The Last Jedi does a great job at exploring the complexity of the light, grey and dark sides of the force with a nuanced Kyo Red and Luke Skywalker, but otherwise lacks creativity and imagination. An interesting contrast to this film is Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets- which does a much more creative and fleshed out world but lacks the wish-fulfillment of seeing jedis and sith.
I watched this after working my way through the James Franco, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride collaborations. It puts the McBride character in This Is The End in perspective, as this TV series is surely that character's origin story. McBride plays a profoundly narcissistic and grandiose character, Kenny Powers, that works as a comedic character in the same way as Borat did- an obscene and bigoted protagonist evoking feelings of schadenfreude due to the even more obscene tolerance and behaviours of the characters playing normal, everyday, trusting, working class Americans. The first three seasons see Kenny Powers remain a relatively one-dimensional redneck baseball pitcher leading a trail of destruction. Just when I thought I would be sick of Kenny Fucking Powers, things then developed exponentially in season four, with a fantastic ending resembling the rich epilogues of 25th Hour and La La Land. Overall, this is an excellent TV comedy series with a lot of laughs and provides a snapshot into the mind of a very specific kind of person, probably a criminal, that I think would exist somewhere in society.
Bollywood game of thrones. Pretty good blockbuster. After the Simba moment got a bit ridiculous, but I guess that's no different to the last 30 mins of an Avengers film
A film that certainly changed my perspective on Mt Everest. There is a lot to like here. The cinematography captures the majesty and danger of the mountain. Telling the tale of Everest from the perspective of a sherpa guide gave this film a kind of Ferngully/Avatar/Bladerunner/Pocahontas us versus them dynamic, which was very effective.
Thoreau's Walden is very much an influence here. Impressive display of survivalism/self-education, but with many possibility intended hypocritical moments:
wearing a neck collar that seems to have been designed as a fashion item, probably very expensive to make and designed by the costume department; picking Namibia as a travel destination for no apparent reason; stealing; initially making audience believe Ivy League offers were due to home-schooling in the forest, but actually involved study in libraries and SATs.
A profound film. If you've ever experienced grief or sadness, or ever found yourself depressed and numb to the world, then this film connects deeply. The acting is impeccable. It is full of restraint but explosive at the most unexpected of times, and always completely earnest in its delivery. The cinematography reminded me of Breaking the Waves with its bleakness. The music is also excellent, I was particularly moved by the Handel oboe concerto chorus.
How refreshing it is to watch a film with an introverted protagonist. Chiron is struggling with a lot. It's complex. He's passive and a victim of his environment, but you can feel him trying to fight against it. There is a lot to identify with in this film. Yes, being gay is a big part of it, but there's a purity to it that makes it one of cinema's more understated, yet iconic romances.
Excellent and well-executed score. The story itself is a pastiche of the many great romances and musicals that Hollywood has already shone a light on. The dream sequence is poignant, but in my mind, still pales in comparison to Spike Lee's 25th Hour or the ultimate of all montages in Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso.
Midnight Special stands as an interesting comparative work to Studio Ghibli's The Tale of Princess Kaguya. While both explore themes of aliens, religion, the bond between parents and their children and even the transience of life, Midnight Special is more violent, not animated, and, to me, lacks the poignancy of Kaguya. Adam Driver is the best part of this film. He continues to be a relatable and endearing actor in his role as secret service know-it-all guy. The rest of the performing is bland with the majority of the film's lines delivered in monotone. This is a sci-fi film, but it makes the extra-ordinary seem uninteresting in what I suspect is a deliberate attempt at realism. The premise of the film,
transporting the boy to his destination
, takes too long to explain why it is happening, resulting in a film that does nothing to capture the interest of its audience. In a way, it made me, the viewer, feel like an alien, watching voyeuristically into the lives of people who apparently are very sentimental going through a stressful situation but which I am totally indifferent to.
