[tdockweiler]

CODA - 10/10

Best Picture of the year for me I think. Haven't seen Drive My Car yet though.
I planned on only watching this for 10 minutes or so and then going to bed (too tired).
Ended up watching the whole thing and loved every second of it. It's just that good.
It will definitely put you in a good mood. I need more movies like this.
I also need a Blu-Ray of this for my family members that don't do streaming.

 

[tdockweiler]

Windfall - 3/10 (New Netflix Crap-Fest)

Please don't watch it! You would get more entertainment sitting at an ER, Dentist's Office or DMV.
While watching this my feeling was someone had seem one too many French art films and was trying to re-capture the feel of some movie they had seen in film school.
Unfortunately the Director doesn't seem seem to have the skill to do this. Or maybe it's not entirely his fault.
I think the actors in this movie are good actors, but they couldn't pull it off here. Each time they spoke it came off as awkward and just bad acting. The acting was seriously cringe-worthy by everyone. The soundtrack is also bad and just plain annoying.
This might be the worst movie i've seen this year.

Greyhound - 8/10

I saw some early reviews for this and they didn't seem positive. I'm not surprised.
This one is actually very good, but I don't know if everyone would enjoy it.
In this one Tom Hanks plays a captain of a convoy escort during the early days of WWII.
Merchant ships were getting sunk by German U-boat "Wolf Packs" so they had to be escorted.
With this movie (like "Dunkirk") you feel like you're in there and witnessing everything that is happening.
It takes place over the span of several days.
IMO the special effects are very good and look realistic enough.
It played in 4k on my TV, so i'm not sure if it was really shot in 4k or not.

PS the script is written by Tom Hanks and is based on a book called "The Good Shepherd" by C.S. Forester.

 

[tdockweiler]

Drive My Car - 5/10

Such a disappointment! I love Japanese Drama movies so I figured I'd love this.
The problem here is that it moves at a snail's pace. It's extremely slow and nothing of interest really happens the entire movie.
This is mainly due to the writer's style. His books are like that. Anyone read "Norwegian Wood"?
I just don't see the appeal of this. What am I missing? It's hard to believe this movie is nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
The acting is very very good though. Especially during one scene in the car with Yusuke and Koji.
I guess that based on the source material this is as good as it could possibly be. No idea.

Watch this if the following things (often on repeat) sound interesting to you:

1) A man being driven around listens to and recites lines from his play.

2) A man sitting at a table and listening to people read lines from his play.

3) A man sitting on a park bench listening to people speak lines from his play.

4) A man talking to another man about his play.

5) A man and woman driving around trying to finding something interesting to see.
They stop at a garbage disposal company and watch trash get burned.

6) A long drive to a remote village that ends with them staring at ruined houses.

In total there were only two scenes that stood out as being very good and somewhat memorable.

I rented this last night before bed and made it only 1 1/2 hours in.
Apparently I had paused it and fell asleep with my TV still on.
I finished it today somehow. It's a 3 hour movie, but feels even longer.
There are actually opening credits at the 45 minute mark!

If you want a similar slow paced movie that is WAY better, watch "An Elephant Sitting Still".
It's 4 hours long but it's never boring. There is also the Japanese film "Eureka" but it may be impossible to find.
That one is even in black and white and won some awards in 2000.

 

[SilverEars]

I saw couple episodes of Pachinko, and it wasn't all that interesting. I thought the story would be interesting since the book is a national best seller with many book awards, and highly regarded in academia.

So far the story is very basic stuff. It's a story about immigration and oppression, but nothing that hasn't been done before. I don't like the actor for the male character. Lee Min Ho from Boys over Flower kdrama. I really don't care for krama trop flower boy actors. They should have casted somebody that fits the character than some pretty boy kdrama actor.

The best part of this Apple+ series is the cinematography. It's breathtaking. I just don't like the story development so far. Main character is ok. Nothing special based on the first 2 episodes.

 

[Trihexagonal]

Shallow Ground

A horror movie from 2004 that gave me an uneasy feeling when I saw it then and still had that effect on me when I watched it again yesterday.

