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Movie Time 2.0: TT mini reviews
- Thread starter Rascally Badger
- Start date
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- Tags
- movies
Just looking at the list as present on Disney Plus... well... it's easier to list the ones I HAVE seen;
Sleeping Beauty
Jungle Book
Aladdin
Lion King
Hercules
Emperors New Groove
Lilo & Stitch
Treasure Planet
Meet the Robinsons
Wreck it Ralph
Frozen
Big Hero Six
Sleeping Beauty
Jungle Book
Aladdin
Lion King
Hercules
Emperors New Groove
Lilo & Stitch
Treasure Planet
Meet the Robinsons
Wreck it Ralph
Frozen
Big Hero Six
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Emperor's New Groove is pretty much Looney Tunes instead of Disney and I adore it.
Frozen is boring but Frozen 2 gets into some complicated topics and is worth watching I think. It also includes an amazing 80s power ballad.
Purple
(She/Her)
So I just watched Blood Machines with a friend and at first I was really distracted by the spaceship that's all 40k needlessly ornate on the outside and like Alien on the inside and trying to figure out what was up with that but then
so it's less relevant a question.
Also wow that really really nailed that very specific late 70s early 80s sci-fi horror visual style.
so it's less relevant a question.
Also wow that really really nailed that very specific late 70s early 80s sci-fi horror visual style.
I’m about 20 minutes into Psycho Goreman.
I feel confident that this is the best movie of 2021
I feel confident that this is the best movie of 2021
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
It certainly looks like a fun one. Nice to see it getting the Octo seal of approval.
Good gravy... what a film.
10000/10
Perfect for anyone who wished that ET starred Loise Belcher and a Cthulhu
10000/10
Perfect for anyone who wished that ET starred Loise Belcher and a Cthulhu
That's pretty much a perfect description of the film honestly. Also featuring sequences that immediately made me think of "Calvin Ball" from Calvin and Hobbes.
I loved all the practical effects, even if you can tell they were pushing against their budget. I'm not sure I liked it quite as much as the director's previous effort, The Void, even if it's hard to compare them directly beyond the aforementioned push to use practical over digital effects wherever possible.
The Calvin Ball sequences were when I immediately realized I loved the film.
Did the director make Manborg as well? The two films feel pretty similar, but this was far more fun and watchable.
Did the director make Manborg as well? The two films feel pretty similar, but this was far more fun and watchable.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
I'm assuming from the title that this is a gory horror film, is that correct? I'm a total wuss so don't even want to watch the trailer, but the mention of Calvin Ball has me intrigued.
Oh very much so; the title is not misleading at all
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Haha, thanks! I'm glad something like that exists though.
I would say the horror, elements are very minimal overall, and are really just present so they can be that target of satire. There's nothing in the way of jump scares or the like, and I wasn't scared at any point.
The gore on the other hand... is definitely present, but it's more of... slapstick? Like the gore isn't really meant to seem 'realistic', even though by and large it's done via practical effects.
I’d put it at roughly Gremlins level for horror, and later Mortal Kombat for violence
The next Disney movie is one I’ve never heard of, and I’m certain I’m not alone in that; Saludos Amigos. Which, much like the later works of Adam Sandler, exists largely as a means for Walt to write a vacation to South America off as a business expense on his tax returns. The movie is kind of a travelogue, except it’s made by Walt Disney and from the 40s so it’s kind of racist throughout. At least it’s mostly only “Grandpa Doesn’t Know Better” racist, unlike Dumbo which was actively hateful. Still quite a lot more pointing out how “strange and colourful” the inhabitants of an entire continent are Than I would like.
Also, Donald Duck repeatedly proves himself to be a gigantic piece of trash of a tourist, demanding photos with people and putting on their clothes, you Know, because when you travel to Argentinia, you should treat everyone like they’re wearing costumes.
I hope he’s banned from ever setting foot in South America.
Also, Donald Duck repeatedly proves himself to be a gigantic piece of trash of a tourist, demanding photos with people and putting on their clothes, you Know, because when you travel to Argentinia, you should treat everyone like they’re wearing costumes.
I hope he’s banned from ever setting foot in South America.
