Movies/Films/TV - Opinions

[cotton]

Watched Surge (2020) recommended by standardpostage.  I thought it was very good and diferent from similar films as it was more about an acute mental issue rather than just Michael Douglas getting wound up and angry or like John Cleese whacking the car with the tree branch , reminded me a bit of the video for bitter sweet symphony fsr.
Also watched The Guard (2011) with Brendon Gleeson recommended by FD , entertaining and got the serious/comedy balance about right without turning it into another episode of Father Ted.
Watched Fury (2014) about an American tank and its crew during the latter days of WW2 with cast including Brad Pitt and Jon Bernthal from The Punisher. 2 hours long but very watchable and gives an interesting take on the chaos and brutality of the conflict where german soldiers are routinely executed and local women raped.  Kindof reminded me in that resepect of Casualties Of War (1989) with Sean Penn , another good movie.

[standardpostage]

The Many Saints Of Newark. Cinema. Crime / drama. 2021 movie.
Good film. 7 out of 10. Film about pre - The Sopranos TV series.
I never saw the Sopranos on television, but as a stand alone film, I enjoyed it.
Set in 60s New Jersey USA.
Stars Ray Liotta.
Decent soundtrack from the 60s, when I was a teenager.

[PunterNumber69]

Identity - vintage John Cusack. A teeny bit violent. Not bad.

[Proton]

 Not much to add except a favourite movie I often enjoy re-watching "BURLESQUE" great music throughout 
Plus you lot have given me some interesting movie ideas   

[Goldfinch]

Any other fans of the 'Scream' films?,new film out next year:

External Link/Members Only

[The0neAnd0nly]

The Green Knight - Amazon Prime.

Watched this on the weekend, utterly brilliant 10 out of 10 for me. Medieval fantasy feels a bit like Pans Labyrinth crossed with The Witch (lots of the same cast.)

Best movie I've watched in a long time... any movie where the "hero" wakes up in a brothel is my kind of movie lol

[The0neAnd0nly]

Black Widow - Disney+

Absolute tripe, even the lovely sight of Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz couldn't keep my interest. 4 out of 10 dont even know why this movies exists, the characters Russian accents were probably the worse I've ever heard.

[Ali Katt]

Any other fans of the 'Scream' films?,new film out next year:

External Link/Members Only

I think they're annoying, but feature some great murder scenes. Tbf if I was still big into horror I would watch this.

[Ali Katt]

Black Widow - Disney+

Absolute tripe, even the lovely sight of Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz couldn't keep my interest. 4 out of 10 dont even know why this movies exists, the characters Russian accents were probably the worse I've ever heard.

Worse than Sean Connerys Scottish Russian?

[Chorley]

Worse than Sean Connerys Scottish Russian?

Or Spanish 

[Waterhouse]

Or Spanish 

I’m not Spanish, I’m Egyptian.   -    You said you were from Spain. You’re a liar!

Crude and shlow, clanshman.

 

[Waterhouse]

Worse than Sean Connerys Scottish Russian?

A fucking Mushcovy duck.

[The0neAnd0nly]

 

To be fair I should have been clearer - the accents werent that bad when they kept to it. It's when they clearly started switching back to their normal accents that was taking me completely out of scenes!

[PunterNumber69]

I think they're annoying, but feature some great murder scenes. Tbf if I was still big into horror I would watch this.

Final Destination are the best for unusual ways to die though.

[Goldfinch]

Final Destination are the best for unusual ways to die though.

Yes 

External Link/Members Only

[Aldebaran]

There's a Danish serial killer show on Netflix, called Chestnut Man. I've watched the first 3 episodes and it's good.

[standardpostage]

The Green Knight - Axxxxxx Prime.

Watched this on the weekend, utterly brilliant 10 out of 10 for me. Medieval fantasy feels a bit like Pans Labyrinth crossed with The Witch (lots of the same cast.)

Best movie I've watched in a long time... any movie where the "hero" wakes up in a brothel is my kind of movie lol

Good film. Oscar material, I think.

[The0neAnd0nly]

Good film. Oscar material, I think.

I'd love for it to win a Oscar. Either for Best Cinematography or Best Actor for Dev Patel who I thought was brilliant. Right combination of cowardly, conflicted and determined!

