Movies

The Last Days Of American Crime (Netlix streaming):

In the not-too-distant future, as a final response to terrorism and crime, the U.S. government plans to broadcast a signal making it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts.

Don't.

The first hour or so was good, and then it went so far off the rails it was painful. JFC it was bad.

Snake Eyes: GI Joe Origins (Netflix disc):

The storyline is good. I dare say great. However, the movie played out like a shi**y 70's kung-fu movie. Messy story-telling and mindless action. They had a gem of a movie and trashed it like there was no tomorrow. Unless you are a big fan of GI Joe, don't even bother (and even then, it's a tough watch).

The Last Thing He Wanted (Netflix streaming):

A veteran D.C. journalist loses the thread of her own narrative when a guilt-propelled errand for her father thrusts her from byline to unwitting subject in the very story she's trying to break. Adapted from Joan Didion's namesake novel.

Apparently, this is one of the worst-rated Netflix movies ever, and I'm wondering "How?!

It's not great, but it's worthwhile. Cloak and dagger stuff, some mis-steps, but far from a bad movie. I'd give it a go as a casual movie-goer.

Bruised (Netflix streaming):

A disgraced MMA fighter finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she had given up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life.

Starring and directed by Halle Berry, a redemption story, similar to "The Wrestler" (which, if you have not seen, do so, even if not a pro wrestling fan). Very well done, you get involved with most of the characters, good or bad, the movie definitely makes you feel emotion one way or the other. It doesn't pull punches (no pun intended, and the ending is solid.

Not much on IMDB, but from what I hear, the training Berry did was rather intense, and it shows in the movie. Highly recommend. I got caught up in it more than I thought I would.

Watched this last night it is such a fun movie. The combo of wry wit and crazy action scenes is perfect. Very well done.

Stillwater (Netflix Disc):

A father travels from Oklahoma to France to help his estranged daughter, who is in prison for a murder she claims she didn't commit.

Loosely based on the Amanda Knox story, some controversy about that, btw. Damon nails the personality of that type of midwesterner. The swagger, the attitude, the simplicity. A nice sub-plot is the clash of cultures, between American and European. It's not hostile, but the chasm of attitudes is there. Very well done movie, I do recommend.

Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher (Netflix streaming):

A remarkable story inspired by the life of renowned Chickasaw cattleman Montford T. Johnson, a man who overcame great hardships to establish a ranching empire along the famous cattle highway of the American West, the Chisolm Trail.

Decent "based on a true story" movie. The acting was wooden at times, other times it's seems like that, but it's because of the pacing of Native American speech patterns, especially for that period in history. One flaw: while I love Tommy Flanagan as an actor, WTF is a Scotsman doing playing a cattle rustler from TX, and he can't do a Texan accent? I don't blame him, he wants a job, that fault is on the casting director.

It's 90 minutes, maybe give it a chance. Nothing really lost if one doesn't like it.

King Richard (HBO Max):

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.

Will Smith is Will Smith for the first part of the movie, then I think he really embraced the persona of Richard. The movie isn't Disney-fied, they show the dark side (and hypocrisy) of sports parents. Personally, I think that Richard DID recognize them as having talent, and DID want them to be the best, and made the moves to do it. However, a lot of selfishness there. Let's just say it was mutually beneficial.

Good movie, definitely recommended watching.

Watched on HBO last night too. Was really well done. I would like to see an biopic of the girls more, but a good background on them and their journey.

This weekend we watched Jungle Cruise and Bad Boys for Life... I wasn't expecting much but to be mildly entertained for 90-120 minutes, and didn't even get that. Thankfully these were free rentals from a resort we were staying at. So I didn't pay for them, but it is a few hours I will never get back.

Knowing that Jungle Cruise was re-written twice, how bad were the first 2 iterations? That was a steaming pile of trash, and we are both Disney fans and love most Disney films. What a garbage movie. How many times does Dwayne Johnson need to play the same exact role over and over? It was like they just stole parts of National Treasure, Mummy, Indiana Jones, and a bit from Pirates of the Caribbean. The whole submarine thing? trash. Not at all what I was expecting from this movie, and it significantly underperformed my low expectations.

Bad Boys was completely predictable (not surprising, but come on) and way, way over the top (I know, Jerry Bruckheimer). Almost completely recycled previously plot points from the first 2 movies, and typical Jerry Bruckheimer over-the-top, exploding cars, shooting while on motorcycles, etc. action scenes. :bored:

Life of Crime, 1984-2020

HBO max stream. An unflinching look at addiction. Documentary follows 3 interconnected people in Newark, NJ, over the course of decades, giving an intimate look at there life of crime and addiction. Was hard to watch at times, very graphic, but was shockingly effective at connecting you to the main characters and there families. I would say it is a must watch for those who like gritty documentaries that don't hold back.

I could not agree with you more about Jungle Cruise. What a mess that was.

Added to my list.

