Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Dune: part two (2024)

One more luna park movie to amuse the masses. Mediocre screenplay and directing, attractively filmed thanks to the fat budget.
Many superb actors within the ensemble: Chalamet, Bardem, Brolin, Walken, Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling ... so what? At least, they earned good amount of money.

40/100

__________________
"Population don't imitate art, population imitate bad television." W.A.
"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." M.T.

My biggest quibble about this title is that it is not currently available in any HD format, at least in North America; given that it was filmed in video, perhaps this shouldn't be surprising.

Having said that, the version that is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel looks a little worse than a DVD from 20 years ago, so that may put some viewers off.

Aside from that, this is a gem of a movie, probably one of the most delightful films to come out of the so-called Dogme movement that thankfully seems to have been forgotten by now.



Whatever became of Wendell B. Harris Jr.?

As the actor-writer-director of this quirky 1989 movie, he would have seemed to be headed for even bigger and better projects... yet he has not directed anything since, and has only appeared briefly on a couple of other movies.

Harris plays the protagonist, a con man reportedly based on real-life Detroit con artist and high-school drop-out William Douglas Street Jr., who successfully impersonated professional reporters, lawyers, athletes, extortionists, and surgeons, and even performed some hysterectomies despite having no medical education.

There is a slightly episodic nature to the movie that works against it, especially since it is constantly trying to regain momentum - but the best moments are like literally no other movie ever. Worth catching, for sure.

Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon follows the titular character, a 13-year old girl, as she sets out to save her village in the Amazon from an evil, cursed presence called Yacuruna. However, she must also deal with her own confidence as well as the ghosts of her past after the apparent death of her parents. Ainbo is joined by her two spirit guides, Vaca and Dillo, and her best friend Zumi, who is set to become the new leader of the village.

This is an international animated production that popped up on streaming last month, so my wife decided to put it for the kids and I joined. I'll start by saying that, despite whatever flaws the film might have, I think it had some things on its favor. First, the animation was pretty clean and well done. I also don't think the film was ever boring. The kids had fun and the film was mostly inoffensive and engaging.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

__________________

That's how Chucky (Brad Dourif) announces his return to his "old friend" Andy (Justin Whalin) in Child's Play 3. Studio surely didn't want to keep this Good Guy down with this installment being released just 9 months after the second one. This one follows a now teenage Andy, as he is enrolled in a military school as Chucky comes back to haunt him again.

This is a film I remember seeing in theaters back in the day, thinking it was OK but never seeing it again. Rewatching it now, I understand why, and it's not necessarily because the film is bad. The film does feel like its trying to be more serious and "mature" (perhaps as a nod to Andy maturing himself?), but it results in it being probably the dullest of the franchise, with a mostly flat execution.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

Frankenstein - The original from 1931 and directed by James Whale. It's funny that someone can be convinced that they watched an entire movie when in reality they only watched the last act or so. I thought this was going to be a rewatch but then didn't remember any of the opening scenes. Turns out I must have started it when It's a concise 70 minutes long so there isn't a lot of setup and the film opens with Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) and his hunchbacked assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye) surreptitiously crashing a funeral and digging up the freshly laid-to-rest corpse. They then visit a gallows (it's inexplicably outdoors in a random, remote spot) where they cut down the body of a condemned thief. Henry's fiancee Elizabeth (Mae Clarke) his best friend Victor Moritz (John Boles) and his father Baron Frankenstein (Frederick Kerr) are worried about Henry's questionable behavior and approach his old University professor, Dr. Waldman (Edward Van Sloan). He has a vague idea as to what Henry is really up to at an abandoned watchtower in a remote part of the Bavarian Alps.

This was actually quite successful at the box office having cost 250,000 to make and after several re-releases ultimately earning 12 million dollars. I don't think it would have enjoyed any of the success it did if it wasn't for Karloff's lofty and visceral performance as the monster. He was only onscreen for a few scenes but he left an indelible impression. And despite his cabalistic origins the creature's end was unexpectedly but also meaningfully tragic. This has earned it's reputation as an enduring classic.

