Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[bugen]

There is a push developing for Crimson Peak to receive an Academy award.

I've seen two different trailers, no less than two unique TV spots (perhaps more), and a number of billboards and posters, and yet still have almost no idea what this movie is about. I'd call relatively poor ticket sales a result of Marketing not understanding what they're selling, though this often seems to be the case with del Toro movies.

[frik51]

Lea is 30, however Monica Bellucci is 51 as of September 30th.

Oops...

sk

[srboone]

I am so sorry del Toro's latest, Crimson Peak, (loved it!) has barely managed to make it to $50.000.000 worldwide so far. He deserves so much better.

Watched Spectre yesterday.
Loooooong movie, but liked it very much. One of my favorite Bonds.
And there's no way Léa Seydoux was 50 (!!) when they filmed this - impossible!

sk

I knew you would Siep! (love CP, that is...) SPECTRE is for Thursday. Can't wait.

Took in John Carpenter's Halloween on 29Nov. What struck me about the film this (30+) time around was Carpenter's use of the foreground. A lot of his shocks come as the camera pans away, something pops up in the foreground. Not to take anything away from Myers fading out of the background shadows. This is one merciless and visceral film. Definitely on my shortlist of truly scary films.
5/5

Nice to learn that this movie opened in Kansas City and then moved into wider release as word of mouth grew.

[TJCams]

There is a push developing for Crimson Peak to receive an Academy award.

I've seen two different trailers, no less than two unique TV spots (perhaps more), and a number of billboards and posters, and yet still have almost no idea what this movie is about. I'd call relatively poor ticket sales a result of Marketing not understanding what they're selling, though this often seems to be the case with del Toro movies.

I think a lot has to with it not being a "teen" type scary movie, which seems to be the trend with most popular movies these days - It Follows being the most recent successful horror film, and the Paranormal Activity franchise, which is a total disgrace that it has gone as far as it has.

[Dan Hocker]

I think a lot has to with it not being a "teen" type scary movie, which seems to be the trend with most popular movies these days - It Follows being the most recent successful horror film, and the Paranormal Activity franchise, which is a total disgrace that it has gone as far as it has.

To be fair it was marketed as a scary movie at first, but it really wasn't. It was a Gothic Romance with horror undertones. The ghosts in the movie felt completely unnecessary to me at least. I think the movie would have done better had it been marketed that way from the beginning and maybe released in February instead of October.

[Lincoln]

'Oculus' - really enjoyed this recent-ish horror film. The kids, in particular, were excellent in their roles.
Probably won't appeal to the "I need everything explained to me or the film is flawed" crowd.
4.5/5

[Brian861]

'Oculus' - really enjoyed this recent-ish horror film. The kids, in particular, were excellent in their roles.
Probably won't appeal to the "I need everything explained to me or the film is flawed" crowd.
4.5/5

I agree, Lincoln. 'Oculus' was a very good scary movie. I didn't care for Crimson Peak as it was slow and very predictable IMHO. Probably didn't have enough insight into it before I saw it so that's on me.

[Brian861]

Just watched Dick Cavett’s Horror Roundtable two part show with King, Romero, Levin, and Straub from October 16, 1980. Good stuff! God awful clothing LOL.

[Martin]

Just watched Dick Cavett’s Horror Roundtable two part show with King, Romero, Levin, and Straub from October 16, 1980. Good stuff! God awful clothing LOL.

Thanks for mentioning this! I had never heard of it before. Just went out and watched part one. When you mention the Clothes, Straub looks like he does not belong, the other three are also chain smoking through the first half, even to the point that Cavett mentions it.

[Brian861]

You're welcome, Martin! Although now I realize I probably posted this to the wrong thread as it wasn't exactly a movie. Oops.

[Martin]

This thread worked for me. Learned of something I had not seen and was able to search it out.

You're welcome, Martin! Although now I realize I probably posted this to the wrong thread as it wasn't exactly a movie. Oops.

