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I'm sure you'll enjoy it a great deal. I'm going to watch it again in a couple of days.
@Thunderfinger
I was a few years too young then. I envy you.
@QsAssistant and @Last_Rat_Standing
I too prefer the sequel.
@fire_and_ice
I too hope that CLERKS 3 will happen soon.
MALLRATS
Not really Smith's best but certainly good enough for a pass. Good to see Stan Lee. Can't believe the Studio originally mandated a replacement for Mewes as Jay. And I really dislike Jason Lee and Michael Rooker in this film. Affleck is so bad here, his performance is actually funny. :D
Cool Blue Thunder and Final Countdown were two other films from that era where Bluray really enhanced the aerial scenes.
Right there with you. I enjoy both of them, but the second one is beyond crude, raunchy, and hilarious.
Almost a quarter of that film is really good!
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
The main flaw, for me, is that some aspects of the plot make no sense: a) Beaumont (Belmondo) threatens to go to the press and tell them about the attempts on his life, but what's stopping his chasers from talking to the reporters and telling them Beaumont is trying to kill a president? b) Why would they even have to debate whether to let Belmondo go at the end, after what he's done? The other weakness I see, albeit less signifcant, is that there are some very interesting character traits of Beaumont that are hinted at, but left mostly unexplored. One that comes to mind is that through his mission, he seems to be living a sort of protracted suicide -- a fascinating concept that merited a few more scenes devoted to it (after all, the film is fairly short). Another one is how he uses the women in his life -- he doesn't seem like a caring person; there is a darkness there that is left a mystery.
(END SPOILERS)
For me, the film still manages to overcome these weaknesses, mainly because the plot inconsistencies do at least provide some very distinctive, memorable scenes (I just wish the writing justified them better) and the character aspects, while underexplored, still generate a great deal of interest. This is one film I wouldn't mind seeing a remake of, although I wonder who could replace Belmondo today...
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
I'd just like to address the very intriguing ending to the story.
I love how it basically turns the entire film and its narrative into a metaphor for how people change: by transitioning through different versions of themselves. How that moment seems to almost fuse the new Pelham (which we're conditioned to think of as a villain) with the old Pelham (the hero) is an emotional sleight-of-hand that is very clever. When, at the very end, the new Pelham feels pain for a second while the old Pelham is "dying", what is happening? Is the pain the feeling of shedding the old self, or is it the feeling that while the old self has been pushed aside, it will always linger around, in some way?
The scene is greatly complimented by the dreamlike imagery and events that precede it (the pool ball, the cars appearing on opposite directions of the road, etc.).
In sum, the ending as a whole is just a brilliant way of presenting the concept of the self and exploring in both its intellectual and emotional dimensions.
I'd definitely consider it a western, of sorts. Cracking film, that one.
A film that dared to have hope, even while showing the horrors of war. If you don't fall in love with Gadot's Diana in this film, you have a black pit where your soul should be.
Without Reeve it would have been an F... but yeah, totally watchable. O'Toole's Lana was spot on.
Martin Scorsese s documentary from 2005.
Kevin Smith's third film is crudely honest, full of good jokes and has some pretty touching moments. I was confounded to discover that some academics are allegedly offended by the portrayal of lesbians in this film; they really shouldn't be so obtuse about it. The fun is there and this film is very much pro-LGBT.
DOGMA
I love this one, even though sitting through the (much too long) second half requires one to be seriously inebriated in my opinion. Never one to shed off the vim of youth, Kevin Smith's critical examination of Catholicism, his own predilection for messianic messages not withstanding, is highly amusing.
