Film you recently watched: part 3

Saw this yesterday in Imax and really enjoyed the take on this Batman. For a three hour film, I didn't find it dragging at all. Not the roaring success of a Batman that The Dark Knight was, but I liked the grounding of the universe they built.

Can understand where you come from on Bruce Wayne, but the point was really that Bruce is the mask, as he is living his life 100% as Batman at this moment.. As for the Batmobile, I think it fitted the development stage of Batman, being in his second year.

Thought Penguin and Catwoman were also positives, as well as Falconi.

I'd have liked to have seen Batman struggle more with Riddlers clues and spend more time solving them, but that may have pushed the film time too far and a split into two parts.

The scene at Arkham near the end, looks like its laying a tease of the next villain if they follow this film up... which I expect WB will.

 

Watched "Fresh" last night on the mickey mouse channel.

It's worth a watch if you like dark thriller type stuff.

Spoiler: films it reminds me of (might spoil some of it if you know before watching. Like knowing theres a twist at the end of a film with a twist)

Mix between get out, hostel and human centipede

 

Big Momma's House - Like Father Like Son

Martin Lawrence's step son is accepted into Duke University, but the kid wants to be a rapper and go on the road instead. This leads to tension between the two, culminating in the younger one following the elder to an FBI stakeout where he witnesses a gangland hit.

Martin Lawrence realises that despite the fact that he's an FBI agent and the bad guy has just killed a guy, which is illegal in the USA, and will have loads of physical evidence to prove it as well as his son's witness testimony, the only safe course of action is to don a fat suit, pretend to be Big Momma and get his step son to pretend to be a chubby teenage girl at a school for performing arts students.

There's also a flash drive with some evidence on it hidden there, that will presumably be of crimes which are more significant than the murder he could otherwise just arrest the bad guy for.

The younger cross dressed, undercover guy spends a lot of time around teenage girls in negligees and pyjamas, trying not to reveal his male identity, whilst the father, dressed a Big Momma, takes zero sass from anyone and gets unwanted amorous attention from the school caretaker, played hilariously by Faizon Love.

In conclusion, a hilarious and intelligent look at the differences in gender roles across generations as well as societal standards of body image. 10/10

 

CODA (Child of deaf adults) is a highly predictable coming of age saga that is, nevertheless, a bit of treat. It centres on Ruby, an aspiring singer, whose family are all deaf and her struggles to forge her own identity.

All the familiar coming of age themes are present and correct, including the regulation inspirational teacher and you always know exactly where it is going. However the whole thing is so warm and funny (and quite rude) that you can’t help be swept along with it. Particularly recommended for those with teens looking for a family film. 7.5/10.

 

I'm a fan of Agatha Christie's works and I thought that Branagh's Poirot was good (the new film adds to his mythos - he's eclipsing John Malkovitch's version in 'interestingness') but my enjoyment of Death on the Nile was slightly tempered because I was wishing the Gal "Acting Vacuum" Gadot's 'character' (sic.) was murdered as soon as possible.

 

What? Have you such a heart of stone that her and her pals’ version of Imagine, performed after a heartbreaking six days of Covid confinement in luxury accommodation, failed to move you?

You are some kind of monster.

 

Two 'art' films: the first was alright Banksy Most Wanted and basically is little more than a greatest hits showreel with a whoisit? thread woven into the narrative.

The second one was a "I've got it so I might as well watch it" and was surprisingly good. It is a film 'by' Banksy "Exit Through the Gift Shop" - I say 'by' as it was originally a film by another , would be, artist detailing the history of 'street art' featuring (and focussing on) Banksy but the final film was re-edited by Banksy (and his team I would imagine) to produce a film about the original film maker GOT THAT (or it might be another prank by Banksy). Very, very illuminating and entertaining.

 

Exit Through the Gift Shop is one of my favourite documentary films, good one to pencil in for the upcoming wet weekend!

 

The new Matrix is kind of fun for about half an hour then completely falls to pieces.

