Recently watched movies

[Arcadia]

I was really eager to see it at first, but there's been so much hype ... enough that I'm worried it will ruin it for me. Plus I've seen clips of audiences being exceptionally noisy, which I cannot stand. So I'm going to wait until the ardor dies down a bit before I go see it. See it I must, though; this feels like a cultural watershed to me, one I want to be part of for a change. Hope it's worth it......

[Pseudonym]

I'm a bit concerned about that too, if I keep hearing how great something is I'm usually disappointed. 

British audiences tend to be silent other than the occasional chuckle, so at least I don't have to factor that in. 

[J.P.]

I'm usually using ear plugs. Not only they make the loud parts bearable, but also isolate from the audience made noise.
I'm also waiting - first to have empty cinemas, second I'm so overworked right now that I cannot digest any information that is not necessary to survive.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Now why hadn't I thought of wearing earplugs?  Seriously -- they could make today's overly-loud movies just about bearable.  I have a type that lets most voice-frequency sounds through but tones down the rest.  Gotta try that!

[Van Buren Supernova]

Well I think the Black Panther is very well received outside and have just read Camper's review (glad you and johnspec enjoyed it).

So with bit of stolen time in my hand, I think I need to write something more about why I still hate it, because it is possible I could be the only one.

To me, the whole watching experience goes like this. I was hopeful in the beginning, didn't like the trailer (except Hallo John! Hey it's John!!), but since it's Marvel I hoped to be at least entertained. So yah, as part of the story and world being revealed I started to get very bored. To me, it's cliche, the characters have no chemistry and if the only person who seems natural and believable to me is some villain guy who doesn't really hold important part, then I have a problem.

Disclaimer, I have no idea how the story is based on real world and how much my knowledge still hold. Used to read quite a bit about various cultures and tribes of Africa and I feel like (really hope I am wrong) they are trying too hard or not hard enough to get those into the diversity of BP world. We see bits and pieces of Mali, Tuareg, Ndebele, brass neck ring, mouth plate (good god, the guy is everywhere, it feels like they want to show how exotic these people are, and the solution is showing him!), but those bits and pieces are just thrown in together in mess with some (weird) modifications that irritate me, because that's it, that's all. It almost feel disrecpectful to the richness of those cultures.

That aside, I failed to feel anything with the main characters. Nothing, nada, didn't feel any sympathy for their cause or believe in anything they want to sell, or whether they are convincing in their roles. The queen was decent, the villain I mentioned earlier (forget name), and Winston Duke from rival tribe is okay (because Iike him from Person of Interest too), too bad didn't feel much for Martin Freeman's role as well. I believe the general can kick ass but the rest, nope, not buying that this and that guy/gal is great at whatever they are supposed to be good at.

The storyline is thinner than paper and as cliche as any 80ties movies as it could be. Didn't miss anything, predictable thoughout.

Have to say that this probably one of the very rare time that I feel sooooo bored watching movie from big screen I started to wish that it ends half way through and happily napping.

But that is just me.

[Hikari]

VBS,

You are very witty.  Negative reviews are my favorite kind to read, because they are much more entertaining than the gushy favorable ones.  The late movie critic Roger Ebert collected all of his 'worst' movie reviews into a book called 'Your Movie Sucks'.  I had to get it just for the title.  I suppose Mr. Ebert would be including 'Black Panther' in 'worst'?  I don't really recall Roger's reaction in general to superhero movies.

I was at the cinema with some friends on Friday night to complete our February tradition since 2015 . . if it's Valentine's Day weekend, or just after, we get together for dinner, drinks and a Fifty Shades of Grey movie.  Out of our group of five, three of us are single and not getting any noogie, vanilla or otherwise.  The other two are (unhappily) married, and it doesn't sound like they are getting any, either.  This was the last one (Thank God), and the dullest one by far, though the production design and locations were nice.  We all bought our tickets before we ate dinner because we were concerned about getting seats together on only the second weekend for FSOG, and, what for a lot of people, would have been their Valentine's Day weekend viewing, seeing as VD was on a Wednesday this year.

Turns out we needn't have worried.  Our gigantic theatre was, maybe, one-third full.   The parking lot was crammed full of cars--all there for 'Black Panther'.  We arrived at about 7:20 for a 7:40 show, and I heard the girl at the window telling patrons that they needed to hustle into BP *now* for a seat--that movie started at 8.  Most of the time, when a movie is hyped to the sky, it winds up being extra-disappointing.  I no longer trust Marvel sequels, because I might love the first one (Captain America; The Avengers; Thor) only to be massively disappointed by the lame second one (Winter Soldier; Age of Ultron; The Dark Whatever that Was).  Pounding the viewer to death with more, more, more CGI than the first does *not* make a better film . . what can we do to get this truth across to movie executives?  I have no particular attachment to Black Panther and if I see it, it will be months from now on DVD.   Thanks for saving me at least $12.95!

