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Last Movie you Watched?

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  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited April 2017 Posts: 23,883
    Bastille Day (AKA The Take) 2016
    DYr8qo8.jpg

    First watch for me of this Idris Elba starring actioner. It also stars Richard Madden (King In The North Rob Stark from GoT), Charlote Le Bon, Kelly Reilly and Jose Garcia. The film had the unfortunate circumstance of being released around the time of the Nice Bastille Day truck/lorry attack and was consequently pulled from theatres in France. It was later released on home video with the new (& far less memorable) title of The Take. Elba plays Sean Briar, a tough as nails CIA agent. He's tracking Michael Mason (Madden), a suspected terrorist in a bombing attack in a Paris suburb who was caught on security cameras. Unbeknownst to the authorities, Mason was a victim of circumstance. A petty thief, he had just stolen a bag carrying the bomb from Zoe (Le Bon) before it went off. Briar tracks down Mason, finds out the truth, and the two off them set off to find Zoe and the people who put her up to the attack. Their search leads them to a conspiracy by a renegade faction of the French police, who were attempting to use the bombing as a distraction to divert attention from a bank robbery they intended to commit. Needless to say 'man of action' Briar is able to take down the whole operation, with a little help from Mason.

    This film is quite forgettable. It has that cheap Euro (trash) thriller feel to it. Underdeveloped characters abound with terrible accents spouting unwitty banter. In fact, this film proves that not all Brits can pull of an American accent (Elba isn't all that great with it, and neither is Madden or Reilly). The action is ok, with a vertiginous rooftop Paris chase being a highlight. Still, it's not especially memorable & reminds me a bit of the 2015 Brosnan/Jovovich starring Survivor. Both films have great casts, but could have been much more than they ended up being. Elba is highly charismatic however, and is still quite watchable, even in something as characterless as this.
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    FoxRox wrote: »
    Just started Easy Rider (1969).

    One of my favourites. What a soundtrack!
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    Bastille Day (AKA The Take) 2016
    DYr8qo8.jpg

    First watch for me of this Idris Elba starring actioner. It also stars Richard Madden (King In The North Rob Stark from GoT), Charlote Le Bon, Kelly Reilly and Jose Garcia. The film had the unfortunate circumstance of being released around the time of the Nice Bastille Day truck/lorry attack and was consequently pulled from theatres in France. It was later released on home video with the new (& far less memorable) title of The Take. Elba plays Sean Briar, a tough as nails CIA agent. He's tracking Michael Mason (Madden), a suspected terrorist in a bombing attack in a Paris suburb who was caught on security cameras. Unbeknownst to the authorities, Mason was a victim of circumstance. A petty thief, he had just stolen a bag carrying the bomb from Zoe (Le Bon) before it went off. Briar tracks down Mason, finds out the truth, and the two off them set off to find Zoe and the people who put her up to the attack. Their search leads them to a conspiracy by a renegade faction of the French police, who were attempting to use the bombing as a distraction to divert attention from a bank robbery they intended to commit. Needless to say 'man of action' Briar is able to take down the whole operation, with a little help from Mason.

    This film is quite forgettable. It has that cheap Euro (trash) thriller feel to it. Underdeveloped characters abound with terrible accents spouting unwitty banter. In fact, this film proves that not all Brits can pull of an American accent (Elba isn't all that great with it, and neither is Madden or Reilly). The action is ok, with a vertiginous rooftop Paris chase being a highlight. Still, it's not especially memorable & reminds me a bit of the 2015 Brosnan/Jovovich starring Survivor. Both films have great casts, but could have been much more than they ended up being. Elba is highly charismatic however, and is still quite watchable, even in something as characterless as this.
    Agreed. It's a forgettable flick, but it's a film only made to serve as Idris Elba's vehicle. And yes, like you said, it's Elba who shines throughout the entire movie and the others are just background noises, save for the darling Kelly Reilly.

    You've got to admit, @bondjames, that "pinky promise" scene was funny to no end. :))
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    patb wrote: »
    Runaway Train 1985

    Just love this film but had forgotten just how much. Wonderful cast, great stunt work, zero CGI and a depth that you only realise after 2 or 3 viewings. It really is a gem but few people have it on their radar. Voight at his absolute best IMHO He was nominated for an Oscar but he should have won


    Saw this in the cinema when it came out. One of my favourites.

    PRISONERS

    Wow, this film is totally believable in every aspect, thanks to the actors, Villeneuve and whoever wrote it. Very unpleasant much of the time, but the way the story buids, you get sucked in and never know what happens next. And that ending...
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited April 2017 Posts: 24,169
    PRISONERS, much like ENEMY, SICARIO, ARRIVAL and INCENDIES effectively demonstrates Villeneuve's skills to me. If BLADE RUNNER 2049 works, if he delivers, I'm sure he will never do anything wrong in my book, no matter what happens.

