Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[Sock Monkey]

I recently finished Phase IV. I rate this one high, and should point out this is not my first time seeing it. Cool 1970s science-fiction (another one I think from around the same time that I have enjoyed, Zardoz). The way the story is told makes you think like you are reading one of those paperback novels from the time with those great covers that now stimulate feelings of nostalgia (and painfully so, I might add).

Could have used more voice-over, I think, to explain a bit more of what was going on. And funny, I always thought the phases referred to phases in space causing the ants to evolve, but I think it referred to the phases of the experiments/communications (I probably missed something along the way). I hope they didn't really kill the praying mantis in that scene, though! (I think some ants may have died, however.)

Wish some small press would license the rights to the novelization and bring that back into print for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, and I don't know what the last-sale prices really are, I cannot spring for a used copy at this time (or probably at any time)...reminds me to buy any and all novelizations that get released these days...

Phase IV has been on my “track down” list of movies to see fir a while. There’s way too many movies! And I think this might be the first time Zardoz has been mentioned on the forum. You’ve got some deep dives going on!

I wonder how much interest there would be for reprints of movie novelizations? I know that some are incredibly hard to find and very expensive like Teddy, the novelization of the movie The Pit. I have some fondness for novelizations. I first read the novelization of Aliens before seeing the movie and it blew my mind as a kid.

[Sock Monkey]

I definitely get the in-the-mood aspect of Phantasm. I too want to get to the rest of the series. I was advised not to skip the second one as currently I would have to based on streaming needs, so I first will have to get to number-two before the rest.

Yeah, I think part two is owned by a different studio (Universal?) than the rest which usually leaves it as the odd man out for various licensing.

[JJ123]

I recently finished Phase IV. I rate this one high, and should point out this is not my first time seeing it. Cool 1970s science-fiction (another one I think from around the same time that I have enjoyed, Zardoz). The way the story is told makes you think like you are reading one of those paperback novels from the time with those great covers that now stimulate feelings of nostalgia (and painfully so, I might add).

Could have used more voice-over, I think, to explain a bit more of what was going on. And funny, I always thought the phases referred to phases in space causing the ants to evolve, but I think it referred to the phases of the experiments/communications (I probably missed something along the way). I hope they didn't really kill the praying mantis in that scene, though! (I think some ants may have died, however.)

Wish some small press would license the rights to the novelization and bring that back into print for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, and I don't know what the last-sale prices really are, I cannot spring for a used copy at this time (or probably at any time)...reminds me to buy any and all novelizations that get released these days...

[JJ123]

I definitely get the in-the-mood aspect of Phantasm. I too want to get to the rest of the series. I was advised not to skip the second one as currently I would have to based on streaming needs, so I first will have to get to number-two before the rest.

[Sock Monkey]

I just rewatched PHANTASM recently and it did not work for me. I remember seeing parts of it as a kid and really liking it, but this time I was left rather cold. Maybe it was just my mood that day. I need to give it another shot. Arrow In the UK put out a box set of all five films so I’m tempted to pick it up and plow through the whole series.

[Sock Monkey]

I agree about My Octopus Teacher. What a great doc. I was wondering if I could get into at the outset, but, man, I got sucked in.

[TacomaDiver]

Saw My Octopus Teacher on Netflix a couple days ago...really outstanding documentary.

That was an AMAZING documentary.

[RonClinton]

Saw My Octopus Teacher on Netflix a couple days ago...really outstanding documentary.

[mhatchett]

One of my favorite Horror Films from that era.

[sholloman81]

I'll have to check out Those Who Wish Me Dead. The trailer/promotion didn't resonate with me, but perhaps I should give it a try.

I just finished watching Phantasm on the Joe Bob Briggs Christmas special. Believe it or not, first time I ever saw it after obviously hearing all the references over the years (Tall Man, killer flying spheres, etc.). Briggs of course is always entertaining and smart in presentation. The movie itself was actually cool, if a bit slow and disorienting in terms of the way it was put together. I had a previous idea as to how the plot would go, something I assumed over the years, and was pleasantly surprised that it was completely different. I'll say this: they don't make movies like this anymore, which is ultimately a good thing - and what I mean by that is, movies simply are better made these days. However, I actually had a fun, relaxing time watching this, and enjoyed the change in pace compared to today's quick-cut slick-fests. Every once in a while (actually, more than once-in-a-while, I'm sure everyone will agree) you need to go back to your Fangoria-magazine days and forget all the current franchises and all the fun anthologies you find on today's streaming networks and just settle in for an older way of doing things.