[sparkus]

'Wild Bill', Dexter Fletcher's directorial debut, was on TV the other night.

Films with subplots about punting in Stratford a bit too close to real life for me...

[standardpostage]

'Wild Bill', Dexter Fletcher's directorial debut, was on TV the other night.

Films with subplots about punting in Stratford a bit too close to real life for me...

Seen it. On Netflix. Good film.

[PunterNumber69]

Guilt on BBC2 - pretty good.

[ulstersubbie]

Classic Double Bill:

Kiss Me Deadly (1955). A very idiosyncratic noir that seems familiar but is actually a fresh take on this particular sub genre. Mike Hammer investigates the great "whatsit" in a plot that is anything but conventional. Directed by Robert Aldrich.

Shock Corridor (1963). Set in a mental institution, this is arguably the most explosive film ever directed by Sam Fuller. A dramatic thriller that also cleverly asks questions of American society at the time. Martin Scorsese cited Fuller as one of his great influences, a fine tribute indeed.

[p4p]

Just watched last weeks 24 hours in police custody
Had a rom who tan brothels, showed him kicking the fuck out of women.
Proper scumbag trafficking shithead.

I cannot seem to find the episode/s you are referring to, any ideas which one it was please?

[tantric talents]

Seen it. On Netflix. Good film.

I thought Wild Bill was a fine little film.
Thanks for the tip lads. 

[mr.bluesky]

Recently finished watching The North Water on BBC2. Excellent mini series. Colin Farrell was outstanding playing the part of the evil Drax. If I didn't know it was him from the credits I would never have guessed it was him. Without giving too much away it was about a murder carried out on a whaling ship. Lots of shady characters in it.

Hidden Image/Members Only

[cotton]

The Green Knight - Axxxxxx Prime.

Watched this on the weekend, utterly brilliant 10 out of 10 for me. Medieval fantasy feels a bit like Pans Labyrinth crossed with The Witch (lots of the same cast.)

Best movie I've watched in a long time... any movie where the "hero" wakes up in a brothel is my kind of movie lol

I watched The Green Knight (2021) recommended by TheOneAndOnly and after the preceeding hype i was disappointed..  For me it was like a childrens fairy story , quite cute and well acted and well produced but just not for me.  probably one for the harry potter / lord of the rings / snow white fans.
Also watched Kiss Me Deadly (1955) recommended by Ulster which was pretty good and satisfyingly unconventional plot. The narrative was tight , the leading actor was a bit non-descript , it might have benefited from someone with a bit more weight like Mitchum or Widmark.

[The Film Director]

Recently finished watching The North Water on BBC2. Excellent mini series. Colin Farrell was outstanding playing the part of the evil Drax. If I didn't know it was him from the credits I would never have guessed it was him. Without giving too much away it was about a murder carried out on a whaling ship. Lots of shady characters in it.

Hidden Image/Members Only

Certainly original, setting wise!  Half the time you couldn't see what was going on it was so dark (which matched the themes, obviously). But Farrell and O'Connell were both excellent. 

[standardpostage]

Recently finished watching The North Water on BBC2. Excellent mini series. Colin Farrell was outstanding playing the part of the evil Drax. If I didn't know it was him from the credits I would never have guessed it was him. Without giving too much away it was about a murder carried out on a whaling ship. Lots of shady characters in it.

Hidden Image/Members Only
Seen it. Very good. Worth watching.

[standardpostage]

The Forgotten Battle. Netflix. Great War Movie.
German and English language with subtitles. 2021 movie. Rated 15.
Good story, well acted. Worth watching.
WW2 film. 2hr 7min long.

[The0neAnd0nly]

I watched The Green Knight (2021) recommended by TheOneAndOnly and after the preceeding hype i was disappointed..  For me it was like a childrens fairy story , quite cute and well acted and well produced but just not for me.  probably one for the harry potter / lord of the rings / snow white fans.
Also watched Kiss Me Deadly (1955) recommended by Ulster which was pretty good and satisfyingly unconventional plot. The narrative was tight , the leading actor was a bit non-descript , it might have benefited from someone with a bit more weight like Mitchum or Widmark.

Sorry to hear that Cotton, each to their own!

[Gordon Bennett]

New trailer for The Batman, due spring 2022.

I enjoy Batman - really looking forward to this one. Looks really dark and gritty.

