Movies/Films/TV - Opinions

[mr.bluesky]

I am aware I am an outlier on this but I hated the book. It read like a cheesy Hollywood film script with all the quips rather than reading a novel with underlying themes etc. I think the author was just thinking about the movie that was going to be made and thought he'd save the script writers a job and write the script for them.

I have had a bad experience with Andy Weir in general. I loved The Martian which is based on an Andy Weir book. I thought I would check his work out and rather than read The Martian I decided to read Artemis which I disliked so much I didn't finish it. Today I barely remember a thing about it, just that the main character who narrates the story being very odd. I picked up Hail Mary as saw some great reviews, definitely preferred it to Artemis but still ended up rating it 2/5 on Goodreads.

I read Project Hail Mary and recently saw the film , I didn't think it was as good as The Martian book or film.

[Zimbaman]

I am aware I am an outlier on this but I hated the book. It read like a cheesy Hollywood film script with all the quips rather than reading a novel with underlying themes etc. I think the author was just thinking about the movie that was going to be made and thought he'd save the script writers a job and write the script for them.

I have had a bad experience with Andy Weir in general. I loved The Martian which is based on an Andy Weir book. I thought I would check his work out and rather than read The Martian I decided to read Artemis which I disliked so much I didn't finish it. Today I barely remember a thing about it, just that the main character who narrates the story being very odd. I picked up Hail Mary as saw some great reviews, definitely preferred it to Artemis but still ended up rating it 2/5 on Goodreads.

I have really enjoyed all of Andy Weirs books so far. The Martian was my favourite though. Agree that Artemis was the weakest, but still enjoyed it. And bizarrely I only worked out the main character was female towards the end.

[Steve2]

The 5.17 to Paris on Netflix

The 15:17 to Paris is a 2018 biographical drama directed by Clint Eastwood. It recounts the true story of three American friends—Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone—who thwarted a terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train in 2015. The film is notable for casting the real-life heroes to play themselves.

[Bangman]

I saw 3 new movies this week.
Deep water - with Sir Ben Kingsley, Labeled crashes in the ocean and survivors are battling sharks. Started of promising but got dumber and dull.

Masters of the universe- I did watch the cartoon in the late 80s, it was somewhat fun, but nothing special.

Disclosure day. I read somewhere its one of Spielbergs best film in years.... yeah right.. Most boring film I've seen this year

[Punterperson1971]

Twisted metal series
Really good 8/10

[mr.bluesky]

I saw 3 new movies this week.
Deep water - with Sir Ben Kingsley, Labeled crashes in the ocean and survivors are battling sharks. Started of promising but got dumber and dull.

Masters of the universe- I did watch the cartoon in the late 80s, it was somewhat fun, but nothing special.

Disclosure day. I read somewhere its one of Spielbergs best film in years.... yeah right.. Most boring film I've seen this year

I was thinking of going to see Disclosure Day soon. Surely it can't be as bad as Interstellar, the most over hyped boring sci fi film ever made 

[Vice Admiral]

Last night I watched the first episode of Two Weeks in August on BBC One, about a holiday from hell.  Very well put together.  Good script.  Excellent performances.

Oh dear.

I stayed with it, and watched the final episode last night.  But, after a promising first few episodes, it went from bad to worse.

The last episode was dreadful.  They'd completely lost the plot.  Literally.  And the script and the acting had similarly gone downhill. 

The episode consisted almost entirely of characters having boring, sub-soap-opera "relationship conversations", peppered with clichés and things no-one in the real world would ever say.

I think part of the problem was the number of episodes.  Eight was too many.

Also some weird supernatural shit kept popping up.  What the fuck was that about?

However the lead actress, Jessica Raine – an actress I've not seen before – remained compelling right to the end.  And the warm, sunny, Mediterranean locations were a tonic for those of us trapped in this typically damp, chilly British summer.

[Bangman]

I was thinking of going to see Disclosure Day soon. Surely it can't be as bad as Interstellar, the most over hyped boring sci fi film ever made 

Interstellar was a tad boring, but still entertaining in parts.
This was a bore fest.

[RandomGuy99]

Oh dear.

I stayed with it, and watched the final episode last night.  But, after a promising first few episodes, it went from bad to worse.

The last episode was dreadful.  They'd completely lost the plot.  Literally.  And the script and the acting had similarly gone downhill. 

The episode consisted almost entirely of characters having boring, sub-soap-opera "relationship conversations", peppered with clichés and things no-one in the real world would ever say.

I think part of the problem was the number of episodes.  Eight was too many.

Also some weird supernatural shit kept popping up.  What the fuck was that about?

However the lead actress, Jessica Raine – an actress I've not seen before – remained compelling right to the end.  And the warm, sunny, Mediterranean locations were a tonic for those of us trapped in this typically damp, chilly British summer.

