# 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:** 414
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8280 "2024-01-04T02:01:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A lot of up-swelling music to make you feel all emotional I watched the trailer and imagined both Tom Petty and Vangelis spinning in their graves. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8281 "2024-01-04T09:36:17Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > **Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom** A French film that probably succeeds in translating a comic book to live action better than any I have yet seen. Zero compromises in costume, sets, or action. It’s faithful to the comics in every way except the cringy mid century racial stereotypes and names were updated to not offend. I saw it with my wife and a friend who both read the books as children growing up in Europe. They were in nostalgia heaven. We just finished watching this and I can’t really add to your description of it (although there are still sufficient cringy racial sterotypes for the purists). In theory this should be an awful film, but it absolutely works. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2024, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8282 "2024-01-04T12:53:00Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > **Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom** A French film that probably succeeds in translating a comic book to live action better than any I have yet seen. I haven’t seen this one (which I was unaware of), but I have seen two of the earlier live-action Asterix films (which had Gerard Depardieu — Gerard Depardieu!!! – as Obelix), and I was amazed at how literally they portrayed everything in the film. CGI is a wonderful thing. If your taste runs to more traditional animated Asterix, avoid the older Asterix movies, which were abominable, and watch **Asterix and the Vikings** (based on _Asterix and the Normans_). ---
**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:** [January 4, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8283 "2024-01-04T20:58:36Z")
**Equalizer 3** , now on Netflix. I didn’t like it as much as the first two. This one was more of a John Wick sort of mayhem film. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8284 "2024-01-04T20:59:46Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I actually like this one a lot … even though Jesse Eisenberg bugs the heck out of me. The funny thing about the movie is that I commented on how they were making Mark Ruffalo unlikable and the butt of the obnoxious magicians when Ruffalo is usually a very sympathetic and likable actor. I spoke too soon. I saw the 2nd one last night and they should’ve stuck with one. ETA: The most interesting thing about it was how Eisenberg, obviously the star in the first movie, was relegated to 2nd fiddle in this one. He looked pretty gaunt, causing me to speculate if he was suffering from health issues during filming (later research (aka, a Google search) didn’t highlight anything). ---
**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:** [January 4, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8285 "2024-01-04T21:01:11Z")
Indeed. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2024, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8286 "2024-01-04T21:03:23Z")
I’ve been avoiding it, and I’ll continue to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8287 "2024-01-04T21:52:07Z")
_Now You See Me_, is a tough movie for me. It stars two people at the absolute extremes of my admiration. Mark Ruffalo, who’d I normally watch read stereo instructions while on Nyquil while picking his ass, and Jesse Eisenberg, who I normally wouldn’t be willing to listen to telling me my winning lottery numbers - he annoys me that much. Fortunately, I found the story ridiculous and the direction pedestrian, so basically, I hate that movie. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8288 "2024-01-04T22:05:50Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > _Now You See Me_, is a tough movie for me. It The problem with that film is that stealing cash from a bank does not “get revenge” on the bank. The banks $$ is insured. The losers are us taxpayers, not 'the evil big banks". ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8289 "2024-01-05T08:16:46Z")
Have you seen _Zombieland_? He is, to me anyway, likeable in that (plus it is an extremely enjoyable and funny film). ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8290 "2024-01-05T08:40:30Z")
I just watched this: > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > **Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom** A French film that probably succeeds in translating a comic book to live action better than any I have yet seen. Zero compromises in costume, sets, or action. My one disagreement is that Asterix is too large (and to a lesser extent, Obelisk is too small). They both look like normal-sized humans. But after the first 10 minutes that stopped bothering me. Thanks for the recommendation. That was fun. And my adult daughter walked in, saw it, and says, “oh, i read those books”. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8291 "2024-01-05T13:54:04Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > My one disagreement is that Asterix is too large (and to a lesser extent, Obelisk is too small). Kinda reminds me of The Phantom Tollbooth, where Milo finds a house with one door facing north, one south, one east, one west, and it had “the world’s shortest giant”, “the world’s tallest midget”, “the world’s thinnest fat man” and “the world’s fattest thin man” - all the same average person. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8292 "2024-01-05T15:13:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > > > _Now You See Me_, is a tough movie for me. It > > The problem with that film is that stealing cash from a bank does not “get revenge” on the bank. The banks $$ is insured. The losers are us taxpayers, not 'the evil big banks". If I wreck my car yeah it’s insured, but if I draw a claim and they pay my cost per month will go up. Does it work like this for banks at all? I mean financially, either soon or later, do they bear some burden directly for securing their charge? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8293 "2024-01-05T15:36:02Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Have you seen _Zombieland_? He is, to me anyway, likeable in that (plus it is an extremely enjoyable and funny film). I have to say, Zombieland 1 and 2 live up to their reputations. I often forget to list them as recent great comedies, but they really are. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8294 "2024-01-05T15:46:58Z")
Yeah, I’m a fan, too, although the first was better than the second. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8295 "2024-01-05T15:50:56Z")
I concur. Jesse Eisenberg’s entire persona is punchable face. I stomached through **The Social Network** which was a perfect storm of a punchable actor playing a punchable real person. And yet **Zombieland** is quality, and he makes the film better. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8296 "2024-01-05T15:59:33Z")
**Matchstick Men** (2003), Nicholas Cage, Sam Rockwell, directed by Ridley Scott. Odd movie, thematically adjacent to _Now You See Me_ in that both movies are about con artists, but this one was much better and had me guessing throughout. One question: the woman who played Heather, Cage’s ex-wife (Malora Walters) was not listed in the credits. Anyone know why? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8297 "2024-01-05T16:34:15Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > And yet **Zombieland** is quality, and he makes the film better. Yeah, it’s his best role I think. People adore the Social Network, but I didn’t like it. He was good in it, though. I did see Vivarium and he was not annoying or punchable in it. It’s not a great movie, though. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8298 "2024-01-05T17:50:49Z")
Everyone in Zombieland is exactly right for their role. It’s really well done. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906/8299 "2024-01-05T19:56:08Z")
**Tumbbad** Highly recommended Have you never heard of this movie? Neither had I. Holy cow, what a movie. I loved it. A god tumbles out gold coins from its loincloth, but is also very hungry and eats anyone who approaches it. This sounds a lot dumber and sillier than it is in the movie. A true gem of a movie and shot on a relatively small budget. I would recommend it to everyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906.md?page=413) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-1/699906.md?page=415)