Films

[philipsteak]

7 hours ago, ian the worm said:

I cried. A lot. And enjoyed it. 

 

I wanted to!

[charlierc]

On 23/01/2026 at 07:43, philipsteak said:

Sinners was my film of the year. Although I think it will probably only end up with a couple of wins. Be surprised if it beats One Battle for Picture and Director. A film I didn't love as much as most.

Sinners did get a few decent prizes - not least Michael B Jordan beating Chalamet to Best Actor - but One Battle got Best Film and Director as y'all predicted.

 

I think I liked One Battle more than you did tbf. I thought it was a good watch, if a bit long. My brother didn't quite find it to his liking tbf.

 

Decent year for Warner though to have the two big winners. And yet here's their board deciding to sell to Oracle Paramount, thereby probably ruining their momentum.

[philipsteak]

1 hour ago, charlierc said:

Sinners did get a few decent prizes - not least Michael B Jordan beating Chalamet to Best Actor - but One Battle got Best Film and Director as y'all predicted.

 

I think I liked One Battle more than you did tbf. I thought it was a good watch, if a bit long. My brother didn't quite find it to his liking tbf.

 

Decent year for Warner though to have the two big winners. And yet here's their board deciding to sell to Oracle Paramount, thereby probably ruining their momentum.

 

I think I definitely need to give One Battle another try

[-TLR-]

seeing as i've been on something of a "Play For Today" trip recently, i thought i'd revisit Scum.

 

i was unable to find the original television version, so i watched the widely known film version.

 

now, i have not seen this in a very long time.

 

it was traumatizing when i last saw it several decades ago, and its traumatizing now.

 

traumatizing, but f**king brilliant.

 

the scene where the Governor is standing in front of Carlin, demanding that he EAT!... the look Ray Winstone gives as he glances up... wow.

 

and surely Archer has to be up there with the greatest ever movie characters.

 

🙂 

[charlierc]

I went to go see Project Hail Mary last night. Haven't read the book so can't say it's a faithful adaptation and can only judge on the movie itself, but yeah, I thought it a great sci-fi film. The idea that it's an elaborate metaphor for male loneliness and trying to make friends did sell it to me as I thought it did work as such a parable. 

[Spindles]

I'm a huge fan of the book, and re-read it in the days before I got the chance to see it.  Watched it on a matinee showing on a weekday, so like 10-12 people in the place, reverential silence beyond a few mild laughs.  Lovely.

 

It's a great film, lots of heart and does a really good job of hitting the major beats from the book even if they had to compress/leave out a fair bit.  It got a teary eye or two out of me, along with many smiles.  The big action in space scenes had me holding my breath, and it both looked and sounded gorgeous.

 

I really recommend the book, and the audiobook is much loved for a great portrayal of the musical nature of Rocky's speech.  

[-TLR-]

watched One Battle After Another last night.

 

i enjoyed it... but no more than i enjoyed The Lego Movie which i also watched yesterday.

 

i'm at a loss as to why its winning loads of awards.

 

 

also, i really hated the score, like it was proper doing my head in.

 

[charlierc]

On 28/03/2026 at 22:44, Spindles said:

I really recommend the book, and the audiobook is much loved for a great portrayal of the musical nature of Rocky's speech.  

Reading it now after literally buying it the day after seeing the film. So far so good. 

[charlierc]

Popped along to go see The Drama. Was pretty funny with some decent lead performances.

[-TLR-]

watched Bring Her Back over the weekend.

 

enjoyed it, got some good effects in it too. feel like i want to give it another watch too which is good.

 

 

[charlierc]

Having never seen it before, watched The Devil Wears Prada. Think it goes without saying that Meryl Streep as the boss from hell is the highlight of the piece. 

Edited April 7 by charlierc

[-TLR-]

10 hours ago, charlierc said:

Having never seen it before, watched The Devil Wears Prada. Think it goes without saying that Meryl Streep as the boss from hell is the highlight of the piece. 

 

i absolutely love that movie - its one of those things that i can watch over and over and over again and just never get bored of it (The Beach is another one like that for me).

 

[charlierc]

3 hours ago, -TLR- said:

 

i absolutely love that movie - its one of those things that i can watch over and over and over again and just never get bored of it (The Beach is another one like that for me).

 

I was interested in watching it because I saw there's a sequel out next month. You looking forward to it?

[-TLR-]

14 minutes ago, charlierc said:

I was interested in watching it because I saw there's a sequel out next month. You looking forward to it?

 

to be honest... no, not particularly!

 

the first one for me, is one of those oddities where for some reason i just really enjoy it - its just a perfect Sunday afternoon movie.

 

🙂 

[charlierc]

8 hours ago, -TLR- said:

 

to be honest... no, not particularly!

 

the first one for me, is one of those oddities where for some reason i just really enjoy it - its just a perfect Sunday afternoon movie.

 

🙂 

The history of cinema is full of these kinda things, right? Just a lot of sequels where it felt like the story had all been told.

 

It's curious Stanley Tucci's character went from being humiliated by Miranda to being back where he started judging by the trailers. But I guess it's a case of wait and see what the explanation is.

 

As for the other film you mentioned, I've also not seen The Beach, which is available on Disney+ (I saw Devil Wears Prada through there). I'd heard mixed things about it. But is it a case of one of those films where you are at the higher end of the average rating?

[-TLR-]

Couple of films over the weekend – Final Destination Bloodlines and Weapons.

 

 

Final Destination – I will admit that I actually really like the Final Destination series, I find them very entertaining in their stupidity and this new one is no different.

