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Topic: The Movie Thread

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Octane

I got to see Midsommar yesterday. That was a weird.. experience?

Octane

Tasuki

Since my state is under lock down I have been rewatching the MCU again. Currently I just finished Thor: Dark World the other night and tonight I will be starting Captain America: Winter Soldier.

RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.

My Backlog

FraserG

I watched the behind the scenes documentary for The Rise of Skywalker. Loved it! As for the film itself, it makes very little sense canon-wise, but I have to say I really enjoyed it.

News Editor, Pure Xbox

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FullbringIchigo

I recently watched Bleach Hell Verse and it's still an awesome film although unless you have a good knowledge of the franchise it would be very confusing

I'm also gonna watch the live action Bleach movie on Netflix later, it's pretty good as far as i remember especially given it is a live action adaption of an anime/manga series

What, i'm in a huge Bleach mood after the recent news and if you couldn't tell from my user name i'm a huge Bleach fan

"I pity you. You just don't get it at all...there's not a thing I don't cherish!"

"Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose! Die and be free of pain or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands!

RR529

Rambo: Last Blood (DVD) - Watched this with the family last night.

After seemingly finally settling down, living his days out at a scenic ranch near the southern US border, the titular action hero must come out of retirement whenever his adopted niece (Gabrielle) is kidnapped by a sex trafficking cartel while on a trip to Mexico in search of her dead beat dad, and he takes it upon himself to kick some butt & bring her back.

If you can get over the fact that the man is in his 60's (70's?) at this point, it can be a thrilling (albiet dark & very gruesome) action flick. Not something that'll win any awards (in fact the critics seemed to despise it, largely due to political reasons based on some I read, with a metascore in the 20's, in comparison to it's user score in the 70's), but it's not a bad way to spend an afternoon/evening inside.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

ralphdibny

@FraserG rise of Skywalker is a pretty fun movie. I think all the sequel trilogy is better with a rewatch, you kind of forget how fun the movies can be. Though I don't know how valid my opinion is because I thought the last jedi was really good every time I've watched it (twice) lol

@RR529 Rambo 5 I think is pretty OK. It's alot better than Rambo 4. I did enjoy the ultra violence especially him cutting that guy's heart out at the end . It made me cringe pretty hard, but it's not something you see in movies so much these days! I think with Rambo as a franchise though, first blood was just a really really good movie as a whole. Like it's comparable to any great movie you could think of, with its personal story of a vet dealing with PTSD while being maligned by society. Unfortunately every other Rambo has just been standard action fare, still enjoyable but will never live up to First Blood.

Recently I watched The Cat Returns (dubbed) on Netflix. It's quite fun and funny and I just needed a break from ticking off the 15 or so episodes that I'm behind with in the Arrowverse.

See ya!

RR529

47 Meters Down: Uncaged (DVD) - What I'm assuming is a direct to video sequel to 47 Meters Down (which my father thought he was ordering. I'm guessing the Uncaged bit threw him off and he thought it was marketing wording for an "unrated" version of the original, rather than a sequel).

Anyhow it's a shark movie that sees a foursome of teenaged girls decide to get into mischief by scuba diving into underwater Mayan ruins (the father of a couple of the girls is an archaeologist, and they knew where his team left some of their gear), and once an accident closes their way out, they must make their way through the dangerous labyrinthine ruins to find another exit, all the while their air is running out and they're hunted by a shark that calls the ruins it's home.

It's very much a horror b-movie with all that entails (the obviously bad decisions, an extended scene of young girls/women splashing around in almost nothing, albeit with no nudity, a bad CGI shark(s) that gobbles people up in surprise, bloody attacks). While the location is kinda neat, overall it's just okay. The type of thing you'll know whether or not you'll like just based on it's premise/description.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

License to Kill (Blu-Ray) - The next Bond film in line, it's the second (and last) of the Dalton era films, as well as the last one of the 80's.

While in the US attending the wedding of a friend (and DEA agent), things go wrong when his friend is mutilated (and his wife killed) at the hands of a powerful Colombian drug lord. Ignoring orders to "stay out of the Americans' problem" and return to England, he officially renounces his position and goes rouge to seek revenge for his friend.

I tend to prefer the entries that focus more on the Cold War era tensions between the West & the Soviets (like For Your Eyes Only & the Living Daylights), but I have to say I liked this one almost as much as those, and moreso than Octopussy & A View to a Kill. It's just a well made action thriller that hits the right tone most of the time (and I quite liked the aerial scenes). If there was any weak point, it was the Hong Kong agent ninjas. They were in and out so quick, yet the female ninja featured prominently in the opening music video, I can't help but think they were written out of a larger role.

