Last movie seen — Page 398

I take it Demon Wind didn’t deliver on it’s promise of hell spawned flatulence? 😉

Dirty Harry

A great picture designed around ideas and contradictions that is not simply a vigilante, might makes right or fascist story as has been claimed for decades. In fact there are many parallels between cop and killer let alone Harry being a loner like the Western gunslinger but estranged in the modern world.
Even the ending is left open but thematically fitting.
I dislike the fake stereo mix though.
I can’t believe it took me so long to watch the whole thing, but the moral here is don’t believe everything you read. Sadly the sequels aren’t on the same level in a way like comparing First Blood to its sequels.

Seven Days in May

Saw this at a revival screening. This one needs BD badly.

One of the great thrillers and totally dominated by Lancaster. However I’ve never felt it was as effective as it should be for some reason I can’t put my finger on. It may be just because it is sandwiched between Manchurian Candidate and Seconds.
But it is a great classic that has been largely forgotten. They do not make them like this anymore at all. Some scenes make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up from the dialogue alone…and then there’s that B&W photography…oh my god…with the trademark deep focus… Frankenheimer was a complete genius in every sense. To me he is probably the most underrated American director of them all.

She’s The Man (2006)

We had to watch this in english class and I didn’t enjoy it at all. The jokes aren’t funny, the pacing feels off (Though that might just be my unfamiliarity with romantic comedies) and there are points where the main character would’ve been easily been caught had these been real situations. The premise wasn’t anything that interesting and is just confusing at certain points. Eventually I needed to use the toilet at one point, so I used the opportunity to miss out on as much of it as possible, quite frankly it wasn’t enough.

Teachers are meany heads.

Alien 3 (1992)

People bag on this film all the time, but I still think it’s pretty good. It has great acting, a passable story, some great suspense, and characters that I like. Ripley is further developed, and once more Sigourney Weaver is outstanding, I’d probably say that she gives her best performance as Ripley in this film. Clemens and Dillon are other standouts, and are both likable and deep characters. The Xenomorph is made threatening again, after being watered down in Aliens. The deaths of Newt, Hicks, and Bishop are a common complaint, but I think it was a good idea, and it introduces the theme of no one being safe, which is seen throughout the films, as all the characters die, including Ripley. It does have flaws, like being a slightly worse version of the original films story, and some plot holes and contrivances, but I really like it regardless. Also, I’m reviewing the theatrical cut, I’ve yet to see the extended Assembly Cut.

7/10

Alien Resurrection (1997)

Another film that I think gets an undeserved rap. It’s the worst of the Alien series, but I don’t think it’s bad, merely flawed. The story is ridiculous, and the decision to go for an all out dark comedy doesn’t really work, but I think this movie comes out pretty good. Like in all the Alien movies, I love the cast of characters, in particular Johner, played hilariously over the top by Ron Perlman in this, and Call, the reluctant auton, who is really the centre of the film. Winona Ryder’s performance gets picked on, but I think she did a pretty good job. The premise of the movie is gold, and the best possible way for Ripley to reappear. The concept of the Xenomorph’s DNA fusing with her own fits the series well and gives an opportunity for her character to develop beyond just being a copy of the original Ripley. So yeah, I like this film a lot.

7/10

I think all four Alien movies are pretty good, and no matter how poor they can get at times, they never reach the rock bottom lows of either Alien vs. Predator movies. Jesus Christ, were they bad.

Oh yeah, and the score for both of the films was great. I’ve been humming the main themes for both all day.

Mac and Me (1988)

A couple friends and I have been planning on watching this one for a long time and finally I’ve had enough time to actually sit down and watch it.

It’s awful. One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen with no redeeming qualities whatsoever (aside from sweet 80s jams). It’s almost like a bunch of execs got together and decided on a bunch of cool things from other movies to toss together in their giant product-placement of a film. I’m the kinda guy who will gleefully watch a movie that’s so bad it’s good, but Mac and Me just stops at bad.

By far the most egregious part of the ordeal is the design of the aliens that are not only not cute, but are actually quite creepy and in some cases downright scary. With a little editing and a change in the scoring, Mac and Me could very easily become a horror film.

1/10 - Never see this movie. It gets a one by default and because of the horrigood 80s music. I guess the older sister was kinda cute (in an 80s way), too.

Moonwalker (1988)

The second part of tonight’s double feature. We just finished this a few minutes ago and man… maybe it’s because it was following up Mac and Me, but I think this is a legitimately good movie. It takes a bit to get moving, but features a neat retrospective of Jackson’s music, transitioning into some really interesting surreal themes in the early parts (involving a lengthy claymation segment), evolving into a more structured story (featuring Joe Pesci and one of the best usages of the Lancia Stratos Zero ever) and the fantasic “Smooth Criminal” segment. I really don’t want to spoil the end, but my mind was continuously blown segment after segment. Having never done drugs, I assume that Moonwalker might be what it’s like.

It’s worthwhile to see Michael in his prime. Regardless of what you think of him, the man could sing and dance like nobody else.

8/10 - See this movie.

MalàStrana said:

Tyrphanax said:

Mac and Me (1988)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bNzAgJMYVE

Yeah, I didn’t know that was even a thing until I was Wiki-ing the movie tonight.

Weird.

I hope the new MST3K can get the rights to Mac and Me. How Universal never sued over it is a mystery!

Moonwalker works best if you think of it as a feature length music video, (segments of it were shown on MTV this way) or as MJ’s personal Fantasia.

A little bit of trivia, the subway set from Bad was reused or recreated for the all kid version in the movie, and Michael being the good sport, let Weird Al use it for his Fat video.

LuckyGungan2001 said:

Alien 3 (1992)

People bag on this film all the time, but I still think it’s pretty good. It has great acting, a passable story, some great suspense, and characters that I like. Ripley is further developed, and once more Sigourney Weaver is outstanding, I’d probably say that she gives her best performance as Ripley in this film. Clemens and Dillon are other standouts, and are both likable and deep characters. The Xenomorph is made threatening again, after being watered down in Aliens. The deaths of Newt, Hicks, and Bishop are a common complaint, but I think it was a good idea, and it introduces the theme of no one being safe, which is seen throughout the films, as all the characters die, including Ripley. It does have flaws, like being a slightly worse version of the original films story, and some plot holes and contrivances, but I really like it regardless. Also, I’m reviewing the theatrical cut, I’ve yet to see the extended Assembly Cut.

7/10

I’m with ya! I actually might rank it a little higher, maybe an 8/10. I really like the theatrical cut of Alien3 and think the Assembly Cut is way inferior, but I don’t think I know anybody who agrees with me.
The change to the alien’s host makes no sense based on the design used for the creature. The way it moves, it’s size and it’s stance all say it came from a dog. And the original set up was great with the dog digging through the wreckage and finding the creature. The dog and his owner were well established characters. The owners death has a bit of tragic irony with him thinking he’s found his friend only to find his friend isn’t what it used to be. That’s gone in the Assembly Cut. Changing the host to a random Ox with no connection to anything or anyone else is weak and the thing doesn’t look or act like I imagine an Ox/Alien hybrid would.
Anyways, I think Alien3 is a great end to the franchise.

Double Trouble.

DominicCobb said:

Tyrphanax said:

Mac and Me (1988)

1/10 - Never see this movie.

I guess you’d have probably liked it better if it was PC and Me.

Probably.