Movie News, Reviews, and Discussion Super-Thread

[Joe Molotov]

Ænigma (1988)

By chance, this movie also opens with a student trying to bang but getting pranked by their friends and ending up in a hospital. Instead of a nice wholesome Canadian slasher tho, this movie is a batshit Italian movie from Lucio Fulci. It's also pretty bad, and fairly restrained by Fulci's standards of gore.

It begins with ugly duckling Kathy getting dolled up for a date with her fitness instructor. He drives her to a secluded area to engage in some heavy petting, but as soon as things start getting hot, all her "friends" show up and start honking their horns and laughing at her, causing her to run away into a busy street and get hit by a car. She's declared brain dead at the hospital and placed on a respirator. She begins having an out-of-body experience, as her soul/spirit/whatever hovers over the bed. Some time passes, and new girl Eva enrolls at school. She's recovering from a mental breakdown, but she says she's all better now and ready to screw a lot of guys ("Let me put it this way: anything in pants.") She starts off with Mr. Vernon, the horny fitness instructor from the intro, but he suddenly comes down with an unexpected case of DEAD.

It turns out that Kathy's spirit has inhabited Eva's body, and she's taking revenge on perpetrators of the prank, using BLACK MAGIC. How does Kathy know black magic? Look, she's from Louisiana, okay? I hope that's enough explanation for you because that's all you're gonna get. Her mother is a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow and there's a bit of a plot thread that's briefly mentioned once and never again that her and some of the teachers may be involved in some kind of cult activity, and I think they're supposed to be hinting that maybe Kathy's father is the devil, but it's never expounded on beyond a throw-away line. At any rate, Eva/Kathy continues to befriend Kathy's tormentors and then off them with magical means. One girl gets crushed by a statue that comes to life, one girl throws herself out of a window after being shown visions of her boyfriend's decapitated corpse, some girl gets murdered by snails. Yes, murdered by snails.

The movie ends with a second revenge subplot, where Eva/Kathy gets sent home for being too crazy and she gets super obsessed with her neurologist (who she was banging). She breaks out of her house and runs back to the hospital to find him now banging her roommate. She tries to stab both of them, but Kathy's mom shows up and unplugs Kathy's respirator, sending her spirit to the shadow realm once and for all and causing Eva to collapse to the floor while the credits roll and some godawful pop song called Head Over Meels(sic) plays. This movie was absurd, it was terrible, but I did have a few good chuckles at how stupid it was.

[VomKriege]

It's pretty hazy speculation but for such a late film, Fulci maybe only had a partial hand in it. Wasn't he sick ? I'm sure that regardless of the reason it happened a few times his credit was a bit inflated.

Not that Fulci in his prime was known for having good written scripts of anything.

[Joe Molotov]

It's pretty hazy speculation but for such a late film, Fulci maybe only had a partial hand in it. Wasn't he sick ? I'm sure that regardless of the reason it happened a few times his credit was a bit inflated.

Not that Fulci in his prime was known for having good written scripts of anything.

I read up on it a little bit, and it seems like Fulci had already recovered and had full control on this one (it's not one of the "co-prodcued" films, or like Zombie 3 were Bruno Mattei finished it). I can't find any evidence to the contrary at least. He's credited as writer and director, with a co-writer credit for Giorgio Mariuzzo that also worked with him on House by the Cemetery and The Beyond. It's just not one of his better movies.

[Nuitangg]

Terror Train and Funhouse fucked me up as kid.

[BlueTsunami]

A wonderful ninety minute film. It has a whole lot to say about incarceration and rehabilitation through these two beings. There's a group meeting scene in the film that makes you see the choices made and the proportionality. It feels condensed at times, as if the changes came too fast, but it still remained very moving for me.

[Himu]

Joker looks fantastic. Thank God a super hero film that doesn’t look like more marvel drek

[BlueTsunami]

Love Jarmusch's take on vampires. It is understated which was fun to see since vampires tend to be treated like a blunt object as subjects. Just bombastic. The sense of melancholy and simply living a tired existence feels right for such beings. Then theres the sort of star crossed lovers aspect of the two mains that I also vibed with. I have to check out the rest of his filmography since I loved Paterson too.

[chronovore]

Joker looks fantastic. Thank God a super hero film that doesn’t look like more marvel drek

It looked A LOT like Nolan's Gotham to me.

For which I'm absolutely on board.

