Some pretty big movie news for those of us that prefer to see movies at home.
The Green Knight is coming to digital home streaming…Thursday! I believe the original date was October some time, but they wisely want the money from home streaming now.
I’ll be seeing it Thursday or Friday almost for sure.
I was so pissed at myself for watching this thing in it’s entirety. At some point, when it just started to get really cartoon like, I figured there was going to be some twist, like the main character was actually dying or in some bleak situation and this was all in her mind. Nope. I don’t begrudge this type of movie or the people who enjoy them but I didn’t expect this from the description. And IIRC this was listed under the horror genre. Also, it’s rated R. Other than the litany of misogynistic insults and one shot of a piece of brain on the floor of the plane, this seems to be aimed at teens.
The Fly
This movie turned 35 years old the other day and I realized that despite being quite famous and something I had always been aware of, I had never actually seen it. Wow, this is quite the movie. I can not help but think of video-nasties and I can’t believe this did not qualify as one. I could not tear my eyes(or ears, ha ha) away from this movie, but I could easily see audiences being disgusted back in 1985. This was a really grotesque movie in many ways.
Jeff Goldblum is great as always.
Have you seen / are you a fan of the 1958 version? I realize they’re totally different but I guess I’m asking if the emotional impact is the same. Would you say the '86 version relies mostly on visuals? I’m a big fan of the original and only stayed away from this one because of the ooginess, but if it’s worth it I’ll give it a try.
The writing and storyline were garbage. IMO the sexist/misogynistic talk on coms was so over-the-top and unrealistic that it was insulting to the real flight crews who flew missions in WWII. The film was written by the director (Roseanne Liang) and Max Landis, which may explain things: based on her Wiki page, Liang has very little writing experience, and Landis specializes in comic book stuff.
No, I have not. I would say that the new(ish) one relies on:
I believe Goldblum showed it to Vincent Price in 1985 and Price told him that it was, “wonderful right up to a certain point… it went a little too far.”
A little too far is probably what a lot of people would think. It’s a gross-out movie by the end, but a very well done and setup one.
Landis more specializes in having a famous dad and being a ego-driven creepy douchebag and alleged sexual assaulter.
Yea, and I’m guessing he was responsible for the incessant and over-the-top misogynistic talk on coms. Was very unrealistic and cringe-worthy.
In Bruges - streams on Prime
One of my favorite movies of all time and a movie that I can pretty much declare “perfect”. A 10 out of 10 for me and if it isn’t the best movie of the 2000-2009 decade, I don’t know what is. I think I love every single thing about it and while I hadn’t seen it in a few years, it came right back to me and blew me completely away again.
It’s funny. It’s tragic. The music, the cinematography, the acting. It’s all amazing and I just think that the only thing that could bring it down is me hyping it up too much.
In Bruges is a masterpiece and I actively recommend it to everyone.
I love it.
1BR - streams on Netflix
A pretty effective thriller about a girl who moves into an apartment only to learn it is more like a cult-recruitment center. I will say that the opening 20 minutes were kind of slow, but once things got moving with the cult, the movie really picked up and was very gripping.
A very fast 90 minutes, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’m not sure about the ending so much, but I did enjoy the movie overall.
One of my all-time faves. Not a clinker in the entire cast, from the stars to the overweight tourists.
Just finished The Railway Man on Netflix, with Colin Firth playing a real-life survivor of the Burma Railroad. It’s a really good film about suffering and redemption. Recommended.
Martyrs
Well, this was a completely miserable and disturbing experience and I have no idea if it was a good movie, a disgusting piece of trash, or a little bit of both. The movie features torture and pain throughout and is not for the weak of heart(or stomach).
A very strange experience and I think it ultimately lacks the artistic merit of a movie like Hereditary, which was also quite miserable but was also a great piece of art.
Hard to talk about this one. Thoughts all over the place. Very strange.