I don't know how this many sick people could ever gather together in one place but for the fact poo rolls downhill and from what I understand adds up from the bottom.

The dead have come to collect, they brought the Devil and there are very few peopele in the movie that aren't going to Hell in the next 1 hour 37 minutes. My writing already has and by the time I got two more lines written you could watch the movie, so here it is.



I forgot to mention if you make it through the picture there is a cool song that plays while credits roll:

Scratching Post - Nobody Leaves Alive​

 

[tdockweiler]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - 8/10

I was surprised how good this was! Unlike The Batman, this was actually pretty entertaining/fun and had a lot of funny parts. Sure it's not intelligent humor, but I enjoyed this one. The turtle costumes were not that bad really and I prefer this style to how they look now. These old costumes were actually designed by Jim Henson studios.
I was also surprised to find this was an Independent film and no studio wanted to have anything to do with it and thought it would be a box office failure. It had a budget of only 13.5 million (!) and made over 200 million at the box office!

I still somehow remember seeing this at the theater. This was back when I was 9 (now 42!). I also had collected all the ninja turtle action figures.

Part 2 - 4/10 (not typing that again lol)

It seems like they were trying to recycles ideas from the first one to make just as much as the first. This one is terrible. It's at it's worst during the "Ninja Rap" scene when Vanilla Ice starts rapping. It's not even any fun and just really stupid. Plus the two monsters created by ooze and just kind of generic. I guess the original creators object to Bebop and Rocksteady being in the movie. Remember them?

Dunkirk - 6/10 (currently on Netflix)

I've now seen this 3 times now. Technically it's pretty impressive. At the start it's very intense, but the soundtrack is just so obnoxious and annoying. That is made it even worse at the theater. Apparently a lot of the small things in the movie are based on true events. Not 100% sure on this, but I remember checking on all of it before.
The movie feels just like some sort of non-stop action film. There's really no focus on any one single character, which makes sense.
I guess i'd say that for me the only good thing about this movie is the visuals/cinematography. It does really feel like you're right there and experiencing all of it yourself.
I remember being so hyped to see this for almost a year before it came out. I actually hated it on my first viewing. The second time it improved very slightly, but still think it's barely worth watching. What's weird is you could make this a silent film and not much would change. None of the dialogue in the movie is very important to the story at all.

Severance - ???

I've on episode 3 and it's painfully boring. Is it even worth sticking with it? Ben Stiller's other series was also extremely slow paced. It was the one about a prison escape that seems to go on and over forever and be very filler-filled.

Jeff Foxworthy: The Good Old Days - 6.5/10

I had fun watching this. Yes, I have never seen any of this stuff before. I was bored and played it and expected to turn it off in 10 minutes.
The funniest part for me when he was talking about how when he was a kid he had a secret clubhouse with his friends and they had a secret code word to enter.
I guessed it out loud before he said it and I couldn't stop laughing. How is that even possible! OK, I can't really mention it here!
The story at the very end is pretty funny/amusing. Not all the comedy is funny. I had maybe a half a dozen really good laughs. Maybe that's pretty bad for stand-up?
It's only an hour long.

Any other good stand-up comedy shows? Something that's not filled with excessive swearing etc.
I can't stand George Carlin for some reason. I'm not like easily offended though.

 

[tdockweiler]

Pig - 4/10

Didn't like much of this. I actually bought the Blu-ray because of so many people saying this was good.

October Sky - 10/10

One of the best movies ever made. I wish they had a Criterion Collection blu-ray or this!
Perfect acting, cinematography, script etc. It's also based on a true story.
This is one of Jake Gyllenhaal's earlier movies.
Should have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars back in 1999.
I think i'd put this in my top 10 list.
Two movies that are similar and nearly as good are "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13".


Forest Gump - 10/10

This movie never gets old. I've read the book sequel is actually really good. Some have tried to get the movie made but Tom Hanks wouldn't be in it.
There's just so many perfect scenes in this one. It's also pretty funny.
One thing I don't understand is why there is so many scenes of shootings in the movie.
What is the purpose of that other than to show the timeline of events in the movie?