Bizzare and compelling film marred by animal cruelty and human cruelty too. The beginning of the film has charming characters and wicked dark humor. Colin Firth is likable for once and very good in this role.
The book is truly a work of terror. This film pales in comparison in terms of degree of horror, grappling the complexity of raising a child, and the nuances of evil, but it is nonetheless a well-made film at that.
The film begins rehashing identical ground to Batman v Superman. The risk of collateral damage with vigilante justice. Yet, I would not be surprised if this film was heavily influenced by US government foreign policy. Collateral damage is okay says old Cap. Captain America would have you believe that war is freedom.
The standout moments in the film were Antman and Spiderman. Everyone else was generic superhero fodder. The film is unique in rehashing generic comic book tropes, while also functioning as an unsubtle work of American propaganda for their foreign policy. 0/5
An excellent comic book film. Pacing feels like a comic book, moving from idea to idea. The world is dark just like in Watchmen. Batman has a tank-like suit which looks stunning. Even Superman has to grapple with the idea of an imperfect world. Lex Luthor is creepy, and far too infantile for me to believe he could be a worthy adversary for the title heroes. If you expect Avengers, it will not meet your expectations at all. Sits well alongside Deadpool for another good example of a film that feels like a comic book.
Redmayne's character is more one-dimensional than Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. While this is an important true-world story, it falls well short in complexity as a translation into film.
Comments 26 - 50 of 95
Movie comment on Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
palefire
The Last Jedi does a great job at exploring the complexity of the light, grey and dark sides of the force with a nuanced Kyo Red and Luke Skywalker, but otherwise lacks creativity and imagination. An interesting contrast to this film is Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets- which does a much more creative and fleshed out world but lacks the wish-fulfillment of seeing jedis and sith.Movie comment on The Skeleton Twins
palefire
Summary: Two siblings dealing with hereditary depression, with an excellent lip sync scene.Movie comment on Mugen no jûnin
palefire
Drinking game: take a drink when someone gets cut.Movie comment on Justice League
palefire
Mediocre. Didn't flow well. No real charisma in any of the characters other than The Flash. Zac Snyder has fallen a long way since Watchmen.Movie comment on Eastbound & Down
palefire
I watched this after working my way through the James Franco, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride collaborations. It puts the McBride character in This Is The End in perspective, as this TV series is surely that character's origin story. McBride plays a profoundly narcissistic and grandiose character, Kenny Powers, that works as a comedic character in the same way as Borat did- an obscene and bigoted protagonist evoking feelings of schadenfreude due to the even more obscene tolerance and behaviours of the characters playing normal, everyday, trusting, working class Americans. The first three seasons see Kenny Powers remain a relatively one-dimensional redneck baseball pitcher leading a trail of destruction. Just when I thought I would be sick of Kenny Fucking Powers, things then developed exponentially in season four, with a fantastic ending resembling the rich epilogues of 25th Hour and La La Land. Overall, this is an excellent TV comedy series with a lot of laughs and provides a snapshot into the mind of a very specific kind of person, probably a criminal, that I think would exist somewhere in society.Movie comment on Bãhubali 2: The Conclusion
palefire
Bollywood game of thrones. Pretty good blockbuster. After the Simba moment got a bit ridiculous, but I guess that's no different to the last 30 mins of an Avengers filmMovie comment on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
palefire
The opening scene is incredible.Movie comment on Withnail & I
palefire
Completely unique.Come, Withnail. Let me teach you how to peel potatoes.
