What I've Been Watching: The Catch-All Film Thread
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Carnifex
SasqWatch
I didn't know a sequel was coming, I did enjoy the first film. It wasn't awesome or anything yet serviceable.
Carnifex
SasqWatch
I rewatched Glass over the past few nights, and it still doesn't settle well with me. Elijah being so brilliant, I think he'd have found a way for at least one of the three to have survived the confrontation. I get what Manoj was telling us with the trilogy, I do think it could have been better. The first film is still my favorite of the three.
The cheese factor here is 10/10. Yeah, I'll definitely be checking this out.
DarkWunder
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It's wild that it was first screened at several festivals (Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest) way back in September 2023. Reactions were positive. But the attendees of the festivals were predisposed to like a film like this. It didn't get an actual release to wider audiences as they were having a hard time securing a distributor for the film. Apparently it was considered to be "unreleasable" due to its gore and graphic content. It took them until early 2025 to find a distributor that was willing to take a risk on the movie.View: https://youtu.be/dZn2a9wwzuw?si=gMn5Sx_rnCkigih-
The cheese factor here is 10/10. Yeah, I'll definitely be checking this out.
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Carnifex
SasqWatch
If somehow they can tie this new Toxic Avenger to the original release, they might find a built-in audience.
Yeah, that's pretty crazy in this day and age considering some of the movies that have been released over the years. Or maybe it's a more recent backlash thing that I wasn't aware of?
Carnifex
SasqWatch
Thirty-five years of Twin peak goodness, so last night I rewatched Fire: Walk with Me yet again. I swear it gets better with each viewing.
I watched the latest Bob Dylan Biopic "Like a complete unknown", which follows his steps from the first appearences in New York to his controversial full electric gig at Newport four years later. It focuses heavily on the relationships to the women in his life and - of course - his struggle with fame and the expectations that were projected on him by the folk and peace-movement of the time.
It was quite enjoyable, especially if you like his (earlier) music and left us suitably mystifed as to who this Bob Dylan is. The performances of Timothée Chalamet (of Dune-fame) and the others are pretty good.
Trailer:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdV-Cs5o8mc&ab_channel=SearchlightPictures
And the famous performance of "Like a Rolling Stone" with someone in the audience calling him Judas. How powerful he and the band played the song afterwards
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXUTsWy4XSo&ab_channel=TheTopTens
It was quite enjoyable, especially if you like his (earlier) music and left us suitably mystifed as to who this Bob Dylan is. The performances of Timothée Chalamet (of Dune-fame) and the others are pretty good.
Trailer:
And the famous performance of "Like a Rolling Stone" with someone in the audience calling him Judas. How powerful he and the band played the song afterwards
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I rewatched all 3 LOTRs films with my SO; theatrical versions since those were the only versions on hbo max. I hadn't seen these in a long time.
My background with them is that I absolutely loved the first one. Watched it like 20 times at least (stopped counting after that, iirc). The other two I maybe watched 2-3 times each.
I had read the books but it's been so long ago that I'm not sure how much I remember or am mixing up with the films.
I had always thought that the first one was significantly better than the other two, but this rewatch really solidified that in my mind. I found the other two quite average at this point.
So many beats just feel like they're rushing from battle to battle. And yeah, way too many large scale battles in both of them, that really stifles intimacy with the characters.
And especially in Return of the King there's a lot of moments that almost feel embarrassingly quaint and naive. The best moments in both films are those where the story gets down and personal.
Maybe the fact that they're theatrical versions had some impact, but I wouldn't expect much impact. I think it's mostly that I've now watched them much less emotionally attached than I had previously.
Anyway, the first film still stands as absolutely amazing. That one really hasn't diminished one bit in my mind.
My background with them is that I absolutely loved the first one. Watched it like 20 times at least (stopped counting after that, iirc). The other two I maybe watched 2-3 times each.
I had read the books but it's been so long ago that I'm not sure how much I remember or am mixing up with the films.
I had always thought that the first one was significantly better than the other two, but this rewatch really solidified that in my mind. I found the other two quite average at this point.
So many beats just feel like they're rushing from battle to battle. And yeah, way too many large scale battles in both of them, that really stifles intimacy with the characters.
And especially in Return of the King there's a lot of moments that almost feel embarrassingly quaint and naive. The best moments in both films are those where the story gets down and personal.
Maybe the fact that they're theatrical versions had some impact, but I wouldn't expect much impact. I think it's mostly that I've now watched them much less emotionally attached than I had previously.
Anyway, the first film still stands as absolutely amazing. That one really hasn't diminished one bit in my mind.
