The Movie Thread

[Simon]

The recent Empire spoiler podcast on Maverick was very good. Tom Cruise had no interest in doing the movie for years, but when they came up with the idea to call it Maverick and the fact its almost a character study of him with all his flaws, he agreed on the spot. They had a 30 minute pitch meeting with him while shooting one of the Mission movies and at the end of it he called the head of Paramount and said they were making the movie.

I don't think he's peaked yet @Simon, have you seen him jumping that motorcycle off a cliff and parachuting to safety from the new Mission movie?

Yes ok he's done that. But that is a one off stunt, not all the physical training and actual resultant screen-time that went into Maverick in the planes.

[Rich B]

I’ve been watching the new Matrix one on the train today, I don’t really understand a lot of it, but they seem pretty confident that it’s making sense.

Lots of twists, lots of double crosses, lots of king fu, lots of guns. Not really sure why I’m carrying in with it tbh - I’ll get to the end and not really know or care what’s happened.

[ZedLeg]

I liked the new Matrix but I'm a total apologist for the series. I do need to watch it again though, might to that tonight.

[Ascender]

I really enjoyed the first 30 minutes of the new Matrix movie but then fell asleep. Must try watching it again...

[RobYob]

Topgun 2 I can scarcely credit how much I enjoyed this. A perfectly crafted very silly most excellent action movie.

And the best plane pron going.

[McSwede]

Topgun 2 I can scarcely credit how much I enjoyed this. A perfectly crafted very silly most excellent action movie.

And the best plane pron going.

We watched it last night. It was a great movie experience!

[dinny_g]

The Summit of the Gods on Netflix

Ok, this one is a bit niche…

French made animation in a Manga style based on the Japanese series of the same name about a mountaineering photo-journalist looking for Malory’s camera which may or may not have been found by a mysterious climber who disappeared years ago…

Loved it!! Despite being full of cliches it’s beautifully made. Fantastic animation, amazing soundtrack.

10 out of 10 …

[Ascender]

I watched Alex Garland's latest, Men. I liked the cinematography and the soundtrack, but I'll be f*cked if I know what the movie was trying to say. It turns in to some sort of body horror near the end and I'm sure is trying to give us a very clever commentary on something (all men are the same and bad maybe?) but genuinely no idea.

Looking at some of the reviews, I get the impression that its one of those films you're supposed to like, although nobody can tell you why.

[drcarlos]

Alita: Battle Angel. Heard it was good but wasn't really into Manga or Anime so left it until I saw it was on film 4.

Very impressive, felt like the dystopian portion of the film was drawn from Blade Runner and all the better for it, well acted by the leads and some excellent CGI (in a film that obviously wouldn't work without it). Keen to see if there will be a sequel to see if Alita can take out the boss man, it was obviously set up for this.
Can't say it's going to turn me into an Anime freak but I appreciated this one.

I can also echo the sentiments shared about Maverick. First time I'd been to the Cinema since Covid (not because I was worried but more because there was nothing I wanted to see with the drivel coming out of Hollywood at the moment) and I'm glad I did. Exactly what an action film should be, fun and enjoyable with a decent plot (although it was a bit holey it was mostly believable). Great cinematography too. I did wonder why they chose the Hornet and not the Fighting Falcon, maybe secrecy from cockpit shots or lack of 2 seaters that were obviously needed for the cast in cockpit shots.

[Simon]

Just back from watching Maverick. <snip>

It goes straight in to my top 5 of all time along with Shawshank, Dark Knight, Gladiator and Interstellar.

Just realised that 4 of my top 5 have music credits by Zimmer. No coincidence.

[tim]

Went to see Elvis on Saturday - really very good indeed. Superb performances from everyone.

9 hip wiggles out of a possible 10.

[dinny_g]

Watched a few over the past few days:

Enola Holmes - Charming, inoffensive film staring 11 as Sherlock and Mycroft's little sister. Its a kids movie but well made and well acted - good use of 4th wall breaking

3:10 to Yuma - This one's from a few years back with Christian Bale facing off against Russell Crow as a member of a group escorting Crow to a prison train while his gang try to free him. I do love a good western and this is a pretty good western. Although I recalled reading when it first came out that Bale's character and Crow's character were brothers so was waiting for the big reveal... which never came... because they weren't... No idea where I got that idea #BecauseDinny

Into the Wild - Sean Penn directed film about the true story of Christopher McCandless. Watched it many times before but it was on yesterday. If you don't' know the story, McCandless sold all his possessions and disappeared from his family at aged 23 and was found 2 years later starved to death in Alaska. Into the Wild is a brilliant film with a really cool Eddie Veder soundtrack. Great story telling and beautiful visuals.

Self Portrait he took a few weeks before he died



The Card he's holding up:



As an aside, I notice a lot of stylistic overlaps between this and Walter Mitty (Visuals, the use of Music in the film, Writing appearing on screen etc). With Ben Stiller directing that one and it featuring Sean Penn, you have to think there's a bit of influence / homage going on there.

[Zonda_]

Last Breath about saturation divers in the North Sea. Follows the story of a dive gone wrong, quite harrowing as a lot of the film is made from recordings taken at the time.

[drcarlos]

Last Breath about saturation divers in the North Sea. Follows the story of a dive gone wrong, quite harrowing as a lot of the film is made from recordings taken at the time.

That's quite a film. Unbelievable outcome though considering the circumstances.

[Ascender]

Into the Wild - Sean Penn directed film about the true story of Christopher McCandless. Watched it many times before but it was on yesterday. If you don't' know the story, McCandless sold all his possessions and disappeared from his family at aged 23 and was found 2 years later starved to death in Alaska. Into the Wild is a brilliant film with a really cool Eddie Veder soundtrack. Great story telling and beautiful visuals.

Self Portrait he took a few weeks before he died



The Card he's holding up:



As an aside, I notice a lot of stylistic overlaps between this and Walter Mitty (Visuals, the use of Music in the film, Writing appearing on screen etc). With Ben Stiller directing that one and it featuring Sean Penn, you have to think there's a bit of influence / homage going on there.

I bought this on iTunes years ago, have the soundtrack yet for some reason have never got round to watching it, no idea why. Will make a point of watching it this week thanks to your reminder!

Thor Love & Thunder - Great fun, enjoyed by all the family. Been interesting reading some of the critical responses to it. I don't know why there's this obsession to over-analyse every single bit of pop culture these days without just being able to enjoy some of it for what it is. Particularly when it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is.

[dinny_g]

I bought this on iTunes years ago, have the soundtrack yet for some reason have never got round to watching it, no idea why. Will make a point of watching it this week thanks to your reminder!

I have the soundtrack on CD because I'm really old...

[ZedLeg]

It's a decent film but Emile Hirsch and Sean Penn both fail my no arseholes in my entertainment rule

[Swervin_Mervin]

It's a decent film but Emile Hirsch and Sean Penn both fail my no arseholes in my entertainment rule

There can't be many that don't fail that test

[drcarlos]

It's a decent film but Emile Hirsch and Sean Penn both fail my no arseholes in my entertainment rule

There can't be many that don't fail that test

I thought to myself that's 99% of Hollywood isn't it!

[ZedLeg]

Aye true, but there’s kind of annoying arseholes and attacked a woman at a film festival arseholes.