MUST-SEE MOVIES

[RobertR]

I understand that it may only have a very limited run but Godzilla Minus One was legitimately terrific. Characters you could empathize with. Terrific set pieces. Something to say about post-war Japan. And a bunch of Jaws mixed in. Worth making a special trip. 

[TURBO]

Saw EILEEN today.

Went on a whim, and it was pretty decent, but I am not a fan of the ending.........at all.

(no spoilers)

[TURBO]

Wonka:

Meh. 

I went not expecting much, and was entertained but nothing more.  My wife really wanted to see it, otherwise I wouldn't have gone.

In my opinion, definitely NOT a must see, but there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours.

[homer]

On 12/5/2023 at 7:01 AM, RobertR said:

I understand that it may only have a very limited run but Godzilla Minus One was legitimately terrific. Characters you could empathize with. Terrific set pieces. Something to say about post-war Japan. And a bunch of Jaws mixed in. Worth making a special trip. 

We saw this last week. I really enjoyed it.

[Outlander]

Saw both Wonka and Iron Claw over the holiday.

Wonka was better than I anticipated. I really didn't need to see the orifinal story rehashed again so it was kind of fun to see a different Wonka story, think he is an interesting character and plenty of room for sequels down the road. Never really thought of Hugh Grant as a guy that would play an Oompa Loompa but he did a good job.

Iron Claw isn't exactly a fun holiday movie but if you know anything about the Von Erich Family then you already knew that. There is so much to cover in a two hour movie but overall did a good job of telling the story with some artistic license that wrestling fans would know but doesn't impact the story for the general audience. The only  thing I really did not like was the omission of Chris Von Erich because it did impact Kerry and Kevin so much.

 

 

[RobertR]

Thought I'd share the Oscar nominees this year. 

96TH OSCARS® NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED | Academy Press Office

I think it's been a good year and the Academy, for the most part, did a good job identifying the films that resonated with critics and audiences this year. Nits to be picked of course, you could sub out Maestro for Across the Spider-Verse and the only people that would really be upset work for Netflix.

Also, I feel that after having seen 8 of the 10 nominees, that for the most part watching the nominees isn't like eating your vegetables. Barbie and Oppenheimer are obviously two of the biggest hits of the year. But also I'd have no problem casually recommending The Holdovers, American Fiction, Past Lives, and Anatomy of a Fall to people that just want to watch a good movie. I wouldn't have a problem recommending Poor Things either, but I feel that there needs to be a little heads up about what they would be getting into.

[homer]

We watched The Holdovers last night. Just a wonderful film. We've seen the "curmudgeon and slacker" bit before but this was so smart and funny. 

[TURBO]

4 hours ago, RobertR said:

I wouldn't have a problem recommending Poor Things either, but I feel that there needs to be a little heads up about what they would be getting into.

Do tell, I might be going to this next week, but not sure it's worth the time...

So...

[TURBO]

DVD collection update:

Dumped:

1.  Bad Girls - Female cast western.  Just not a very good movie.  I almost can't believe I had it in my collection to begin with.  

2. Bachelor Party - Man, I used to think this movie was hilarious back in the day, and there are still some serious classic lines, but it wasn't as good as I remembered, and I just don't need to see it again.

3.  The Bad News Bears (remake with Billy Bob Thornton) - A decent remake, but just doesn't hold a candle to the original.  No need to keep it when the original is available to watch instead.

Kept:

1.  Bad Moms - Love Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell, and can't remember the name of the other lead actress, but this movie cracks me up.

2.  Bad Moms Christmas - See Bad Moms above, same deal.

3.  The Bad News Bears (Original) - An absolute and complete classic!  Probably one of my top 10 movies of all time.  Nostalgic and hilarious.

4. The Bad News Bears Breaking Training - Didn't suffer the sequel blues...  LOVE IT!

5.  Bad Santa - a Foul and disgusting movie at times, but I can't turn away...

6.  Bad Santa 2 - same as the original.

7.  Bad Teacher - I'm a Cameron Diaz fan, and as a retired teacher, this one hits home often.  Funny and entertaining.

8.  Bad Times at the El Royale - Love this one!  Lots of surprises and unexpected scenarios and solutions.  Great movie!

9.  Barbershop - Hilarious early 2000's flick!

10.  Barbershop 2 - Another sequel worth keeping in the collection.

11.  Basic Instinct - Famous for a specific scene which is much more clear in the dvd format than the old school VHS.  If you know you know...

12.  Basic Instinct 2 - Keeping it only because it goes with the original...  Wasn't as good, but still enjioyable.

 

[nate82]

41 minutes ago, TURBO said:

3.  The Bad News Bears (remake with Billy Bob Thornton) - A decent remake, but just doesn't hold a candle to the original.  No need to keep it when the original is available to watch instead.

[RobertR]

On 1/27/2024 at 1:13 PM, TURBO said:

Do tell, I might be going to this next week, but not sure it's worth the time...

So...

Well it has copious nudity and numerous sex scenes. Back in my day, those were reasons to go see a movie, but I understand younger generations are a bit put off by those things these days.

 

Also, it's a Yorgos Lanthimos movie. So it's weird.

 

I see those as positives, but it's certainly not a movie for everyone. 

[nate82]

1 minute ago, RobertR said:

Well it has copious nudity and numerous sex scenes. Back in my day, those were reasons to go see a movie, but I understand younger generations are a bit put off by those things these days.

