What film did you watch last night?

Soldato
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It was absolute garbage wasnt it. The worst for me by a while and wasnt anything like the others.

Yep, absolute garbage. The found footage angle was virtually pointless as for most scenes there was no reason why anyone would be filming. It wasn't even remotely scary. I actually thought the first three films were ok, but the fourth and this one just terrible.
 
Soldato
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Yep, absolute garbage. The found footage angle was virtually pointless as for most scenes there was no reason why anyone would be filming. It wasn't even remotely scary. I actually thought the first three films were ok, but the fourth and this one just terrible.

They were fine. The sheet ghost scene in the 2nd (I think) was stupid though. I really dont think they needed to change that formula, it works. They could have implemented smart technology and done something with that instead they go on a completely different route and its just crap. The last third is some of the worst set of sequences ive ever seen in a film.
 
Soldato
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They were fine. The sheet ghost scene in the 2nd (I think) was stupid though. I really dont think they needed to change that formula, it works. They could have implemented smart technology and done something with that instead they go on a completely different route and its just crap. The last third is some of the worst set of sequences ive ever seen in a film.

The second one was definitely the weakest of the original three, but is a masterpiece compared to next of kin :p The final sequences and ending were just laughable. They need to leave this alone now.
 
Man of Honour
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Scream (1996)

Never seen it before but found it was ok for a 25 year old film. Not sure what it was trying to be because I didn't find it scary, creepy or particularly gory. Nor were there any real laughs and it wasn't a complete parody or spoof.

Doubt I'll be in any great hurry to watch any of the sequels unless they are significantly better than the original?

5/10
 
Soldato
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The second one was definitely the weakest of the original three, but is a masterpiece compared to next of kin :p The final sequences and ending were just laughable. They need to leave this alone now.

Despite the berating it's had here, i'm still going to watch it, i'm a sucker for these movies. Expect my rants in the next few days.

Can't be worse than Halloween Kills which I never finished, I rarely, if ever switch off a movie.
 
Soldato
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Scream (1996)

Never seen it before but found it was ok for a 25 year old film. Not sure what it was trying to be because I didn't find it scary, creepy or particularly gory. Nor were there any real laughs and it wasn't a complete parody or spoof.

Doubt I'll be in any great hurry to watch any of the sequels unless they are significantly better than the original?

5/10

The problem with watching it now is it's been parodied & copied so much since, it's not going to have the same impact. Firmly a movie of it's time, it was one of the first 'meta' movies which poked fun at it's own genre and subverted expectations. Kickstarted the resurgence of slasher horror in the 90's, there hadn't been a slasher movie quite like it before.

It was originally title Scary Movie.
 
Soldato
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I've never actually seen a Paranormal Activity, are they worth checking out?

The first for sure, if you like that and want more of the same, check out the first few sequels. There are moments in the first which make me sick with anticipation and suspense when I rewatch.

'it's next to me, I can feel it breathing' - then her hair moves

Nope...i'm out!!! :D
 
Soldato
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Jay & Silent Bob Reboot.
6/10 had me chuckling in a few bits, but not a patch on his previous work.
I couldn't even get though the 1st 30 minutes myself, used to enjoy some of his older stuff particularly Dogma and Zack and Miri (very underrated comedy imo).
 
Caporegime
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Cruella

A standout performance from Emma Stone and plenty of stylish production can't save this horribly conceived trainwreck of a movie. Trying to dress up a classic villain into the hero of a quirky heist caper just doesn't work.

Incoherent 3/10.
 

fez

fez

Caporegime
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Tunbridge Wells
Bond - No time to die

8.5/10

Very much a return to form with a good story, some emotional investment and good pacing. Easily the best bond since Casino Royale. Perhaps not quite as good as CR but it came close.

Only bad bit about it was the first few scenes with the replacement 007 who seemed to have a massive chip on her shoulder. Once she seemed to get over it she was decent as well.

Glad I went to see it in the cinema.
 
Man of Honour
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Tamworth
The Protogé (2021)

Functional female lead, assassin trained from a child by surrogate father figure type film. There's nothing here we haven't seen before and that's a little disappointing from a film by Casino Royale director, Martin Campbell.