85/100

Wow, they're all so young, and with their hands in front of their faces it's hard to tell who is who. My guess is that L ro R it's Davis, Blondell, and Dvorak. What do you think?

Yep. You got it!

Yeah, that one's really good. I prefer Bride of Frankenstein though.

__________________
IMDb
Letterboxd

Youth in Revolt (2009)

__________________

[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

Yep, I think I'm with you on that one.

By It is believed that the cover art can or could be obtained from the publisher or studio., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26480566

Facing Ali - (2009)

We hear from the various fighters who faced up to Muhammad Ali in the ring during his famous career, and they talk about their experiences while we watch replays of what they're describing. Most of them have some difficulty talking, which is a sad reflection on what a career as a heavyweight champion boxer does to a person's brain. They don't get too technical, which is what I was worried about, and instead reflect on their thoughts and feelings - then and now. We hear from Sonny Liston (who died in 1970) through archival footage. I've never been a huge Ali fan, but there's something interesting about listening to his opponents and their experiences. None of them have a bad word to say about Ali himself, and most of them believe that the Parkinson's he suffers from is partially derived from the repeated heavy blows he took to the back of the neck and head.

7/10


Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26480566

Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché - (2018)

The story of film pioneer and first woman director/producer Alice Guy - if you're a cinephile, then this is fascinating stuff - and it provides a lot of context if you're a fan of her films. Full review here in my watchlist thread.

8/10


Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17682370

Spider Baby: or, the Maddest Story Ever Told - (1967)

A low budget ride that's crazy and a whole lot of fun - with real tarantulas (the remake uses CGI ones), and Sid Haig. Full review here, in my watchlist thread.

7/10

__________________

Oh my goodness i've finished disc one of the Edison Invention of the Movies set, and the major one there was The Great Train Robbery from 1903, 12 minutes of pure cinematic bliss 5/5 lovely color tinting too.

I was surprised the ending just lets our mad scientist protagonist off the hook.

That's not Garfield. He's nice to Jon and Odie. And Odie isn't stupid. Jon isn't a complete weirdo. It feels like everyone was replaced with dopplegangers.


It's all food and fat jokes now. He's basically Po from Kung Fu Panda. The plot feels like something taken from the cutting room floor of the Secret Life of Pets.


One good laugh and a few chuckles keep it from being completely worthless.


"D"

The original ending had Henry dying at the windmill but the studio changed it.

Evergreen (1934) Watched this British musical on the Criterion Channel. I liked the costumes, sets and cinematography. Performances are fine and there is some good dancing. I didn't find the story very interesting though.

Bride of Chucky was released 7 years after Child's Play 3, at a time when horror films were becoming more comedic, self-aware, and parodic. The above quote should give you an idea of what to expect, but the film basically follows Chucky (Brad Dourif), who is brought back to life by his former lover and accomplice Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). One thing led to another, and Tiffany also ends up with her soul transferred into a doll.

I think the most important thing in order to enjoy this film is not to expect the "horror" of the previous three films, but rather to get on its humorous wavelength. The notion of two murderous plastic dolls falling in love and having sex is inherently silly, but if you're willing to accept that, the film has some fun and laughs to offer. Most of that comes from the interactions between Chucky and Tiffany. Tilly certainly adds a special energy and spice to the film that's mostly unrivaled.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

Seed of Chucky picks up some time after the events of Bride, as Glen (Billy Boyd) discovers he is the son of Chucky and Tiffany (Brad Dourif and Jennifer Tilly), and resurrects them sparking more chaos and mayhem. That is the gist of it, without getting much into how nuts it is, which means I'm leaving out pretty much 75% of the film.

How nuts it is, you say? The film opens with "doll sperm" traveling through a "doll uterus" (cue first reference, Look Who's Talking), Jennifer Tilly playing a fictionalized version of herself, who is willing to sleep her way into the lead role of the Virgin Mary in a film directed by Redman (yes, that Redman). Plus, you get a supporting role from John Waters as a peeping tom reporter, a gender-fluid doll, and countless more references to films that go from Psycho and The Shining to Rebel without a Cause and even Naked Gun.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot