Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (Lee Harry, 1987)



First time watch. Sitting at 3.9 on imdb, this has to be one of the most underrated movies I've ever seen. I enjoyed the first movie in the series a whole lot, and my only critique of that one was that at times it dragged and lost momentum. This sequel has no pacing problems, is just as well crafted, and trades the drama and suspense for more silly comedy and dials up the exploitation film factor. Hysterical! The only thing that could have been better would be if it told the flashbacks from the first film a bit quicker, since we have already seen that one when we watch this.

SF = Z


[Snooze Factor Ratings]:
Z = didn't nod off at all
Zz = nearly nodded off but managed to stay alert
Zzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed
Zzzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed but nodded off again at the same point and therefore needed to go back a number of times before I got through it...
Zzzzz = nodded off and missed some or the rest of the film but was not interested enough to go back over it

By IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36798953

Lincoln - (2012)

I'm at a stage in my life where I wish I had more time. Much more time. I'll never have enough to read all the books I want to read, see the movies I want to see, and write what I want to write. When I was a kid I used to get bored - a condition that is completely unfamiliar to me now. Anyway - American upheaval in the mid-1800s, and president Abraham Lincoln. I never relished the idea of watching this film, simply because I thought a prerequisite would be a general knowledge about the man. I saw this a number of years ago and it struck me as middling. This time around - as American politics descends into disorder and rebellion - it feels relevant and more accessible. I had a much better time with Lincoln - the freakish abilities of Daniel Day-Lewis, the wonderful period costumes, set decoration, art direction and overall wonderful look of the film - oh, and the stacked cast with the likes of Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook and Tommy Lee Jones featuring (lets not forget Adam Driver in a role that had him way, waay down in the credits.) I loved the occasional enjoyable small part, played by the likes of Jackie Earle Haley, Tim Blake Nelson and Jared Harris. Doris Kearns Goodwin's story about the battle for the 13th Amendment in Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln seems the perfect context for Lincoln's story as a whole. Steven Spielberg's movie, all up, is hard to fault - even if it took me two watches to finally come around to how excitingly grand the whole enterprise is. There's even excruciating tension (not to mention moments of anger) that rise up within me as I watch congress go about it's shouty, consequential business.

9/10


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Movie 43 - (2013)

When you take a beaker and mix "not funny" with "gross and disgusting" it released a deadly noxious gas - and use of that gas on cinema patrons has often been described as a "probable war crime". Oh man - embarrassingly, when I first saw the trailer to Movie 43 back in the day I thought it looked good. What got me, I think, was the unbelievably star-studded cast. There are actors in this that simply don't make sense being there. Anyway, a gross-out "hard core" comedy that's simply not the least bit funny. I'd seen one of the sketches before (the Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman one) and seen how unfunny and juvenile it was. What else can I say? It's that simple. Somehow, the fact that huge name actors are in this makes it all worse. I liked the "Homeschooled" sketch a bit, and the rest was dull, offensive, and really bad - you can't just throw obscenity into a sketch and hope that alone along with the fact that a major star is in it will make it funny. Doesn't work.

3/10

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I saw this in the theater with my dad, who grew up near where Lincoln is from, and it's a special memory for me.

I did really like the film, but I struggled with how big-name the whole cast was. Literally there's a part where two soldiers walk by and have a single line of dialogue, and I was like "Oh, hey, it's Lukas Haas and Dane DeHaan!" and the whole film was like that.

Rebel Moon. A buncha uncharismatic nonsense.

My Night at Maud's (1969)

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[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

Re-watch. Excellent movie though rather more about Diana’s death than the Queen herself. Mirren & Sheen both excellent in their respective rôles.

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I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.

I'm intrigued by this picture mostly because of the guy's dead looking doll eyes. But also because he might be one of the very few practicing outdoor chiropractors.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One - 6/10

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I need to check that one out. One of my guests brought it up on the podcast a couple of months ago and I've been intrigued since.

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Closer follows two couples, or more specifically, four people: Dan Woolf (Jude Law), an obituary writer and wannabe author; Alice, a former stripper; Anna (Julia Roberts), a photographer; and Larry, a dermatologist, and how their lives and relationships intertwine through the years. Through those interactions, we get a glimpse of their aspirations, frustrations, and prospects of life and love.

In Closer, you get four very different characters committing similar "mistakes" in very different ways, all with very similar results. The way he shows these characters changing, creating versions of themselves to try to adapt to their situations is quite something. This is helped in great way by the excellent performances from all four leads, each of whom carries their character through a rollercoaster of states of mind and emotions.

Grade:


Full review on my Movie Loot

Good movie. Don’t forget Clive Owen very good as Larry.

Spetters (1980)

I recall seeing this years ago but this is the uncut version. Well, a young group of motorcyclists (scramblers) hit the big changing point in their lives. To go for it or to attempt to eke out another existence and put the bikes down to hi-jinks. Into the mix is a new girl on the block that upsets the dynamic between our young men. There are a few issues tackled here and very graphic scenes concerning homosexuality and disability. Overall I think it does a good job but with a terrible edit. It swings from youthful exuberance and hubris to almost kitchen sink drama like a mad pendulum. Worth the watch though.

Yeah, that was cringe. Did Netflix demand lobotomy when they made a deal with Snyder? I refuse to believe this was written and directed by a fully functional adult. It is an infantile fanfiction defecating on Seven Samurai and an original Star Wars trilogy. 1/5

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Blade - (1998)

I would have absolutely loved this film as a kid - it makes sure it gets the horror and action right, and although the CGI is particularly dated, want it wants to achieve in that direction is nonetheless cool. Yeah, cool. A very cool action/horror film, and a strong precursor to the MCU, which was still a decade to come. I love that it's not an origin story - here Blade (Wesley Snipes) is already a vampire slayer, with samurai moves and silver stakes. The story is your average one, and not where the film is at it's best. Vampire Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) has unearthed an ancient prophecy and ritual that'll turn him into some kind of super vampire, and it's up to Blade to stop him. Along for the ride is Kris Kristofferson, as Blade's buddy Abraham Whistler, and Udo Kier, as vampire elder Gitano Dragonetti - because Udo Kier is in this, I have to follow my Udo Kier rule and give the film an extra point. Udo makes a film that much cooler. Great horror, decent action, all wrapped up in an average comic book movie. I had to see at least this film before the whole Blade saga is rebooted for the MCU in the not so distant future.

7/10


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Titan A.E. - (2000)

Ehhh. Nah. I found Titan A.E. to be a little dull and derivative. It seems to be aimed at younger audiences anyway, and it's animation stuck in the early "Heavy Metal" 1980s. Aliens destroy Earth and the last of humanity escapes in various space craft. The Titan is lost and must be found by Cale Tucker (voiced by Matt Damon), chased through space by the Drej - aliens made out of pure energy. Part way through, the DVD I was watching this on started skipping, and I didn't care. I wanted it to be over with anyway. The story and movie as a whole never got it's hooks into me - a little too bland and simple.

5/10


By NEON - IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71522525

Triangle of Sadness - (2022)

Rewatch - and absolutely just as good as the first time around. Triangle of Sadness cemented itself as one of the absolute best films of 2022. Everything it has to say about the wealthy, capitalism, socialism and our current world is so perfectly encapsulated in this film that I'm gleefully gliding through the cinematic excellence. I adore Triangle of Sadness, and I'm probably going to see this film many more times in the future.

9/10

Poor Things

My goodness gracious! The Bride of Frankenstein + 9½ Weeks + Rapunzel + The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie via the unholy love child of Walt Disney & Pier Pasolini.

In other words: more Yorgos Lanthimos hijinks!

Insane, disgusting, glorious, and hysterical. Love it.

GRADE: A

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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

SF = Z


I predict Jacob Elordi will be cast as the new Bond. In a few scenes I thought he could make a good Bond, he's getting near the 30s age range they apparently want too...


[Snooze Factor Ratings]:
Z = didn't nod off at all
Zz = nearly nodded off but managed to stay alert
Zzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed
Zzzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed but nodded off again at the same point and therefore needed to go back a number of times before I got through it...
Zzzzz = nodded off and missed some or the rest of the film but was not interested enough to go back over it

Black Peter - 7/10
Very allegorical and critical of the police-state, but in a simple story, with the family/friend (and generation) variable thrown in. Milos Forman seems to always show scenes where one humiliates himself, and constantly in these awkward moments, but it's very well-done, even if it's hard to watch at the time.