January 2018 Movie Challenge

[starryeyes]

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Phoenix Forgotten (2017)

[filmbuffTX]

Red State (2011)

3/5

first time viewing

Recommended by Travis

I had been meaning to see this. I bought the blu-ray at a used media store on Friday. It's not the typical Kevin Smith film. Nothing like the films from his View Askewniverse. Interesting and different.

[starryeyes]

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Gone Girl (2014) 1/2

[Zodokai]

Major League (rewatch)

No matter how many times I watch this, it just doesn't get old.

[Trollhunter]

Up (2009; Pete Docter) 4.35/5


Best Animated Feature Film (WIN)
Best Original Score (WIN)
Michael Giacchino

[Trollhunter]

Slumdog Millionaire (2008; Danny Boyle) 4.20/5


Best Motion Picture – Drama (WIN)
Best Director – Motion Picture (WIN)
Danny Boyle
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (WIN)
Simon Beaufoy
Best Original Score – Motion Picture (WIN)
A. R. Rahman

[cinemaphile]

Rounded out my first five today with another recommendation, Spiral ( , recommended by JLF, watched via hoopla)
Didn't do much for me (sorry, JLF!), but I don't regret watching it. Just disappointed.
Brief (vaguely spoilery) thoughts:

[Show spoiler]
The problem with a movie that relies so heavily on a twist is that once that twist is out of the way, it often has nothing left to offer. Less than 15 minutes in I guessed this movie's twist (without even knowing ahead of time there was supposed to be one), and that pretty much made the remaining 75 minutes quite difficult to sit through. With every moment where the filmmakers thought they were being clever and tricky, I rolled my eyes and checked the remaining runtime. By the time they make a big deal of the actual reveal, it felt like a parody and I was literally laughing out loud.

But was that intentional? ...see, because then came the "double twist". Sure, I had thought of it in passing as a possibility, but I admit I was surprised when they went there. It made me rethink the film and wonder if the predicability of the rest of it was intentionally telegraphed. No, I think that's giving them too much credit. Either way, though, it isn't enough to make the majority of the film any more tolerable, and ultimately it still felt like a failed last ditch attempt to save a film that just didn't work.

I checked this out due to the cast, so I expected better. It's the kind of amateurish film I would have only expected to see from their pre-breakout filmographies. I can only guess they participated as favors for a friend.

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Most Recent Watches:

[Show spoiler]Recommended by Others:
1. * Big Fan - (recommended by filmmbuffTX)
2. * Spiral - (recommended by Jennifer Lawrence Fan)
Possible Watches:

[Show spoiler]
The Driver (Travis)
Purple Rose of Cairo (zodokai) - Amazon Prime, Hulu
City Lights (odguitar)
Enemy (DantheMan) - library
Safety Last (filmmbuffTX)
Sleepaway Camp (filmmbuffTX) - Vudu MOU
Locke (nightwolf2369) - Vudu

THE CHAIN:
* Brooklyn - ½

Moviepass:
Possible Watches:

[Show spoiler]
The Commuter
Proud Mary
12 Strong
Den of Thieves
Maze Runner: Death Cure
Pitch Perfect 3
All the Money in the World

2017 Films:

[Show spoiler]Mountain Between Us
Hangman
Villainess
Detroit
Flatliners (2017)
Hitman's Bodyguard
Lego Ninjago Movie

Older Films:
1. * Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -
Possible Watches:

[Show spoiler]
Rope
Sunset Boulevard

Golden Globe Nominees:
1. * I, Tonya - ½
Possible Watches:

[Show spoiler]
Molly's Game
Hostiles
The Post
Darkest Hour
Greatest Showman

* denotes first-time viewings

Red - seen in theater
Blue - Blu-ray, duh
Green - DVD
Purple - Vudu
Black - Streaming (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crackle, hoopla, tubitv, etc)
Gray - on television

[odguitar]

The Breakfast Club (rewatch)



5/5

[kingdoxie]

Green1.jpgGreen.jpg

The Woman in Green

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Rounded out my first five today with another recommendation, Spiral ( , recommended by JLF, watched via hoopla)
Didn't do much for me (sorry, JLF!), but I don't regret watching it. Just disappointed.
Brief (vaguely spoilery) thoughts:

[Show spoiler]
The problem with a movie that relies so heavily on a twist is that once that twist is out of the way, it often has nothing left to offer. Less than 15 minutes in I guessed this movie's twist (without even knowing ahead of time there was supposed to be one), and that pretty much made the remaining 75 minutes quite difficult to sit through. With every moment where the filmmakers thought they were being clever and tricky, I rolled my eyes and checked the remaining runtime. By the time they make a big deal of the actual reveal, it felt like a parody and I was literally laughing out loud.

But was that intentional? ...see, because then came the "double twist". Sure, I had thought of it in passing as a possibility, but I admit I was surprised when they went there. It made me rethink the film and wonder if the predicability of the rest of it was intentionally telegraphed. No, I think that's giving them too much credit. Either way, though, it isn't enough to make the majority of the film any more tolerable, and ultimately it still felt like a failed last ditch attempt to save a film that just didn't work.

I checked this out due to the cast, so I expected better. It's the kind of amateurish film I would have only expected to see from their pre-breakout filmographies. I can only guess they participated as favors for a friend.

No it is a very low budget and very indie film. So I could see why most wouldn't like it. So i'm not mad.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Ghost In the Shell (Re-watch)
4/5

Second time watching this.

[filmbuffTX]

A Monster Calls (2016)

3.5/5

first time viewing

A moving story and visually stunning at times.

[filmbuffTX]

Super Dark Times (2017)

3.5/5

first time viewing

This is streaming on NETFLIX.

Good coming of age thriller.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by filmbuffTX

Super Dark Times (2017)

[Show spoiler]

3.5/5

first time viewing

This is streaming on NETFLIX.

Good coming of age thriller.

it is? I guess that's how everyone has been watching it as of late.

[Trollhunter]

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015; Matthew Vaughn) 3.40/5


Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017; Matthew Vaughn) 2.65/5

[Peavey]

The Incredibles (2004)

[Zodokai]

Grandview, U.S.A. (first-time watch) ½

[Travis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blRr...ature=youtu.be

The Mummy’s Hand (1940) 1/2

[odguitar]

Lady Bird (rewatch)



5/5

(Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay)

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

What We Do In The Shadows (Re-watch Via Amazon Prime)
4.5/5