What was the last movie you watched?

[GostHacked]

From one of my new fave directors Refn

Valhalla Rising was something I've seen recently and I was very impressed. I can only equate his stuff to someone like Scott Ridley. The pacing, the colour pallets, the cinematography, all fantastic.

The other ones I have seen have also been just as good as VR, Drive, and Only God Forgives are both fantastic movies.

[overthere]

Sure, but didn't communists do some pretty bad stuff too?

No, Stalin and Mao just loved every creative person they encountered.

[cybercoma]

The critics are on crack. I saw Batman vs Superman today and it was great. Seems they were expecting the lighthearted dross that's been coming out of Marvel's cinematic universe. It ain't that. It's dark, really dark....and it makes the superheroes flawed characters that beg you to sympathize with them.

Also, I thought Batfleck would be awful, but god damn if he isn't the best actor to ever portray the Dark Knight. It's a great film, IMHO, especially if you're not expecting a campy action fun fest like Marvel presents. If a superhero film with a darker more serious tone is something that might appeal to you then it's absolutely worth seeing.

[eyeball]

No, Stalin and Mao just loved every creative person they encountered.

Have you seen Trumbo?

[cybercoma]

Here's a fantastic review of Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice that situates the movie into the broader context of modern superhero movies. It also adequately summarizes my feeling on BvS and why I feel the critics missed the boat on this one.

Sure, its possible to tell difficult or tragic stories within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but to mold these fan favorite heroes into their most tragic versions requires draining all the fun out of the superhero world. ... [L]arge chunks of BvS want to actively divest us from the aesthetic and comedic stylings of the contemporary superhero film that Marvel established so successfully over the past decade. Its an inoculation process, and no one likes getting a shot.

Check out the full review by Cameron Kunzelman here: http://kotaku.com/batman-v-superman-isnt-like-other-superhero-films-and-1768676827

[Derek 2.0]

Watched a really good doc last night, Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans .

Readers digest, it covers what an overall disaster the making of the movie was ( I knew it was over budget, didn't know the extent), from near fatal car accidents, sex scandals that ended McQueen's marriage, Charles Manson and the ending of the careers of Hollywood giants. One aspect, that was really eerie, throughout the film, they played a recorded interview done with McQueen months before he died of cancer.

Said interview included conversations over how the movie was a passion for McQueen, who lived and breathed motor sports, and how McQueen nearly raced in Le Mans but was disallowed by the films insurance company (which gutted McQueen, they wouldn't even let him drive the camera car)......even though just months prior, McQueen nearly won Sebring, losing on the last several laps to Mario Andretti......McQueen raced Sebring with a broken leg in a cast and a modified clutch so McQueen could operate it with a cast on.

Really interesting doc and would fully recommend it if you're interested in "classic Hollywood", Steve McQueen or racing.

[Guest]

The critics are on crack. I saw Batman vs Superman today and it was great. Seems they were expecting the lighthearted dross that's been coming out of Marvel's cinematic universe. It ain't that. It's dark, really dark....and it makes the superheroes flawed characters that beg you to sympathize with them.

Also, I thought Batfleck would be awful, but god damn if he isn't the best actor to ever portray the Dark Knight. It's a great film, IMHO, especially if you're not expecting a campy action fun fest like Marvel presents. If a superhero film with a darker more serious tone is something that might appeal to you then it's absolutely worth seeing.

I am certainly not an expert on this topic, but didn't the Christian Bale, Dark Knight Trilogy version of Batman already, successfully, take that character and world in a rather dark direction? Shouldn't the fan base already be comfortable with dark and flawed?

[overthere]

Have you seen Trumbo?

yes, of course.

[eyeball]

So why wasn't the movie titled Stalin or Mao?

[cybercoma]

I am certainly not an expert on this topic, but didn't the Christian Bale, Dark Knight Trilogy version of Batman already, successfully, take that character and world in a rather dark direction? Shouldn't the fan base already be comfortable with dark and flawed?

Dark Knight isn't even remotely as dark as the new film. The Dark Knight was specifically about a Batman whose reserve and moral

code was pushed to its limit. BvS's Batman is flawed and has been pushed beyond his breaking point. He's the darkest depths of the Batman character. This filmed is designed to make you uncomfortable with what superheroes do and really question their values and ethics.