    Also, I want him to do a Bond film.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited April 2017 Posts: 23,883
    @ClarkDevlin, pinky promise was indeed hilarious. Bastille Day/The Take could have been so much more though. Such a shame. They had the budget and they had an interesting location (which they used very well, with some wonderful location photography and immersive atmosphere). It's the characterizations and dialogue that were awful, as well as the boring Euro villains.

    For a moment I thought I was watching Bodie in The Professionals as Elba tore through the place. It has a feel similar to that 70's tv show in places.

    He is one heck of a presence, I have to admit. Machismo in spades. Madden looked like a wuss next to him.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    bondjames wrote: »
    @ClarkDevlin, pinky promise was indeed hilarious. Bastille Day/The Take could have been so much more though. Such a shame. They had the budget and they had an interesting location (which they used very well, with some wonderful location photography and immersive atmosphere). It's the characterizations and dialogue that were awful, as well as the boring Euro villains.

    For a moment I thought I was watching Bodie in The Professionals as Elba tore through the place. It has a feel similar to that 70's tv show in places.

    He is one heck of a presence, I have to admit. Machismo in spades. Madden looked like a wuss next to him.
    100% Agreed! Well said!
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    Laura Croft Tomb Raider

    I caught most of this on TV last night. Not nearly as bad as I remember it being but still not as great as it could've been. If I remember right, the sequel was far worse. I'm looking forward to the reboot staring Alicia Vikander.
    alicia-vikander-the-danish-girl.jpg
    Clearly they're basing it off the new games.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    From that photo I can see why she is a current director's favourite. There's something of a chameleon to her as well (I've noticed that she can look & act unrecognizably depending on the role), like Blanchett.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    PRISONERS, much like ENEMY, SICARIO, ARRIVAL and INCENDIES effectively demonstrates Villeneuve's skills to me. If BLADE RUNNER 2049 works, if he delivers, I'm sure he will never do anything wrong in my book, no matter what happens.

    Also, I want him to do a Bond film.

    So far I have only seen this and Arrival, but the others are on my watchlist.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,169
    DONNIE BRASCO

    donnie-brasco-1997-01.jpg

    Pacino, Depp, Madsen, ... are exquisite in this delicious crime thriller. Well-made film!
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,963
    @DarthDimi, I haven't seen that in such a long time, need to change that soon! I remember it being great, especially the ending.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,169
    It's a great flick, @Creasy47!

    GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS

    Glengarry-Glen-Ross-poster.png

    An incredibly well acted Broadway adaptation, this. I had a lot of fun with it.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.

    I actually do prefer Alicia's casting over Angelina Jolie's. Though, Jolie was almost perfect casting for Laura from the old games. Hurley would've been amazing as well and she had the body for it, more so than Jolie.
    I just like the new direction they've taken Laura and I prefer the more realistic version of her.
  • GerardGerard
    Posts: 5,993
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 : I loved it. Funny, entertaining, moving, with quite a few unexpected cameos. In short : I Am Groot !!!
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited April 2017 Posts: 15,423
    QsAssistant wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.

    I actually do prefer Alicia's casting over Angelina Jolie's. Though, Jolie was almost perfect casting for Laura from the old games. Hurley would've been amazing as well and she had the body for it, more so than Jolie.
    I just like the new direction they've taken Laura and I prefer the more realistic version of her.
    I never liked Jolie for one bit as Lara. She enforced her uber-feminist "I'm better than any man" ideology way too much in the shape of that character and Lara wasn't that kind of person in the old games. She was competent, coherently confident, trusting and strong, but she wasn't a total arrogant shrew, which Jolie was. So, yes, I'd have preferred Elizabeth Hurley by a long distant mileage. She has an oozing sex appeal, and easily stole the spotlight from everyone around, but she never had an inflating opinion of herself.

    As for Vikander's Lara, the live action version of the 2013 rendition of the character that I personally despised, I wish its fans luck. I'm not really excited about it. But, I'll see it someday just to know what it's like.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    I don't know much about Lara Croft (although I've seen both the films), but I think Vikander has the skills to give a genuine heartfelt three dimensional portrayal of the character, which is something the overpraised Jolie never did.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited April 2017 Posts: 13,978
    I actually did like the 2013 game.... but I would rather see any cinematic Lara more resemble the classic games, as in the games that turned Lara into a videogame pop culture icon.

    @ClarkDevlin, I like your suggestion of Elizabeth Hurley, that is, if a Tomb Raider film had been made in the 1990's. For a Tomb Raider film in 2017, I would have gone with Alison Carroll.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I actually did like the 2013 game.... but I would rather see any cinematic Lara more resemble the classic games, as in the games that turned Lara into a videogame pop culture icon.