A lot of it was filmed in Liverpool, I actually saw a lot of it and nephew got a couple of weeks work as an extra. Liver Building looked stunning the nights they filmed there, lit up all red with Batman stood at top flapping his cape.

Around 1:50 into video it's Liver Building and then St.Georges Hall.

External Link/Members Only



Hidden Image/Members Only

[freeze44]

The Green Knight - Axxxxxx Prime.

Watched this on the weekend, utterly brilliant 10 out of 10 for me. Medieval fantasy feels a bit like Pans Labyrinth crossed with The Witch (lots of the same cast.)

Best movie I've watched in a long time... any movie where the "hero" wakes up in a brothel is my kind of movie lol

Thanks and agree a good film, different and good to watch.

[mr.bluesky]

New trailer for The Batman, due spring 2022.

I enjoy Batman - really looking forward to this one. Looks really dark and gritty.

A lot of it was filmed in Liverpool, I actually saw a lot of it and nephew got a couple of weeks work as an extra. Liver Building looked stunning the nights they filmed there, lit up all red with Batman stood at top flapping his cape.

Around 1:50 into video it's Liver Building and then St.Georges Hall.

External Link/Members Only



Hidden Image/Members Only

  looks good. It will be interesting to see how Robert Pattinson plays the part of batman and Colin Farrell as the penguin. I take it the film is a re - boot of the franchise. I think the re boot of recent spiderman films have been somewhat disappointing. A thought Christian Bale was the best Batman to date and the late Heath Ledger was by far the best Joker. Apart from The Dark Knight rises these films lost their way somewhat.

[Ghost89]

New trailer for The Batman, due spring 2022.

I enjoy Batman - really looking forward to this one. Looks really dark and gritty.

A lot of it was filmed in Liverpool, I actually saw a lot of it and nephew got a couple of weeks work as an extra. Liver Building looked stunning the nights they filmed there, lit up all red with Batman stood at top flapping his cape.

Around 1:50 into video it's Liver Building and then St.Georges Hall.

External Link/Members Only



Hidden Image/Members Only

I’m looking forward to this as well being a huge fan of the bat.  I must admit though I’m not a Robert Pattinson fan so appalled when I first heard he was the choice. But he might just pull it off looking at the trailer. By all accounts Michael Keaton is also returning to play the caped crusader in The Flash movie.

[Waterhouse]

looks good. It will be interesting to see how Robert Pattinson plays the part of batman and Colin Farrell as the penguin. I take it the film is a re - boot of the franchise. I think the re boot of recent spiderman films have been somewhat disappointing. A thought Christian Bale was the best Batman to date and the late Heath Ledger was by far the best Joker. Apart from The Dark Knight rises these films lost their way somewhat.

Personally I think Ben Affleck was the perfect Dark Knight. Much truer to the character shown in the graphic novels than Christian Bale’s portrayal.

I love the Chris Nolan Trilogy, and agree that Bale is a great Batman, but I feel he lacked the gravitas that Affleck brought to the role.  BA was also bigger, bulkier and closer physically to the Batman of the source material.

Both actors were superb, But I’d say Bale was excellent as The Batman, and Affleck was excellent as The Dark Knight. For me personally though, Affleck wins out.

I’m definitely not a fan of Pattinson and not sure how he’ll measure up to his Bat-predecessors, but willing to reserve judgment until it hits the screens.

[mr.bluesky]

Personally I think Ben Affleck was the perfect Dark Knight. Much truer to the character shown in the graphic novels than Christian Bale’s portrayal.

I love the Chris Nolan Trilogy, and agree that Bale is a great Batman, but I feel he lacked the gravitas that Affleck brought to the role.  BA was also bigger, bulkier and closer physically to the Batman of the source material.

Both actors were superb, But I’d say Bale was excellent as The Batman, and Affleck was excellent as The Dark Knight. For me personally though, Affleck wins out.

I’m definitely not a fan of Pattinson and not sure how he’ll measure up to his Bat-predecessors, but willing to reserve judgment until it hits the screens.

I thought Ben Affleck was too chunky to play the part of Batman , he probably worked out like Bale to get the part but to me he didn't look the part. Val Kilmer did an OK job playing the part and as much as I like George Clooney he was a wrong choice to play the part of Batman. I do prefer the Batman films over Superman or the Marvel Comic films. The Batman films always have a bit of a dark edge about them imo.