[Joe Molotov]

I love the random-ass stuff that you can find on Amazon Prime. I watched Invasion USA, then The Octagon, before finally ending up with a Filipino take on James Bond called They Call Her Cleopatra Wong.

[Bebpo]

https://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Who-Laughs-Blu-ray/dp/B07PK6K31Q

Can we talk about how they're trying to take a 1928 drama film that has nothing to do with Batman and sell it as a JOKER movie. Like wtf, this is one of the most bizarre marketing concepts I've seen.

Joker looks fantastic. Thank God a super hero film that doesn’t look like more marvel drek

Trailer looks good, but the comic purist in me is kinda annoyed that they're completely changing his backstory. Like why can't you do an artsy human film like this while still keeping the comic Red Hood backstory.

[Coax]

https://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Who-Laughs-Blu-ray/dp/B07PK6K31Q

Can we talk about how they're trying to take a 1928 drama film that has nothing to do with Batman and sell it as a JOKER movie. Like wtf, this is one of the most bizarre marketing concepts I've seen.

Mind explaining the connection for those who haven't read the book/seen the adaptation? Read the synopsis but outside of apparently inspiring the original Joker appearance with the character's permanent grin I'd be interested to hear how Joker is an adaptation.

[Great Rumbler]

Trailer looks good, but the comic purist in me is kinda annoyed that they're completely changing his backstory. Like why can't you do an artsy human film like this while still keeping the comic Red Hood backstory.

Eh, it's not even the first Joker origin story on film.

[Himu]

Umbrellas of Cherboug



A beautiful pastiche of vibrant color and set design adorn this musical. What makes Cherboug unique among its musical contemporaries is that the entirety of the film is acted out in beautifully sung dialogue. Whereas most musicals typically have regular dialogue writing in casual conversation, Umbrellas upends the genre conventions to find its own footing. It feels more akin to an opera than a musical and this one choice makes the entire film all the better. As said, the colors have incredible pop and while some scenes (mostly night) have a lot of film grain due to the dated cameras lacking a suitable ISO metric, it more than makes up for it. Each scene has a contrast of colors and the way it uses its color as a way of presenting its story is nothing short of brilliant. In every scene with Genevieve for instance, highly saturated floral patterns, backgrounds, and colorful costumes fill the screen. Guy, who is of more modest means, has far more muted, boring colors. It makes quite a visual contrast. The visuals even cleverly depict mood. When Genieveve feels sad, her normally pink clothing is replaced with nothing but blue. In a time of mourning and loneliness, she feels like the loneliest person in the world, which makes it all the more believable when she's wearing blue while surrounded by a fleet of pink.



The story is told visually in a very organic manner, which, while at first glance seems a typical love story quickly pushes the viewer head first into a deeply trenched river full of twists and turns. Very beautiful, grounded human drama. Clearly an inspiration for La La Land.

Highly recommended and currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

Rashomon



Ah, my favorite Kurosawa. Easily. I've not revisited this in...years. Always refreshing, always thought provoking, still inspiring. What else is there to say, really?

[kingv]

Umbrellas of Cherboug

... so it’s ripping off Trapped in The Closet?!

[Himu]

Umbrellas go in the closet so yes.

[Himu]

da gawd

[Nintex]

Watched "The Destroyer" starring Nicole Kidman.

It was a crazy ride of a movie. Some of it very good, some bits less good. But damn it was dark as hell and very compelling overall. Even the action shots were well made which is not often the case with movies like this that focus more on the 'drama'.
However it could've used something a 'tiny' more upbeat or positive.

ENDING SPOILERS

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I loved the no nonsense ending though. They make you think that you get this monologue from the bad guy and his motivations (as you got from all other characters). In fact he's ready to do the whole: "Now let me tell you what the PLOT really is!" and she just pulls out her gun and shoots him in the dick 

[close]

[TVC15]

Pet Sematary. More like Theoriginalwasbetter Sematary.

[Himu]

So it’s no It?

[TVC15]

So it’s no It?

No.  It’s not that bad though. The original (which isn’t that great) is just better.

[Bebpo]

Pet Semetary - Pretty serviceable horror flick that is fairly creepy in the 2nd half. I've seen dozens and dozens of horror movies in the theater with my horror social group and this was the first time I ever really jumped from a jump. It was creepy and tense enough that one jump scare bit got me really good and I jumped from my chair. Was kinda embarrassing as a hardened horror film watcher but it happens.

I wish there was more story/lore and I wish the trailers didn't spoil the entire movie (I need to just start skipping all these trailers before horror films because they spoil like every horror film; saw the latest Brightburn trailer and it also showed too much :| ). But what was there was pretty well done in atmosphere.