"Saludos Amigos" and "The Three Caballeros" were part of a strategy by the US War Department to build solidarity between the US and Latin America in order to lay the groundwork for persuading them to refrain from aligning with the Axis Powers, which they greatly feared at the time.
Is your project going to include the straight-up literal propaganda reel "Victory Through Air Power," Octo? In my estimation, that movie totally belongs in the Disney animated canon. Disney's contribution to WW2 propaganda is an important chapter in the story of their rise to their present-day media hegemony and ought not be overlooked.
Is your project going to include the straight-up literal propaganda reel "Victory Through Air Power," Octo? In my estimation, that movie totally belongs in the Disney animated canon. Disney's contribution to WW2 propaganda is an important chapter in the story of their rise to their present-day media hegemony and ought not be overlooked.
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It’s not listed in the Film Collection bit of Disney +, so probably not.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Oh man I had this WWII Disney collection and boy was it worth it to see stuff like that.
The one that teaches people about malaria transmission is especially amazing as it includes the line "Kill her, Dopey! Kill her good and dead!" when Dopey is chasing a mosquito.
clarice
bebadosamba
Joe Carioca became somewhat of a popular character. I myself grew up reading Zé Carioca comics. I guess the "malandro" stereotype was popular at the time due do samba like the ones by Noel Rosa or Wilson Baptista and the character just stuck. It is kinda weird, though - malandragem is associated with, erm, questionable methods used by opressed people to survive and there is none of the political dimension in Zé Carioca. Brazilians in general liked him, though.
One of the most famous brazilian songs were composed because of the foreign interest in the 40's, too - Brasil Pandeiro. And that's a classic right there.
And movies! Yesterday i've rewatched Yojimbo and... yeah, still fun as hell. I also watched recently The Assistant. That was uncomfortable.
One of the most famous brazilian songs were composed because of the foreign interest in the 40's, too - Brasil Pandeiro. And that's a classic right there.
And movies! Yesterday i've rewatched Yojimbo and... yeah, still fun as hell. I also watched recently The Assistant. That was uncomfortable.
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That's why I linked it for you! It's public domain.
Phantoon
I cuss you bad
That is an absolute classic, one of my all time favourites. I should watch it again, it's been a while.
I would be interested in reading more about this. Would Wikipedia cover something like this or would I need to seek out some essays/blog posts?
Anyone else watch Ghibli's new CG film, Earwig and the Witch yet?
I know critical reviews have been pretty harsh, as everyone probably had mile high expectations... I mean it *is* being marketed as the next Ghibli movie.
But after reading more about the production, it was definitely more of a side project Goro took on since Hayao and most of the main Ghibli staff are at work on the next 2D production. I enjoyed myself, though I had already tempered my expectations due to the afore mentioned production history. It also originally aired on TV in Japan like a few of the let's say "lesser" Ghibli movies of yore, not sure if that was always the plan or just the outcome of the current situation.
Still fun, but don't expect the artistic majesty of their best works, nor anything approaching Pixar... the best I can say is for the most part it's just competent CG, with some standout character animation moments. Apparently the budget was very modest (TV movie) and involved quite a lot of international collaboration, as Ghibli has only a handful of people actually on staff that can do CG production.
Anyways, it's now HBO Max if you have access to that.
I know critical reviews have been pretty harsh, as everyone probably had mile high expectations... I mean it *is* being marketed as the next Ghibli movie.
But after reading more about the production, it was definitely more of a side project Goro took on since Hayao and most of the main Ghibli staff are at work on the next 2D production. I enjoyed myself, though I had already tempered my expectations due to the afore mentioned production history. It also originally aired on TV in Japan like a few of the let's say "lesser" Ghibli movies of yore, not sure if that was always the plan or just the outcome of the current situation.
Still fun, but don't expect the artistic majesty of their best works, nor anything approaching Pixar... the best I can say is for the most part it's just competent CG, with some standout character animation moments. Apparently the budget was very modest (TV movie) and involved quite a lot of international collaboration, as Ghibli has only a handful of people actually on staff that can do CG production.
Anyways, it's now HBO Max if you have access to that.
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It must have *just* become available, because it wasn't there just a few days ago when I was looking at the Ghibli tab. Thanks for the heads up.
