What Movie Are You Watching?

[Thomas Veil]

Pretty much how I feel. I just needed something to escape into.

I do note how much this one tried to be a real spy movie. (I liked “Skyfall” for the same reason.) Some Bond flicks are silly, enjoyable larks, but I like the direction they’ve been taking since Daniel Craig assumed the role.

 

[lizkat]

Primary Colors. 1997. Not a big fan of Travolta but love this movie. Emma Thompson and Kathy Bates were great in this, also Billy Bob Thornton hilarious as a lecherous ol' campaign operative trying to get over on a young staffer who delivered a flawless public putdown when he flashed his "python" in a hectic campaign office one day and she looked, let a beat pass and then said she'd never seen one that ...old... before.

( If that was actually a spoiler well gee the movie is a 23 years old, go watch it just for Kathy Bates' performance).

Brit actor Adrian Lester rolls out a revealing and believable portrayal of what it's like to try to manage a presidential campaign for the first time when the pals, operatives and worker bees around the candidate are a pretty typical mix of hangers-on, professsionals and novices... with variously naive, cynical, self-interested and idealistic personalities. Heady brew, volatile ride, funny / angry / challenging scenes plus a few profoundly moving moments.

 

[Edd]

Primary Colors. 1997. Not a big fan of Travolta but love this movie. Emma Thompson and Kathy Bates were great in this, also Billy Bob Thornton hilarious as a lecherous ol' campaign operative trying to get over on a young staffer who delivered a flawless public putdown when he flashed his "python" in a hectic campaign office one day and she looked, let a beat pass and then said she'd never seen one that ...old... before.

( If that was actually a spoiler well gee the movie is a 23 years old, go watch it just for Kathy Bates' performance).

Brit actor Adrian Lester rolls out a revealing and believable portrayal of what it's like to try to manage a presidential campaign for the first time when the pals, operatives and worker bees around the candidate are a pretty typical mix of hangers-on, professsionals and novices... with variously naive, cynical, self-interested and idealistic personalities. Heady brew, volatile ride, funny / angry / challenging scenes plus a few profoundly moving moments.

I’ve always thought Primary Colors was underrated. Some nasty political moves that seem quaint now.

Last night we watched The Quake on Hulu. It’s a Norwegian disaster flick. Think of how Titanic has no action until the midpoint; this is like that only it’s more like the final third. Up until that, it’s decent slow burn drama, well acted and shot. Patient viewing is rewarded because the action parts are quite something.

 

[Huntn]

I’ve always thought Primary Colors was underrated. Some nasty political moves that seem quaint now.

Last night we watched The Quake on Hulu. It’s a Norwegian disaster flick. Think of how Titanic has no action until the midpoint; this is like that only it’s more like the final third. Up until that, it’s decent slow burn drama, well acted and shot. Patient viewing is rewarded because the action parts are quite something.

Sounds like tradional disaster movie regarding when the action starts, ie the disaster. However, regarding Titanic, I was thoroughly impressed how this movie captured my interest before the ship gets ripped. I credit Director Cameron with this, a modern day research setting tying a character to the past.

 

[JayMysteri0]

Why?
https://www.Twitter or X not allowed/i/web/status/1313963835519238144/
I have no idea. It provided jobs I guess-

 

[Huntn]

To help assuage the stress of RBG's passing, I watched something that was purely entertaining: "Spectre", which I hadn't seen before. I'd DVRed it off of FX and it was sitting there just waiting for me in my time of need.

​

Good film, too. I'd seen some reviews that made it sound disappointing. It wasn't.

I've never been a person to use come-on lines with woman, but there was one quip in this movie that I know I'll always remember. It's when Dr. Swann, in a slinky skin-tight dress, notices Bond ogling her:

DR. SWANN
You shouldn't stare.

BOND
You shouldn't look like that.​

I should give that one a try. A Bond movie finds its way to me when I strongly crave a pure escape but to something with more flair than say a law'n'order rerun. I want something that's going to draw me in enough so it never crosses my mind to wonder if I've seen it before (even if I have).

I don't run any kind of analyzer on the back burner while watching a Bond movie. There's absolutely no "wow I didn't think this director would script a scene like that" and not even any foodie-type observations like "how the hell do you get a salmon to look like that on the plate I wonder."

No. I'll just be watching the film bring what it brings. The downside of that though is that I'm a totally unreliable "reviewer" of a Bond flick. My reaction at the end of any of them has always been pretty much "I have no clue what happened there but I feel ever so much better now."