[Arcadia]

Thanks for the review, VBS, that's what I needed to bring down expectations. Maybe I can see it now with less anticipation, and therefore be pleasantly surprised if I like it, and not too disappointed if I don't.

I'm not going anywhere near it as long as there's still crowds at the theater, though.

[Carol the Dabbler]

6 hours ago, Hikari said:

Pounding the viewer to death with more, more, more CGI than the first does *not* make a better film . . what can we do to get this truth across to movie executives?

 

Amen!!!  Likewise louder noises and faster action.  None of it makes up for defects in the actual story -- though it may distract the easily-distractible viewer sufficiently that they don't notice those defects.

[Arcadia]

Two of the reviews I've seen make it sound like Black Panther has some decent story elements too, though. In particular they cite a sympathetic villain, instead of the "evil for evil's sake" type. Well, we shall see. Someday. I admit the ad I saw last night, which appeared to be nothing but a souped up car chase, didn't inspire......

[HerlockSholmes]

I used to read Marvel comics as a child (who didn’t?) but I just can’t recall Black Panther. Maybe it’s a more recent character?

[Van Buren Supernova]

Yes, low expectation is the key to happiness. 

But it really seems that everyone loves it. So, it's either me being weird or the rest of the world being unreasonable. It's very obvious that it's the latter.

Anyway, finally watched The Truman Show. I like it, can't imagine how it feels if one day

you find out that everything is a lie.

Still holds up, and it's a plus that Jim Carey is not annoying there.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I was enjoying The Truman Show until it ended too soon, in my opinion.  I was most interested in finding out how he dealt with his discovery.

[J.P.]

There should be Truman's Show 2

[Fantasy Lover]

Yes, low expectation is the key to happiness.  But it really seems that everyone loves it. So, it's either me being weird or the rest of the world being unreasonable. It's very obvious that it's the latter.

Tbh I kept my expectations low because everyone kept going on and on about how great it's going to be and I just wasn't so sure about that, and despite my low expectations I was still disappointed. It was so stereotypical: the costumes, the chanting, the drums, the accents... can we not do this please? Basically

[Arcadia]

22 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I used to read Marvel comics as a child (who didn’t?) but I just can’t recall Black Panther. Maybe it’s a more recent character?

Not really, unless you consider the late sixties recent. (Would that they were.) I dimly remember him being around, but I never considered him a major character, the way, say, Thor was.

13 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

Yes, low expectation is the key to happiness. 

But it really seems that everyone loves it. So, it's either me being weird or the rest of the world being unreasonable. It's very obvious that it's the latter.

Anyway, finally watched The Truman Show. I like it, can't imagine how it feels if one day

  Hide contents

you find out that everything is a lie.

 

Still holds up, and it's a plus that Jim Carey is not annoying there.

Not as annoying. He's always annoying.  I think I would have liked the movie better if almost anyone else had been in it. Sorry, Jim! You just ain't my thing.

[HerlockSholmes]

You’ve surprised me Arcadia. I don’t recall reading any comics with the character in. Then again I wasn’t really an avid reader. I just read quite a few.

[Arcadia]

As I recall, I primarily read the Chris Claremont, Gerry Conway and John Byrne comics. You know, the ones with empowered females in 'em.  I only remember the Panther from guest shots, I think. And he might have done a stint in the Avengers at one point. (Didn't everyone? :d)

[Detective]

Predestination - 7/10

Wait, what?

 

Looper - 9/10

One of the greatest SciFi movies of recent years. Definitely recommended.

 

The Incredibles - 8/10

Awesomeee!

 

Inside Out - 8/10

Very interesting concept and extremely cute but also really smart execution.

 

Black Panther - 7/10

I liked Black Panther, but I think it is overhyped imo.

 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II - 7/10

“I’m Mary Poppins y’all”

 

Bright - 5/10

The concept is unfortunately way better than the execution.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

5 hours ago, Detective said:

The Incredibles - 8/10

Awesomeee!

The original cartoon?  Or is there a remake?

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 2/22/2018 at 1:32 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

I was enjoying The Truman Show until it ended too soon, in my opinion.  I was most interested in finding out how he dealt with his discovery.