[Problem Child]

I thought Bale was an excellent Bruce Wayne, but shit Batman, Affleck was a good Batman, but shit Wayne. Of course it didn’t help that the films Affleck was in were mostly terrible.
It’s a tricky role coz you’re playing 2 different characters, a bit like Superman.
Over the years the one actor who has nailed the hero/secret identity thing is Christopher Reeves in the older superman films. He got both roles bang on.

Tbh I’m kinda over Batman films and DC films in general. I’m bored with all the “wow we’re so dark and serious” vibe they go for.
To me the best superhero film is Taika Watiti’s Thor Ragnorok. It’s bright and colourful, almost to the point of being psychedelic and is pretty much a buddy comedy with cheesy dick jokes. However, if you scratch the surface, there’s lots of stuff going on about colonialism and rewriting of colonial history, control of the media, the rise of right wing populism, refugee crisis etc
That’s what comic are about to me. Colourful, light escapism that still has something to say, if you choose to look for it, rather than being bashed over the head with how “serious “ something is.

[The Film Director]

looks good. It will be interesting to see how Robert Pattinson plays the part of batman and Colin Farrell as the penguin. I take it the film is a re - boot of the franchise. I think the re boot of recent spiderman films have been somewhat disappointing. A thought Christian Bale was the best Batman to date and the late Heath Ledger was by far the best Joker. Apart from The Dark Knight rises these films lost their way somewhat.

Fuck me ... I almost spat my tea out reading that.  Priceless.   

[NightKid]

BA was also bigger, bulkier and closer physically to the Batman of the source material.

This. Also reserving judgement until film's actually out, but from the trailers alone I'm disappointed with how RP's Bats is noticeably scrawny af and that alone will cut the immersion factor considerably for me.

[catweazle]

Finished the first half of Series 5 of The Money Heist ( 5 episodes then paused until early December  when we get 5 more) Excellent  cliffhanger stuff.

[ulstersubbie]

Tbh I’m kinda over Batman films and DC films in general. I’m bored with all the “wow we’re so dark and serious” vibe they go for.

That’s what comic are about to me. Colourful, light escapism that still has something to say, if you choose to look for it, rather than being bashed over the head with how “serious “ something is.

Totally agree with this.

[Ali Katt]

Totally agree with this.

We had the unserious Batman films in the 90s. Batman Forever and Robin were awful films  90s films were weird they even tried to make the family films dark, Super Mario Bros, TMNT etc. Now family films have to be emotionally charged like Up. I think that's a bit weird.

[Marmalade]

We had the unserious Batman films in the 90s. Batman Forever and Robin were awful films  90s films were weird they even tried to make the family films dark, Super Mario Bros, TMNT etc. Now family films have to be emotionally charged like Up. I think that's a bit weird.

I’ve never been impressed with the Batman portrayals. Even in the comic books he was a completely emasculated character, competing for attention with youngsters who, old enough to enjoy the stories, should already be beginning to grow balls.

The films seem to flit between that and the hyper-realism of Joker, with Nolan doing his thing along the way. If Bruce Wayne is originally a playboy — as per the back-story — then I feel either there should at least be an element of manly lust for sex unless the whole thing is to perpetuate the disgusting American “sex (outside of marriage) is evil” motto.

So sex repressed turns out a vigilante character — violence posing as apple-pie goodness. I found Frank Miller’s Sin City a bit more convincing, whereas Batman still, apparently, hasn’t got much of a cock between his legs. Things rarely if everyone go beyond a first date. When I googled, I found “ A scene showing Batman performing oral sex was cut from the adult animated series Harley Quinn - because, according to DC Entertainment executives, 'heroes don't do that.' “ 

I’d like to see him have at least a secret week off from duty where he fucks his brains out. A bit more of the ‘Wolverine’ or ‘Iron Man’ about him and a bit less of the rather asexual dancing fairy who proves his virility by beating up bad guys. 

Just my opinion and to be taken with a pinch of salt. I’m sure some fans who know all the series better than I do will predictably cry “foul” or “batshit”. 

[ulstersubbie]

Burn (2019). Distinctly offbeat thriller about a gas station robbery going spectacularly wrong. By no means a perfect film, but this debut feature from director Mike Gan shows much promise.