Anyhow, I'll be off to Goldeneye next.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

The other day I caught Independence Day: Resurgence on TV. I was working (at home) during the time it was on so I couldn't give it my undivided attention, but I thought it was alright for what it was.

It's biggest problem seemed to be that it leaned on nostalgia for the original a little too much (a few scenes seemed to be lifted wholesale, just now in even bigger scale), and while I believe the original was a technical showpiece for it's era (even amongst other blockbusters), Resurgence comes across as just another in the pile.

Still, it was nice seeing some faces on the big screen you don't see much anymore, and works for an afternoon of dumb fun.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Blu-Ray) - The second of the prequel trilogy, it's part of my ongoing quest to watch through the series in earnest (which I haven't really done, at least not in a long time).

It does have it's weak points, such as it's over reliance on CGI (though being newer, I think it looked a bit better than Episode I in this regard), and it doesn't necessarily have it's own self contained narrative (instead acting more as the set up for the next entry), but I still enjoyed watching it.

I liked the "car chase" segment in Corsucant (while some may find it silly, I actually liked seeing the brief glimpses into "regular life" here, whether it be the night club Anakin & Obi-Wan hunt down the assassin in, or the 50's style diner staffed by aliens. Usually our heroes are either on the front lines or on the run in derelict parts of the galaxy, so it's a side of this universe you don't often see), the scene where Obi-Wan is chasing Jango Fett through that asteroid belt, and the final battle was pretty cool too (especially since it's rare to see so many Jedi active at once).

It was tonally a bit darker than Episode I (a sign of what's to come), but still had a key amount of cheesiness to balance the whole experience out.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

ralphdibny

@RR529 I quite enjoyed independence day 2. I think what's notable about it and also Jurassic world is that both films take place in their respective universes but 20 years later. So while the original films could have taken place in our own world, the sequels take place in alternate timelines that diverge radically from our own due to the introduction of alien technology and close shave with a mass extinction event (Independence day) or the introduction of prehistoric cloning techniques and the business and war based consequences of that (Jurassic park/world).

See ya!

RR529

@ralphdibny, yeah, I'm not as big on Independence Day as a franchise, but Jurassic Park was a big part of my childhood, so seeing Jurassic World in the theater was really something special, with it having a fully realized version of the park.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

Tasuki

Since I got Disney+ I have been trying to watch all the Marvel movies in order. Tonight I watched Captain America: Winter Soldier. I enjoyed the movie alot. What I really enjoyed was the continuity the had with the Agent Carter tv series. The action scene were quite good and the overall plot was good too. Next up are the Guardian of the Galaxy movies which will be my first time seeing them.

@RR529 I am also watching the Stat Wars movies in order and currently on Episode VI.

RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.

My Backlog

FraserG

The fiancée and I watched Coco on Disney Plus for the first time the other day. What a movie! It's probably up there as one of my favourite animated movies of all time. The story is superb, the characters are humorous and well fleshed-out, and the animation is absolutely incredible. Loved it.

[Edited by FraserG]

News Editor, Pure Xbox

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Tasuki

@FraserG Coco surprised me when I saw it on Netflix last year. I really enjoyed it. Reading your post here reminds me I need to watch it again her soon.

RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.

My Backlog

RR529

National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (Blu-Ray) - the 4th & last of the original Vacation line of films, that released nearly a decade after the release of Christmas Vacation.

In this installment the Griswalds head off to Las Vegas in celebration of patriarch Clark's (Chevy Chase) work bonus. Despite Clark's insistence that Vegas is a family destination now, it doesn't take long for him to be taken in by the glitz & glamour, ever further leaving his family to fend for themselves (with wife Ellen being courted by Wayne Newton, son Rusty getting into trouble with a fake ID, and daughter Audrey being drawn into the world of exotic dancing), as he becomes addicted to gambling.

I have to say it really holds it's own (Randy Quade once again makes a hilarious turn as cousin Eddie, "Have you tried swimming with the dolphins Clark? I tell you those things are hard to catch!"), and I'm astounded at how well the series had maintained it's heart & general high quality throughout (European Vacation was a bit too try hard, though still enjoyable). If I had to nitpick I'd say Clark's shenanigans at the Hoover dam were a little too silly (these films' strength lies in the fact that they're just grounded enough to be relatable, particularly the original & Christmas), but overall I'd say it's still a great watch.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

Godzilla VS Mechagodzilla II (Blu-Ray) - 90's effort that isn't canonically related to the 70's original (the II was added to the title in the western release).

In this release, the U.N's anti-Godzilla task force develops a new weapon by reverse engineering the future tech present in the remains of Mecha Ghidorah (whom Godzilla faced in the 90's Godzilla VS King Ghidorah), developing it into a Mechagodzilla. Humanity's titanic new hope is quickly put to the test however, as Japan becomes the battleground to history's greatest custody battle as Rodan & Big Green himself show up to compete over a baby Godzillasaur, whom has recently hatched from an egg researchers brought onto the mainland.