There's a lot of dramas on BBC and ITV that go on for 6 or 8 episodes and they turn out to be a story that you could have told in 1 or 2 episodes.

[Punterperson1971]

Been watching west world struggling to get into it shall I persist with it

[RandomGuy99]

Been watching west world struggling to get into it shall I persist with it

Sometimes it's a bit slow but worth persevering with

[Punterperson1971]

Sometimes it's a bit slow but worth persevering with

Thanks mate

[mr.bluesky]

Been watching west world struggling to get into it shall I persist with it

I have watched this ,some good cast in it including Anthony Hopkins and ED Harris and the lovely Evan Rachel Wood.
Unfortunately it only ran for Four seasons before it was axed so didn't really come to a satisfactory conclusion like a lot of American tv series. Aaron Paul stars in the later season episodes best remembered for his role in Breaking Bad. I think this is where the series lost it's way as it moved from the western environment to the modern city.  The film version is a sci fi classic. Look out for a later episode where it pays homage to the original film. That's all I will say , don't want to spoil it for you .

[Xtro]

Been watching west world struggling to get into it shall I persist with it

It can be a bit of a chore but good overall.

Have you tried.....
 Altered Carbon (TV Series 2018-2020) S01 Trailer - External Link/Members Only
Or.....
Raised by Wolves (TV Series 2020–2022) S01 Trailer - External Link/Members Only

[Punterperson1971]

It can be a bit of a chore but good overall.

Have you tried.....
 Altered Carbon (TV Series 2018-2020) S01 Trailer - External Link/Members Only
Or.....
Raised by Wolves (TV Series 2020–2022) S01 Trailer - External Link/Members Only

No mate

[mr.bluesky]

So I went to see Disclosure Day at the cinema today. A steven Spielberg film , probably simular to Close Encounters of the third kind but not half as good. At nearly two and a half hours long it really does drag with all the action coming in the last half hour. As Bangman says it is really is overated and two hours+ of my life I'll never get back. Only redeeming thing is that it was a very hot day outside and it was nice and cool in the cinema otherwise save your money and give it a miss.

[PilotMan]

There's a lot of dramas on BBC and ITV that go on for 6 or 8 episodes and they turn out to be a story that you could have told in 1 or 2 episodes.

I've noticed that they have all increased their episode count, BBC, ITV, C4, C5 - I think it's following what Netflix and Prime seem to do.

I watch quite a few true crime programmes from the C+I Crime & Investigation Channel, they are always one hour. I've then seen a Netflix version of the same story stretched out to 3 episodes.

[RandomGuy99]

I've noticed that they have all increased their episode count, BBC, ITV, C4, C5 - I think it's following what Netflix and Prime seem to do.

I watch quite a few true crime programmes from the C+I Crime & Investigation Channel, they are always one hour. I've then seen a Netflix version of the same story stretched out to 3 episodes.

Just filling the schedule in the summer months. I'm watching more and more streaming stuff.

[mr.bluesky]

I've noticed that they have all increased their episode count, BBC, ITV, C4, C5 - I think it's following what Netflix and Prime seem to do.

I watch quite a few true crime programmes from the C+I Crime & Investigation Channel, they are always one hour. I've then seen a Netflix version of the same story stretched out to 3 episodes.

I remember watching Douglas is cancelled on ITV starring the lovely Karen Gillan, this was a four part story,  it could have been done in just one episode.

[Stevelondon]

Was flicking through the channels waiting to see Scotland lose against Brazil……… sorry. Waiting for the Brazil v Scotland game.

Started watching a Nic Cage movie, Drive Angry.

Now I quite like some of his work. But my god he has made some utter shite every so often. 😂

[Waterhouse]

Was flicking through the channels waiting to see Scotland lose against Brazil……… sorry. Waiting for the Brazil v Scotland game.

Started watching a Nic Cage movie, Drive Angry.

Now I quite like some of his work. But my god he has made some utter shite every so often. 😂

Nic is an acquired taste for sure. I love the guy, but some of his films have ranged from shite to utterly bizarre (i.e. Mandy).  But when he scores, he scores big - Pig, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Con-Air, Leaving Las Vegas… I could go on.

I really liked Drive Angry… the “accountant” character was excellent.

[Steve2]

I will find you  on Netflix

Limited series of 8 episodes. Enjoyed the 1st 4 yesterday. So far so good

[Rick2468]

Nic is an acquired taste for sure. I love the guy, but some of his films have ranged from shite to utterly bizarre (i.e. Mandy).  But when he scores, he scores big - Pig, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Con-Air, Leaving Las Vegas… I could go on.

I really liked Drive Angry… the “accountant” character was excellent.

