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Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 17 Jan 2016, 03:37
by HungFist
Straight Outta Compton (USA, 2015) [DCP] - 3/5
Politically interesting biopic ultimately feels like (and according to those who know their shit, is) a toned down version of real events and real people. Police brutality is well documented, but the gangsta rappers are almost made seem like innocent boy scouts (no doubt thanks to many of them being portrayed by the subjects' own sons, and the film being produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre themselves). Were they really such nice guys whose biggest sins were verbal assaults on the police, a few wild parties, and a broken friendship? The performances, both acting and especially musical, are terrific, though. The first hour works very well, but the film runs too long and trades attitude for drama clichés during the second half.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 18 Jan 2016, 00:21
by Markgway
The Delta Force (1986-USA-Israel) **½
Chuck's biggest vehicle to date is half comic book action blockbuster and half Airport-style hijack drama (and, yes, George Kennedy is in it).
No Escape (2014-USA-Thailand) **½
Relentlessly intense action drama about the perils of an all-American family trapped amid Asian terrorist insurgency. Never clicks the way it should... but is worth a peak. Pierce Brosnan adds charisma as a handy cockney geezer.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 20 Jan 2016, 06:26
by Markgway
Circle (2015-USA) ***
Fifty random strangers are help captive on an alien spaceship and forced to select one person to die every two minutes until only one survivor remains... One-set, no frills thriller is tense, thought-provoking and keeps the viewer hooked... right up until the unnecessary coda.
Happy Together (1988-USA) **
Patrick Dempsey and Helen Slater are the cute college roommates who fall in and out (and back in and back out...) of love. Has an experimental theatre vibe, which makes it different, though not better, than the romcom-drama norm.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 21 Jan 2016, 12:37
by HungFist
Black Mass (USA, 2015) [Flight] - 3/5
A technically well made gangster film that doesn't have anything on offer that hasn't been seen in The Sopranos, the films of Scorsese, and other seminal gangster pics. It's still good, and has some great performances, but it comes out a bit underwhelming.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 21 Jan 2016, 20:57
by Markgway
Needful Things (1993-USA) **
Like too many film adaptations of Stephen King's work, this one takes an interesting premise, and turns it into an overblown, unfocused mess.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 23 Jan 2016, 08:08
by Markgway
Texas Chainsaw (2013-USA) *½
Preposterous, confusingly titled direct sequel to Tobe Hooper's original, pisses on story credibility and turns old Leatherface (not played by Gunnar Hansen, though he does cameo elsewhere) into some sort of anti-hero. Casting of brunette bombshell Alexandra Daddario is explicitly gory post millennial horror's only asset.
Static (2012-USA) **
Paper thin DTV chiller sets itself up as a creepy home invasion picture, but relies on its de rigueur, ill-explained twist like a crutch and takes ages to get to it (even though the run time is barely 80m). Good actors carry it only so far...
Mister Frost (1990-France-UK) *½
Is smarmy serial killer Jeff Goldblum really the devil himself? Does anyone care...? Amateurishly written, acted, and directed.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 25 Jan 2016, 13:54
by HungFist
I, The Jury (USA, 1982) [DVD] - 3.5/5
Mike Hammer (Armand Assante) is an asshole private detective inspecting his friend's death. The case leads him to a New York Sex clinic whose regular customers include a maniac knife murderer. This film has earned itself a bit of a cult following for obvious reasons. It's a mainstream film, but a staggeringly arrogant one, from plentiful sex and nudity to a protagonist that isn't a nice guy in the least. Rough around the edges, and far from a masterpiece, but oddly fascinating at the same time. The Warner Archives DVD-R looks uncut to me. The original X-rated UK cinema release appears to have been cut, and the 18-rated video release lost additional 4 minutes!
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 29 Jan 2016, 10:21
by Markgway
Wrong Bet aka Lionheart aka A.W.O.L aka Full Contact aka Leon aka Too Tough to Die (1990-USA) ***
Whichever title you see it under, this B-movie fight actioner can be considered a Van Damme stretch, with his early film woodenness dissipating and a greater confidence with drama emerging. The supporting cast (especially Harrison Page, who brings a great deal to his sidekick role) and better-than-average writing aid him immensely. Quality music score by John Scott is worthy of a mention. I watched the UK BD, which is the shortened US version, retitled Lionheart (also on-screen title).
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 29 Jan 2016, 10:35
by Markgway
F/X2 (1991-USA) **½
Imaginative-enough sequel, perhaps lacks the freshness of its predecessor, but is probably more fun, and benefits from reteaming Bryan Brown and Brian Dennehy, and giving them many more scenes together.
EDIT: Upon reflection I think my original *** was a touch too generous and so I'm knocking half a star off. The death of a likeable supporting character serves no real purpose in a 'fun' film and carries no dramatic weight. That's always niggled me.
Black Eagle (1988-USA) **½
CIA agent Sho Kosugi takes on KGB thug Van Damme in this decent, fairly neglected spy thriller. As with The Octagon, director Eric Karson does a professional job. More talk than action, but better than its reputation would suggest. UK BD offers the original 104m version with original mono.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 01 Feb 2016, 15:02
by HungFist
It Follows (USA, 2014) [DCP] - 4/5
Excellent, moody horror movie has an interesting youth film bubbling under. A sexually transmitted curse follows the protagonists wherever they go, though the evil force only walks, never runs. Add moody score, excellent cinematography, loads of social undertones, and quiet humour, and you've got a small gem. It also manages to turn many clichés upside down without appearing overly cleaver or arrogant towards the genre.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 01 Feb 2016, 15:25
by Markgway
You liked that one a fair bit more than I did.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 01 Feb 2016, 15:31
by HungFist
Yeah, I remember you weren't a fan
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 02 Feb 2016, 18:35
by Markgway
Mo wrote:As you know I'm a big fan of Walker. So bad it's good..