Wonder Woman is a strong solid film and while I slightly prefer BVS (I know I am in the minority we don't need to make a big deal out of it) I felt the film was still quite strong and deserves it's praise I have a few minor problems with it
beyond that it was good
Up Next I don't know either Pretty in Pink or Jaws 3
Ranking of non Bond films 2017
1. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
2. Beverly Hills Cop 2 (I decided that though both films are great I will give rogue nation at number 1 largely because I know in July when I see Jaws that will take the top spot as it's my favorite film of all time)
3. Snake Eyes
4. Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol
5. Beverly Hills Cop
6. Mission Impossible 3
7. The Firm
8. My week with Marilyn
9. Wonder Woman
10. Kong Skull Island
11. Mission Impossible
12. Beverly Hills Cop 3
13. Ghostbusters
14. When Harry meet Sally
15. Batman Mystery of Batwoman
16. Limitless
17. Batman Year one
18. Fifty shades darker
19. Mission Impossible 2
20. Jaws the Revenge
21. National Lampoon's Vacation
Jaws Franchise
1. Jaws the Revenge (man does it pain me to put this at number but only because I technically haven't seen the other films this year)
Brian de Palma films
1. Snake Eyes
2. Mission impossible
Beverly Hills Cop Franchise
1. Beverly Hills Cop 2
2. Beverly Hill Cop
3. Beverly Hills Cop 3
Ranking of films that came out in 2017
1. Wonder Woman
2. Kong Skull Island
3. Fifty Shades Darker
DC Films
1. Wonder Woman (I feel I may need to see Batman Begins soon so a batman film can top this list again)
2. Batman Mystery of the Batwoman
3. Batman Year one
Mission Impossible franchise
1. Mission impossible Rogue Nation
2. Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol
3. Mission Impossible 3
4. Mission Impossible
5. Mission Impossible 2
Ranking of all films
1. Casino Royale
2. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
3. Beverly Hills Cop 2
4. Quantum of Solace
5. Snake Eyes
6. Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol
7. For Your Eyes Only
8. Beverly Hills Cop
9. Mission Impossible 3
10. The Firm
11. My week with Marilyn
12. Wonder Woman
13. Kong Skull Island
14. Mission Impossible
15. Beverly Hills Cop 3
16. Ghostbusters
17. When Harry meet Sally
18. Batman Mystery of Batwoman
19. Limitless
20. Batman Year one
21. Fifty shades darker
22. Mission Impossible 2
23. Jaws the Revenge
24. National Lampoon's Vacation
As for the depiction of war in the film, I think you misunderstand the meaning they were going for. The whole point of the film, and a far more interesting twist than anything related to Ares, is that human kind doesn't act evil because a god told them to or they were created that way, we make ourselves into monsters. Ares points out that he barely lifted a finger to get the war going, and almost entirely absent of his involvement with the human species, just as he warned Zeus about, they went about killing each other in the most horrific of wars imaginable, murdering indiscriminately and losing touch with love and compassion. The wars of the world don't just end when Ares dies, it goes on, and that's the whole point of the movie, and the heart-shattering realization Diana comes to. Humans screw up and do bad things, but it's love that can redeem us and she saw the good of the species in her time with them. The reason that WWI made way for WWII and Vietnam, Korea and all the rest of the major conflicts that came afterward isn't because of a god like Ares manipulating people, it was because we make our own evils as a species, through human error.
Diana was ultimately able to understand the reality of war, and that it isn't down to one man or powerful being responsible for it all as she assumed Ares was. When he died the problems of war and the evils of man didn't end because he was never responsible for them in the first place, it was all our own doing. Diana tricked herself into thinking that it was Ares who started all war and who was using the people of earth like a puppet master to prove his point to Zeus, because the alternative would be the unthinkable idea that humans are capable of evil through their free will alone. She was horrified to find out the truth, because she couldn't understand how people could act so cruelly as a choice, and not as something they were manipulated into. This realization forces her to rethink everything she'd been told in her Greek legends throughout her life, and her trials in "man's world" give her a purpose, knowing she always needs to be there to keep the peace between the species to avoid further conflict. As a mediator, she strives to quell growing fires between men and women before they burn it all down.
Isn t the second half the same length as the first half? In every movie?
The first time I saw this film I thought it was a complete PoS. Like many, I much preferred The Wrath of Khan. However, with each subsequent viewing, I've grown to appreciate it more. Now it's one of my favourites.
It focuses on a large cloud like entity called V'ger which approaches earth, destroying everything in its path. 'Admiral' Kirk and a newly updated Enterprise are dispatched to investigate and stop it. The returning cast are in top form, and one can feel the genuine warmth between all of the actors, which spills over into their performance. The Shat owns his scenes as always, and Nimoy, Kelley, Doohan, Takei, Nichols et al. are all fantastic too. This team is legendary, and the current rebooters can't hold a candle to them in terms of charisma or presence. Persis Khambatta is very appealing as the unfortunate Lt. Ilia and Stephen Collins as sidelined young Enterprise captain Willard Decker is a sympathetic character.