 

I watched Mike Bassett: England Manager for the first time in years and it was brilliant. Amusing and still relevant today.

As a Watford fan, knowing Bassett is primarily based on GT brings conflicting thoughts, but he is portrayed in a fairly sympathetic light, with the severe difficulty of being England manager clear for all to see.

 

Ali & Ava. If you like 'gritty' and 'northern' British films this should work for you. Two lonely people with baggage from previous unhappy relationships.... an undercurrent of racial tension... council estates.... it's got the lot. I enjoyed it. Adeel Akhtar is excellent as usual

 

Yeah, that was my take on it too. Started well, then took a nasty nosedive.

 

I watched that about a month ago. Thought it was one of the worst films I've seen in years.

 

I love black sheep . Totally bonkers and ridiculous plot but really good fun.

 

Jimmy Saville netflix doc. Absolutely disturbing as hell.

 

Scratch the surface and you’re just a flipping Guardian reader with a massive Ken Loach DVD collection.

Will give it a go.

 

Having had a couple of days off sick this week, I've been watching a few films while recuperating in this order:

Edge Of Tomorrow: Pretty entertaining action packed and great idea done pretty well. Decent Tom Cruise outing and some good sci-fi action.

Invictus: Was ok. I wasn't overawed with it and the final match part went on way too long and nothing really happened in the 20 odd minutes apart from some highlights. Could've had a bit more of the political stuff and crammed the match into 5 minutes at the end.

Meet Joe Black: I've been meaning to watch this for years and just never got around to it. Bit long but I had the time and I think helped it in that nothing felt rushed and it was paced pretty well.

Boss Level: Watched this after I saw it was a recommended film if you liked Edge Of Tomorrow. Really enjoyed it. Not an oscars masterpiece but pretty easy watching and funny.

Dune (2021): I've never seen the original so please don't judge me! This was really, really good. Settings were all great, acting was really good and loved the story. Didn't want it to end when it did as didn't realise it's going to be part of a trilogy. I'd have happily watched another couple of hours of it straight away.

Oblivion: Another one I saw come up on Sky Cinema so as I enjoyed Edge Of Tomorrow I thought I'd give this a go. Another decent Cruise sci-fi effort and another pretty good story line.

All in all pretty enjoyable and a couple I'd definitely go back and watch again.

 

Yeah same. No knowledge of it before so went into it fresh. I will admit to stopping it after an hour and googling the plot up to that point as I got a bit lost as to why the Atriedes were being moved to Arrakis and how all the families were aligned but once I understood it all became clear.

Was tempted to watch the original after but I don't want to spoil the next film (or 2) by knowing the next part so I'm leaving that til I've seen this full series.

 

Doctor Strange. Pretty good fun with some awesome call backs and cameos thrown in

 

To get to grips with the massive amount of backstory and knowledge required to make sense of the Dune 'Universe' I would recommend the first set of prequels written by the original author's son. They're best read in order and I've just looked on ebay and they're about £6.50 each. The producer of the 'new' film is obviously a fan of these because there's a massive 'tell' (from the preludes) in the film that's not covered/mentioned at all in the original book.

The first one of the preludes is also being done as a graphic novel and from what I've seen of them they really lack "something" - much the same as the 'original' 1984 film.

 

Thanks for this. I'll have a look but honestly I barely get time to read anything at the moment with work and my 2yo so not sure I'll find the time any time soon.

 

Just watched Passport to Pimlico. Cracking.

 

Totally, great film took me back to my youth:

 

RIP Mayor Adam West. Xx

 

Batman, Sonic and eEternals are all lined up for when the Grandchildren visit next week.

 

The Duke. Gentle British comedy with Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent about a chap who steals a painting. Very pleasant.

 

I found all the sex a bit gratuitous but the heroin smuggled up the bum in an airport scene had me in stitches.

 

Yes. I'm surprised Jim Broadbent agreed to do that