I have little to almost no interest in this, tbh. Earthsea was just really bad, and Poppy Hill was at best pretty but kinda boring. The tale of Goro
Miyazaki is fascinating and honestly pretty sad. Goro is a landscape architect by training, and being put in command of directing films was a pretty cynical move by the Studio Ghibli board to capitalize on his name despite him having pretty much zero experience or qualifications for making film. He's pretty emblematic of the studio's complete failure to foster and empower new generations of talent. The studio basically disbanded after Hayao's and Takahata's last films and when When Marine Was There was a bust, so the move to CGI is less about not having staff that can do CG production and more because they just don't have staff, period and need to outsource just about everything. (Which is why their TV show Ronja, the Robber's Daughter was mostly done by Polygon Pictures.) It's just kinda sad to see the fate of the studio as a shadow of its former self, but impermanence is how the world works. I'll probably watch the movie though since it's there and it's free and *gestures at the world* I've got nothing better to do.
Pajaro Pete
(He/Himbo)
All My Friends Are Dead: Elliot Kalan once described Dark Comedies as movies where you watch horrible things happen for 90 minutes while a quirky soundtrack plays in the background, and that feels pretty apt. I was hoping for either more suspense or more whodunnit, or at least any intentional killings, but instead I got American Pie: Everyone Dies.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Does it make one man weep and another man sing?
Meanwhile, like Octo, I'm working my way through all the animated non-Pixar Disney movies Disney Plus has to offer, minus the reviled direct to video films. Not in any particular order. Anyway, I watched the Tigger Movie and I was afraid of what a Pooh movie made in 2000 might look like and its... OK. Its OK but I'm happy considering I was expecting something of lower quality. I mean, the trailer for the movie uses "Semi-charmed Kind of Life" by Third Eye Blind. Not even joking.
Its not as bad as that might make you think, based on that. It does have its weaknesses. Thankfully the film MOSTLY avoids poorly aged contemporary references, except in the animation of one the musical numbers. Said number is actually the most impressive but also feels like its attempts at humour are out of step with the rest of the film. The other complaints is that while the makers of the movie are definitely going for charming, its simply not equal to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in that department. It doesn't help that Many Adventures is a series of vignettes and the Tigger Movie makes it one long story and frankly that's less appealing to me, especially when the third act is completely by the book. The musical numbers are also largely competent but completely forgettable.
But while I don't recommend it, I will say if you want a Pooh fix, there are certainly worse places to get them. And they do make some decisions I like. John Hurt is the narrator, which doesn't... well, him. But also they made the choice to incorporate elements of the charming and homey "scratchy" look of the 60s/70s Disney animation style. Its easy to miss in such a glossy film but it becomes clear on many of the close ups. And despite kind of a dull story, it doesn't betray the tone of the original, which seems like it would have been such an obvious misstep coming off the tail of the sarcastic 90s. Its clear the makers really cared about wanting to do it right and while I think they only succeed mildly and I was looking at my metaphorical watch through several of the musical numbers, they didn't fuck it up. So that's nice. I'm not looking forward to the next two Pooh, movies, being more afraid that the worse elements might take over. That said, I hear the 2011 film simply titled Winnie the Pooh is actually the best one outside of the first.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture came out after Star Wars, so they really have no excuse for not knowing how to make a science fiction space opera fun and interesting. But they didn't make it a Star Wars knock-off, they made it a 2001 knock-off. Now, the movie was chock full of huge scale Sci-Fi concepts that I love to see in genre movies, and if this was an episode of the show, I'd consider it to be one of the series' highlights.
But it's not a 40-minute TV show, it's a two and a half hour movie. And they made up the difference in time with lots of very VERY slow tracking shots over spaceships.
I was holding on to that fast-forward button like death itself was chasing me.
The design of V'ger itself I'll happily call one of the Cooler Spaceship/Spacemonster designs I've seen. But I could have done without a pan shot over the side of a planet-sized cosmic horror done in real-time.
But it's not a 40-minute TV show, it's a two and a half hour movie. And they made up the difference in time with lots of very VERY slow tracking shots over spaceships.
I was holding on to that fast-forward button like death itself was chasing me.
The design of V'ger itself I'll happily call one of the Cooler Spaceship/Spacemonster designs I've seen. But I could have done without a pan shot over the side of a planet-sized cosmic horror done in real-time.