As a visual spectacle, it’s unparalleled. I saw it in IMAX 3D on the largest screen in the country and there literally were times where I felt I could touch the water. It’s a feat of filmmaking. Too bad the story doesn’t get anywhere near. It’s basically a beat by story beat retread of The Way of Water. Which makes sense if you know that both films were originally conceived as one and then split into two, but it basically means you are just watching the same exact things, again. There wasn’t really that much fire and/or ash, it was another water movie. I rewatched the second one the night before to remember what had happened, so the similarities were all the more evident.
I’m sure it’ll still make over $1.5 billion though.
We tried to watch The Ice Harvest, a 20-year-old noir comedy starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton as thieves trying to get away with stealing from their boss. This was directed by Harold Ramis. Slam dunk, right?
I think I made it in about 20 minutes. I love me some John Cusack but they really don’t give you much to go on as far as his character, so I wasn’t really feeling anything. It had some funny moments. But we turned it off and watched Christmas episodes of Bob’s Burgers instead.
Jay Kelly. A movie star (George Clooney) has an existential crisis and goes on a trip to Italy with his manager (Adam Sandler). It’s not as good as it sounds And Adam Sandler has a lot of screen time that all could be completely cut with no harm to the story, such as it is. I have to think Clooney only agreed to make this dud because it was shot in his back yard.
I noted 2 flubs: in a scene set in Hollywood, someone’s making a sandwich with Hellman’s mayonnaise, which is only sold east of the Rockies (It’s Best Foods in California). And there’s a scene of a phone call between LA and Italy where it’s daytime in both locations.
A House of Dynamite. A nuclear missile is heading to the US, and we follow the political and military response discussions. Director Kathryn Bigelow goes through the same chronology 3 times, from different points of view.
Absolutely nail-biting riveting, much in the manner of Fail Safe (1964). Or Dr Strangelove, without the humor. I had no idea how it was going to turn out …and I still don’t, goddammit. But I appreciate what Bigelow was trying to say by ending it unresolved.
I do hope Leo gets an Oscar not. If I made a list of top scenes or sequences of the year, his desperate attempt to get help from his group and being unable to because he forgot the passwords, etc., would make the list. My favorite moment is once he’s in, the password system is explained to him and he just blows up.
Yeah, I enjoyed watching the new Avatar, but golly, for the money they spent on it they surely could have shelled out a little more for a better script.
I mean, not one but two scenes where the daughter trying to get in touch with Eywa is just crying “Please, please, no, please!” over and over?!? Dialogue did not grip.
And the new character of the Ash tribe leader dropped her story arc with a dull clunk. We’re all waiting for her comeuppance, and in the end she gets threatened by the daughter and just scuttles off?! I guess that must mean they’re planning to bring her back in Avatar 4.
Fresh. We enjoyed it. My only disappointment was the lack of suspense. I mean, it is a horror film, and suspense is something I normally expect in one.
I think we understand that “nod” means nomination but you wrote, “I do hope Leo gets an Oscar not.” I took that as sarcasm to mean you didn’t actually think he deserved an Oscar.
I watched Wake Up Dead Man last night. It was a good time. Not as clever as the first two, but it still kept me guessing. Funny, great cast, some good atmosphere. This seems to be what Rian Johnson wants to do forever, and I’m cool with that.
I just finished watching the three Hobbit movies over the past two weekends. Can’t believe the last one came out 11 years ago and I hadn’t gotten around to watching them.
I recently re-read all four of the books and it made me want to revisit the LotR films. But first I needed to get the Hobbit out of the way.
I’m certain the trilogy has been discussed ad nauseam elsewhere on the SDMB, so I’ll just say that there was quite a bit I liked about the films and some I didn’t like.
I knew going in that there were many changes and (especially) additions to the source material, so I did my best to push the book out of my head, which helped me relax and just enjoy the movies as their own thing.
These films tend to elicit very strong opinions from certain people, but I neither loved nor hated them. Decent popcorn entertainment.
Dust Bunny A children’s tale (or so it seems at the start) that is not at all suitable for children. A little girls enlists the help from the man across the hall to kill the monster under the bed, which she believes has taken her parents (among others). Set in a John Wickian universe (tinged with Leon: The Professional), the narrative constantly pulls the rug out from under the audience. I enjoyed the hell out of it, but it’s not for the squeamish or the linear of thought.
And a couple from this weekend.
Is This Thing On A man floundering in his life after separation from his wife finds a path to stability through stand-up comedy. Overall, it is a sort of counter to the downbeat Marriage Story (2019). Not a particularly deep or profound movie, but it is definitely engaging, with well acted characters that engage the audience and keep things moving.
Marty Supreme An (almost) sports biopic set in the world of professional table tennis in the late 40’s. Timothée Chalamet creates a fascinating flawed hustler at the center of the film. Based on the reactions in the packed theater in the heart of Academy-land, I expect his performance to be a topic come Oscar season. The rest of the cast (and the story) orbits his character in an increasingly frantic and complex journey to the table tennis world championship in postwar Tokyo. The tone of the film is reminiscent of the director’s previous work in Uncut Gems. In fact, if you enjoyed Uncut Gems, I think you will definitely enjoy this movie.
Is there anyone in the US that hasn’t seen it? I’ve only seen it a couple times. I think it was on Network TV several years ago?
I planned to rent the movie on Prime. I was happy to see it on sale for $4.99. A buck more than renting.
I agree with Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a cute movie and very enjoyable while wrapping presents.
It’s interesting that movies like Home Alone, A Christmas Story, Die Hard and a few others are todays traditions.
There was a completely different collection of movies during my childhood. We watched Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishops Wife, A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, etc.
This isn’t my favorite of Tarantino’s films but I do like it quite a bit.
However, it stands out to me for having what I consider to be an infinitely rewatchable scene when Brad Pitt is explaining to the recruits what their mission is going to be. I must have rewatched that 3-minute scene a dozen times in isolation.
Similarly, his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which I didn’t like nearly as much but did still like. I have definitely rewatched the climax when the Manson family tries to attack Brad Pitt’s character well over a dozen times. (I know you. What was your name? “I am the devil and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” Nah, it was dumber than that.)
We finally watched Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. I think it was my favorite of the three; some nice religious and redemptive themes. Also a fun bit: Jeremy Renner at some point says “what is truth?” Which is what Pontius Pilate says to Jesus shortly before condemning him
Usually they spend half the day with the kid’s scenes, then half the day with the adults’ scenes, and conveniently there’s a pretty even split for Home Alone in that regard.
And Adam Sandler has a lot of screen time that all could be completely cut with no harm to the story, such as it is. I have to think Clooney only agreed to make this dud because it was shot in his back yard.
I’ve only seen it a couple times. I think it was on Network TV several years ago?