And as for Dwayne Johnson, he definitely didn't play the same role in "Be Cool," and I thought he was hilarious. Sort of a different role in The Rundown, which was an entertaining movie for what it was.

Definitely recommend this one, kinda reminds me of the ESPN 30 for 30 about the guy who tried to buy the Islanders, but better and somehow even more absurd. You couldn’t make up a fictional story like this without it seeming fake honestly. You could also tell how much that team meant to all the players and fans.

Serenity (Netflix Disc)

A fishing boat captain juggles facing his mysterious past and finding himself ensnared in a reality where nothing is what it seems.

Matthew McC, Anne Hathaway star in this, and since it was a small budget/indie type movie, in which Matthew excels in, I thought I'd give it a whirl. It's a page-turner, and as the layers unfold, the story goes deeper and deeper. Borrows from quite a few movies, and that's also part of the point. You can see the path taken, but it's murky until the end, if you're detail-oriented.

Definitely give it a go. It was fun figuring out what was what, and even then, they throw a few forks in the road, as to what is really what.

The Power Of The Dog (Netflix streaming):

Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

There is slow and methodical, and then there is excruciating painfully slow. This movie is the latter. What is trying to pass as a build-up that takes patience, is a method of torture that is probably banned by the Geneva Conventions.

I will state, that the actors are great in it, but they are handcuffed by the direction of this movie. I love "Das Boot" (full version) where oftentimes NOTHING happens for a good hour, but at least there is something there. Doesn't happen here. Please, don't even bother with this one. What a waste of time.

The Night House (Netflix Disc):

A widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband's disturbing secrets, after feeling a ghostly presence in the house, and then going through his belongings.

Well, how you interpret this movie will dictate how much you enjoy it. The suspense is palpable, I was wavering between "is this real?/is this in her head?". Rebecca Hall is impressive in this role, her emotions are all over the board, which lends to the previous questions. I'd consider this a suspense movie, not horror, mind you, and it messes with the mind a bit. Solid watch.

Shang-Chi: The Legend Of The Ten Rings (DIS+):

Shang-Chi, the master of weaponry-based Kung Fu, is forced to confront his past after being drawn into the Ten Rings organization.

I didn't know what to expect from this, but was told from more than one account that one does NOT need to know anything Marvel to watch this movie. As a fan of Asian cinema, decided to check it out. I must say, this was a friggin' kick-ass movie. John Woo or Ang Lee might as well had directed it. Action was great, the storytelling even better, VERY solid movie. I love that Tony Leung was in this, he's been in a few favorite movies of mine, along with Michelle Yeoh. DEFINITELY recommend.

Ben Kingsley's small part was a perfect dose of levity as well. The director has put out there that he'd love to get Jackie Chan out of his hiatus for the sequel. Would be pretty cool to see.

I too was very surprised by this one. Not sure what to expect but it was pretty good. Interested to see how they will fold this one into the MCU. Maybe Dr. Strange 2?

Eternals was the exact opposite. I don't see how that group will fit in at all.

Yara (Netflix streaming, Italian w/subtitles):

A determined prosecutor becomes consumed with the case of a missing 13-year-old and goes to extreme lengths to get to the truth. Based on a real case.

Very good crime drama, and how all the pieces somehow fell together. The not-so-subtle subtleties are not over-worked, they are just presented (like the prosecutor having a child of similar age). It's a good watch if you are into this genre.

The Unforgivable (Netflix streaming). Woman gets paroled after serving 20 years for killing a cop. Struggles to re-enter society, and wants to re-connect with her little sister who was under her care when the crime was committed. Murdered cop's sons want revenge.

Watchable, but meh. Seemed too much like a made-for-television Lifetime movie. Turn your brain off, because there are plot holes galore. Also bothered me that we're expected to believe a person would only serve 20 years for killing a cop.

I watched this as well... Thought the exact same thing. Very much had that TV/Lifetime vibe to it. (Except for the swearing) Super "MEH" for me.

Spiderman No Way Home was an absolute masterpiece.

I have NOT watched this movie, because this review and the one before coincided with EVERYTHING I've heard about it.

The Matrix Resurrections (HBO Max, ad-free version only):

Return to a world of two realities: one, everyday life; the other, what lies behind it. To find out if his reality is a construct, to truly know himself, Mr. Anderson will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more.

Whoa. (Yeah, I had to. )

If you walk into a dozen different forests in the world, it's all the same, but different. You have trees, foliage, animals, climate, but it's not the same. That is THIS movie. If one harkens back to The Architect's speech in Matrix 2, you'll get why this movie exists.

I loved it, worth the wait, will watch again to catch things I might have missed the first time, the nuances. HIGHLY recommend.

Greenland (HBO Max):

A family struggles for survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster.

While it has its moments, it is a run-of-the-mill end-of-days movie. Let's put it this way: due to KC whupping up on PIT in the NFL, I wanted something worthwhile *enough* to fit the bill, and this worked. It didn't bore me, but it didn't really impress me, either.