Oh and one slight issue I have is that the film has a lot of red herring subplots that do nothing. The core story is a really simple short story and they started to add to it but never really go anywhere with the subplots. For example the masked kids in the trailer were basically just put in to sell the trailer lol

and then the

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Wife's story with the sister was ehhhh, since it was basically just used to set up a fake out for the jump scare with the kid.

[close]

But yeah I would've liked it if they did a little bit more with the lore-aspect.

*edit* Hmmm, read up on how the book/original movie ended. I think the book's ending is definitely better than what we got in this new one. Otherwise from the book summary it sure sounds like this new one pretty accurately follows the book.

Pet Sematary. More like Theoriginalwasbetter Sematary.

I both read the book and saw the original movie back as a kid. I didn't remember anything at all, so it didn't really effect me. Same thing with IT, I didn't remember the book or the TV special. I think 20 years is a pretty good time to go between remakes because it's hard to remember much about some movie/book you watched/read once 20 years ago.

Love Jarmusch's take on vampires. It is understated which was fun to see since vampires tend to be treated like a blunt object as subjects. Just bombastic. The sense of melancholy and simply living a tired existence feels right for such beings. Then theres the sort of star crossed lovers aspect of the two mains that I also vibed with. I have to check out the rest of his filmography since I loved Paterson too.

Watch Ghost Dog! I've seen most of Jarmusch's catalog since I got into him when Dead Man came out with Johnny Depp, but Only Lovers Left Alive is one of the few I haven't seen. I need to watch it. Saw the trailer for his new zombie flick before Pet Semetary and it looked fun.

[Joe Molotov]

Pet Sematary. More like Theoriginalwasbetter Sematary.

I was going to watch the new Pet Sematary on Friday, but then I remembered that it didn't have Lt. Tasha Yar in it, so I just watched the original again. I bet the new one doesn't even have Yar's dad going apeshit at the funeral and punching out Louis while yelling "KILLER OF CHILDREN!!"

[Great Rumbler]

Merged the two movie threads.

[team filler]

 

[Bebpo]

Got a question for you guys that remember or have seen the original Pet Semetary recently,

So I'm reading some reviews of the new film and I'm seeing a common theme among reviews to talk about the first film and how it's both a terrible movie and that it's extremely tone-deaf. The latter bit has me curious what it's doing to be tone-deaf. I watched the trailer and some clips but it just looks like a cheesy af movie these days. Can someone explain what about the film might be tone-deaf in modern times?

[Himu]

anyone see this?

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/high-life-2019

Sounds great

[Bebpo]

Yeah, I wanna see that but it’s not playing near me yet.

[Himu]

I also missed Godard's latest and I'm kicking myself. Comes out on Blu-ray May 21 tho.

[Himu]

Blame



What. It's okay. Camera work is uninspired. It has the talking head tv syndrome where one person speaks and it cuts to them speaking, much like a soap opera. It's a very predictable cinematography that feels lacking personality at times. There's very little dynamism in the camera work but the lighting can be incredible. Visuals are solid but the story is all over the place. Not only does it introduce story elements that are beyond creepy, the film doesn't know what it wants to be: an examination on modern adolescence or an analysis of isolation? It doesn't know. The main character Abigail is an isolated teenager that is bullied and somehow they put focus on a creepy teacher that is also isolated in his life, except he's the only adult the movie focuses on and there's a massive clash between storylines, which is mostly based around the teenagers. Like, what are you trying to say? An okay movie overall, but lots of weird and creepo moments. Has a nice, short run time thankfully.

You know what? I change my mind. It's a bad movie. The story is so bad it can't be considered anything otherwise. Everything in the story happens for convenience. Things happen to push the plot forward even if it makes zero logical sense.

[TVC15]

Imma watch something on Criterion Channel tonight. Name me some shit to watch.

[Himu]

Yeah dude it finally launched.

Let's watch something together. I'm on a Kurosawa kick. I'm going to go through his entire oeuvre again. Seven Samurai tonight. No work today so I'm just watching films and playing Sekiro.

[Himu]

Let's watch Taipei Story. It's been on my list.

https://www.criterionchannel.com/taipei-story

[Himu]

ZATOICHI COLLECTION ON CRITERION CHANNEL

https://www.criterionchannel.com/zatoichi-the-blind-swordsman



I am screaming at my computer. I know what I'm watching alongside Kurosawa and to be playing Sekiro at the same time.