The Dark Knight is still the best Batman film ever made, but BvS is way underrated. If you look at all the negative press it has revolved around one thing: there's no levity, as kimmy said.

Good, I say. When you step back and really consider what superheroes do, it would be devastating if real. From there we get questions about the psyche of individuals that would be driven to the lengths or have these responsibilities thrust upon them. The contrived comedy of Marvel fair has its place, but I absolutely love the somber deconstruction of the superhero genre that we get with BvS. It's the perfect response to the pop comedy aesthetic of Marvel films.

[cybercoma]

Oh and for the record, Nolan is listed as a producer on both Man of Steel and Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice.

[overthere]

Seen two very good movies recently: Demolition and Midnight Special

[BC_chick]

Zootopia is a great movie, I can see why it's the highest grossing movie of 2016.

It can be interpreted as LGBQT, Black Lives Matter and anti-Islamaphobia in one, sprinkled with a bit of conspiracy theory. Very adult-themed, but perfectly packaged in a believe-in-yourself theme for the kids.

[Guest]

Zootopia is a great movie, I can see why it's the highest grossing movie of 2016.

It can be interpreted as LGBQT, Black Lives Matter and anti-Islamaphobia in one, sprinkled with a bit of conspiracy theory. Very adult-themed, but perfectly packaged in a believe-in-yourself theme for the kids.

Very well done, and it wasn't a musical!!!

[BC_chick]

Very well done, and it wasn't a musical!!!

Like Frozen? Admittedly, I liked Frozen too for breaking the mold with its feminist message, but Zootopia impressed me more than I can ever recall from an animated movie.

The topics of division and fear, micro-aggressions, racial stereotypes, they are all important issues that face us every day. Add in the brilliantly hilarious scenes and references to my generation's pop-culture, I have to say it was probably the best movie I've seen in a while.

[Moonlight Graham]

Zootopia is a great movie, I can see why it's the highest grossing movie of 2016.

It can be interpreted as LGBQT, Black Lives Matter and anti-Islamaphobia in one, sprinkled with a bit of conspiracy theory. Very adult-themed, but perfectly packaged in a believe-in-yourself theme for the kids.

I'm not huge into 3D animated movies like most people, but I really enjoyed it.

Saw The Pianist for the 1st time. Excellent flick, 9/10. Not as good as Schindler's List though,

[overthere]

Recently:

Love and Friendship. It's a period story , a treatment of a Jane Austen novel. That sounds tedious, it was anything but.....! It was sweet and funny, a treat to watch.

Our Kind of Traitor: John Le Carre is a favorite author and has written some very fine books, but the movie versions come up short. I'd say this one is about average or perhaps a bit better.

[Guest]

The BFG is an excellent adaptation of one of the most imaginative stories I've ever read. It's definitely worth seeing on the big screen if you're a fan of the book, have kids or want to feel like a kid again, for a couple of hours.

[Guest]

I think the acronym is a bit strong for kids, to be honest...

[overthere]

The BFG is an excellent adaptation of one of the most imaginative stories I've ever read. It's definitely worth seeing on the big screen if you're a fan of the book, have kids or want to feel like a kid again, for a couple of hours.

Have not seen this yet, but the lead character is played by Mark Rylance. I would pay to see him read the telephone directory.

[Guest]

Have not seen this yet, but the lead character is played by Mark Rylance. I would pay to see him read the telephone directory.

Mark does an excellent job. Producers try to tackle this story in the 90's and had Robin Williams in mind for the lead role. Insufficient technology would have made it too hard and costly to have the little girl interact with giants so frequently, so the project was shelved.

[Guest]

I think the acronym is a bit strong for kids, to be honest...

I don't follow.

[Moonlight Graham]

I watched Divergent.

If you've seen Hunger Games, Maze Runner, The 100 etc. you've seen this movie. Still, was enjoyable.

[Guest]

I don't follow.

It was a joke. You didn't fall for it.

Curses!

[betsy]

The Wave.

A Norwegian film with subtitles, but definitely one of the best disaster movies. Even my husband, who wasn't keen on watching it due to the subtitle....ended up enjoying it.

here's the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LF2TEBijpI

Edited July 25, 2016 by betsy