Don't Look Up (Netflix streaming):

Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.

I thought it was brilliant. This satire skewers EVERYONE. I shall attempt to tread carefully, due to the rules on this site, and if I fail, please forgive me.

I have heard many takes (in general terms, no specifics) before watching. I was 50-50 on whether I would like this movie. The first thought was: Ok, this movie is NOT pulling punches. It's out there, taking shots.

Second thought, the way it's presented, was "Natural Born Killers" showing brief glimpses of images/short video (a couple seconds) of stuff that in totally unrelated to the story at hand. Happens more often than not, making it more than a coincidence.

Third thought...anyone who has a SERIOUS beef with this movie. probably was triggered (I still hate that word, it's used too much). My...type of personality was satirized, also, and I laughed, because it was true. If one cannot laugh at oneself, etc...

I highly recommend. Great commentary as to where we are as a society. I would say prepare to be "RAH!" at some moments, and be angry at other moments. It was very well done, and I give it the rare "I'm gonna buy the DVD" recommendation. Repeat viewability, where at the LEAST, in 20 years, you can see where we were at this point in civilization.

Agreed, Don’t Look Up is great. About 2/3rds of the way thru you realize what they are doing and it’s awesome. The cast is crazy good too. Jonah Hill in particular kills it.

Each character definitely represents a certain demographic. The chemistry is awesome.

When that clicks it gets exponentially funnier.

Also, Jonah Hill and Jennifer Lawrence telling the GOAT story about Meryl Streep on talk shows is hilarious.

The Shack (Netflix streaming):

A grieving man receives a mysterious, personal invitation to meet with God at a place called "The Shack."

I really liked this movie, very much a personal journey. There are parts where it feels like it's a Hallmark/Lifetime movie with a PhD and some effort, and then it balances out with some artsy elements to it. The end result is a deep, sometimes dark, solid watch. I dare say, a non-comedic "Dogma" sort of movie per religion and beliefs. Definitely have to be in the mood for such a movie, but I'd give it a go.

New Spider-Man movie was a great movie, having seen the previous Spider-Man movies. I heard groups of people talking after the movie who hadn’t seen the previous movies asking a lot of questions. It was a huge production, very much a cartoon type of character depth and plot. But that’s what the marvel movies are.

I liked it but don’t think too much, go along for the ride. Also the theatre was full. The movie theatre industry is in trouble and needs this badly.

Don’t look up on Netflix. I will watch this again. Dark comedy and clear ties to todays news, politics, and people. Highly recommend.

POMS (Netflix Streaming):

POMS is a comedy about a group of women who form a cheer leading squad at their retirement community, proving that you're never too old to 'bring it!'

Has Diane Keaton, Pam Grier, Rhea Perlman in it...WTF let's check it out.

It is exactly what you'd expect from the description. Old people doing things old people aren't supposed to do. And you know what? I *liked* this movie. It was brainless fun. They had fun with the plot didn't give a sh* about anything, 90 minutes without a care in the world, is how I saw it. Give it a whirl, you might be surprised.

I don't watch too many movies but a couple of days ago I happened to tune into an older one on cable called "Mud", in large part because it carried a viewer rating of 98 and I just felt like relaxing that evening. Anyway, after a few minutes I was really drawn into the acting and storyline. Anyone else here happen to see it?

Loved it. Matt McC's lesser known movies are awesome, he really shows his chops in these.

Is this on Netflix?

Disc only.

I could have predicted that. 99% of the time I find a movie I’d like to see, Netflix and prime don’t have it.

Hence why I have both Netflix disc and streaming. Netflix disc also has a MASSIVE library of older movies. According to Google, Prime and Hulu plus is available to rent...

Yeah that defeats the purpose of already paying for those services up front. I’m not paying twice to watch a movie.

I agree, so Netflix disc. I don't do Prime or Hulu, etc unless free trial.

I pay for Netflix dual and HBO Max. I leech Disney.

You pay for Amazon shipping each time?

Nope. I build a list until I get enough to get free shipping. And about once every 4 buys, I get a free 30 day trial or something for Prime.

Do you clip coupons too?

I do not. I'm not THAT meticulous.

Article about the 15 most boring movies of the last 20 years

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/654013/most-boring-movies

I’ll agree with most of those, but Suicide Squad? Not a great, or even a good, movie but it’s not boring.

You can argue how good they are but most of those were not boring

Agreed. None of them are that great, and many were very disappointing. That doesn't necessarily equate to boring.

What I find most hilarious is how very narrow this group of “boring” films are. Was the quiz only given to 14-26 year old males? It’s heavily weighted towards comic book films with a couple of animated ones thrown in. You want boring, try the retrospective of the German lesbian avant-garde film maker the Walker did about 10 years ago! A 3 hour evening I’ll never get back. Or at least a dozen films The Rube has watched just this last year alone. :poke: This list? It’s boring in its lack of any real thought, not the films listed.