As long as they’re available on Amazon Prime, I can!
-
Welcome to Talking Time's third iteration! If you would like to register for an account, or have already registered but have not yet been confirmed, please read the following:
- The CAPTCHA key's answer is "Percy"
- Once you've completed the registration process please email us from the email you used for registration at percyreghelper@gmail.com and include the username you used for registration
Once you have completed these steps, Moderation Staff will be able to get your account approved.
Movie Time 2.0: TT mini reviews
- Thread starter Rascally Badger
- Start date
-
- Tags
- movies
Well it was on Amazon Prime the last time I checked, but it's not anymore
Watched Us as part of Octo Prime Movie Time discord. It was a very good people-choppin' kind of movie that lost a few points near the end when they decided to explain what was going up with all the people-choppin'. One of those situations where not only was it scarier not knowing why anything was happening, but the explanation just introduced plotholes and was more confusing than if nothing was said about it at all.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
My Zatoichi journey is near it's end.
Zatoichi in Desperation
This one isn't the strongest but it does benefit from start Shintaro Katsu behind the camera for this one. If there's one thing I love about him is that I think a lot of producers and directors and writers are pushing for our hero to be a good guy wracked with guilt but while Katsu is clearly in tune with the character, it never feels like he wants to use the character for his own vanity. I feel like he wants to push the series in not just more violent directions, but darker ones. I don't just mean meaner villains, but having the protagonist in positions that make him more pathetic. He's not a bad person, but he's so very flawed.
In this one, he accidentally assists in the death of an innocent. Not by accidentally cutting her down but rather she falls from a bridge by herself and while she's hanging on, he accidentally jabs her hand with his cane while trying to figure out what is going on, sending her plunging to her death. As someone who has a deep-seated fear of my own irresponsibility causing someone to be hurt, this speaks to me. Ichi, feeling trauma and guilt, is determined to free the old woman's daughter from a life of prostitution... unaware that the daughter is actually kind of indifferent to his intended heroism. She thinks its nice but she didn't find her life uncomfortable. Meanwhile, there's a concurrent story of a 14 year old girl in the same situation who has it far worse that the usually perceptive Ichi fails to notice. And for this failing, she and other people suffer.
Zatoichi is a relentless bleak adventure for the character, culminating in Ichi pushed into a corner greater than most of his adventures, maybe even the Fire Festival, by a far less competent but more fortuitous villain. Ichi manages to come up with a solution but by the stories end, despite the villain being defeated and the people no longer being harassed, it is not triumphant. Its quite sad as Ichi limps along to his next adventure. I will say it risks a Madonna/Whore complex but I feel like the "whore" isn't a bad person so much as not invested in the way things Ichi thinks they should be and is clearly in love with someone else. It's not my favourite but there's a lot to like, including a weirdly funky soundtrack.
Zatoichi's Conspiracy
A disappointing entry before the series goes to the small screen. It won't return for 15 years and I'll get to that one soon. But this is the last one for a long while. I wish it was better because the set up is great; Ichi returns to his childhood hometown where one of his childhood friend's is now an evil corrupt official/yakuza. That's a set up perfect for emotional power but I barely feel like the characters know each other and it lacks the sense of melancholy I think the film needs. It's also a bit dull, only livened up by a gang of rowdy punk kids.
One film left and hopefully no one took it off youtube.
Zatoichi in Desperation
This one isn't the strongest but it does benefit from start Shintaro Katsu behind the camera for this one. If there's one thing I love about him is that I think a lot of producers and directors and writers are pushing for our hero to be a good guy wracked with guilt but while Katsu is clearly in tune with the character, it never feels like he wants to use the character for his own vanity. I feel like he wants to push the series in not just more violent directions, but darker ones. I don't just mean meaner villains, but having the protagonist in positions that make him more pathetic. He's not a bad person, but he's so very flawed.
In this one, he accidentally assists in the death of an innocent. Not by accidentally cutting her down but rather she falls from a bridge by herself and while she's hanging on, he accidentally jabs her hand with his cane while trying to figure out what is going on, sending her plunging to her death. As someone who has a deep-seated fear of my own irresponsibility causing someone to be hurt, this speaks to me. Ichi, feeling trauma and guilt, is determined to free the old woman's daughter from a life of prostitution... unaware that the daughter is actually kind of indifferent to his intended heroism. She thinks its nice but she didn't find her life uncomfortable. Meanwhile, there's a concurrent story of a 14 year old girl in the same situation who has it far worse that the usually perceptive Ichi fails to notice. And for this failing, she and other people suffer.