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Agreed, the first film captures the spirit of the books best. Especially the third one has too many cringe moments and diverts from the books in such drastic ways that I remember leaving the cinema disappointed.
I would never, ever watch the theatrical versions of the films anymore, though. The director's cuts are so much better.
I would never, ever watch the theatrical versions of the films anymore, though. The director's cuts are so much better.
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Same, but didn't really have a choice. I don't get why streaming services don't hold the director cuts versions. Or have both, since they have plenty of shit taking up space.
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I'm another who thought the trilogy declined with each film. When you say "cringe moments", I'm guessing the Battle of the Pelennor Fields is one? That should have been a highlight. Instead, it was a wtf? moment. I pretty much hated Peter Jackson by the time it was over.
I enjoyed most parts of that battle, though some moments made me facepalm: Legolas taking down an Oliphant, especially. I didn't like the artistic impression of the mouth of Sauron at all as another example.
The worst thing was actually in the second movie: Faramir wants to take the Hobbits and the ring to Gondor, when suddenly a Nazgul shows up and Frodo almost hands the ring over. Instead of rushing the Hobbits to Gondor and bring the ring into safety, he listens to Sams desolate speech about the heroes he learned in the stories and says: Well, if you put it this way, then shoo, shoo, go to Mordor! But do me a favour, don't gibt the ring to Sauron, will you?
The worst thing was actually in the second movie: Faramir wants to take the Hobbits and the ring to Gondor, when suddenly a Nazgul shows up and Frodo almost hands the ring over. Instead of rushing the Hobbits to Gondor and bring the ring into safety, he listens to Sams desolate speech about the heroes he learned in the stories and says: Well, if you put it this way, then shoo, shoo, go to Mordor! But do me a favour, don't gibt the ring to Sauron, will you?
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Sinners is worming its way into my favorite vampire movie!
As for LOTR, I agree as well. I still enjoy them, but ....
2nd movie / downplaying the role of the Ents and Huorns, did not like Pippin having to play a cheap trick to move that plot point along.
They did Faramir dirty.
Why spend all that time on the Aragorn / Arwen / Eowyn love triangle?
It was Gandalf looking ahead and saw that Saruman's host was too numerous for open field combat, so he urges Theoden to take shelter at the Hornburg. What the hell was with swapping them?
3rd movie / Grossly exaggerating the role of the dead in the Battle. No need for the ride of the rohirrim, or anything else for that matter, just had to wait for Aragon to arrive with the OP trump card army of the dead and all is saved. Yay!
This is the point I REALLY dislike about the third movie, doing Denethor so so dirty! He could be a Shakespearian worthy main protagonist in any other epic story besides LOTR! Turning him into a buffoon / clown / coward who couldn't tie his own shoes and begging the audience to cheer on his death? Really?
Nerfing Gandalf hard, which takes out all the wonder and elation that his resurrection was supposed to bring.
As for LOTR, I agree as well. I still enjoy them, but ....
2nd movie / downplaying the role of the Ents and Huorns, did not like Pippin having to play a cheap trick to move that plot point along.
They did Faramir dirty.
Why spend all that time on the Aragorn / Arwen / Eowyn love triangle?
It was Gandalf looking ahead and saw that Saruman's host was too numerous for open field combat, so he urges Theoden to take shelter at the Hornburg. What the hell was with swapping them?
3rd movie / Grossly exaggerating the role of the dead in the Battle. No need for the ride of the rohirrim, or anything else for that matter, just had to wait for Aragon to arrive with the OP trump card army of the dead and all is saved. Yay!
This is the point I REALLY dislike about the third movie, doing Denethor so so dirty! He could be a Shakespearian worthy main protagonist in any other epic story besides LOTR! Turning him into a buffoon / clown / coward who couldn't tie his own shoes and begging the audience to cheer on his death? Really?
Nerfing Gandalf hard, which takes out all the wonder and elation that his resurrection was supposed to bring.
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Carnifex
SasqWatch
Lord of the Rings films lost a great deal of credibility with me without Bombadil. The films were already lengthy, another twenty minutes or so highlighting his existence would have only enhanced the experience.
I went for an old favorite last night, Touch of Evil. Welles plays such a slimey police person, it's scary, thrilling, and nauseating all at the same time. This is my kind of noir.
I went for an old favorite last night, Touch of Evil. Welles plays such a slimey police person, it's scary, thrilling, and nauseating all at the same time. This is my kind of noir.
That, and an army of Elves showing up for support since Jackson apparently couldn't have any major battles without Elves.