Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Y'all asked, and I listened.

I started an account on Letterboxd.

Right now, it's mostly reviews of newer films that I saw at the theater, but I've also retroactively added some movie content reviews from my write-ups on this site.

I will be slowly adding archived reviews to the site as I stumble across them here. I will probably never be able to list every single movie that I've reviewed on this forum, but this is a start.

A Letterboxd account is not as self-indulgent as an actual blog, and it's also easy to add movies, since I don't have to worry about artwork, etc. This will make it easy for me to look up my own past reviews, and that's the main attraction for me.

I'll go live with it and add the link to my signature shortly, after I get the feel of the site and straighten out some rough edges.

It's a good site. I rarely post reviews on here unless it's an obscure movie or someone asks for thoughts on it, and even then I usually post the short version. I often include detailed plot summaries so I can remember the movies, too, since a short review of an unmemorable movie usually doesn't jog my memory at all!

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Y'all asked, and I listened.

I started an account on Letterboxd.

Right now, it's mostly reviews of newer films that I saw at the theater, but I've also retroactively added some movie content reviews from my write-ups on this site.

I will be slowly adding archived reviews to the site as I stumble across them here. I will probably never be able to list every single movie that I've reviewed on this forum, but this is a start.

A Letterboxd account is not as self-indulgent as an actual blog, and it's also easy to add movies, since I don't have to worry about artwork, etc. This will make it easy for me to look up my own past reviews, and that's the main attraction for me.

I'll go live with it and add the link to my signature shortly, after I get the feel of the site and straighten out some rough edges.

Bookmarked, thanks again for all the reviews Owl, you've been most helpful

[Member-167298]

Yes! A whole site of Owl reviews is the best thing!

Scrolling through, Owl looks hesitant to rate things lower than 3 stars.

[trentdiesel]

That's why I enjoy his reviews, he simply and effectively let's me know if I'd be into a movie. No anger or hatred thrown at the filmmaker, no ridiculous claims saying it's the worst movie ever etc, just in and out and done. I'll take the reviews of a more positive reviewer any day. I very rarely hate a movie, and I feel like alot of people in the forums spit venom at every movie they see

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

That's why I enjoy his reviews, he simply and effectively let's me know if I'd be into a movie. No anger or hatred thrown at the filmmaker, no ridiculous claims saying it's the worst movie ever etc, just in and out and done. I'll take the reviews of a more positive reviewer any day. I very rarely hate a movie, and I feel like alot of people in the forums spit venom at every movie they see

I was having a hard time wording a response on Owl's reviews and then I read your post..... perfect!!! My sentiments exactly

[rocknblues81]

It looks like my Scream Factory order is going to come in piece by piece. My copy of Army of Darkness came with a slip. That surprises me since this movie has been released for a few years and the movie is so popular.

I haven't watched Army of Darkness since 1996 and so I'm wondering which cut is the best one to watch...

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

It looks like my Scream Factory order is going to come in piece by piece. My copy of Army of Darkness came with a slip. That surprises me since this movie has been released for a few years and the movie is so popular.

I haven't watched Army of Darkness since 1996 and so I'm wondering which cut is the best one to watch...

For me it's the International cut from now on. Be sure your discs 1 and 3 have the V2 on them as those are the corrected discs

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

For me it's the International cut from now on. Be sure your discs 1 and 3 have the V2 on them as those are the corrected discs

On the label on the front of the first disc it has: BD 16027-V2 and on disc 3 it has BD 16399-V2.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Scrolling through, Owl looks hesitant to rate things lower than 3 stars.

Originally Posted by trentdiesel

That's why I enjoy his reviews, he simply and effectively let's me know if I'd be into a movie. No anger or hatred thrown at the filmmaker, no ridiculous claims saying it's the worst movie ever etc, just in and out and done. I'll take the reviews of a more positive reviewer any day. I very rarely hate a movie, and I feel like alot of people in the forums spit venom at every movie they see

I am often amused by critics who launch creative insults against bad films, but I also think that the whole "grumpy cynical critic" trend is too prevalent these days, and that too few reviewers are adept at conveying the sheer wondrous joy of watching motion pictures and of being a movie fan.

I rarely go outright ballistic on a movie, because I can usually find something to love in any film that I see. I have a propensity to become interested and immersed in just about anything. I can change gears pretty easy, and enjoy chilling out to a Police Academy movie followed by a horrific 1970s exploitation film followed by a nebulous Michelangelo Antonioni drama.

I'm new to Letterboxd, and I'm not taking the star ratings too seriously. In fact, I probably should dispense with star ratings altogether, because the star ratings that I've been bestowing to these films are pretty arbitrary.
(I gave five stars to Spider-Man 2 and gave four stars to Spider-Man: Homecoming, but then noticed that I wrote in my review that Spider-Man: Homecoming is "the best Spider-Man adaptation to date." I actually do feel that Spider-Man 2 is a better overall movie, but that the new film is the most faithful to the spirit of the comic book character, so I could always fall back on that if called to task, but the star ratings are still pretty arbitrary.)

Right now, I'm building up the Letterboxd review foundation by going back retroactively and adding old reviews (and the dates that I posted the original reviews for the "date watched."). It's a time-consuming process, but it'll be useful later on.