[srboone]

SPECTRE: After subverting the Bond formula in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Skyfall, Bond 24 is a bit of a letdown. SPECTRE plays by the time-honored rules of the Bond film, beginning with the opening of Bond walking out in the shaking iris and turning to fire his pistol with red enveloping the screen. But as an old school Bond film, it's pretty damn good.The action is intense and well-staged and the women are gorgeous (though I wish one of them had been a baddie Bond girl). The gadgets are almost non-existant, but the homages the film makes to Bonds 1-20 are melded into a whole that seems new.

Spoiler!

I do have to admit to feeling disappointed when the villain turned out to be one from previous Bond outings--ala Star Trek: Into Darkness.

Overall, a job well done.

4/5

[bugen]

Legend (2015)

The true story of the Krays, twin brothers who took over London’s rackets and ran the city in the 60’s, Legend is three films rolled up into one and more: Goodfellas, Casino and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The relationship between the brothers is examined in detail as Reggie sacrifices for his mentally unstable twin Ronnie, though both serve and save each other throughout. They muscle through their competition using the same tool that brought Keyser Soze to power - will - though gentlemen, albeit violent, they remain. Well, at least Reggie.

Superbly acted by Tom Hardy playing the dual role of the brothers, I have no doubt as to the merits of a lead actor nomination in the upcoming awards season, though merit and the Academy Awards don’t often run together (my take on them is awards are generally given out at least one project behind what should have won previously). But this isn’t Hardy’s movie alone. Emily Browning also shines like a sun here, which really is saying a lot in the face of an ensemble cast delivering high caliber performances with zero weaknesses. Christopher Eccleston (Gone in 60 Seconds) and Chazz Palminteri (every gangster movie ever) stand strong.

Writer/Director Brian Helgeland, who’s written personal favorites Payback and Man on Fire, not to mention Mystic River and L.A. Confidential, drives this Caddy home with the style and confidence you might be hoping for but could never expect. A colorful talent in the past, based on the product here I'd say he's now achieved mastery over film in a 131 minute, somehow-trim feature.

Having seen only one story on screen this year in the same class, Ex Machina, I’ve got to say while Legend may be somewhat less important in theme as we look to the future, it adds up to an even better film than my previous pick for best-of-year.

Killer music, stylized violence, cool cats and dazzling dames, you guys are gonna #&$%ing love it. I call it Best Picture no matter the votes.

5 stars

[Dan Hocker]

I liked Spectre. It wasn't as good as Skyfall, but that was kinda a unreasonable expectation to have anyways, given how good Skyfall was. This one felt less like a Daniel Craig James Bond movie and more like the old style of Bond movie. It felt different, and I enjoyed it. I think the slight style change is probably why it's not getting the best reviews.

[Sock Monkey]

I've been super-lazy lately about posting the rest of the reviews of what I watched for Halloween. Here are two more, both I enjoyed quite a bit and both highly recommended.

Halloween Horror Movie #7 and 8:

The Host: After chemicals are callously dumped in the Han River, a large mutated monster terrorizes Korea, taking a young girl captive. Her lazy (and almost narcoleptic) father teams up with his pro archer sister who is always a little physically slow (leading to one of the movie’s best jokes), his drunken unemployed brother, and the exasperated grandfather to find and save the girl from the creature.

A fun, offbeat monster movie that hits all the great points a movie-goer would want in such a film, but also taking the time to take shots news outlets, the American military, political activists, and even our heroes’ decision-making process. The humor limits the movie’s ability scare and the CG is a little outdated, but the movie is just so offbeat and full of heart it’s easy to overlook those very minor shortcomings. I was fan of director Joon Ho Bong after seeing Snowpiercer, but this one along with Mother, has made him one of the most directors I’m most interested in seeing what he does next.
Grade: A

What We Do In The Shadows: A mockumentary following four vampire roommates—each one exemplifying a stereotype (ie. The romantic Anne Rice vampire, the Nosferatu, etc) as they live their undead lives in a modern day New Zealand.

What could have worn out its welcome very quickly winds up being an absolute blast from start to finish. From following the vampires’ exploits trying to get into bars (they have to be invited in) to their run-ins with a group of local werewolves, the movie is just so much fun. It even manages to throw in a jab or two at found footage movies. The humor is sometimes silly, but it’s hard to not smile constantly while watching this movie, it’s just that darn likeable. Instantly one of my favorite comedies.
Grade: A