Plus to be fair to Samuel L Jackson and Michael Keaton, they didn't just phone it in and take the money.

5.5/10
 
Don
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Dune (Part 1) - 7/10
To be honest it suffers a bit for being too faithful to the book and being a bit too heavy on CGI (CGI desert scenes are particularly bland).

The invasion scene is spectacular though, especially the various weapons that are shown.
 
Soldato
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Brawl In Cell Block 99 - 9/10

A great film, Vince Vaughn in a "serious" role, is a bit of a change from a comedy, but he does it brilliantly. Quite brutal, but man..great film.
 
Soldato
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SE England
M. Night Shyamalan latest, Old.

2/10 - Terrible. Not one of the cast can act, terrible script and a weird direction of things happening on screen, but not showing the audience... for no apparent effect or reason. It actually felt like watching an amateur film, hard to believe this guy was behind Sixth Sense. Shame as it's not a bad concept, just really, really badly executed.
 
Caporegime
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Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2021: Part 1.

With a brisk runtime of just 2.5 hours, Villeneuve's 2021 remake of David Lynch's critically acclaimed 1984 blockbuster classic is clearly intended as a starter rather than a main course. Its plot covers the first three chapters of the first book of the 28 canonical volumes of Francis H. Herbert's controversial Galactic Drug Trade saga. A sequel (currently planned for release in October 2023) will summarise the rest of the books.

If I could summarise this movie in just two word, they would be 'wasted opportunities.' There is so much good about it, yet Villeneuve inexplicably omits several elements I had eagerly anticipated.

What I liked
Villeneuve's vision of Lynch's interpretation of Herbert's work unfolds in a far distant where Western and Eastern cultures have coalesced and humanity now exists as a single race of interstellar Space Arabs. The ceaseless battle for resources and territory is dominated by countless aristocratic families and war clans. Of these, we meet just a few:

* House Corrino: Mongolian Space Arabs
* House Harkonnen: Nazi Space Arabs
* House Artreides: Scottish Space Arabs
* Bene Gesserit: Muslim Space Arabs
* Fremen: xenophobic libertarian Space Arabs

This was all very cool and imaginative. I loved the sound of the Sardaukar language, especially the throat singing.

Villeneuve's visuals are flawless. There is a palpable sense of epic scale in his vast sets, titanic space ships, and massive battle formations. This imposing 'visual mass' (as Høenig calls it) combines with the sparse colour pallet to produce a masterclass in fictional worldbuilding. Everything on the screen feels heavy, solid, and real.

The Bene Gesserit 'Voice' technique is depicted very differently to the book, but I liked how they did this.

The music is exceptionally good, with a strong Hans Zimmer vibe that falls somewhere between Blue Planet II and Blade Runner 2049.

What I didn't like
The anaemic 12A rating takes a heavy toll, particularly in the combat scenes. Fights are bloodless, poorly choregraphed playground scuffles without a hint of suspense or genuine threat. Boo!

The Harkonnen are ludicrously sanitised. They look good, yet I just can't take them seriously. Boo!

Baron Wladimir is still an imposing figure, but without the bestial menace and sexual depravity that was so well showcased by Lynch. In Villeneuve's depiction he comes across as a mildly aggressive uncle with gastric problems. He doesn't project any sense of evil or violence. Boo!

Glossu Rabban (played by the goofy alien guy from Guardians of the Galaxy) has the personality of cardboard and all the thrilling masculine energy of a plastic spork. Very poor casting here. I have no idea what they were thinking. Boo!

The Mentats' role is never explained, and they lack the defining characteristic of Sapho-stained lips. Boo!

We are told that Melange is used by the Navigators for interstellar travel, but not how or why. We never see a Navigator in action, and we are robbed of the majestic Third Stage Navigator entrance scene for which Lynch's film has become famous. Boo!

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of right now.

I rate Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2021: Part 1 at 24.97 on the Haglee Scale, which works out as 7.5 Space Arabs out of 10 on IMDB.
 
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