Oh...and I do have a couple of two-and-a-half star movie ratings and even one or two two-star movie ratings on my Letterboxd. In my written reviews, however, I still find favorable things to say about the respective films.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I am often amused by critics who launch creative insults against bad films, but I also think that the whole "grumpy cynical critic" trend is too prevalent these days, and that too few reviewers are adept at conveying the sheer wondrous joy of watching motion pictures and of being a movie fan.

I rarely go outright ballistic on a movie, because I can usually find something to love in any film that I see. I have a propensity to become interested and immersed in just about anything. I can change gears pretty easy, and enjoy chilling out to a Police Academy movie followed by a horrific 1970s exploitation film followed by a nebulous Michelangelo Antonioni drama.

I'm new to Letterboxd, and I'm not taking the star ratings too seriously. In fact, I probably should dispense with star ratings altogether, because the star ratings that I've been bestowing to these films are pretty arbitrary.
(I gave five stars to Spider-Man 2 and gave four stars to Spider-Man: Homecoming, but then noticed that I wrote in my review that Spider-Man: Homecoming is "the best Spider-Man adaptation to date." I actually do feel that Spider-Man 2 is a better overall movie, but that the new film is the most faithful to the spirit of the comic book character, so I could always fall back on that if called to task, but the star ratings are still pretty arbitrary.)

Right now, I'm building up the Letterboxd review foundation by going back retroactively and adding old reviews (and the dates that I posted the original reviews for the "date watched."). It's a time-consuming process, but it'll be useful later on.

Oh...and I do have a couple of two-and-a-half star movie ratings and even one or two two-star movie ratings on my Letterboxd. In my written reviews, however, I still find favorable things to say about the respective films.

My 3-star comment was just an observation. I always love your insights and the positive approach of your reviews, Owl! Please keep 'em coming!

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I thought folks might be interested in this upcoming book/Indiegogo campaign, which includes new chapters from Stephen Thrower, Michael Gingold, Kim Newman, and many others:

A final bump for this - the campaign only has two days left and a ways to go (though everyone gets their books/perks regardless)! It looks like a really cool, smart, exhaustive book, with a colorful layout and a wide variety of writers/topics from a publisher that does high-quality work, so don't hesitate to contribute, and get some nice perks for your effort, including autographed copies and customized Christmas stockings!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Scrolling through, Owl looks hesitant to rate things lower than 3 stars.

I'm still importing my old reviews to the site, but I did bestow a one-and-a-half star rating last night.

Sorry, Hardcore Henry, but you deserve it.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm still importing my old reviews to the site, but I did bestow a one-and-a-half star rating last night.

Sorry, Hardcore Henry, but you deserve it.

that looked awful, one of the few movies recently that I have no desire at all to see....

[TripleHBK]

Hardcore Henry is great! Easily one of the best action films I'd seen in a very long time. (I'd rate only Mad Max Fury Road as one of the few that were better in the last few years). Hardcore Henry has it's share of problems, but when it get's things right it's amazing. I consider the film the unofficial 3rd entry in the Crank series as the energy throughout reminded me so much of Crank 1 & 2. What Hardcore Henry lacks in finesse and story it makes up for in pure machismo... it's well worth at least one watch just to see what the film has to offer.

[NeMo_ET]

Totally off thread topic, but I'll join in. I thought Hardcore Henry was great and highly entertaining for the first 15-20mins. Then it was kind of like okay, I've had enough of this now.

[Gerby]

The best bit of HH was the Lady In The Lake poster on the wall & then when the end credits started to roll.

[babybreese]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

Yes! A whole site of Owl reviews is the best thing!

Scrolling through, Owl looks hesitant to rate things lower than 3 stars.

I think it's great Owl does this but for me, his reviews are useless.
Waaay toooo positive.

[cakefactory]

Yeah, he does have Mondo Digital syndrome.

[SeanJoyce]

He's a good guy, but I always get the feeling he's attempting to justify his slew of blind purchases. His reviews also lack much in the way of analysis on the quality of the actual Blu-ray disc, opting for vague, tidy one-line summations like that don't reveal a whole helluva lot.

Didn't want to turn this into a "pile on Owl" thread, and it's great he's so open to speaking about movies. His reviews would probably be a great tool for somebody just getting into cinema, but are likely not the cup of tea among the more discerning.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

He's a good guy, but I always get the feeling he's attempting to justify his slew of blind purchases. His reviews also lack much in the way of analysis on the quality of the actual Blu-ray disc, opting for vague, tidy one-line summations like that don't reveal a whole helluva lot.

Didn't want to turn this into a "pile on Owl" thread, and it's great he's so open to speaking about movies. His reviews would probably be a great tool for somebody just getting into cinema, but are likely not the cup of tea among the more discerning.

You're right about my evaluations of the actual Blu-ray discs. I don't delve into Blu-ray technical discussions often, unless I see something that is glaringly bad. I've got a 49" 4K television that I watch from about seven feet away, and I used a sound bar instead of a surround system because of the logistics of my living room setup. For this reason, I'm probably more like the average "Joe Six-Pack" who watches these Blu-rays and enjoys them at face value, as opposed to being a sternly discerning consumer who has a Ph.D in the proper color tint history of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly or The Thing.

This is probably why my reviews are probably better suited for venue like the Letterboxd site, or the Movies sub-forum on this here site.

Still, I think that most everyday Blu-ray customers who probably lurk around here have an idea of what they are getting themselves into when they read one of my brief comments on actual disc quality.