[TVC15]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

[Himu]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

Watch Rashomon.

[TVC15]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

Watch Rashomon.

I added it to my list. I’ll watch it first because you recommended it.

[Himu]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

Watch Rashomon.

I added it to my list. I’ll watch it first because you recommended it.

If nothing else watch it because it has such a wide cultural footprint. It has gone on to influence many. Some police and lawyers even watch it to study its implications. It’s one of those films (12 Angry Men, 2001, Godfather) that is highly influential, deeply referenced, and imo Kurosawa’s best. He has a lot of fantastic films but this one (as well as Seven Samurai and arguably Yojimbo/Ikiru) simply transcends.

[benjipwns]

or just watch Hoodwinked!

[Great Rumbler]

I think my favorite Kurosawa movie might be Ikiru. I haven't watched it, or really any of his movies, in a long time, though.

[Himu]

Lots of buffering on criterion channel today

[Bebpo]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

Yojimbo is great because it's a comedy. Mifune is funny af.

[Himu]

I’ve never seen a Kurosawa movie lol outside of Seven Samurai

Yojimbo is great because it's a comedy. Mifune is funny af.

It’s not entirely a comedy though. That’s more Sanjuro.

Yojimbo is worth watching at least to compare it to Fistful of Dollars and how much that film cribbed from Yojimbo. Plus the film is pretty amazing. Amazing enough to steal.

[Coax]

I think my favorite Kurosawa movie might be Ikiru. I haven't watched it, or really any of his movies, in a long time, though.

At the time when I first saw it I also found it a favorite. I've watched High and Low a few more times though so it'd probably take top spot.

[Himu]

Taipei Story

An isolative, breath stealing, two hour drama of 1980's Taiwan. It's so lonely. Almost every shot emphasizes that. The camera work is an expert study in lights and darks and what better camera footage to take than 16mm to fit the bill? Nearly every shot is a sublime work of photographic art. It's such a visual treat I took screen caps. The lighting master class. Again, nearly every shot, even during the day has a juxtaposition between light and dark and if it's not doing that, it usually has one light source to play with shadow. One of the most visually stimulating films I've seen in a long time.





the framing on this shot













What a lonely, lonely film. Definitely similar to something I'd make.

And what a fucking story. A+, highly recommend. The sets are so lived in that it feels real. I forgot I was watching a movie half the time.

Seven Samurai

As good as ever. I used to not like the battles but now I love how damn chaotic they are.

[Himu]

And let me just say that aside from the buffer issues, bang for your buck, Criterion Channel is the most feature packed streaming service yet. Great first day for the service overall.

Yi Yi next now that I've seen Taipei Story.

[Momo]

[Himu]

From the same guy who directed Snowpiercer? Looking forward to it.

[Momo]

Bong Joon-ho is pretty great yeah, to be honest though I'm a huge Song Kang-ho Stanley and will watch anything he's in

[Bebpo]

Cindi, you sold me on Taipei Story. Will check it out.

[Crash Dummy]

captiain marvel - very meh. it had some things i liked such as young nick fury and the skrulls but overall i found it very hard to give a shit about anything happening. off the heels of infinity war it all felt pointless with no weight or even spectacle and came across as a tick-box exercise (character is showing up in the next proper movie so better get out an origin movie plus can make money pretending to be woke)

[Momo]

[Great Rumbler]

I think my favorite Kurosawa movie might be Ikiru. I haven't watched it, or really any of his movies, in a long time, though.

At the time when I first saw it I also found it a favorite. I've watched High and Low a few more times though so it'd probably take top spot.

High and Low is a really good movie, too.

[Himu]

High and low is tremendous.

[Himu]

korean you're under arrest haha

[Joe Molotov]

And let me just say that aside from the buffer issues, bang for your buck, Criterion Channel is the most feature packed streaming service yet. Great first day for the service overall.

Yi Yi next now that I've seen Taipei Story.

It needs a PS4 App before I buy in. I'm not watching Godard at my computer desk.

[TVC15]

Ok. Watched it. Gimme another. Under two hours please. It’s a work night and I get sleepy early.

[Himu]

Another what? Kurosawa or just movie, period?

[Joe Molotov]

Grey Gardens

[TVC15]

Another Kurosawa if possible.

[Himu]

Another Kurosawa if possible.

For Kurosawa under 2 hours? What did you like about Rashomon? Do you want samurai? Or do you want character drama?