[Gordon Bennett]

Succession is back after 2 years away. Season 3 just started on Sky/Now TV

Really really good and well worth checking out

[Aldebaran]

Apologies if anyone else has asked or mentioned this show, but I'm not going to trawl through 70+ pages looking.

Did anyone else watch the recent series Broken, with Sean Bean as a catholic priest in a deprived area of a Northern town? Written by Jimmy McGovern, so excellent scripting, not quite sure about an action man type like Bean playing a priest but he pulled it off fairly well. Personally I enjoyed it and it did highlight some of the failures in modern society in Britain.

[PunterNumber69]

Succession is back after 2 years away. Season 3 just started on Sky/Now TV

Really really good and well worth checking out

+1

[The Film Director]

Did anyone else watch the recent series Broken, with Sean Bean as a catholic priest in a deprived area of a Northern town? Written by Jimmy McGovern, so excellent scripting, not quite sure about an action man type like Bean playing a priest but he pulled it off fairly well. Personally I enjoyed it and it did highlight some of the failures in modern society in Britain.

Yep, it was brilliant.  Bean has gone up in my estimation, actor-wise (though it's probably more to do with the quality of the written drama).  He was also great in the 3 part series Red Riding (2009?) though he was mainly just in the first part.  Total antithesis of the Broken role, here as a corrupt businessman.

[Chorley]

I thought Bale was an excellent Bruce Wayne, but shit Batman, Affleck was a good Batman, but shit Wayne. Of course it didn’t help that the films Affleck was in were mostly terrible.
It’s a tricky role coz you’re playing 2 different characters, a bit like Superman.
Over the years the one actor who has nailed the hero/secret identity thing is Christopher Reeves in the older superman films. He got both roles bang on.

Tbh I’m kinda over Batman films and DC films in general. I’m bored with all the “wow we’re so dark and serious” vibe they go for.
To me the best superhero film is Taika Watiti’s Thor Ragnorok. It’s bright and colourful, almost to the point of being psychedelic and is pretty much a buddy comedy with cheesy dick jokes. However, if you scratch the surface, there’s lots of stuff going on about colonialism and rewriting of colonial history, control of the media, the rise of right wing populism, refugee crisis etc
That’s what comic are about to me. Colourful, light escapism that still has something to say, if you choose to look for it, rather than being bashed over the head with how “serious “ something is.

To be fair all of the superhero films need to be serious, particularly as many of stem from graphic novels; for example,  the ultimate representation of Batman for me  is Frank Miller's Dark Knight series, which are incredibly bleak, violent and nihilistic. Very few-if any-films or TV shows have ever  been are ever to mirror that medium-possibly because it would mean having an 18 certificate and reducing the potential viewing market?
A good example of a series remaining true to the brutal no holds barred graphic novel approach is Punisher which is on Netflix, but even that moved into fluffy silliness in the second season.

[Problem Child]

To be fair all of the superhero films need to be serious, particularly as many of stem from graphic novels; for example,  the ultimate representation of Batman for me  is Frank Miller's Dark Knight series, which are incredibly bleak, violent and nihilistic. Very few-if any-films or TV shows have ever  been are ever to mirror that medium-possibly because it would mean having an 18 certificate and reducing the potential viewing market?
A good example of a series remaining true to the brutal no holds barred graphic novel approach is Punisher which is on Netflix, but even that moved into fluffy silliness in the second season.

I do like The Dark Knight Returns and I remember thinking in the 90’s that a film version starring Clint would’ve been amazing. However, I’m now more inclined to Alan Moore’s view that comics and movies are different mediums and slavish movie versions of comics generally don’t work. See EVERY film version of Moore’s work for reference..
Course there are some exceptions, for works of Miller I think Sin city and Zac Snyders 300 are brilliant  , although Snyders Watchmen (Moore not Miller this time) completely missed the mark..
That’s why I like Thor Ragnarok so much. Waititi took a couple of well loved comic arcs, cherry picked the bits he thought would work , added his own take,  stuck it all  in a blender  and came up with something that works on screen.
Thor is great in the comics, but is pretty ridiculous  in a live action setting , making him a comedy character was an inspired move , also helped by the fact that Chris Helmsworth is a pretty good comic actor.