Liked the whole planet thing, the Jawas, all of that. And the characters were fun...Reggie is great. I was disappointed that Briggs would not show the second movie, so I have to go to the third and fourth one and then track down the second one later. (This episode was a marathon of the series for Christmas Eve, or thereabouts, the year it was released, which I think was 2018...?) For those who may have seen this marathon, you may recall Briggs said he wouldn't play it because he was offended by the destruction of a rare vehicle by the filmmakers...I'm guessing that was a joke? As in, the second film was out of licensing range at the time? Who knows. But, yes, while not perfect, I enjoyed this nostalgic trip back to 1979 horror cinema. (And, interestingly, unless I missed it, while Briggs dissected many of the surreal elements of the movie and really dug into it with humorous analytical wit, the scene that really stuck with me was the one with the fortuneteller...she had that Dune-like box that magically disappeared! That would have been worth a whole verbal essay on its own.)

I have always liked Phantasm. As you mention, it is very different than your typical horror movie. That's funny that Joe Bob Briggs wouldn't play the second movie as I personally think that it is the only one of the sequels worth watching. I would check out part two before watching three and four. To me, three and four are very different from the first two films in the series in both tone and content.

[JJ123]

I'll have to check out Those Who Wish Me Dead. The trailer/promotion didn't resonate with me, but perhaps I should give it a try.

I just finished watching Phantasm on the Joe Bob Briggs Christmas special. Believe it or not, first time I ever saw it after obviously hearing all the references over the years (Tall Man, killer flying spheres, etc.). Briggs of course is always entertaining and smart in presentation. The movie itself was actually cool, if a bit slow and disorienting in terms of the way it was put together. I had a previous idea as to how the plot would go, something I assumed over the years, and was pleasantly surprised that it was completely different. I'll say this: they don't make movies like this anymore, which is ultimately a good thing - and what I mean by that is, movies simply are better made these days. However, I actually had a fun, relaxing time watching this, and enjoyed the change in pace compared to today's quick-cut slick-fests. Every once in a while (actually, more than once-in-a-while, I'm sure everyone will agree) you need to go back to your Fangoria-magazine days and forget all the current franchises and all the fun anthologies you find on today's streaming networks and just settle in for an older way of doing things.

Liked the whole planet thing, the Jawas, all of that. And the characters were fun...Reggie is great. I was disappointed that Briggs would not show the second movie, so I have to go to the third and fourth one and then track down the second one later. (This episode was a marathon of the series for Christmas Eve, or thereabouts, the year it was released, which I think was 2018...?) For those who may have seen this marathon, you may recall Briggs said he wouldn't play it because he was offended by the destruction of a rare vehicle by the filmmakers...I'm guessing that was a joke? As in, the second film was out of licensing range at the time? Who knows. But, yes, while not perfect, I enjoyed this nostalgic trip back to 1979 horror cinema. (And, interestingly, unless I missed it, while Briggs dissected many of the surreal elements of the movie and really dug into it with humorous analytical wit, the scene that really stuck with me was the one with the fortuneteller...she had that Dune-like box that magically disappeared! That would have been worth a whole verbal essay on its own.)

[Martin]

Watched 'Those Who Wish Me Dead' last night. A few elements were changed for the movie and a couple of loose ends are left with the changes. Overall a good movie that is action packed and stays true to the story.

[Sock Monkey]

Sock Monkey, thanks for the reply. Amazing that it is real. I agree, makes no sense that people want to do it (I assume they pay for the privilege, too?) and that it is legally allowed. Quite strange. I hope somehow the other Lovecraft films get made, perhaps with different talent.

The last I heard, there was like a year long wait list and in lieu of payment attendees are to donate dog food to local
animal shelter. I don’t know if these are still true and accurate or how COVID has impacted them.

I hope for more Lovecraft adaptations as well. I would have loved to have seen Del Toro’s adaptation of At The Mountains of Madness. A podcast, Best Movies Never Made, covered an failed adaptation in detail, but I don’t recall if it was Del Toro’s. Really interesting though.

[JJ123]

Sock Monkey, thanks for the reply. Amazing that it is real. I agree, makes no sense that people want to do it (I assume they pay for the privilege, too?) and that it is legally allowed. Quite strange. I hope somehow the other Lovecraft films get made, perhaps with different talent.

[TacomaDiver]

Finally got around to watching IT Chapter II. Think I may just be in a bad mood as I didn't care for it much. They spent way to much time on special effects and not enough on the actual story. I think they somehow missed the mark on this one.

For everything that worked in Part 1, there was something that didn't work in Part 2.

Personally, I just found Part 2 boring which was so disappointing because I had a hell of a good time with Part 1. I was disappointed we didn't see Part 2 in the theaters, but I'm much happier only spending $5 on the bluray after watching it.

(My wife, who HATES horror, saw Part 1 in the theater with me. She's a good one. Well, upon rewatch, she commented on how much of the movie she missed by closing her eyes and trying to hide, so it was pretty much a new movie for her.)