[ChrisMcQueen007]

Excellent film and ranking, Bez. Nowhere To Run is oft-overlooked in retrospect and it deserves better.

Yeah, I kind of would like to watch that one again some time soon.

[CrossedPete]

Just watching Over the Top right now. It’s been a while for me I feel it holds up. The synth stuff isn’t to bad but the songs are a little cheesy, I’m mad at it though. The big surprise for me was I guess I didn’t realize the director of the movie is Menahem Golan. Also Robert Loggia is excellent in this movie. He’s a damn fine actor, probably way to good for this movie.

[CrossedPete]

Just watching Over the Top right now. It’s been a while for me I feel it holds up. The synth stuff isn’t to bad but the songs are a little cheesy, I’m mad at it though. The big surprise for me was I guess I didn’t realize the director of the movie is Menahem Golan. Also Robert Loggia is excellent in this movie. He’s a damn fine actor, probably way to good for this movie.

Also forgot about Terry Funk being in the movie, He’s the man.

[Mateo Sanboval]

Just watched Tenet for the first time. I thought it was excellent.

[Hatter313]

Just watched Tenet for the first time. I thought it was excellent.

Yeah this is on the list for “soon”

John David Washington looks like he might be as delightfully consistent an actor as his dad

[The Cult Leader]

They Live! 👀

[Hatter313]

They Live! 👀

That the new 4k? May cue it up tonight

[Bezulsqy]

Just watched Tenet for the first time. I thought it was excellent.

I hold you in high regard when it concerns beer, music, movies and other worldly things but I cannot endorse the label 'excellent' for Tenet. 'Great' I can concur.

[inksb]

Honestly @mateo is the first person I've seen praise it that highly. Most of my friends said it was middling at best.

[Bezulsqy]

Tonight I watched Elysium together with my stepson who visited this weekend. Very enjoyable. And quite the contrast sci-fi wise to the movie I watched directly afterwards:

11. Timecop (1994)





I really loved it and I was thinking all the time this needs to be at 1. But at one point I was thinking maybe 2. But no, it takes the top spot for now...

1. Timecop
2. Hard Target
3. Bloodsport
4. Cyborg
5. Nowhere to Run

6. Lionheart
6. Kickboxer
6. No Retreat, No Surrender
6. Death Warrant
6. Double Impact (of course everyone should see this one, same as Cyborg)

7. Black Eagle

[inksb]

So happy to see Time Cop land in the top for ya @bez.

[Mateo Sanboval]

Just watched Tenet for the first time. I thought it was excellent.

I hold you in high regard when it concerns beer, music, movies and other worldly things but I cannot endorse the label 'excellent' for Tenet. 'Great' I can concur.

This is an interesting bit of linguistic hierarchy, preference, and perhaps regionalism. I was using the phrase "excellent" in a conversational way; I also could have used "great" interchaeably there and, in fact, often do. To use the five star ranking system wherein one stars is the worst, three a true middle, and five the best, I'd give Tenet four stars. Or, if you prefer the JCVD scale, it's a Nowhere To Run rather that a Hard Target.

PS - I love how you buttered me up before you stuck me on the spit. Much tastier for all involved.

Honestly @mateo is the first person I've seen praise it that highly. Most of my friends said it was middling at best.

I don't understand that opinion, though I've heard it as well. And, just as a point of order, I am in no way asking you to defend other people's points of view, merely addressing the notion where it came up. Was this movie perfect? No. But I thought it was fast paced, entertaining, and a high concept well executed. There were no gaping plot holes or ridiculous performances that pulled me out of the film; it was a quick and very enjoyable two and a half hours. I wish more resources would be devoted to films like this instead of the cookie cutter Marvel/DC/etc films that are universally enjoyed because they so seldom challenge or innovate in a way so as to cause us to think critically.

PS - I'm not slagging off superhero films either. I've enjoyed plenty of them. Just saying that an imperfect film which strove for perfection is often extremely compelling art whereas films that merely change their clothes every once in a while, rarely feel as satisfying.

[inksb]

Honestly @mateo is the first person I've seen praise it that highly. Most of my friends said it was middling at best.

I don't understand that opinion, though I've heard it as well. And, just as a point of order, I am in no way asking you to defend other people's points of view, merely addressing the notion where it came up. Was this movie perfect? No. But I thought it was fast paced, entertaining, and a high concept well executed. There were no gaping plot holes or ridiculous performances that pulled me out of the film; it was a quick and very enjoyable two and a half hours. I wish more resources would be devoted to films like this instead of the cookie cutter Marvel/DC/etc films that are universally enjoyed because they so seldom challenge or innovate in a way so as to cause us to think critically.