I love Nicholas Cage, he is one of the few actors I would watch a film just because he is in it. I like to think that most actors pick movies to do based on how they can help progress their career and / or get Oscar nominations, whereas Nicholas Cage just thinks "Fuck it, being locked inside a theme park where the mascots come alive and spend the night trying to murder me sounds a right laugh, sign me up.".

[Bangman]

Nicholas cage.. 2 films for me..
Con Air    and    Face off.

Love both of them...Great action fun films.

[catweazle]

Seeking something different to watch , I found Person of Interest on Netflix. 5 series., the early ones 20+ episodes.  Started off relatively straightforward,  but now I'm partway through series 3,  its ever so slightly  bonkers.

[ulstersubbie]

Now I quite like some of his work. But my god he has made some utter shite every so often. 😂

Cage is one of those actors who's either very good or astonishingly bad, wildly inconsistent when it comes to performances. His CV is littered with generic rubbishy films but that's Hollywood for you, however he certainly has a solid fan base who will turn up to watch him irrespective of how awful the film is.

[Punterperson1971]

Just finished black summer a zombie series on Netflix really good and zombies were scary
And now watching quarantine about a reporter filling the fire service into a block of flats,few years old but good very similar to REC

[catweazle]

I will find you  on Netflix

Limited series of 8 episodes. Enjoyed the 1st 4 yesterday. So far so good

Very watchable, although like many Harlan Conan adaptations, a bit  formulaic

[RandomGuy99]

The Broughs on Netflix - 2 episodes in, slow and odd.

[ulstersubbie]

Moon (2024). A former martial artist travels to Jordan to train three sisters from a wealthy family but is increasingly disturbed by what she sees. Slow burn drama looking at how certain societies impose severe restrictions on their women and the consequences of standing up to that oppression. Subtly powerful filmmaking from director Kurdwin Ayub, it's politically charged but don't let that put you off, Moon is a fascinating Austrian film that holds your attention.  A-

Two To One (2024). A family in the DDR finds millions in soon to be worthless East Germany currency during 1990s reunification. Madcap crime caper that somehow resembles an Ealing film in a nostalgic kind of way but the quality isn't quite there, it's gently amusing but nothing more.  C

Carolina Caroline (2025). Bored young woman takes to the road with a charming con artist, chaos ensues. Plays like an update of the classic 70's movie Badlands (a far better film), Carolina Caroline unfolds in the way you expect it to with no surprises. Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner are very watchable in the lead roles, the main reason for sticking with this particular film.  C

[stampjones]

Subbie, I really love your mini reviews. My favourite film reviews anywhere tbh. What would be really helpful is if you could say where you see the movies. Unless you're seeing them at a film club or something that's only locally useful

[ulstersubbie]

Subbie, I really love your mini reviews. My favourite film reviews anywhere tbh. What would be really helpful is if you could say where you see the movies. Unless you're seeing them at a film club or something that's only locally useful

Thanks stampjones, I really appreciate your kind comments. In future I will note down the stream where I watched a particular film/films. The last three I just reviewed are available on the M4uhd or Lookmovie2 streams, sometimes they both have the same film available. Hope that helps.   

[stampjones]

Thanks stampjones, I really appreciate your kind comments. In future I will note down the stream where I watched a particular film/films. The last three I just reviewed are available on the M4uhd or Lookmovie2 streams, sometimes they both have the same film available. Hope that helps.   

Cheers mate. Much appreciated

[PilotMan]

Subbie, I really love your mini reviews. My favourite film reviews anywhere tbh. What would be really helpful is if you could say where you see the movies. Unless you're seeing them at a film club or something that's only locally useful

+1 

[Steve2]

Very watchable, although like many Harlan Conan adaptations, a bit  formulaic

Just finished Run Away and started Safe, also by him and found out that he has 13 series in total so far.

[PilotMan]

I went to see "The Invite" at Everyman cinema earlier this week - great film, excellent dialogue and acting. Hilariously funny at times.

It reminds me of Woody Allen's films, with that intense close up interaction and cutting quips.

There are only four actors in it - all superb.

Penelope Cruz
Seth Rogan
Olivia Wilde
Ed Norton

[Vice Admiral]

Last night I watched Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991), based on E. M. Forster’s novel of 1905 (which I read more years ago than I care to remember and probably enjoyed at the time, but might not now).  One of the worst films I’ve ever seen.  I don’t know how I made it through to the end.

It had good “genes”.  It was directed by Charles Sturridge, who directed the magnificent 1981 ITV version of Brideshead Revisited.  The locations were attractive.  The actors (Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, Helen Mirren, Judy Davis) were good – but they were chained to a ridiculous story and a ridiculous script, revolving round ridiculously repressed and cold Britons versus ridiculously full-of-life Italians.  In not a single scene did I believe in anything the characters said or did.  Wearisome piffle.