    @ClarkDevlin, I like your suggestion of Elizabeth Hurley, that is, if a Tomb Raider film had been made in the 1990's. For a Tomb Raider film in 2017, I would have gone with Alison Carroll.
    @MajorDSmythe, yes, yes and a thousand times yes!

    Allison Carroll did an oustanding job for Lara in Underworld, I'd have loved her in the role had 'that' Lara delivered herself to a 2017 Tomb Raider film today.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I actually did like the 2013 game.... but I would rather see any cinematic Lara more resemble the classic games, as in the games that turned Lara into a videogame pop culture icon.

    @ClarkDevlin, I like your suggestion of Elizabeth Hurley, that is, if a Tomb Raider film had been made in the 1990's. For a Tomb Raider film in 2017, I would have gone with Alison Carroll.
    @MajorDSmythe, yes, yes and a thousand times yes!

    Allison Carroll did an oustanding job for Lara in Underworld, I'd have loved her in the role had 'that' Lara delivered herself to a 2017 Tomb Raider film today.

    It's typical of Hollywood. Now is when they decide to make Lara like the games, it couldn't have have happened pre-reboot*.


    * Sarcasm.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    MajorDSmythe wrote: »
    I actually did like the 2013 game.... but I would rather see any cinematic Lara more resemble the classic games, as in the games that turned Lara into a videogame pop culture icon.

    @ClarkDevlin, I like your suggestion of Elizabeth Hurley, that is, if a Tomb Raider film had been made in the 1990's. For a Tomb Raider film in 2017, I would have gone with Alison Carroll.
    @MajorDSmythe, yes, yes and a thousand times yes!

    Allison Carroll did an oustanding job for Lara in Underworld, I'd have loved her in the role had 'that' Lara delivered herself to a 2017 Tomb Raider film today.

    I had to look up Allison Carroll and she's absolutely stunning! She could easily play Laura if they went with the old version of her.
    1200px-Alison_Carroll_6.jpg
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.

    I think the Tomb Raider film is simply going where the Bond films have gone back to recently: the women aren't there to be gawked at as their sole purpose, they have actual personalities beyond being objects for men's crude entertainment. I don't think hiring a capable actress for a role that requires a sense of personality is a bad thing, nor do I think it's a pre-requisite that a woman's breasts need to be twice the size of her head for a true Lara representation to be realized. The character was a bad side effect of the sex sells mantra, and clearly wasn't emphasized much as a character as she could've been beyond the obvious eye candy.

    I don't care for the character or how she's written across the board nor have I ever seen the interest beyond the sexual bait, but I would happily accept films that treated her like an actual character and not a stick with two balloons attached. I am sure there are plenty of pornos out there to see the original Lara at work in.
  • TuuliaTuulia
    edited May 2017 Posts: 2,081
    Thunderfinger wrote: »

    PRISONERS

    Wow, this film is totally believable in every aspect, thanks to the actors, Villeneuve and whoever wrote it. Very unpleasant much of the time, but the way the story buids, you get sucked in and never know what happens next. And that ending...

    Yeah, it's good isn't it. Well written and directed, the cast all do great work, and Deakins' cinematography and Johannsson's score are excellent. I need a re-watch...

    GAVIN HOOD

    Eye In The Sky (2015)
    I watched this for the cast (Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, Alan Rickman), but it was so good I immediately checked who did it. Gavin Hood? Okay, what else has he done...

    Rendition (2007)
    Like with Eye In The Sky the cast (especially Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon) would have been enough recommendation to me, really. I liked this even more. Another fascinating modern story about people and politics. I loved the way this was structured and cut. That moment when you're watching a movie and realize how what you've been watching until then actually fit together, and you go "oh god..." Wonderful work.

    Ender's Game (2013)
    Bloody awful.

    Tsotsi (2005)
    Best foreign language picture Oscar winner. A story about a young man who steals a car, then finds a baby on the back seat. I liked this a lot. The dvd also had an earlier short film The Storekeeper (1998) which I quite liked as well.

    X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
    I wasn't going to watch this at first, but then I thought might as well. Too over-the-top action packed, to the point of boredom, and very forgettable.

    Clearly Tsotsi, Rendition and Eye In The Sky are the type of movies Hood should concentrate on, he excels in those political, social and human complexities.
  • bondsumbondsum
    Posts: 3,333
    stag wrote: »
    'Hell Drivers' featuring a very young Sean Connery.
    Check out Connery in The Frightened City made in 1961 just before Dr. No. I preferred it to his appearance in Hell Drivers.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.

