Films

[philipsteak]

14 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.

 

🙂

 

 

 

I managed to watch the whole thing. I say watched. It was on a screen in a room where I also was. Didn't really hold my attention.

Bit crap

[charlierc]

With plans to buy the new James Bond video game, that got me in the mood to watch some of the movies. 

 

Casino Royale and Skyfall still hold up really well. Spectre, I seem to remember liking more at the time but it seems to be a bit more messy. 

 

Should probably watch more of the pre-Craig ones tbh. I liked Tomorrow Never Dies. 

[charlierc]

On 28/05/2026 at 22:27, charlierc said:

Should probably watch more of the pre-Craig ones tbh. I liked Tomorrow Never Dies. 

Sure enough I did finish the Brosnan Bonds. Goldeneye is good but I think might be overrated by some Bond mega-fans, The World Is Not Enough is ok but nothing more than that and Die Another Day is just wild. I didn't hate Die Another Day like some have but its basically a wacky sci-fi film with Bond movie clothes.

[-TLR-]

I'm not a Bond fan or anything, just a fella who will happily sit and watch a Bond film - so from that perspective I will say that Brosnan is my favourite, I really love all the ones he has done and can quite happily watch them over and over.

 

favourite individual film tho is On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

 

absolutely hate the Dalton ones - I used to think it was just the way he chose to play the character, for some reason he thought Bond should be a thoroughly unlikable person. but actually, Dalton plays this exact same character in every single thing I have ever seem him in... so I think he is either just a properly sh*t actor, or maybe he himself is just a thoroughly unlikable person.

 

dont really have any interest in any future ones tho... didnt really like the Craig ones.

 

Edited June 7 by -TLR-
spelling.

[philipsteak]

Disclosure Day was fun. 

It's very Spielberg but probably not an all time classic Spielberg. Nothing particularly original but it's well made, good performances (exceptional performance by Emily Blunt) and for a 2 hour plus blockbuster it flew by.

Not everything worked, but I don't want to say why to avoid spoiling. Then again, it's not like there are too many shocks in this film. 

[sheffinghell]

The Last Temptation - new Heaven 17 documentary film directed by James Strong. Premiered at Sheffield Docfest this weekend. 

 

I really enjoyed it. Affectionate, insightful, and honest. A nice mix of archival and footage, interviews and clips from the last tour. Martyn and Glenn are like an old married couple.

 

Plus a snippet of news from the Q&A, Martyn is recording new BEF material, and Phil Oakey has collaborated on the one of tracks. The film shows them meeting in Fagans for the first time in over 35 years.

Edited 9 hours ago by sheffinghell

[steviewevie]

Got HBO Max to watch football so watched One Battle After Another which is a great film and deserves its awards and then rewatched Magnolia and that is a flipping amazing film...so much in it.

(also rewatching Angels In America series which is also amazing).

Edited 2 hours ago by steviewevie

[sheffinghell]

Another one from Sheffield DocFest this weekend, Earth Wind & Fire docu, directed by Questlove. Sensational archive footage, contributions from band members, family, plus a lot of very big fans (Stevie, Lionel, Flea, the Obamas) and a warts n all assessment of the genius / flawed human being that was Maurice White. Also, I never realised he started out as a jazz drummer with Ramsay Lewis. Well worth a watch.