I was dissapointed in SPECTRE. Although the movie is fading from my memory, I want to say it seemed like they were trying to recreate the original vibe from the 1960s, but today it seemed out of place at least their execution of it.

If you’re going to give Daniel Craig Bond a try, I’d suggest the two movie combo of Casino Royale (2006), followed by Quantum of Solace (2008) where Craig is fresh, pumping new life into the franchise. There is disagreement, but I describe them as the best 2 Bond movies ever with directly linked stories.

Sure it’s impossible to beat Sean Connery’s Bond, the ultimate Bond, and the 60’s Bonds were supreme for their time, today they seem nostalgic, but dated.

Daniel Craig is not a handsome guy (imo), but he brings more heart and physical presence to the Bond series than Connery ever did and Quantum of Solace does an incredible job of evoking the epitome of the 1960s Bond Evil Organization, in Quantum which imo, makes SPECTRE look a bit cartoonish.

Now to be fair, I have been known to change my mind, and should rewatch SPECTRE again.

 

[Eric]

I was dissapointed in SPECTRE. Although the movie is fading from my memory, I want to say it seemed like they were trying to recreate the original vibe from the 1960s, but today it seemed out of place at least their execution of it.

If you’re going to give Daniel Craig Bond a try, I’d suggest the two movie combo of Casino Royale (2006), followed by Quantum of Solace (2008) and Craig is fresh, pumping new life into the franchise. There is disagreement, but I describe them as the best 2 Bond movies ever with directly linked stories.

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Sure it’s impossible to beat Sean Connery’s Bond, the ultimate Bond, and the 60’s Bonds were supreme for their time, but today they seem nostalgic, but dated. Daniel Craig is not a handsome guy (imo), but he brings more heart and physical presence to the Bond series than Connery ever did and Quantum of Solace does an incredible job of evoking the epitome of the 1960s Bond Evil Organization. in Quantum which imo, makes SPECTRE look a bit cartoonish.

Now to be fair, I have been known to change my mind, and should rewatch SPECTRE again.

I think my age plays a role here but the Bond movies of the 60s have withstood the test of time. I would encourage anyone to watch them today, much like Hithcock, a great movie is a great movie. They progressively got cheesier with Roger Moore but they were still good campy fun, I did enjoy the Pierce Brosnan years as they struck a good balance IMO.

I do like Daniel Craig but the movies have gotten really dark and too serious for me, the spirit of Bond is no longer really there but they're still great action flicks.

 

[Huntn]

I think my age plays a role here but the Bond movies of the 60s have withstood the test of time. I would encourage anyone to watch them today, much like Hithcock, a great movie is a great movie. They progressively got cheesier with Roger Moore but they were still good campy fun, I did enjoy the Pierce Brosnan years as they struck a good balance IMO.

I do like Daniel Craig but the movies have gotten really dark and too serious for me, the spirit of Bond is no longer really there but they're still great action flicks.

Those 2 Craig Bond movies I mentioned are the only ones I really like. Skyfall, I can leave, and SPECTRE does not register.

I‘d describe the best 1960s Bond film as From Russia With Love (1963) maybe because it was the first one I saw at about age 14, it’s not over the top, has that great Bond spy intrigue, and an outstanding fist fight on a train, followed by Thunderball (1965). I saw both of these together on a double header at the theater.

 

[Eric]

Those 2 Craig Bond movies I mentioned are the only ones I really like. Skyfall, I can leave, and SPECTRE does not register.

I‘d describe the best 1960s Bond film as From Russia With Love (1963) maybe because it was the first one I saw at about age 14, it’s not over the top, has that great Bond spy intrigue, and an outstanding fist fight on a train, followed by Thunderball (1965). I saw both of these together on a double header at the theater.

Agreed on all counts, I would also add Dr No and You Only Live Twice as my top favorites. TBH there wasn't a single one from that era that I didn't like.

 

[Alli]

Frankly, I’d like to see more Mission Impossible movies. You know from the start that you have to suspend your belief in reality despite the seriousness of the plots.

 

[Huntn]

Frankly, I’d like to see more Mission Impossible movies. You know from the start that you have to suspend your belief in reality despite the seriousness of the plots.

I can only abide by the first Mission Impossible movie, which I think is quite good. The second one pissed me off so much, I’ve never recovered, having distinct suspension of disbelief issues when I happen to watch one.

 

[Eric]

Frankly, I’d like to see more Mission Impossible movies. You know from the start that you have to suspend your belief in reality despite the seriousness of the plots.

Huge fan of the movies, but more so of the original show. I often watch reruns of both that and Columbo, of course these were shows of my childhood but it was quality TV.