Yes I'd be interested to know. But unlike you, I like how they ended it, because if they try to jam him dealing with real world in last ten minutes, my worry that it wouldn't be enough and dissappointing, then bring down the overall feel of the movie.

On 2/22/2018 at 2:27 AM, J.P. said:

There should be Truman's Show 2

I read that they were planning something, with idea that everyone but you is in reality show, but it never came to fruition I guess. Now it might be the right time, because we keep having other unnecessary mindless sequels.

I am wondering what would happen if the baby they pick is not Truman, a very average ordinary person, but Moriarty, Sherlock or Mycroft?  Bear with me for my BS.

If it's Moriarty, how would the world react when they see on the live TV about the emergence of a psychopath and his first kill on innocent unsuspecting actor and the disturbing mind and how he operate and manipulate around. The genre would be different, it sounds like something I would watch though. It's probably how I feel watching Hannibal on later stage. How if, there are actual chanel for that, once the child turns out batshit crazy, they just stop the public airing and only by special subscription you could access it. And then they create the whole community of people they deem worthless to be his playground. Eeeooo I'm selling this movie idea for a big cake. It's probably a combination of Truman, Westworld and Silence of The Lamb.

 

Then, how if it's Sherlock? 

I imagine the world would be very expensive to keep Sherlock in the bubble, literally and figuratively. They would have to rewrite the 'facts', because otherwise they would be exposed easily. In Truman, it is a controlled world where almost everything is fake; the moon, the sun, we see them controlling them, and because I noticed that he has vitamin D supplement which could be indication that he is never exposed to actual sun.

So if they teach Sherlock actual fact like photosynthesis or anything sun related, he would be able to spot some anomaly in things around him, why he keep seeing different plant with same specifications, why his garden soil have different nutrient and finds mysterious UV light bulb somewhere on the fence, things that ordinary people miss.

They would have to supply *shudder* cadavers and labs to keep him 'entertained' eventhough he live in the world without murders. 

Rewriting facts is almost impossible because it's massive connected web and they wouldn't be able to predict what Sherlock would do steps ahead. It's also impossible to limit his thirst of knowledge because he would question and learn everything in short time (Although they don't need to bother about astronomy or installing giant constellation on the dome). He would be too expensive and difficult to keep, so sadly, they have to euthanize him, otherwise he would definitely make them pay.

 

Mycroft, on the other hand, would be the easiest of the three. Give him a vast library, quiet cozy room and old movies, build significant obstacles around certain perimeter, deploy army of goldfish so he would feel frustated should he tries to socialize, and unlimited supply of plum puddings and cakes.

He would find out eventually, then shrug and rewatch his movie.

Cheapest production, but too bad the rating wouldn't be good because it is so boring. Unless the technology is advance enough that audience could see his thoughts.

[Arcadia]

Alas, poor Sherlock...........

[Pseudonym]

I think there's a fic where Sherlock is Truman, Mycroft is the guy in charge of his world and John is the woman who reveals all is not what it seems. I haven't read it but I remember seeing it. 

Moriarty would be the most interesting to watch. Seeing him act sweet and innocent with most people and then seeing he's really a monster. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Realistically speaking (if y'all don't mind, and if such a phrase is even applicable to this discussion), if a baby is put into a super-average world, as Truman was, I think he's likely to turn out pretty average himself, because he has no other role models.  Of course that brings us back to the old "nature or nurture?" debate.  Was Moriarty literally a born psychopath?  Or did he become that way due to the way he was treated in childhood?  Though come to think of it, we're *all* born psychopaths, aren't we?  If a child is allowed to *keep* being completely self-centered and inconsiderate, will they stay that way?  Or would they (in most cases) develop empathy on their own?  Or more to the point here, if a child is raised to be empathetic, will he necessarily turn out that way?

As for Sherlock:  If a kid is routinely discouraged from being curious, will they eventually lose their curiosity?  Or will they become even more determined to figure things out on their own?

 

[Pseudonym]

That reminds me, have any of you seen the documentary Child of Rage? (The actual documentary not the made for TV movie.) It's pretty disturbing, and focuses on a six-year old [possible] psychopath. Hearing the things such a little kid has done is really horrifying, not to mention what she must have been through to make her that way. 

The full documentary is on YouTube, but like I said, it is a disturbing watch. In the first scene she talks openly about how she hurts her little brother and would kill her adopted parents if she wasn't locked in her room at night. She also talks about the things her birth parents did to her, which is as awful as you might imagine. 

 

 

[Detective]

The original cartoon?  Or is there a remake?

The 2004 original of course!
But there is a sequel coming this year...