[advent2016]

Silo S3 restarted on Apple TV
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only

[RandomGuy99]

The Pitt on HBO end of season - very good

[Waterhouse]

Silo S3 restarted on Apple TV
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only

Watched it yesterday- very intriguing. Loved S1 & S2.  Apple are tossers though for only airing new episodes once a week.

[WASA38]

The Pitt on HBO end of season - very good

Excellent -compulsive viewing. Fascinating how it mirrors the situation in NHS hospitals.

Watching it on NowTV

[Vice Admiral]

Licorice Pizza (2021) – one of the strangest films I’ve ever seen.  Sometimes I sort of followed what was going on, sometimes I didn’t.  At one point two passers-by were talking about peanut butter, and one said, “I like it a bit nutty.”  Which kind of summed up the film.  Odd characters, odd situations, sudden unexpected events.

Anyway, I thought I was going to be recommending a quirky indie film to those who like offbeat films where not much happens.  Then, when the credits rolled, I saw that Licorice Pizza was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who I knew to be the director of the much-acclaimed – and Oscar-winning – One Battle After Another.   (The credits also showed that a small part was played by George di Caprio, Leonardo’s father, in what appears to be his only film role.)

And this morning Wikipedia tells me that Licorice Pizza was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the 2022 Academy Awards.  So I guess everyone’s already heard of it apart from me!

[ulstersubbie]

Licorice Pizza (2021) – one of the strangest films I’ve ever seen.  Sometimes I sort of followed what was going on, sometimes I didn’t.  At one point two passers-by were talking about peanut butter, and one said, “I like it a bit nutty.”  Which kind of summed up the film.  Odd characters, odd situations, sudden unexpected events.

Anyway, I thought I was going to be recommending a quirky indie film to those who like offbeat films where not much happens.  Then, when the credits rolled, I saw that Licorice Pizza was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who I knew to be the director of the much-acclaimed – and Oscar-winning – One Battle After Another.   (The credits also showed that a small part was played by George di Caprio, Leonardo’s father, in what appears to be his only film role.)

And this morning Wikipedia tells me that Licorice Pizza was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay at the 2022 Academy Awards.  So I guess everyone’s already heard of it apart from me!

I was aware of this particular film but never got round to watching it. Based on your very good review VA, I shall decline on this occasion, cheers.   

[PilotMan]

I went to see "The Invite" at Everyman cinema earlier this week - great film, excellent dialogue and acting. Hilariously funny at times.

It reminds me of Woody Allen's films, with that intense close up interaction and cutting quips.

There are only four actors in it - all superb.

Penelope Cruz
Seth Rogan
Olivia Wilde
Ed Norton

A couple I know went to see it based on my recommendation - they both thought it was rubbish.

Then he tells me one of his favourite films is Father of the Bride 

[RedKettle]

A couple I know went to see it based on my recommendation - they both thought it was rubbish.

Then he tells me one of his favourite films is Father of the Bride 

Yes you have to be careful with film recommendations.  I have a good friend where if he recommends a film I tend to steer well clear, I know from experience that our tastes in film are different! (As are our tastes in women as it happens!)

[Vice Admiral]

I thought I'd take a look at Anyone but You, to see what all the Sydney Sweeney fuss is about.

I lasted eight minutes.  Annoying piffle.  Also Sweeney's teeth are too white.

But perhaps it wasn't aimed at me.  It grossed $220 million across the world, so someone must have liked it.

[RandomGuy99]

I thought I'd take a look at Anyone but You, to see what all the Sydney Sweeney fuss is about.

I lasted eight minutes.  Annoying piffle.  Also Sweeney's teeth are too white.

But perhaps it wasn't aimed at me.  It grossed $220 million across the world, so someone must have liked it.

I think you were possibly looking at the wrong part of Sydney

Hidden Image/Members Only

Hidden Image/Members Only

[Vice Admiral]

I think you were possibly looking at the wrong part of Sydney

You may be right.  Perhaps I should be focusing on Sydney harbour bridge?

Hidden Image/Members Only

[WASA38]

I thought I'd take a look at Anyone but You, to see what all the Sydney Sweeney fuss is about.

I lasted eight minutes.  Annoying piffle.  Also Sweeney's teeth are too white.

But perhaps it wasn't aimed at me.  It grossed $220 million across the world, so someone must have liked it.

Never heard of her. Assumed this was about plain clothes policing set in the Aussie city in the 1970s.

[RandomGuy99]

You may be right.  Perhaps I should be focusing on Sydney harbour bridge?

Hidden Image/Members Only

Sunglasses to handle the bright teeth and to hide your eyes looking at the boobs 99% of the time.