The special effects are very good for their time, but quite outdated by today's standards. The real star is the legendary Jerry Goldsmith imho. One of my favourite composers (along with Barry), he crafts a beautifully haunting and ethereal score for this film, and it really lifts the proceedings immensely.
I applaud producer (and creator) Roddenberry and director Robert Wise for focusing more on exploration, discovery & wonderment rather than the more predictable angst, conflict and action which followed in subsequent entries. This film has an almost documentary-like leisurely pace to it, but it does touch on some important questions. What is consciousness? Are we all looking for our creator? Even if we amass knowledge about everything and everyone, will we feel complete without intimacy and personal contact?
---
Something I'd like to point out: As mentioned, while the effects work is very good for the day, it's quite dated by today's standards. It's apparent that certain methods and approaches which were fashionable for the time were employed to create the necessary impression. While watching this film, I was reminded of MR, made in the same year. The Bond film feels far more modern (and contemporary) to me precisely because the producers and directors didn't resort to effects work that would date, but rather relied more on real world stunt and model work. They really were ahead of their time back then. This is something I don't think they do half as well anymore, and I suspect their most recent efforts will prematurely date on account of it. Shame.
Some jokes work, some don't. But then again, when is a comedy flick perfect? Sure enough, the film could have been cut some, I guess. No one mandated a 100 minute adventure with the only two constants from all four of Kevin Smith's previous films: Jay and Silent Bob. But packed with plenty cameos and references, this film probably works best when viewed as one big 'View Askew' getting-together party. Will Ferrell is the only absolutely unlikeable presence in this film. I'm having a lot of fun with most of JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK.
I was listening to Michael Giacchino's score for this movie and it compelled me to watch it. I never found it to be bad like the fandom did. It does suffer from the flaws QOS suffers from. It's pace is a bit too fast. The film has it's share of moments that could have made the film better if they were removed. Like Kirk angrily punching Benedict Cumberbatch until he had to be told to stop. Or the gratuitous underwear shot of Alice Eve.
Aside from those little quibbles I think it does have a lot of good things about it. It's one of the most visually striking Star Trek films in the franchise. The special effects are pretty good and the acting is good. Though characterization is still a bit iffy. I'm not a fan of frat boy bro-dude Kirk at the beginning of the film. Thankfully that goes away once the meat of the story begins. Spock being sassy with Admiral Pike was also a misstep in character.
The villains of the film are pretty good too. Peter Weller does a good job being the manipulative and corrupt, war mongering Admiral Marcus. He can be fatherly and caring one minute then be slimy and sinister the next. Great performance. It was a shame the character was killed off. I would have liked to have seen him get served real justice.
I think Benedict Cumberbatch does a great job playing Khan. He really brings the sophistication and menace of the character. He also does a good job bringing the physicality of the genetically engineered superman to life as we never really got to see Khan fight.
Fans dismiss this movie as a remake/rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, but it isn't. It features many elements from many original series episodes. It has a few direct references to Wrath of Khan towards the end but I think those are handled pretty well. I like the political aspect to it. Admiral Marcus has an agenda. He thinks war with the Klingons is the only way so blowing them to hell now is the way to go. Khan wants to do what he set out to do in the 90's. Take control of Earth with his genetically followers.
Kirk is still arrogant and cocky but quickly learns what it truly means to be in command. Spock learns the meaning of friendship and emotions. I think it's a good character arc. I wish that was shown better in Star Trek Beyond because they still don't feel like close friends in that film where they do at the end of Into Darkness. All in all, It's not a bad film. It has some flaws but what film doesn't have flaws? It's not the best Star Trek movie, but it's certainly not the worst.
I'd say of the Kevin Smith movies I've seen my order would be...
Mallrats
Clerks 2
Dogma
Jersey Girl
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Clerks
Chasing Amy
Cop Out
Red State
Just rewatched this Paul Newman 60's noir film again. Really liked it the first time, and it was due for another go. In short, Newman plays Lew Harper, who is hired by a Mrs. Sampson (played by Lauren Bacall) to find her (wealthy) kidnapped husband. Sounds like your typical noir-plot, and in some way it is. But it's not a bad story, and a Technicolor-noir set in the 60's in a California coast setting, is great to watch.
Have yet to see the sequel, The Drowning Pool. Will have to see that soon. On that note, has anyone seen The Long Goodbye (1973) or Night Moves (1975)? Interested in checking out those titles as well, and would like opinions on them!