 

[DT]

Why?
https://www.Twitter or X not allowed/i/web/status/1313963835519238144/
I have no idea. It provided jobs I guess-

This is just batshit crazy fantastic! Walt Goggins means an automatic watch for us

I can only abide by the first Mission Impossible movie, which I think is quite good. The second one pissed me off so much, I’ve never recovered, having distinct suspension of disbelief issues when I happen to watch one.

IM2 was tonally so different (and way out of the wheelhouse of most American viewers), I can understand the disdain. As you know, there was this whole idea of every movie having a different writer/director, and kind of giving them a lot of room within the basic plot construct.

With IM3, they wrangled it back in, with JJA / JJA + Kurtzman, Orci (his long time writing partners), it was a good bit more action-y than IM1, and they setup a great sort of backstory / world which led to the next 3 films.

And those, are some of the best action/spy/thriller movies ever made. Seriously, they're incredibly good, amazing set pieces, and great continuity both in story and style, MI:GP was directed by Brad Bird, and he just completely changed the action film landscape (interestingly, it was his live action feature directorial debut).

The next 2 (and upcoming 7th film) were all written/directed by Christopher McQuarrie with JJA as an EP, so they've maintained the same energy, and tightly cohesive plot across movies.

McQuarrie has worked with Cruise quite a bit, writer for Valkyrie, as well as the superlative sci-fi action film, Edge Of Tomorrow (very highly recommended).

 

[Alli]

Huge fan of the movies, but more so of the original show. I often watch reruns of both that and Columbo, of course these were shows of my childhood but it was quality TV.

Did you watch the tv series Leverage too? Very MI like. Great show.

 

[Thomas Veil]

Yesterday afternoon I fired up the DVR and watched "The Invisible Man".

It was one of the scariest movies I've seen in awhile. Although a couple of scenes are gruesome, it's not particularly gory. All the suspense is generated from not knowing where the psycho invisible husband is or what he'll do next. (He's stalking Elizabeth Moss.) It's not just the physical torture this sick **** is putting her though, it's the psychological stuff as well.

The end of the movie features not one but two twists, which is a pretty good trick when you can pull it off.

Also, it's thankfully not special effects laden. There are a couple of wonderfully creepy scenes where (1) Elizabeth Moss is hurled around the room by invisible hands, and (2) the baddie is seen. To tell more would be to ruin it, but in general this is one of those movies where less is more.

It's also one of those where I don't mind changes to the source material. With the exception of its bare-bones underlying concept, it bears no resemblance to the H. G. Wells novel, and that's okay. It's more like an entirely new imagining.

Edited to replace broken image.

 

[Arkitect]

Last night's entertainment:

The Conjuring
What is it with people who live in haunted houses? Why do they stay?
Speaking for myself, it'll take just one or two unnatural events — invisible slaps across my face. Apparitions in the mirrors and I'd be packing faster than you could say "poltergeist!"
I probably wouldn't make a good film.

This was very watchable. All the horror clichés we have come to expect and love.

The Highwaymen
Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson

Based on the "true" story of the hunt for Bonnie and Clyde.
Since the Bonnie and Clyde myth is so well known it was good to see them almost as incidental walk ons (drive bys more) and not the main characters.
Two good performances by the leads (neither of them on my list of favourite actors).

The ending was quite poignant actually — even though bloodily realistic — Bonnie and Clyde caught in the car, not even trying to fight back, just knowing that their time had finally come.

 

[Edd]

The Social Dilemma on Netflix. For the first 20 minutes I’m thinking that this documentary isn’t telling me anything I don’t know but it’s worth finishing.
It gives me a glimmer of hope that we’re talking about this, at least.

 

[lizkat]

The Social Dilemma on Netflix. For the first 20 minutes I’m thinking that this documentary isn’t telling me anything I don’t know but it’s worth finishing.
It gives me a glimmer of hope that we’re talking about this, at least.

I have mixed feelings about that Netflix offering. The topic of overall (and detailed) impact of social media on us all is extremely important but somehow a kind of reality TV presentation was not what I actually expected and it began to annoy me as it progressed. Haven't finished watching it. Trying to make time for it though.

 

[Huntn]

The Lie (2018 Prime Movies)- Watch this if you want to get pissed off. A teen kills her friend and the parents cover for her with a twist.

 

[Alli]

The Lie (2018 Prime Movies)- Watch this if you want to get pissed off. A teen kills her friend and the parents cover for her with a twist.

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We’re living in 2020. We have plenty of reasons to be pissed off already. Why would we need another reason?!