    I think the Tomb Raider film is simply going where the Bond films have gone back to recently: the women aren't there to be gawked at as their sole purpose, they have actual personalities beyond being objects for men's crude entertainment. I don't think hiring a capable actress for a role that requires a sense of personality is a bad thing, nor do I think it's a pre-requisite that a woman's breasts need to be twice the size of her head for a true Lara representation to be realized. The character was a bad side effect of the sex sells mantra, and clearly wasn't emphasized much as a character as she could've been beyond the obvious eye candy.

    I don't care for the character or how she's written across the board nor have I ever seen the interest beyond the sexual bait, but I would happily accept films that treated her like an actual character and not a stick with two balloons attached. I am sure there are plenty of pornos out there to see the original Lara at work in.

    Well said! The new Tomb Raider games actually give Laura real depth and I'm sure the new movies will have that too.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    QsAssistant wrote: »
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Alicia's casting wasn't that of the more sexually aggressive and overtly attractive gun-toting Lara Croft that we used to know from the older games. She's solely cast in the role in resemblance of the younger and for others as they'll describe, realistic (I call it politically correct balderdash) reboot of the character that debuted in 2013 with two installments in the belt of the new chronicles so far. A Lara completely different from her original depiction. But, perhaps far more different. Vikander is the perfect fit for that type of Lara. Whereas Jolie, Liz Hurley (a could have been) and other sexy types are reserved for the original one.

    I think the Tomb Raider film is simply going where the Bond films have gone back to recently: the women aren't there to be gawked at as their sole purpose, they have actual personalities beyond being objects for men's crude entertainment. I don't think hiring a capable actress for a role that requires a sense of personality is a bad thing, nor do I think it's a pre-requisite that a woman's breasts need to be twice the size of her head for a true Lara representation to be realized. The character was a bad side effect of the sex sells mantra, and clearly wasn't emphasized much as a character as she could've been beyond the obvious eye candy.

    I don't care for the character or how she's written across the board nor have I ever seen the interest beyond the sexual bait, but I would happily accept films that treated her like an actual character and not a stick with two balloons attached. I am sure there are plenty of pornos out there to see the original Lara at work in.

    Well said! The new Tomb Raider games actually give Laura real depth and I'm sure the new movies will have that too.

    They're interesting game montages to watch, that's for sure. The developers really put the lass through the ringer, and they don't hold back on those kill animations!
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited May 2017 Posts: 15,423
    Casino Royale (1967):

    I don't even know where to begin. It's my second time watching it and even though I enjoyed it more than my first viewing (which was four years ago), as well as having laughed a lot at some scenes (that were mainly sped up), I still wonder...

    Were the people who wrote, directed and authorized this script to film on some sort of a drug that is a mixture of marijuana and steroids? I mean... Really? If they wanted comedy, they should have hired Blake Edwards to do it, instead of doing "Ten times the What's New, Pussycat?".

    And it was utterly stupid of the person who rejected that other serious script by Ben Hecht. Overtly stupid.

    That's all.

    My head hurts already, I can't go any further to dismantling this, I'm afraid.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Casino Royale (1967):

    I don't even know where to begin. It's my second time watching it and even though I enjoyed it more than my first viewing (which was four years ago), as well as having laughed a lot at some scenes (that were mainly sped up), I still wonder...

    Were the people who wrote, directed and authorized this script to film on some sort of a drug that is a mixture of marijuana and steroids? I mean... Really? If they wanted comedy, they should have hired Blake Edwards to do it, instead of doing "Ten times the What's New, Pussycat?".

    And it was utterly stupid of the person who rejected that other serious script by Ben Hecht. Overtly stupid.

    That's all.

    My head hurts already, I can't go any further to dismantling this, I'm afraid.

    I've never doved in and watched this one. Mostly because I see this reaction is the common one. ;)
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited May 2017 Posts: 15,423
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »
    ClarkDevlin wrote: »
    Casino Royale (1967):

    I don't even know where to begin. It's my second time watching it and even though I enjoyed it more than my first viewing (which was four years ago), as well as having laughed a lot at some scenes (that were mainly sped up), I still wonder...

    Were the people who wrote, directed and authorized this script to film on some sort of a drug that is a mixture of marijuana and steroids? I mean... Really? If they wanted comedy, they should have hired Blake Edwards to do it, instead of doing "Ten times the What's New, Pussycat?".

    And it was utterly stupid of the person who rejected that other serious script by Ben Hecht. Overtly stupid.

    That's all.

    My head hurts already, I can't go any further to dismantling this, I'm afraid.

    I've never doved in and watched this one. Mostly because I see this reaction is the common one. ;)
    Don't bother, Braders. Not yet. Until you find too much time on your hands later in life, then give it a watch on experimental and educational (not that there's any, mind you?) purposes. Oh, and SMERSH uses Unidentified Flying Objects as their means of transportation.
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