Zatoichi is a relentless bleak adventure for the character, culminating in Ichi pushed into a corner greater than most of his adventures, maybe even the Fire Festival, by a far less competent but more fortuitous villain. Ichi manages to come up with a solution but by the stories end, despite the villain being defeated and the people no longer being harassed, it is not triumphant. Its quite sad as Ichi limps along to his next adventure. I will say it risks a Madonna/Whore complex but I feel like the "whore" isn't a bad person so much as not invested in the way things Ichi thinks they should be and is clearly in love with someone else. It's not my favourite but there's a lot to like, including a weirdly funky soundtrack.
Zatoichi's Conspiracy
A disappointing entry before the series goes to the small screen. It won't return for 15 years and I'll get to that one soon. But this is the last one for a long while. I wish it was better because the set up is great; Ichi returns to his childhood hometown where one of his childhood friend's is now an evil corrupt official/yakuza. That's a set up perfect for emotional power but I barely feel like the characters know each other and it lacks the sense of melancholy I think the film needs. It's also a bit dull, only livened up by a gang of rowdy punk kids.
One film left and hopefully no one took it off youtube.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
For the first time in a year and a half, I went to the movies and saw The Suicide Squad. It's James Gunn at his most self (except maybe Slither, which I haven't seen yet), a mix of irreverent gore and characters we actually care about even while fully embracing that they are largely not good people. Most of them are bad people but he finds them capable of something good and human in the core cast... mostly. But yeah, I think it is easy to forget that while the Guardians movies are over the top with violence and broad comedy that he engineers real affection for the characters and The Suicide Squad is no different, even if two of them spend a scene murdering armed guards who turn out to be on their own side. It's hard to properly balance proper and appropriate emotional weight with the thrill of a bunch of dumb goobers in costumes getting blowed up and blowing people up but the Suicide Squad makes me care for a lot of these characters. I think that all of the actors fucking kill it and there are some comedy bits that are going to stick with me for a while (not groundbreaking so much as well-played).
I like that this isn't Harley's story (entirely) but she is neither short changed nor does she bulldoze the rest of a story she is a part of but is much more about Ratcatcher II and Bloodsport. Even though the story is only partially hers, what she is given to do is not only funny and action packed but also features a great speech, one that I feel like takes a scene where I knew it was going and adds some weight with a bit of dark humour but also some truth to the character. Despite my feeling that it isn't about her, she is essential and adds so much to an already good movie and leads to some of the most weirdly beautiful moments.
I love the movie and I love what James Gunn brings. I want this series to continue. But I don't know if I want Gunn back. Not because he wouldn't make another killer movie but because I feel like the Suicide Squad movies should go the Mission: Impossible route, with each one bringing a director who can bring their own style to it and having Margot Robbie as the series constant. Heck, she's already probably the best part of the DC Cinematic Universe so make her producer like she was for Birds of Prey.
I like that this isn't Harley's story (entirely) but she is neither short changed nor does she bulldoze the rest of a story she is a part of but is much more about Ratcatcher II and Bloodsport. Even though the story is only partially hers, what she is given to do is not only funny and action packed but also features a great speech, one that I feel like takes a scene where I knew it was going and adds some weight with a bit of dark humour but also some truth to the character. Despite my feeling that it isn't about her, she is essential and adds so much to an already good movie and leads to some of the most weirdly beautiful moments.
I love the movie and I love what James Gunn brings. I want this series to continue. But I don't know if I want Gunn back. Not because he wouldn't make another killer movie but because I feel like the Suicide Squad movies should go the Mission: Impossible route, with each one bringing a director who can bring their own style to it and having Margot Robbie as the series constant. Heck, she's already probably the best part of the DC Cinematic Universe so make her producer like she was for Birds of Prey.