At the end of the day it's a "Godzilla VS" title, and you should know what to expect going in. It's no cinematic masterpiece, but it's good dumb fun for a couple hours. I have to say I really enjoyed this incarnation of Mechagodzilla, who has a pretty large arsenal of weapons to flash around.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

GoldenEye (Blu-Ray) - Next up in my Bond journey is the first entry of the 90's (and the first with Pierce Brosnan in Bond's shoes).

In this entry, Bond must track down a criminal organization that has stolen a powerful Soviet era satellite weapon that fries all electronic devices in it's attack range, and his search leads him to a surprising culprit.

It's noticeably an evolutionary entry for the series, but I think it strikes the perfect balance of modernization & tradition. In terms of action it's generally more high octane than past outings, with Bond & foes alike spraying machine guns everywhere, a destructively fun car chase involving a tank, and an impressive leap of faith off a mountaintop airfield in it's opening moments, though it also remains true to traditions in terms of offering a decent array of gadgets (nothing too campy, but it does feature a grappling belt, lazer watch, and a narratively important explosive pen). This balance of old & new also extends to the women in Bond's life, as although he's still as flirty and persuasive as ever, it's now balanced out by the fact that Judy Dench plays his no nonsense boss "M". Likewise, while the film's "Bond Girl" has a couple sultry scenes, she also comes across as a capable & necessary computer hacker (I personally would have preferred to see a bit more "cheesecake", but by this point the ratings scale was a bit more solidified, and they couldn't push the PG/PG-13 rating quite as much as they could in the late 70's & 80's, and I can't deny it still strikes a nice balance). Overall a nice first outing for Brosnan.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

After digging around their catalog, I decided to start a 30 day free trial of Amazon Prime Video, to check out the anime films & cheesy 80's B-Movie fantasy & horror films they have (mostly stuff I wouldn't have bought anyways, in fact some of it isn't even available in HD, but who knows, maybe I'll uncover some gems). Naturally, I've already made use of it this morning.

Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer (Amazon Prime Video) - Mid 80's anime film based on the slapstick shonen comedy manga, Urusei Yatsura, which was mangaka Rumiko Takahashi's breakout hit (she'd later go on to produce other popular series such as Ranma 1/2 & InuYasha).

I was quite impressed by the film. While it expectedly had it's fair share of comedy, it was surprisingly deep too. While getting ready for a school festival, some members of the cast come to the realization that they're living the same day over and over again, and the further they get to the truth, the more people vanish (to the point it's just the core cast left) & the more dilapidated their town becomes. The effect of the mystery is heightened by the seriousness they handle it with, and the fact that the film has absolutely stunning animation & detail, resulting in some impressive imagery, particularly the almost haunting lighting effects during nighttime scenes (it's in HD too, which is a plus). The biggest barrier to entry would probably be the fact that you'd need some pre-existing knowledge of the series to fully appreciate it (luckily, being a big fan of Ms. Takahashi's later works, I had read some of a fan translation of the manga a number of years ago, so I was already somewhat acquainted with the core players), but overall it was a pleasant surprise.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

RR529

Deathstalker (Amazon Prime Video) - An early 80's budget "sword & sandal" film that's obviously trying to cash in on the success of Conan the Barbarian. It stars a muscular blond swordsman named "Deathstalker" (because why not), whom after running across a man who claims to be an evicted king & an old witch, is sent off to collect a magical sword and use it to rid the kingdom of the immortal sorcerer Munkar, who rules with an iron fist.

It's all very by the numbers stuff, including all the low budget gore, and barely dressed women (it makes sense with Munkar's personal harem, but most hilarious is a warrior woman who is first believed to be a man until her cloak opens up and it's revealed she's wearing absolutely nothing except a loincloth underneath. It's almost hilarious how straight it's played when she has further sword fights and it's seemingly no big deal that she's bouncing around topless). Despite all the cheesiness though, I found the experience as a whole quite dull however. It certainly isn't helped by it's picture quality which looks like it was ripped from a VHS release (it wouldn't surprise me to learn if it was a straight to video release back in the day), compounded by the fact that it was blurrier in some parts than in others (maybe due to inconsistent quality in it's original production, maybe due to a cheaply done digital conversion, or maybe due to some picture buffering on the part of the streaming service, though that last one would be kind of sad). Quality mostly dipped during action scenes, so I'm going to guess it's a cheap digital conversion though (there were a few times I rewound a bit and the quality fluctuated in the exact same spots, so that probably backs that theory up). It wasn't a huge commitment at just over an hour, and it does have a sequel that was made a few years later so I'll probably try it out eventually to see if they improved it at all.

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

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