PS - I'm not slagging off superhero films either. I've enjoyed plenty of them. Just saying that an imperfect film which strove for perfection is often extremely compelling art whereas films that merely change their clothes every once in a while, rarely feel as satisfying.

I definitely plan to check it out eventually to form my own opinion (when it's free) but I'll be honest, I generally don't like Nolan films. Inception is probably the only one I was entertained from beginning to end with. As a person and director Nolan comes off as a smug ass who thinks he's smarter than everyone else. This is a personal issue for me and it colors my experience with his films. I've grown to dislike his batman's, I always had issues with them and only really like Begin's while the other two I felt were incredibly over hyped for what they were. Memento was a one trick pony, a hell of a trick but something I'll never watch again. Dunkirk reviewed well but pretty much the only thing I saw from all the reviews and people I talked to was that it looked good. Intersteller I meant to watch but finding 3+ hours to sit down for a film is tough for me and I kept putting it off until I forgot about it and my interest waned. Although that one does seem like I'll enjoy. The Prestige is good enough but not something I really care to revisit at any point.

I agree wholeheartedly with your point of wishing they would put more money into movies like this, ie not the same shit we've seen over and over again. Even if it's not to my liking I prefer to see original ideas

[Hatter313]

I’ve yo-yo’d on Nolan for years, I love the prestige but to be transparent three of my favorite things in the world are Victorian period pieces, stage magicians, and David Bowie so the deck is stacked there for me. I go back and forth on where I place the Batman films, I’m an enormous Batman fan in general and was a compete fanatic for his when they came out but I’ve cooled on them considerably for all the reasons people have discussed.

Above all of this though is Mateos point about original content. At the very least he tries to create original worlds and new IPs to explore and that’s hugely important. A poorly executed version of an established IP can be a drag, but a poorly executed “new” idea can at the very least be interesting in its attempt.

(But also I’ve seen what inks is talking about in his attitude sometimes, he gets especially cranky when people give him grief for his sound mixing...which at this point seems to be mixed almost intentionally antagonistic towards the audience)

It’s late and I’m not sure I’m making complete sense, (and Jan Michael Vincent is trying to psych out Bronson on my screen right now so....) but I think that overall I’m always willing to check out a new idea, who knows when someone is going to create the next Star Wars or the next Halloween etc...

[ScoJo]

Nolan might be doing his own thing long enough to become a villain. The whole business with 'trying to save the movie industry during a global pandemic by wanting people to risk their lives/that of others by uneccesary herding in confined places' has definitely done him few favours in my eyes.
There was much to like/admire in Tenet for me, but not much to love. Considering his films can have the force of reducing me to an absolute puddle (Interstellar, parts of Dunkirk), rousing me to my feet (Inception, TDK) or leaving me thoroughly satisfied and my mind thrown into high gear (Memento, Prestige, Insomnia) I was quite surprised how unsatisfying Tenet was. Certainly through no lack of skill and effort on the part of the filmmakers. It was more of a frustrating experience, akin to TDKR - flashes of brilliance, lots of 'meh' and some truly risible (ie the everything of Brannagh's role, from conception to performance). Have rewatched to see if it magically clicks in place, but seems that one just isn't for me. Loved Washington and Pattinson though, a terrific double act. And watching Washington is bloody spooky - at times, his speech, mannerisms (and shit, even the signature Washington loping gait!) eerily echo those of his old man at times!

Btw Hatter - I know exactly how you felt about Prestige. When it was first announced, I was overexcitedly messaging everyone I knew, telling them 'but it's a new film that features TWO FEUDING VICTORIAN STAGE MAGICIANS AND TESLA!!'. It was like the most 'aimed at me' shit I could have dreamt of haha. It really didn't disappoint either... I must have taken half a dozen diff pals to see it on the big screen. (I also saw Interstellar six times in the theatre, twice in Imax!)

Ps JMV and Bronson eh? Terrific movie, a real Winner!

[ScoJo]

Speaking of Chucky B - funny Valentine exchange with my gf on waking today. She was excited at the prospect of a rom-com sometime during the day (with particular lobbying for The Sure Thing) and for a lark, and since he was on my mind, I offered ' but what if I'm really in the mood for a Charles Bronson 80s action movie?' She seemed confused and asked me to repeat, then said 'but I thought Charles Bronson was a serial killer??'