The History of the Atlanta Falcons may be the best movie I've seen this year, but it has a real downer of an ending.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally
The final of the original continuity films and the last time Shintaro Katsu played the role. It doesn't feel like a huge ending and probably wasn't meant to be but it is a solid enough film with an 80s sensibility to the character. Sometimes to 80s, as it also contains a weird English language song that pops in from time to time. But this is definitely Shintaro's vision for the character, not as dark as some but very much feeling like he wants to make a harder edged film. It's not quite among the best but it is a very solid mid-tier story that feels a little less stagey than some of the previous films. Tonally, it feels like yet another remix of plot points we've seen before; Ichi befriends the man who is hired to kill him, Ichi beats a dice cheat, the last moment of the film is a quick fight between an established foe. Its a good movie but the fact that the era doesn't allow for a new kind of story hurts it a bit. But in terms of being the same thing but newer, it probably isn't bad and I'd like it better if I came back to it after a break from the franchise.
The final of the original continuity films and the last time Shintaro Katsu played the role. It doesn't feel like a huge ending and probably wasn't meant to be but it is a solid enough film with an 80s sensibility to the character. Sometimes to 80s, as it also contains a weird English language song that pops in from time to time. But this is definitely Shintaro's vision for the character, not as dark as some but very much feeling like he wants to make a harder edged film. It's not quite among the best but it is a very solid mid-tier story that feels a little less stagey than some of the previous films. Tonally, it feels like yet another remix of plot points we've seen before; Ichi befriends the man who is hired to kill him, Ichi beats a dice cheat, the last moment of the film is a quick fight between an established foe. Its a good movie but the fact that the era doesn't allow for a new kind of story hurts it a bit. But in terms of being the same thing but newer, it probably isn't bad and I'd like it better if I came back to it after a break from the franchise.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Meet the Robinsons
Still going through the Disney animated canon. I was a bit worried going into this one as it is from the era that is less well-respected (re: Chicken Little) and... well, it was somewhat founded. There is some genuinely good moments in the movie but as a whole it is not very well animated and is much more obnoxious than funny. It is trying very hard to be a wacky comedy but it all feels a lot more affected in it's attempt to be quirky than organic to the world it's made. It feels like it is meant to appear to a sugar-addled 8 year old but beyond that it is quite disappointing. The goofy villain is a highlight, despite the fact that he feels like an incredibly tired archetype. The animation, which looks pretty weak for the era, seems to serve him the best. I read that Jim Carrey was offered the role and it is clear from the get, since this is a movie that is playing EVERYTHING to the back of the theatre. Frankly, it's a weak production and the comedy doesn't work. It's nice, though, that the director improved things greatly for 2011's Winnie the Pooh, where somehow making it more an out and out comedy worked better than I expected.
Still going through the Disney animated canon. I was a bit worried going into this one as it is from the era that is less well-respected (re: Chicken Little) and... well, it was somewhat founded. There is some genuinely good moments in the movie but as a whole it is not very well animated and is much more obnoxious than funny. It is trying very hard to be a wacky comedy but it all feels a lot more affected in it's attempt to be quirky than organic to the world it's made. It feels like it is meant to appear to a sugar-addled 8 year old but beyond that it is quite disappointing. The goofy villain is a highlight, despite the fact that he feels like an incredibly tired archetype. The animation, which looks pretty weak for the era, seems to serve him the best. I read that Jim Carrey was offered the role and it is clear from the get, since this is a movie that is playing EVERYTHING to the back of the theatre. Frankly, it's a weak production and the comedy doesn't work. It's nice, though, that the director improved things greatly for 2011's Winnie the Pooh, where somehow making it more an out and out comedy worked better than I expected.
The Child’s Play remake was fine. Not exceptional, but fine.
I guess the real lesson it has to teach us is to not verbally harass and berate your employees, especially when they’re the ones in charge of the Violence Inhibiter Chip in your product. Another important lesson is that if you built a doll that requires a Violence Inhibitor Chip you might want to rethink the design a bit.
Really thought that the fact that the main kid needed a hearing aide was going to be important to the plot in some way. Instead, the movie fogot about it for large stretches of time, including scenes where he has lengthy conversations with people about misplacing it.
I guess the real lesson it has to teach us is to not verbally harass and berate your employees, especially when they’re the ones in charge of the Violence Inhibiter Chip in your product. Another important lesson is that if you built a doll that requires a Violence Inhibitor Chip you might want to rethink the design a bit.
Really thought that the fact that the main kid needed a hearing aide was going to be important to the plot in some way. Instead, the movie fogot about it for large stretches of time, including scenes where he has lengthy conversations with people about misplacing it.
