Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[dannyboy121070]

My son and I watched THE BLACK PHONE 2 last night. I enjoyed the more overt supernatural theme of the film, and Madeleine McGraw was a standout once again. I think she'll be getting some award recognition as she gets older. Fun film.

[brlesh]

I saw it with my sons--both of whom knew the game the movie was based on and wanted to see it just for that reason. And my reaction was much the same as yours. What the actual f**k. For two hours.

But it was a hit with the people it was intended to hit. My 15 year-old loved it. And in one sense, I think it's something we should be happy about. Or at least encouraging. Markiplier funded the whole thing himself and sidestepped all the Hollywood gatekeepers. In that regard this movie represents true artistic freedom. No test screenings to steer it in a more marketable direction. No producers demanding changes based on the flavors of the day. Just a creative passion project. And you might say, "well that could be why it sucked. Maybe a gatekeeper or two would have steered this ship into a better place." But just because it didn't land with me, doesn't mean its a bomb. It made a lot of money and the audience it was meant for ate it up. I heard that it hit number one in new releases and the people recording that info played games (said there was a glitch) and didn't list it as such until it dropped to number two. Because Hollywood doesn't like to be subverted. Or maybe that's just a conspiracy.

Anyway, I will also say that a one-person, one room movie is one hell of a hard thing to pull off for an actor. Not to mention as a first-time actor. And he did a lot better than Craig Sheffer in Widow's Point. So I also respect that.

Would I see an Iron Lung 2? Very doubtful. But I like that this movie happened.

Agreed. It definitely seemed to hit with its target audience.

I went to a 5:30 show yesterday. I usually try to go a 5 - 6:00 mid week show. Most of the time I have the theater to myself. At most there will be 3 or 4 people in the theater.

Yesterday for Iron Lung there were easily 20 to 30 people in the theater. From what I saw, all male, late teens to early 20s. And from the chatter I heard after the movie, most of them seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves, while I sat there shaking my head & contemplating poor life choices.

B

[jeffingoff]

I saw it with my sons--both of whom knew the game the movie was based on and wanted to see it just for that reason. And my reaction was much the same as yours. What the actual f**k. For two hours.

But it was a hit with the people it was intended to hit. My 15 year-old loved it. And in one sense, I think it's something we should be happy about. Or at least encouraging. Markiplier funded the whole thing himself and sidestepped all the Hollywood gatekeepers. In that regard this movie represents true artistic freedom. No test screenings to steer it in a more marketable direction. No producers demanding changes based on the flavors of the day. Just a creative passion project. And you might say, "well that could be why it sucked. Maybe a gatekeeper or two would have steered this ship into a better place." But just because it didn't land with me, doesn't mean its a bomb. It made a lot of money and the audience it was meant for ate it up. I heard that it hit number one in new releases and the people recording that info played games (said there was a glitch) and didn't list it as such until it dropped to number two. Because Hollywood doesn't like to be subverted. Or maybe that's just a conspiracy.

Anyway, I will also say that a one-person, one room movie is one hell of a hard thing to pull off for an actor. Not to mention as a first-time actor. And he did a lot better than Craig Sheffer in Widow's Point. So I also respect that.

Would I see an Iron Lung 2? Very doubtful. But I like that this movie happened.

And just as a reference, I guess this is the story about the rankings: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultas...7x-its-budget/

[jeffingoff]

Well, just saw one of the most bizarre and completely nonsensical movies I’ve ever seen.

Iron Lung. Two complete hours of WTF is going on,

I’ve got to stop going to movies by you tubers.

Iron Lung and Shelby Oaks were both awful!

B

I saw it with my sons--both of whom knew the game the movie was based on and wanted to see it just for that reason. And my reaction was much the same as yours. What the actual f**k. For two hours.