Martyrs, well, it’s not for everyone. It’s a horrible and cruel movie but would be termed ‘extreme horror’, it’s not a rewatch movie, it’s horror to offend seasoned horror fans who’ve seen everything.
I’d put it alongside Irreversible, a movie who’s camera and soundtrack is trying to make you feel sick.
But if it got to you it fufilled it’s intention.
My point would be that Hereditary got to me and was actually more horrific in a way, but was also great art. Martyrs…not so much. Not absolutely worthless, but not great art like Hereditary or Possession(1981).
I’m going to go with b. A disgusting piece of trash.
To the extent that I remember it, I don’t recall any redeeming value. Just seemed cheap and exploitive. I would probably have to watch it again to really form an opinion but that’s just it; it made no impression on me, emotionally anyway. I remember it being touted as extremely graphic and disturbing yet I can’t really even recall the gory details. Maybe I’ve blocked them out.
It breaks down like this:
First hour - a real movie, quite good actually.
Last 30 minutes - nope. Trash.
Funny Games - American remake
I have not seen the original, but my understanding is that the remake is shot-for-shot. Anyway, it’s not a great movie at all. It’s not even good. It’s just kind of a lame-o home invasion movie that is pretty pathetic.
Nothing was shocking, nothing was thrilling, nothing was well done. Well, it’s well acted, but nothing can save the script or direction. It’s a movie that disappears once you see it. Skip it.
I saw the original and it had my nerves on edge throughout. It’s pretty blatant about its intentions - that the audience is complicit in wanting the main antagonists to do what they’re doing - so it ain’t subtle, but it makes its point well and anyone watching it should abandon all hope right off the bat because it doesn’t end well.
Challenge of Five Gauntlets - streams on Tubi
This is a Len Kabazinski movie. I know Len from Redlettermedia’s show Best of the Worst and actually, Len is a really nice guy. He’s responded to me online a few times(the old IMDB message boards and Twitter) and despite having a long history of making terrible movies, he does seem to care about movies and wants to improve.
I decided to give one of his more recent movies a shot to see if he had improved. His older movies were out of focus, people were often not even in frame, and he had very poor editing skills. The short answer is “yes, he has improved”, but in this effort, he has not made a good movie. Very odd editing(clunky?), very poor sound design, and overall a very awkward movie. I commend Len for continuing to make movies he obviously loves to make and I would like to see what would happen if he had a lot of help from professional editors and sound designers. He basically makes his movies on his own.
It was cute, co-starred Leo Fong(another Best of the Worst “star”), and it was a very cute movie. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you know Len Kabazinski, but if you do, it’s a fun movie.
The Green Knight
★★★★★ out of ★★★★★
Gist: One of the best movies of the year. Essential viewing.
I read somewhere that this isn’t the movie you think it is. Then I read that this isn’t the movie you think it is after you hear that it isn’t the movie you think it is. Yeah, I’d say that is about right. There is no way to explain The Green Knight except that it is a powerful movie, but one that demands your attention. This isn’t a “play on my phone while watching” movie. It’s a big of an attention hog. However, your attention and focus is greatly rewarded. The good news is that this movie is big, beautiful, and honestly downright breathtaking. I saw it on demand, but I would pay good money to see it alone in a full movie theater, properly lit and with a good sound system. It’s beautiful.
I was blown away by this movie. It is one of the best of the year and a clear candidate for best movie of 2021, though we have four months left in the year.
Pros:
Gorgeous visuals and beautiful score
Extremely well edited (minus a couple quibbles)
Dev Patel is in the best movie of his career and he gives a great performance
Truly unique. I’ve not seen a movie like this in my life.
Breath-taking. I was in awe during parts of this movie, totally silent, mouth hung open
Lives up to the hype. A must see movie.
Cons:
This is an incredible movie and should be on your must-see list. It isn’t a popcorn movie, but if you love films, this is for you. If 2021 has a movie in it better than this, it will be a great year.