A doll that needs a violence inhibitor chip is stupider than a doll possessed by the soul of a serial killer
"There's your problem: Someone set this thing to 'evil'!"
So should we tell Adrenaline about Small Soldiers or not?
Fun fact: That movie is bad
Another fun fact: no its not.
I agree it's so bad I watched it at least three times in theaters and sometimes I still hear in my head the pre-recorded message from when I would call the theater to find out showtimes and I'll see the name of a movie like "Hope Floats" and I'll be like "Why do I remember the name of that movie? I've never seen it" and then I'll be like "oh yeah because the prerecorded voice message would say it several times when I was calling the theater that was playing Small Soldiers and I'm still kind of sad that the toyline didn't have a large figure of Ocula that scaled well with the others but they did have a figure of Flatchoo who was only seen in artwork during the boardroom scene at the beginning and they cancelled the Kip Killigan figure because his name was too similar to a school shooter of the era and
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
The Black Hole
I've long heard of this one but this is the first time seeing it and... probably the last. It isn't awful and I appreciate that despite cribbing from Star Wars, it's going for more of a haunted house story. Unfortunately, it's a little more clumsy, particularly in it's music choices (good soundtrack, but not all of it feels appropriate). I think it's neat that they were going for a weirder, more foreboding film but in the end it's only OK and it's attempt at a trippy ending yields a creepy visual but doesn't lead to a satisfying conclusion.
I've long heard of this one but this is the first time seeing it and... probably the last. It isn't awful and I appreciate that despite cribbing from Star Wars, it's going for more of a haunted house story. Unfortunately, it's a little more clumsy, particularly in it's music choices (good soundtrack, but not all of it feels appropriate). I think it's neat that they were going for a weirder, more foreboding film but in the end it's only OK and it's attempt at a trippy ending yields a creepy visual but doesn't lead to a satisfying conclusion.
The last twenty minutes or so are pretty good, between a helpless effort to escape the event horizon while the ship is imploding around them, and then the trippy finale that doesn’t quite land. Also, the robed frankensteins And Max both managed to make the movie really memorable
Like Star Trek TMG, there’s a lot of stuff that looks really cool, but it’s not a movie I’d watch twice.
Also, the villain looked like Jason Manzoukas
Like Star Trek TMG, there’s a lot of stuff that looks really cool, but it’s not a movie I’d watch twice.
Also, the villain looked like Jason Manzoukas
Basically nothing in Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead: A Shallow Depth of Field Experience makes sense or is more entertaining than reading a straightforward description of it would be
Army of the Dead is one people can skip. The credit sequence is good but the rest of it is pretty forgettable.
I've been meaning to re-watch some Romero zombie films. Its been a while but I think my ranking goes:
1. Day of the Dead
2. Land of the Dead
3. Dawn of the Dead
4. Night of the Living Dead
All four of those movies are great. I have not seen any of his zombie films past Land. I've heard they're not very good.
I've been meaning to re-watch some Romero zombie films. Its been a while but I think my ranking goes:
1. Day of the Dead
2. Land of the Dead
3. Dawn of the Dead
4. Night of the Living Dead
All four of those movies are great. I have not seen any of his zombie films past Land. I've heard they're not very good.
I honestly can’t tell if Transformers: The Movie directly inspired my taste in movies because it was one of my favourite films when I was tiny or if it’s one of my favourite movies since I was tiny because it fits all my needs for a fun time watching anything.
The difference is now meaningless; the snake has finished eating its tail; Transformers the Movie is what I’m looking for when I say a movie is Octo.
The difference is now meaningless; the snake has finished eating its tail; Transformers the Movie is what I’m looking for when I say a movie is Octo.
Tiny Octo considered Jennifer’s Body to be an underrated classic
Purple
(She/Her)
At one point in my life I had a very serious rule of tabletop design that if there's no way to mechanically reflect turning into a car, driving alongside the edge of a tank to gain the momentum to leap free, ripping the tail off a sharp robot, and using it as a mace to cave it's own face in, that system needs more time in the oven.
While hair metal played, yes
Phantoon
I cuss you bad
I watched it about a month ago, and can't help but feel that there's a really good film in there if it could decide what kind of film it is. It's usually dark and violent for a children's film, then there's way too many silly bits for the weirdly brooding horror that's lurking there
I'm starting to think that if the Bay films had lots of amazing hair metal I might not hate them any more