Heh heh....

[inksb]

I had a fun evening last night.




I remember renting Sleepless when it came out and was not very impressed with it, in fact I've never had a desire to revisit it. A new bluray was released last year and I picked it up out of my "need" to collect as much Argento in HD as possible. I finally watched it last night and it was better than I had remembered. The violence was really brutal with some fantastic practical effects. While modern and kind of clunky you can still feel some of that Argento magic here. I'm glad I finally revisited it.



90's cheese that I thoroughly enjoyed. Another film I haven't seen since renting at some point shortly after it's release. Dolph is fun as the bad guy which we never got very often. Keanu in proto-Neo role.

[Hatter313]

Was literally just talking about Johnny Mnemonic yesterday and how it’s a crime that this is the only major Gibson adaptation we have. Abel Ferrara did one from New Rose Hotel with an absolutely stellar and bonkers cast that has virtually disappeared, I think I watched once on YouTube, I don’t even know if it’s available anywhere.

Seriously, where’s my Neuromancer movie? This shouldn’t be hard

[inksb]

Was literally just talking about Johnny Mnemonic yesterday and how it’s a crime that this is the only major Gibson adaptation we have. Abel Ferrara did one from New Rose Hotel with an absolutely stellar and bonkers cast that has virtually disappeared, I think I watched once on YouTube, I don’t even know if it’s available anywhere.

Seriously, where’s my Neuromancer movie? This shouldn’t be hard

Speaking of Neuromancer, I think I'm going to read that soon. I've started that book like 8 times but never finished it. Always get distracted. What other Gibson is worth reading?

[Hatter313]

Was literally just talking about Johnny Mnemonic yesterday and how it’s a crime that this is the only major Gibson adaptation we have. Abel Ferrara did one from New Rose Hotel with an absolutely stellar and bonkers cast that has virtually disappeared, I think I watched once on YouTube, I don’t even know if it’s available anywhere.

Seriously, where’s my Neuromancer movie? This shouldn’t be hard

Speaking of Neuromancer, I think I'm going to read that soon. I've started that book like 8 times but never finished it. Always get distracted. What other Gibson is worth reading?

There’s great short stories in Burning Chrome, and the two sort of sequel novels to neuromancer are pretty good as I remember. Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive.

My father really liked Pattern Recognition but I never got around to it, and I think that spawned a few follow ups as well.

[tim28212]

Watched Silver Bullet last night. I'm not sure David enjoyed it as much as I did. :)

[deafmetal]

Was literally just talking about Johnny Mnemonic yesterday and how it’s a crime that this is the only major Gibson adaptation we have. Abel Ferrara did one from New Rose Hotel with an absolutely stellar and bonkers cast that has virtually disappeared, I think I watched once on YouTube, I don’t even know if it’s available anywhere.

Seriously, where’s my Neuromancer movie? This shouldn’t be hard

Speaking of Neuromancer, I think I'm going to read that soon. I've started that book like 8 times but never finished it. Always get distracted. What other Gibson is worth reading?

There’s great short stories in Burning Chrome, and the two sort of sequel novels to neuromancer are pretty good as I remember. Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive.

My father really liked Pattern Recognition but I never got around to it, and I think that spawned a few follow ups as well.

Neuromancer, Count Zero, and Mona Lisa Overdrive are the original Sprawl trilogy that launched all this net/Matrix stuff, and if you prefer a historical fiction/steampunk jaunt I recommend The Difference Engine co-written with Bruce Sterling.

[Hatter313]

I’m going to reread the difference engine, it should have been a slam dunk for me and it just wasn’t when I read it in high school. May be time to try again.

[CrossedPete]

Watched the Quest last night. Not sure if it holds up. I can remember renting it back in the day and loving it. Now I feel like it’s JCVD answer to Mortal Kombat. I’ve always heard the Johnny Cage character was based on Van Damme. Seeing that Van Damme directed it. It seems his thought was rip me off will you, I’ll rip you off. Forgot Roger Moore was in it so that was fun for me. I also thought the music didn’t really fit the movie at times. I got to say I think it’s the weakest of the Tournament fighting themed movies of JCVD. Curious how @bez will rank? By the way I love time cop but it’s been sometime for me. Probably time for a rewatch.

[ScoJo]

Me and my girl let a random wheel generator choose our V-tine double bill this eve, from 6 assorted Cusack flicks. It decided on Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, so a very 90s evening but great fun.

Now: imagine Drew Barrymore as the female lead in both. After deliberation we agreed this would make both films even better