That is because you didn't have access to porn 24/7.  You would think the opposite would be the outcome but as the great dinosaur park naysayer said "Change Is Like Death. You Don’t Know What It Looks Like Until You’re Standing At The Gates."

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, RobertR said:

Well it has copious nudity and numerous sex scenes. Back in my day, those were reasons to go see a movie, but I understand younger generations are a bit put off by those things these days.

 

Also, it's a Yorgos Lanthimos movie. So it's weird.

 

I see those as positives, but it's certainly not a movie for everyone. 

I don't think the younger generation doesn't like nudity, I read somewhere that pornography is the latest addiction for the younger generation.  I think they get it in high doses, especially compared to my generation, who had to go to all those 80's movies to see it.  lol

Maybe they just like to say that nudity at the movies is gross and distasteful, but then go home and plug into porn when no one is paying attention.

So many opinions in today's younger generation are driven by the latest social media trends, so nothing surprises me, but I find it REALLY hard to believe that they are put off by nudity, especially younger generation males.

[RobertR]

I find it hard to believe too. I believe in basic biological urges.

 

But I've read enough stuff just to give the heads up. And, I'd like to emphasize that Yorgos lanthimos is a weird director. 

[nate82]

I have an old PC that I wasn't using and I have turned that into a media server.  About 1,000 songs and about 150 movies all on my media server.  Netflix, Amazon and other services are not needed.  The only thing I actually need is electricity for the server to run.  Also extremely easy to watch a movie by just selecting which movie I want to watch. 

If anyone is interested this is what I am using:

Streaming:

https://jellyfin.org/

You could also use Plex which is nice but the premium features are behind a subscription.

Server config:

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hkMB7R

I went a little overboard with the PC but I didn't want to replace some things down the line.  I am using windows as the video card I choose (Nvidia) is not that good on linux.  If you want to use linux then use AMD as AMD has better driver support for linux IMHO.  

 

[TURBO]

Benchwarmers - Lots of stupid stuff in this one, but I still found myself laughing out loud frequently.

Better Off Dead - Your typical 80's stuff here.  Probably pretty cringeworthy for the PC crowd, but if you are able to separate the times we live in currently compared to different decades long ago, then it has some pretty classic 80's lines. 

"I want my 2 dollars!!!"

 

 

[nate82]

1 minute ago, TURBO said:

Better Off Dead - Your typical 80's stuff here.  Probably pretty cringeworthy for the PC crowd, but if you are able to separate the times we live in currently compared to different decades long ago, then it has some pretty classic 80's lines. 

You are asking for too much from some people who get easily offended by things.  I have no idea how these special people like Tropic Thunder but melt down over other things.  Rant done.

[stoutdude04]

41 minutes ago, nate82 said:

You are asking for too much from some people who get easily offended by things.  I have no idea how these special people like Tropic Thunder but melt down over other things.  Rant done.

Without getting too political - I do get a little annoyed that people cant understand why people like things done in movies, tv, comedy shows, etc, but understand that those things shouldn't be done by people in real life. However, I am also not going to tell someone how to feel about something.

[nate82]

The one thing I want to complain about in movies and in TV series are all of the unnecessary sex scenes.  It is fine if it is an important part of a characters development.  But 99% of the sex scenes in movies or TV shows should be cut out.  Majority of the time it is in there just to have that scene but it doesn't move the plot along or the characters development. 

Game of Thrones is guilty of this a lot of times.  A lot of the sex scenes are just unnecessary and don't move the plot along or help with the characters development.  Though that series is also a good example of how to do good sex scenes.  I think they just went overboard after awhile on these and it was more we need to have one in this episode quick throw one in than it was developing the character or furthering along the story. 

Another rant done.

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, nate82 said:

The one thing I want to complain about in movies and in TV series are all of the unnecessary sex scenes.  It is fine if it is an important part of a characters development.  But 99% of the sex scenes in movies or TV shows should be cut out.  Majority of the time it is in there just to have that scene but it doesn't move the plot along or the characters development. 

Game of Thrones is guilty of this a lot of times.  A lot of the sex scenes are just unnecessary and don't move the plot along or help with the characters development.  Though that series is also a good example of how to do good sex scenes.  I think they just went overboard after awhile on these and it was more we need to have one in this episode quick throw one in than it was developing the character or furthering along the story. 

Another rant done.

Sex sells, always has, and even though this generation doesn't want to admit it, it always will...

[Jim French Stepstool]

Apologies if I missed commentary on it, but has anyone seen Boys in the Boat, and if so, whaddya think?

[TURBO]

Kept:

Beer League - Pretty funny stuff in this movie, nothing really new, but entertaining.

 

Best of Times - Just an entertaining movie from 1986.  I'm not a huge Robin Williams fan, but this is a keeper!

 

Dumped:

 

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - I remember going to this in the theater and feeling uneasy the entire way through the movie because of the plot.  Picked it up a couple years later, but never rewatched until now.  Still made me uneasy, and not in a good way.  I'll never want to see it again, so it's a goner.  Was nice seeing Marisa Tormei in all her birthday suit glory though.  lol

[nate82]

22 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Apologies if I missed commentary on it, but has anyone seen Boys in the Boat, and if so, whaddya think?

So the Boys went from the hood to the boat interesting...

[Jim French Stepstool]

4 hours ago, nate82 said:

So the Boys went from the hood to the boat interesting...

🤢.😄.

[CheezWizHed]

I saw Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) this weekend.  It's a heavy homage to the original with a Goonies-like feel to it.  My wife and I had several LOL moments and a few touching moments.  They did a good job capturing the original movie's feel and humor.