Movie comment on Sherpa
palefire
A film that certainly changed my perspective on Mt Everest. There is a lot to like here. The cinematography captures the majesty and danger of the mountain. Telling the tale of Everest from the perspective of a sherpa guide gave this film a kind of Ferngully/Avatar/Bladerunner/Pocahontas us versus them dynamic, which was very effective.Movie comment on Captain Fantastic
palefire
Thoreau's Walden is very much an influence here. Impressive display of survivalism/self-education, but with many possibility intended hypocritical moments:Movie comment on Manchester by the Sea
palefire
A profound film. If you've ever experienced grief or sadness, or ever found yourself depressed and numb to the world, then this film connects deeply. The acting is impeccable. It is full of restraint but explosive at the most unexpected of times, and always completely earnest in its delivery. The cinematography reminded me of Breaking the Waves with its bleakness. The music is also excellent, I was particularly moved by the Handel oboe concerto chorus.Movie comment on Moonlight
palefire
How refreshing it is to watch a film with an introverted protagonist. Chiron is struggling with a lot. It's complex. He's passive and a victim of his environment, but you can feel him trying to fight against it. There is a lot to identify with in this film. Yes, being gay is a big part of it, but there's a purity to it that makes it one of cinema's more understated, yet iconic romances.Movie comment on La La Land
palefire
Excellent and well-executed score. The story itself is a pastiche of the many great romances and musicals that Hollywood has already shone a light on. The dream sequence is poignant, but in my mind, still pales in comparison to Spike Lee's 25th Hour or the ultimate of all montages in Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso.Movie comment on Midnight Special
palefire
Midnight Special stands as an interesting comparative work to Studio Ghibli's The Tale of Princess Kaguya. While both explore themes of aliens, religion, the bond between parents and their children and even the transience of life, Midnight Special is more violent, not animated, and, to me, lacks the poignancy of Kaguya. Adam Driver is the best part of this film. He continues to be a relatable and endearing actor in his role as secret service know-it-all guy. The rest of the performing is bland with the majority of the film's lines delivered in monotone. This is a sci-fi film, but it makes the extra-ordinary seem uninteresting in what I suspect is a deliberate attempt at realism. The premise of the film,Movie comment on Anomalisa
palefire
Interesting take on mental illness/organic psychosis.Movie comment on The Lobster
palefire
Bizzare and compelling film marred by animal cruelty and human cruelty too. The beginning of the film has charming characters and wicked dark humor. Colin Firth is likable for once and very good in this role.Movie comment on Sausage Party
palefire
The food sex orgy is fantastic, but otherwise it's an inferior version of This Is The End.Movie comment on We Need to Talk About Kevin
palefire
The book is truly a work of terror. This film pales in comparison in terms of degree of horror, grappling the complexity of raising a child, and the nuances of evil, but it is nonetheless a well-made film at that.Movie comment on Jason Bourne
palefire
Not good at all.Movie comment on Doctor Strange
palefire
Finally, a good Marvel film.Movie comment on London Has Fallen
palefire
A nice, scenic tour of London. Cheaper than taking the red bus and more action-packed.Movie comment on Captain America: Civil War
palefire
The film begins rehashing identical ground to Batman v Superman. The risk of collateral damage with vigilante justice. Yet, I would not be surprised if this film was heavily influenced by US government foreign policy. Collateral damage is okay says old Cap. Captain America would have you believe that war is freedom.The standout moments in the film were Antman and Spiderman. Everyone else was generic superhero fodder. The film is unique in rehashing generic comic book tropes, while also functioning as an unsubtle work of American propaganda for their foreign policy. 0/5
Movie comment on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
palefire
An excellent comic book film. Pacing feels like a comic book, moving from idea to idea. The world is dark just like in Watchmen. Batman has a tank-like suit which looks stunning. Even Superman has to grapple with the idea of an imperfect world. Lex Luthor is creepy, and far too infantile for me to believe he could be a worthy adversary for the title heroes. If you expect Avengers, it will not meet your expectations at all. Sits well alongside Deadpool for another good example of a film that feels like a comic book.Movie comment on The Danish Girl
palefire
Redmayne's character is more one-dimensional than Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. While this is an important true-world story, it falls well short in complexity as a translation into film.Movie comment on The Revenant
palefire
A grizzly look at man versus wild.Showing items 26 – 50 of 95