BTW this movie also reminds me a little of "Being There", which is good but very repetitive and gets old very fast.

 

[F208Frank]

Parasite, one of the best movies EVER. Old boy is also really good, both are korean movies.

I am not korean.

Random.

Yes.

 

[SilverEars]

Forest Gump - 10/10

This movie never gets old. I've read the book sequel is actually really good. Some have tried to get the movie made but Tom Hanks wouldn't be in it.
There's just so many perfect scenes in this one. It's also pretty funny.
One thing I don't understand is why there is so many scenes of shootings in the movie.
What is the purpose of that other than to show the timeline of events in the movie?

BTW this movie also reminds me a little of "Being There", which is good but very repetitive and gets old very fast.

It's my Thanksgiving mandatory watch movie.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) - 8/10

I was surprised how good this was! Unlike The Batman, this was actually pretty entertaining/fun and had a lot of funny parts. Sure it's not intelligent humor, but I enjoyed this one. The turtle costumes were not that bad really and I prefer this style to how they look now. These old costumes were actually designed by Jim Henson studios.
I was also surprised to find this was an Independent film and no studio wanted to have anything to do with it and thought it would be a box office failure. It had a budget of only 13.5 million (!) and made over 200 million at the box office!

Go ninja, go ninja go!

Dunkirk - 6/10 (currently on Netflix)

I've now seen this 3 times now. Technically it's pretty impressive. At the start it's very intense, but the soundtrack is just so obnoxious and annoying. That is made it even worse at the theater. Apparently a lot of the small things in the movie are based on true events. Not 100% sure on this, but I remember checking on all of it before.
The movie feels just like some sort of non-stop action film. There's really no focus on any one single character, which makes sense.
I guess i'd say that for me the only good thing about this movie is the visuals/cinematography. It does really feel like you're right there and experiencing all of it yourself.
I remember being so hyped to see this for almost a year before it came out. I actually hated it on my first viewing. The second time it improved very slightly, but still think it's barely worth watching. What's weird is you could make this a silent film and not much would change. None of the dialogue in the movie is very important to the story at all.

Was boring, but well shot.

 

[HWB3]

Black Crab on Netflix was pretty good. Somewhat of a war movie where one side wants to get a bio weapon to its headquarters and the only way to do it is to skate a long distance down a body of water.

 

[Whazzzup]

Too busy watching series on net flix to watch a movie. Too many shows on the go. Money heist keeps being interesting. Snowpiercer intrigues, lost in space taking turns after turns, super store for laughs, manifest keeps twisting, Jane the virgin ( just say yes), last kingdom for life is short stuff there’s always a painful way to die I didn’t know, shameless the best interpretation of what america is……

 

[tdockweiler]

The Foundation - 10/10

Apple TV+ series based on an Issac Asimov novel. I actually picked this at random without even have heard a single thing about it.
Pretty much blown away by this series. So many original ideas to me that i've never seen used before in a movie at all ever. Plus when you watch it you feel like it must have had the budget of something like Dune. Visually it's pretty impressive. I don't know what year this series takes place, but it could be like 10,000 years in the future or something. I don't even care. So many ideas here that I never even could have imagined them actually happening in the future (Brother Day, Dawn and Dusk)..
I actually have never seen anything quite like this series in my life before! Reminded me sort of a mix of Arrival, Interstellar, Contact and Dune.
I've read it was apparently popular enough to get a Season 2! What i'm wondering is...why I haven't even heard about this before?!
I guess it is fairly slow going at first. One episode I felt like it was going nowhere, but then kept getting better and better.
The acting is perfect too. Haven't seen any bad acting from anyone yet.
I know this is kind of stupid, but I've love to have a Blu-Ray of this and Coda. Yes, it's a streaming only movie, but movies and shows like these deserve it.
I'd gladly pay extra for sort of like a Criterion Collection-like version.
But i'm sure Apple would love to have physical media die out!
I noticed most computers don't even come with DVD drives anymore.
Even new computer cases don't even have the 5 1/4" drive bays.
I was actually almost shocked when I read most new cars have no CD player.
I don't know when that happened, but probably not very recently.
Yet strangely all my local stores sell Records and Record Players.
Now all we need is more Retro gaming! Would be nice.

