haft, an Auschwitz survivor who was forced to box other inmates in order to survive. After finally arriving in the USA, he had a brief boxing career in which he fought the up-and-coming Rocky Marciano. Excellent lead role for Ben Foster, who is good in most anything he does. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4086 "2022-05-05T16:54:44Z")
We’ve been on a Poirot kick - we’re watching the series & the Ustinov movies, and I’m working my way through the books. So, Amazon Prime’s recommendation engine popped up a Tony Randall 1965 version of Poirot, “The ABC Murders”. We only managed 20 minutes…at 5.3 on IMDb, it’s still possibly overrated. [![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/86871215f2badc5314bbd6be734f2cd4/4f5a7a740e874998-de/s1280x1920/da7157d256257ee0c9a89ba60a20ecb65cfc58cc.jpg) ](https://64.media.tumblr.com/86871215f2badc5314bbd6be734f2cd4/4f5a7a740e874998-de/s1280x1920/da7157d256257ee0c9a89ba60a20ecb65cfc58cc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4087 "2022-05-06T04:04:46Z")
Saw **Happening** tonight, a French film about a young literature student at a school in France in the early 1960s who becomes pregnant and seeks an abortion when it was illegal. The stark realism and unflinching scenes showing just what lengths she has to go through are brutal to watch. Such a powerful reminder of the nightmarish way things used to be and comes at quite a relevant time. The film actually opens in theaters tomorrow. I also saw the new **Doctor Strange** tonight (yeah those two films couldn’t possibly be more different!!) and 👎 Bleh. Some cool scenes but way over confusing and stupid, too many plot holes and things that made no sense, could not stand the new character America (and really writers?? You named her _America_? So we could get so many cringey lines about “saving America” and “taking America’s power.” Ugh.) And I heard many similar responses from others when leaving the theater tonight as well. It’ll obviously make a buttload of $$ but this is bottom tier Marvel. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4088 "2022-05-06T12:50:08Z")
Pearl Harbor 2001 with Ben Affleck,Kate Beckinsale, and Josh Hartnet. On AMC. It’s a shame it wasn’t TCM.The run time on this thing is 183 min. Three hour movie gets crammed into a hour time slot with commercials. I made it through the tepid Affleck/Beckinsale Romance and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Went to bed as they began planning the Doolittle raid. I already knew how that works out. The movie is ok. Tora Tora Tora is much better. I didn’t see the need for the romance triangle. It was a needless distraction in a historical war movie. I wouldn’t try to watch it again with commercials. It’s just too painful. I may buy the dvd and try again. Maybe watch half one night and half the next. The Pearl Harbor attack seemed like a logical place to end the movie. The Doolittle raid is a separate movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4089 "2022-05-06T14:39:04Z")
**Dark Star** (1974, Sci Fi channel on Roku) - John Carpenter’s first film, mostly shot while he was a student at USC. Later more scenes were added to make it a feature. Billed as a Sci Fi comedy about a small ship 20 years into it’s mission to go around the galaxy and nuke planets that have a probability of disrupting future colonization efforts. Not held in high esteem when first released but apparently picked up steam at the dawn of the VHS era as a cult classic and appreciated for what it did on a tiny budget. (Coherence 2013 and Primer 2004 remain the hallmark for me of the best sci fi can do with no cash ) It was ok. You definitely see bits Carpenter will use in later movies and the first few scenes are completely stolen by Lucas for _Star Wars_ 4 years later, almost laughably so. To call it a comedy is a stretch. It was trying in the _Dr. Strangelove_ vein, but I never even chuckled. For a b sci fi flick, it was ok. Tomorrow I’ll watch the next on the sci fi channel list, _Hell Goes to Frogtown_. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4090 "2022-05-06T16:01:13Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > We’ve been on a Poirot kick - we’re watching the series & the Ustinov movies, and I’m working my way through the books. So, Amazon Prime’s recommendation engine popped up a Tony Randall 1965 version of Poirot, “The ABC Murders”. > > We only managed 20 minutes…at 5.3 on IMDb, it’s still possibly overrated. The Margaret Rutherford Miss Marple movies are pretty awful, too. The only thing I liked about them was the cheesy 60s harpsichord theme music. Oh, and I saw a pub/inn in one of the movies that I’ve seen in multiple episodes of Midsommer Murders. > [@Sitnam](#): > > It was ok. You definitely see bits Carpenter will use in later movies and the first few scenes are completely stolen by Lucas for _Star Wars_ 4 years later, almost laughably so. Ah. I remember laughing my ass off at some point in that movie. But it was so long ago, I can’t remember the details. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4091 "2022-05-06T16:03:46Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **Dark Star** (1974, Sci Fi channel on Roku) My middle school gym teacher used to show this to us when it was raining too hard for PE. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4092 "2022-05-06T17:02:56Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > It was ok. You definitely see bits Carpenter will use in later movies and the first few scenes are completely stolen by Lucas for _Star Wars_ 4 years later, almost laughably so. To call it a comedy is a stretch. It was trying in the _Dr. Strangelove_ vein, but I never even chuckled. I was pretty disappointed with it when it first came out. From the trailer, which didn’t make it completely clear it was supposed to be a comedy, I at first got the impression that it was supposed to be a “monster on the loose aboard a spaceship” film (As _It! The Terror from Beyond Space_ had been and as _Alien_ would be), but that was a minor part – in fact, it was one of those post-production segments shot to increase the length of the student short film to make it a feature. There were moments of inspired weirdness (the Dead Captain in deep freeze, the surfer riding the debris down into the atmosphere), but mostly it just meandered. I did like the idea of the dirty, lived-in spaceship. AFAIK that hadn’t been done before, and Carpenter and company had beaten George Lucas to the punch in that department. Also interesting for the light it shone on Dan O’Bannon, who played Pinback, co-wrote the script, worked on the effects, and (he claimed, although Carpenter strenuously denied it) did a little directing. O’Bannon would go on to do more of each in the future – he did some of the effects in **Star Wars** , directed _Return of the Living Dead_ 9where he also had a cameo), and wrote all or parts of lots of other screenplays. Including Alien, where he got to revisit that Alien Aboard the Space Ship thing, played for scares rather than for laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/4093 "2022-05-06T19:06:53Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Oh, and I saw a pub/inn in one of the movies that I’ve seen in multiple episodes of Midsommer Murders. When you binge Poirot, you learn that there are about ten Art Deco buildings available for filming in the London area, and they’ll eventually recycle all of them. I’ve never watched Midsomer Murders, but I probably should, since I like Tony Horowitz’s scripts/adaptations… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906.md?page=203) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906.md?page=205)