It was fun. John Wick 3.5, basically.
Kong: Skull Island 2017 Tim Hiddleston, John Goodman, Samual L. Jackson, Brie Larson
On Max
It’s a smart move to write a fresh story for King Kong. Give his species a formidable enemy. The costume and effects dept executed the Skullcrawler really well.
I recommend Kong if you like this type of Science fiction.
The Hangover (2009). No doubt reviewed many times before. Why did I watch it? Because IMDb and RT both rated it highly.
Here’s the story. A guy is going to get married in a couple of days, and he and his three buddies (one of whom is eccentric and possibly insane) decide to spend a wild night in Las Vegas. Hilarity ensues.
That is, hilarity ensues if you’re a 16-year-old high school boy. It won a bunch of awards and spawned a bunch of sequels, none of which I will bother to watch, TQVM.
Good call on not watching the sequels. Hangover part 2 was in Bangkok and third one, I looked it up, and I’m not even sure now I watched it. I’m reasonably sure i did, but the plotline seems so unfamiliar I probably slept through half of it.
The first film had the breakout roles of Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong, pretty much made Bradley Cooper a star, had Ed Helm doing great in a straight role, brought back Healther Graham after some years away and had excellent cameos, the casting of it was excellent. It also hit on certain of our experiences of a lost weekend which worked. Once.
The third one was terrible. All I remember is a decapitated giraffe (which sounds as funny as it was), and some sort of gold heist.
Don’t forget the Mike Tyson cameo! Particularly noteworthy. Who knew he was actually funny?
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) (HBO/TCM). Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo. Based on a couple of C.S. Forester novels about the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic wars (compare & contrast with Patrick O’Brien…) Our story – obviously stitched together from different novels – first involves our titular hero delivering munitions to a colonial insurgent in Panama, who turns out to be a raving loony. He then sails around the world and engages in a daring raid against the French, is taken captive, and makes a daring escape. In between he takes on a beautiful passenger and falls in star-crossed love: she’s betrothed (to his boss) and he’s married.
Oddly, this is the 2nd movie I’ve seen this month that involves a British sea captain sailing to Panama. (See post #2498.) And unlike The Sea Hawk, there’s lots of naval action – cannon booming, rigging crashing, colors striking. The effects are very well done.
Egregious example of “brown-face” – the rebel loony is played by an English actor dipped in brown makeup.
The story comes to a “happy” ending: his wife and her husband die and our lovers reunite. Uh…yay?
Nosferatu (2024). I can appreciate the first rate sets, costumes, cinematography, and acting but I will die happy if I never have to sit through this tired old tale again.
I can’t seem to find the post now, but someone recently mentioned Mariska Hargitay’s documentary on HBO Max about her mom, Jayne Mansfield. So I watched that today and wow, that was really well done. Also today I learned it’s pronounced “Ma-RISH-ka”.
It’s actually pretty faithful to the first of C.S. Forester’s novels about his moody, introspective captain.
I think his stories got better in the 1950s and 1960s. If you’re interested in that character have a look at the A&E series based on those later books (but set earlier in his career) starring Ioan Gryffudd as Hornblower.
V for Vendetta (2005). Highly recommended. Saw on the small screen (Delta seatback) but a big impact. About a fascist England but easily portable to the current US. Calls to 1984 as well. Fanatical leader dominating the media on a large screen stoking fears with lies and propaganda. Final scene where a DC Metro train loaded with explosives takes out a do-nothing Congress (I mean a London Underground train takes out Parliment) is strangely satisfying. The people retake the government marching through and over the jack- booted military/police. Natalie Portman with a terrific performance.
I was curious as to whether the romantic subplot was a Hollywood invention or is taken from Forster’s work.
I haven’t seen it in a long while, but IIRC there’s a fake imprisonment of Portman by an anarchist to help her learn to be free or somesuch. I really hated that.
I think V is much worse in the comic book. It’s been forever, but there is less attempt to portray him as “good” in the book.
It’s a separate thread.
I didn’t realize Jayne spoke several languages and played several stringed instruments. Violin was her primary instrument.
Happy Gilmore
Not really recommended.
I saw this one time in the theater its opening weekend, now 29(!) years ago.
With the legacy sequel on its way, I thought I’d watch it again to see if it is a genuinely funny. No, not really. I mean, there are a few minor laughs here and there. The Bob Barker fight was a genuine comedic moment, but most of the movie is lame.
I was 18 when I saw it the first time and I did not realize how much product placement was in this movie. Subway is featured on almost everything in this movie. Adam Sandler even wears a t-shirt with Subway on it and his caddy wears a Subway cap.
I’m surprised this movie has remained in so many people’s memories. It’s not all that entertaining.
How weird. I just watched that today as well.
Heads of State - holy shit. A comedy-action-political thriller-buddy film starring John Cena as POTUS and Idris Elba as UK PM. WHY ARE YOU NOT WATCHING THIS ALREADY?
Would it be wrong to point out the issue with the film’s title, in that the prime minister of the United Kingdom (Idris Elba’s character), isn’t the head of state?
It’s referenced in the film, as it happens.
Also: quite a fun appearance by Jack Quaid.