Office Space - 6/10

I think the only good thing about this was all of it's funny characters and the day when it's main character decides to not give a crap about his job and comes in late on Saturday. Reminded me of a scene from "Better Call Saul" where he tries so hard to get fired so he can keep his sign-on bonus.

BTW when this first came out everyone at my work would not shut up about it!
They would always be quoting Mr. Lundberg!

Napolean Dynamite 5/10

I think the only reason this is watchable is due to it's main character (duh). I swear that when I was going to middle school I've seen people just like him! I find most of it just amusing, but not really all that funny. Strangely, the one scene that had me actually laughing out loud was when he was feeding his Llama. I don't know why exactly this was so funny to me. Maybe because how ridiculous it is.

I kind of don't get why he seems to always be talking with his eyes closed. Pedro also seems to be half asleep most of the time, which is so bizarre.

Some of it's characters though aren't very good. The Uncle was kind of pointless and not funny at all.
Then the guy who spent 2 hours on a dating chat site.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but there's a bonus scene at the end of the credits. It's a wedding!

 

[nraymond]

The Foundation - 10/10

Apple TV+ series based on an Issac Asimov novel. I actually picked this at random without even have heard a single thing about it.
Pretty much blown away by this series. So many original ideas to me that i've never seen used before in a movie at all ever. Plus when you watch it you feel like it must have had the budget of something like Dune. Visually it's pretty impressive. I don't know what year this series takes place, but it could be like 10,000 years in the future or something. I don't even care. So many ideas here that I never even could have imagined them actually happening in the future (Brother Day, Dawn and Dusk)..
I actually have never seen anything quite like this series in my life before! Reminded me sort of a mix of Arrival, Interstellar, Contact and Dune.
I've read it was apparently popular enough to get a Season 2! What i'm wondering is...why I haven't even heard about this before?!
I guess it is fairly slow going at first. One episode I felt like it was going nowhere, but then kept getting better and better.
The acting is perfect too. Haven't seen any bad acting from anyone yet.
I know this is kind of stupid, but I've love to have a Blu-Ray of this and Coda. Yes, it's a streaming only movie, but movies and shows like these deserve it.
I'd gladly pay extra for sort of like a Criterion Collection-like version.
But i'm sure Apple would love to have physical media die out!
I noticed most computers don't even come with DVD drives anymore.
Even new computer cases don't even have the 5 1/4" drive bays.
I was actually almost shocked when I read most new cars have no CD player.
I don't know when that happened, but probably not very recently.
Yet strangely all my local stores sell Records and Record Players.
Now all we need is more Retro gaming! Would be nice.

Office Space - 6/10

I think the only good thing about this was all of it's funny characters and the day when it's main character decides to not give a crap about his job and comes in late on Saturday. Reminded me of a scene from "Better Call Saul" where he tries so hard to get fired so he can keep his sign-on bonus.

BTW when this first came out everyone at my work would not shut up about it!
They would always be quoting Mr. Lundberg!

Napolean Dynamite 5/10

I think the only reason this is watchable is due to it's main character (duh). I swear that when I was going to middle school I've seen people just like him! I find most of it just amusing, but not really all that funny. Strangely, the one scene that had me actually laughing out loud was when he was feeding his Llama. I don't know why exactly this was so funny to me. Maybe because how ridiculous it is.

I kind of don't get why he seems to always be talking with his eyes closed. Pedro also seems to be half asleep most of the time, which is so bizarre.

Some of it's characters though aren't very good. The Uncle was kind of pointless and not funny at all.
Then the guy who spent 2 hours on a dating chat site.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but there's a bonus scene at the end of the credits. It's a wedding!