That's harsh. I just enjoyed it for what it was. I wouldn't say it was bad at all. It's funny because the show regularly repeats here in the UK and my mum and grandparents (neither Chuck or martial arts fans) really got into it. It has that broad appeal. It's just a shame they pulled the plug on that series of TV movies (ending on a cliffhanger no less).
But I can't think of any of his movies that I really like, except Forced Vengeance. That one is a classic.
Haven't seen that in ages. All Chuck's films have something to recommend to them (even Silent Rage for it's bizarreness). The Octagon is the most martial-arty of his early output.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 02 Feb 2016, 19:09
by Masterofoneinchpunch
Mo wrote:... Le Samourai 1967- I decided to check out another Delon movie. This was rated pretty high so I took a chance on it. This is the kind of movie I don't like. Slow moving, and not much happens. But I'm surprised to say I liked it quite a bit. It reminds me a little of the spaghetti western A Stranger in Town, also made in 1967, because of its simplistic approach at film making, long periods without dialogue, and a lead actor who is hard to penetrate and figure out who he is and what he's about. The ending is a bit confusing, but I think it's supposed to be that way. I don't think Delon's performance is anywhere near as good as Three Men to Kill, but it is a very good performance, and Le Samourai is the better movie. I got the feeling that this was made by a real artist. It is unique and carefully crafted. "Le Samourai was our introduction to Jean-Pierre Melville. When I first saw the film, it was a shock to me: Melvile's technique and his cool narrative style were incredibly fresh. I felt like I was watching a gangster film made by a gentleman." - John Woo.
..."
Nice. Sometimes I think I am influencing you
. Whether that is good or bad well ... I'm a fan of Jean Pierre Melville and this was the first film I saw of his. I originally watched it because of the combination of Roger Ebert raving about it and then it came out on the Criterion collection. This director is a huge influence on not only Woo but Johnnie To as well (glad you posted in my
The Longest Nite review.) When you look at this attire you can see that it was an influence on the wardrobe of Chow Yun-fat in
A Better Tomorrow. Funny that movie influence lots of sunglasses and trench coats in HK.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 02 Feb 2016, 19:58
by grim_tales
Groundhog Day (1993): 5/5
Fantastic comedy. At once hilarious, then meaningful and poignant. Bill Murray at his best, and even Andie Macdowell is very good in it.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 03 Feb 2016, 01:56
by grim_tales
I havent seen Le Samourai in many years, I first saw it in college because I read it was an influence for Woo for The Killer - LS didnt have much dialogiue, but a similar story.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 04 Feb 2016, 04:14
by HungFist
The Evil That Men Do (USA, 1984) [DVD] – 3.5/5
Bronson is a retired killer brought back to business to eliminate a sadistic "doctor" who is torturing people and doing human experiments in South America. This is one of his better 80s films, an entertaining action thriller with Bronson being especially charismatic here.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 05 Feb 2016, 00:22
by Markgway
Furious 6 (2013-USA-Japan) **½
Ludicrous, lightning-paced action spectacle delivers adrenaline-pumping car chases and martial arts fights, but isn't believable for a second. Series fans probably won't care and will be in their element.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 06 Feb 2016, 11:15
by grim_tales
One Armed Swordsman (1967): 4/5
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 06 Feb 2016, 15:19
by Markgway
Real Steal (2011-USA-India) ***
Rocky with robots? Better than a family drama about fighting machines has any right to be. Hugh Jackman is charismatic even when playing an asshole and his relationship with his moppet son isn't too saccharine.
Evilspeak (1981-USA) *½
Boring, barely competent horror starring Clint Howard (yes, you read that correctly) as a bullied army cadet summoning Satan thru his computer (or some such nonsense). The gore FX are (surprisingly) piss-poor.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 06 Feb 2016, 18:54
by grim_tales
grim_tales wrote:One Armed Swordsman (1967): 4/5
Oops sorry, wrong thread should be in the Asian film thread
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 08 Feb 2016, 03:45
by Markgway
Hired to Kill (1990-USA) **
Human tree trunk Brian Thompson takes a break from playing psychos to star as a merc posing as a gay fashionista (stay with me...) leading an assortment of belligerent battling babes into a banana republic revolution. Oliver Reed (as the dictator) and George Kennedy collect their pay checks, Jose Ferrer, meanwhile, wonders how the hell he got roped into this... Action piffle amuses if you switch your brain off.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 08 Feb 2016, 16:21
by HungFist
Markgway wrote:Furious 6 (2013-USA-Japan) **½
Ludicrous, lightning-paced action spectacle delivers adrenaline-pumping car chases and martial arts fights, but isn't believable for a second. Series fans probably won't care and will be in their element.
Have you seen Furious 7? It's so ridiculously over the top that it actually works. But it's a shame about all the CGI (that make you sometimes mistake a real stunt for CGI) and the lack of pure driving action. You kinda feel that they didn't think fast driving and a few car crashes would be exciting enough, so they threw in a million special effects, explosions and bullets, which in my eye made it less exciting...
I've seen the 1st (gave me a headache), 2nd (so silly it works), 3rd (what a waste of potential), 5th (stupid fun), and 7th (even more stupid, and pretty fun too) film.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 08 Feb 2016, 23:17
by Markgway
Haven't seen F7 yet, though I must admit F6 kinda made me want to.
I agree the CGI augmentation is wholly unnecessary and spoils the otherwise spectacular stuntwork (the runway climax is pretty epic).
I haven't seen the first three in the series, mainly because car racing doesn't interest me. I started with F4 because I'd heard it was a more mainstream actioner.
Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out
Posted: 09 Feb 2016, 03:51
by Markgway
Shattered (1991-USA) ***