But it was a hit with the people it was intended to hit. My 15 year-old loved it. And in one sense, I think it's something we should be happy about. Or at least encouraging. Markiplier funded the whole thing himself and sidestepped all the Hollywood gatekeepers. In that regard this movie represents true artistic freedom. No test screenings to steer it in a more marketable direction. No producers demanding changes based on the flavors of the day. Just a creative passion project. And you might say, "well that could be why it sucked. Maybe a gatekeeper or two would have steered this ship into a better place." But just because it didn't land with me, doesn't mean its a bomb. It made a lot of money and the audience it was meant for ate it up. I heard that it hit number one in new releases and the people recording that info played games (said there was a glitch) and didn't list it as such until it dropped to number two. Because Hollywood doesn't like to be subverted. Or maybe that's just a conspiracy.

Anyway, I will also say that a one-person, one room movie is one hell of a hard thing to pull off for an actor. Not to mention as a first-time actor. And he did a lot better than Craig Sheffer in Widow's Point. So I also respect that.

Would I see an Iron Lung 2? Very doubtful. But I like that this movie happened.

[dannyboy121070]

Well, just saw one of the most bizarre and completely nonsensical movies I’ve ever seen.

Iron Lung. Two complete hours of WTF is going on,

I’ve got to stop going to movies by you tubers.

Iron Lung and Shelby Oaks were both awful!

B

I was curious about Iron Lung, since I know nothing about it. You just satisfied my curiosity, lol.

[brlesh]

Well, just saw one of the most bizarre and completely nonsensical movies I’ve ever seen.

Iron Lung. Two complete hours of WTF is going on,

I’ve got to stop going to movies by you tubers.

Iron Lung and Shelby Oaks were both awful!

B

[sholloman81]

Last night I watched SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE...Wow, what a snoozer this was. When I heard they were making a Springsteen biopic, I would never have imagined that they'd give us two hours of a depressed Boss sitting in a bedroom moping over a cassette of sad songs until he became suicidal. Jeremy Allen White was great, and, per the credits, did his own singing. But the film, and the music, bored the piss out of me. I'm not a fan of the Nebraska album, so your mileage may vary.

Love the Nebraska album and Springsteen in general but had/have zero interest in seeing this film. Springsteen has never struck me as a musician who needed a bio-pic. Feels like everyone gets one now.

[dannyboy121070]

I rewatched THE BLACK PHONE the other night, so I could get back up to speed for the sequel. I think I enjoyed it more the second time. Ethan Hawke was great, as always, and the girl who played the little sister was outstanding.

Last night I watched SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE...Wow, what a snoozer this was. When I heard they were making a Springsteen biopic, I would never have imagined that they'd give us two hours of a depressed Boss sitting in a bedroom moping over a cassette of sad songs until he became suicidal. Jeremy Allen White was great, and, per the credits, did his own singing. But the film, and the music, bored the piss out of me. I'm not a fan of the Nebraska album, so your mileage may vary.

[sholloman81]

I'll always have a soft spot for The Rundown, lol.

Yeah, as much as I hate on the Rock, the Rundown was funny so I had to exclude that one!

[dannyboy121070]

I honestly have zero interest in seeing anything that the Rock is in. Do not enjoy him as an actor at all. About the only film of his that I can stomach is the Rundown. I sure wasn't swayed by the Smashing Machines trailer when it was out as well!

I'll always have a soft spot for The Rundown, lol.

[sholloman81]

I watched THE SMASHING MACHINE last night, which was kind of meh. I've been a fan of The Rock since his early days in WWE, but he has become such an unbearable, egotistical, pompous prick the past few years that I can barely stand the sight of him.

That said...he did do a good job as MMA fighter Mark Kerr. I'm not sure why it was necessary to bury him under such heavy prosthetics, Kerr wasn't as distinctive looking as the film makes him out to be. The problem with the film itself is that Kerr's life wasn't as interesting as the filmmakers feel it was. He was a fighter, he had an opioid addiction and a crazy girlfriend, and he made a comeback. In real life, that's a lot. In a film, it feels kind of been-there, done-that. Very episodic and hard to get invested in. Not a bad way to pass a few hours, but I can't recommend it.

I honestly have zero interest in seeing anything that the Rock is in. Do not enjoy him as an actor at all. About the only film of his that I can stomach is the Rundown. I sure wasn't swayed by the Smashing Machines trailer when it was out as well!