 

Did this film need to be made? Was the world crying out for another Final Destination instalment? No, I suspect not, but what the hell I enjoyed it.

 

 

Weapons – heard good things about this, so gave it a try.

 

I don’t really think I liked it, actually I don’t think I really understood it. Was it supposed to be a comedy? I didn’t find any of it amusing until the end, when it suddenly became a Benny Hill sketch.

 

I just found it to be really long… every time a new segment started I was just thinking – really… another one… is this ever going to end?!

 

So yeah, I didn’t really like it, didn’t particularly enjoy watching it.

 

😀

 

[philipsteak]

Saw a preview screening for Exit 8 last night. Japanese psychological horror thing apparently based on a game. 

Was very good. It's about a man stuck in an endless loop in a subway tunnel trying to find the titular exit n order to escape. If the game is like the film it must be infuriating. At times it made me think of being stuck in the worst Taskmaster task ever. What if Little Alex Horne was evil...

[-TLR-]

something called Blue Moon on in the background while working.

 

its a film that makes endless spreadsheets and piles of invoices actually seem like fun in comparison to watching it.

 

and the lead actress has the most annoying voice....

 

 

[-TLR-]

Coming Home In The Dark which i stumble across on prime or netflix or something...

 

actually, yeah, i liked it.

 

it wasn't great by any means, but it was interesting and well made and acted.

 

special mention to whoever was playing the main bad dude - he played the quiet, intellectual yet terrifying psychopath perfectly.

 

there's also a really good surprising moment quite early in - its good in the fact that i didn't expect things to get that dark, that quickly... which was really cool.

 

so yeah, i don't know if i'd recommend it as such, but if you find yourself at a loose end for a couple of hours there are certainly worse ways to pass the time!

 

🙂  

 

[charlierc]

 

 

Hopefully this might be good. I do like the director's previous works.

 

 

[charlierc]

Thought I'd rewatch Spider Man movies ahead of the new one this year. First Maguire one is decent, second one still holds up very well. Not sure about watching his third though - my main memory of it is that its a mess that could've lost at least 3 supporting characters.

[-TLR-]

stumbled across Keep the Aspidistra Flying yesterday, and have to say i loved it.

 

i have never, ever heard of it before - its based on an Orwell novel, which i have also never, ever heard of!

 

Withnail is a favourite of mine (well, me and everyone else), and i like How To Get Ahead In Advertising... so i'm very happy to watch anything with Richard E. Grant in it (mmm...  ok, maybe not the Argos adverts).

 

anyways, really enjoyed this film - there is an amazing quote likening marketing to being a manure salesman. 

 

its probably very famous, but i'd never heard it before!

 

the only thing that made me wonder was - when he moves to Lambeth and starts his new life there, he is finally truly happy. 

i realise he is giving all that up for the sake of his impending new family responsibilities...  but i'm not sure that i buy that he would happily go back to a job, and more importantly, people, whom he dispised.

 

but whatever, i liked it.

[charlierc]

On 11/05/2026 at 20:14, charlierc said:

Thought I'd rewatch Spider Man movies ahead of the new one this year. First Maguire one is decent, second one still holds up very well. Not sure about watching his third though - my main memory of it is that its a mess that could've lost at least 3 supporting characters.

As it was, I did rewatch Spider-Man 3 with Maguire. It actually wasn't as awful as I remember and did have some nice moments, but I think one can tell it was a bodge job. Too many things going on.

 

Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a film I remember being similarly dysfunctional. Though I didn't think Garfield's first Spider-Man was amazing either - him and Emma Stone are the best parts, and the set-pieces were still rollicking fun - not least the school fight with Lizard - but it did feel like watching a karaoke cover of the first one.

[-TLR-]

tried watching the new Running Man movie, gave up after 20 minutes.

 

I've not read the book, but from what I understand the new version is much closer than the 1987 film.

 

I absolutely love the 1987 film, it's just fantastic. its one of the first films I remember seeing with a message, and its just so well told, and the production is amazing.

 

this new version seemed to be trying as hard as possible to make you hate the protagonist.

 

the first 10 minutes are spent hitting you over the head with character and plot points that they evidently couldn't be bothered to weave into the story.

 

I found myself actually on the side of the "evil" government - the main dude is just a sanctimonious prick with anger issues, are you supposed to feel empathy for this guy?

 

when you take out the "butcher of Bakersfield" back story, it turns out that Ben Richards really is just a d*ck.

 

Rollerball (1975) did this a million times better.

 

🙂

 

 

[charlierc]

12 hours ago, -TLR- said:

tried watching the new Running Man movie, gave up after 20 minutes.

 

I've not read the book, but from what I understand the new version is much closer than the 1987 film.

 

I absolutely love the 1987 film, it's just fantastic. its one of the first films I remember seeing with a message, and its just so well told, and the production is amazing.

 

this new version seemed to be trying as hard as possible to make you hate the protagonist.

 

the first 10 minutes are spent hitting you over the head with character and plot points that they evidently couldn't be bothered to weave into the story.

 

I found myself actually on the side of the "evil" government - the main dude is just a sanctimonious prick with anger issues, are you supposed to feel empathy for this guy?

 

when you take out the "butcher of Bakersfield" back story, it turns out that Ben Richards really is just a d*ck.

 

Rollerball (1975) did this a million times better.

 

🙂

 

 

You turned off before Michael Cera's ridiculous product placement for Monster Energy in a film full of ridiculous product placement moments I take it.