I'm looking forward to watching The Foundation, I grew up reading a lot of sci-fi and picked up The Foundation series after realizing that Asimov wove many of his novel series into one cohesive universe (I think I started with "Robots and Empire"). Side-note: a while back there was a very deranged cult apparently inspired by The Foundation:

https://www.wired.com/1996/07/aum/

In an interview, Murai would state matter-of-factly that Aum was using the Foundation series as the blueprint for the cult's long-term plans. He gave the impression of "a graduate student who had read too many science fiction novels," remembered one reporter. But it was real enough to the cult. Shoko Asahara, the blind and bearded guru from Japan, had become Hari Seldon, and Aum Supreme Truth was the Foundation.

 

[SilverEars]

the Batman - (7/10)

What did I just watch? This movie has an identity crisis. What is it suppose to be? It seems like it mimicking a serial killer movie, and then in another, mob movie? It doesn't work, at least how it was executed. It doesn't even feel like it has any focus, but just all over the place, and does it for 3 unnecessary hours?

There is no depth to the screenplay or dialog. Dialog is just air. Nothing. Everything on screen feels like there's no real purpose.

Why do I got to sit through this for 3 hours? I really dislike this version of Batman. Can I just be entertained?

I do think some ideas are good if executed well to be entertaining. I'm all for Batman being more gritty and realistic, but this is not the way to go about it.

What's up with Batman's hotrod? Why is it like that? Why does he have to drive a hotrod? lol. The tumbler from Dark Knight movies was cool.

Why's the title,"the Batman?" Is it trying to be different? lol

That music every time Batman shows up. lol. Why they play that music every time! This movie makes no sense.

Not a bad or terrible movie, but still a waste of 3 hrs for me. Matt Reaves kinda explains it. I disliked Planet of the Apes as well.

I'm much more entertained by Snyder's Batman. At least at minimum we get fancy visuals with Snyder.

However, one movie I'm looking forward to is the new Thor. Ragnorok was very entertaining that I have faith in Taika Waititi to deliver. So two movie MCU franchises I'm a fan of now, Guardians and this. They are good examples how to entertain with comic book characters.


Also, I like the new concept for the new Gundam. Hope it's good. The character design and the design of the Gundam seems so fitting. I'm still waiting for a mech series that gives off the same feel as the first Macross movie. I tried watching Gundam, and it doesn't get there.


I think the soundtrack is a great choice in the trailer presentation. It's a fitting track.

 

[Philimon]

The Batman - (3/4)

They couldve trimmed away half the story and focused mostly on the Riddler which turned out to be a percect foil to the Batman. Then if they edited the scenes to the best bits then this Batman wouldve been on par with The Dark Knight. The cinematography had moments that were mesmerizing comparable to Nolan (though nowhere as grand in scale) but too much of the rest was not cut. Id like to see a trimmed down edit of this film, like 1.5hours.

The dark stylization fit the Batman vs Riddler theme but too bad the story strayed. If the film had been filtered and focused then imagine Zodiac (2007 - 4/4) but Batman as the obsessed journalist and Riddler as the serial killer. I loved Zodiac for its cinematography and ability to maintain suspense as basically a fact finding detective story. The Batman couldve easily gone that direction and been a much better film and perhaps more realistic.

The realistic grittiness of this Batman is not just in visual style but that of a young billionaire in cosplay taking down armed gangs in the street with his fists. :
1. The movie starts out intriguingly through a lens of how might a person actually do this in real life. That person would have to be as methodical and stalkery as the serial killers themselves in order to be succesful.
2. They made Batman’s suit bulletproof to where bullets are mostly negligible. Realistically the only way someone can take on gangs of well-armed baddies.

A theme of the story is Batman’s foolishness. Are his methods reasonable and his motivations pure. This theme worked really well contrasted against the Riddler who was also fighting injustice but in a different way. Were they more same than different? Would Bruce have been no different than the Riddler if he were born to the exact same circumstances (eg. poor instead of rich), etc. Where is the line drawn? Guns bad but fists good?

The ideal vs humane nature i guess is mirrored in the corrupt system. Gotham will always be bad because its just too big for one Batman. Catwoman the ally leaves in the end. They both seem to aknowledge its a losing situation but Batman chooses to stay and try anyway because he is a hero…