[dannyboy121070]

I watched THE SMASHING MACHINE last night, which was kind of meh. I've been a fan of The Rock since his early days in WWE, but he has become such an unbearable, egotistical, pompous prick the past few years that I can barely stand the sight of him.

That said...he did do a good job as MMA fighter Mark Kerr. I'm not sure why it was necessary to bury him under such heavy prosthetics, Kerr wasn't as distinctive looking as the film makes him out to be. The problem with the film itself is that Kerr's life wasn't as interesting as the filmmakers feel it was. He was a fighter, he had an opioid addiction and a crazy girlfriend, and he made a comeback. In real life, that's a lot. In a film, it feels kind of been-there, done-that. Very episodic and hard to get invested in. Not a bad way to pass a few hours, but I can't recommend it.

[Sock Monkey]

Finally got around to watching F1 (2025) this weekend. I wasn't really too keen on watching this when it first came out, especially with Gran Turismo leaving a rather bland taste in my mouth, but this was one fun movie. Story-wise, there may not be a lot new to be found here, but what the movie does is do all incredibly well. The film has patience, allowing the script--and the characters--breathe. I'll leave the debate about whether this should be getting a Best Picture nomination or not for some other time, but I'll say I will definitely be watching this again down the line. Grade: A

[dannyboy121070]

I was a little on the fence about this one, but once I heard it was Jack O'Connell as Jimmy, this jumped way up on my "must watch" list. He absolutely killed it in Coogler's Sinners, but people are kinda sleeping on him. Absolutely no offense to Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo because I adore both of them as actors and deserve all the praise they are getting, but how O'Connell is not in contention for an award blows my mind.

And maybe I'm beating a very dead horse, but if anyone has somehow missed out on Eden Lake from 2008, a young O'Connell plays an equally despicable character in that movie.

I agree, he was very underrated in SINNERS. Count me as one of the people who has not seen EDEN LAKE, but your rec is making me add it to my list. My wife is out of town, so my son and I are planning on watching some movies this weekend...

[Sock Monkey]

Saw 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple last night, which overall I liked, despite some cringe moments.

Bone Temple definitely takes the franchise in a new direction, as there is less emphasis on the infected. There were two main story lines, one about the ‘Jimmies’, a Satanic cult following a charismatic leader, and the other about the growing relationship between Dr. Ian (Rafe Finnes) and Sampson, the alpha infected from the previous movie. The Jimmies story line explains the jarring conclusion to the previous movie, and continues Spike’s story, as he wins his way into the Jimmies but struggles with their ultra violent existence.

The Dr Ian / Sampson story line was certainly the more subdued of the two, and often bordered on the cheesy side at times. In his own way, Dr. Ian is almost as unhinged as the no Jimmies. Both of the story lines converge at the end for what I thought was an ultimately satisfying conclusion.

There was a scene towards the end that will have any old Iron Maiden fan grinning from ear to ear.

There was also a nice, and very unexpected, link back to the first movie, 28 Days Later.

The acting was fine, especially Jack O’Connell hamming it up as the charismatic Jimmy Crystal, leader of the Jimmies and self claimed son of satan. He’s playing an absolutely crazy fucker and seems to be enjoying every minute of it.

On the disappointing side, the film doesn’t really do much with Spike’s character. His character showed so much growth in the first movie, and none in this movie. It almost felt like he was an afterthought in Bone Temple.

Overall I liked Bone Temple, and think anyone who was a fan of the previous movie will find something to enjoy in this one.

B

I was a little on the fence about this one, but once I heard it was Jack O'Connell as Jimmy, this jumped way up on my "must watch" list. He absolutely killed it in Coogler's Sinners, but people are kinda sleeping on him. Absolutely no offense to Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo because I adore both of them as actors and deserve all the praise they are getting, but how O'Connell is not in contention for an award blows my mind.

And maybe I'm beating a very dead horse, but if anyone has somehow missed out on Eden Lake from 2008, a young O'Connell plays an equally despicable character in that movie.