Topic: The Movie Thread

@Yousef- I think I remember loving it. It's obviously stuck in my mind. Definitely one to watch for anyone who hasn't seen it. Does it qualify as a lesser known Scorsese? Or is that reserved for something like Bringing Out the Dead, which I also remember really liking and that is also quite a bit different from other movies 😅

I really should watch some more good and weird movies this winter.

@Ravix I LOVE NICOLAS CAGE I LOVE NICOLAS CAGE I LOVE NICOLAS CAGE
IM A VAMPIRE IM A VAMPIRE IM A VAMPIRE
Also I think you’re my 500th ping

@Yousef- Ah.

Yeah, I do think the Joker works better as a mostly unexplainable force of chaos in the world. There's no real reasoning with or understanding him, and that makes him terrifying.

I do enjoy his very... intimate dynamic with Batman. Particular in The Dark Knight Returns, which paints his relationship as one that's paralyzingly codependent (which seems to have largely influenced subsequent depictions of the character, and gives his rivalry with Batman a peculiar energy you don't see with other hero/villain relationships).

In the case of Joker, it's not even trying to be a take on a classic character, really. It's an attempt at a Scorcese-esque social drama that leans on associations with an IP to drive interest in the film's pathetic little protagonist. If anything, the sequel actually feels a bit more like it's trying to do new things with established characters. Phoenix isn't an amazing take on the Joker, IMO, despite his strong performance, but Lady Gaga's take on Harley Quinn is actually pretty subversive and interesting when you know the rough history of the character's depictions in media.

@Ravix Yeah, first movie was popular. I... had very mixed feelings on it. And this one, too, actually, although I think this is a much braver and more morally coherent film overall.

I've never seen The King of Comedy, actually! It's one I need to add to my list.

@Ralizah you most definitely do. I think it must have inspired a lot of it, or they just ripped stuff straight from it knowing modern DC era Joker will get everyone watching it and barely anyone watching Joker will remember or have seen The King of Comedy. Okay im not being "so serious" (wrong Joker, woops 😛) but going off very busted memories I definitely thought it reminded me of it, a LOT. But a quick Google and there's definitely plenty of similarities that people have also noticed 😅

@yousef-

Right? I mean, it has to be law that everyone likes Nicolas Cage. I could watch him in (and probably have) literally anything. Even if it's garbage it's watchable with him in it. And he's been in some low key all time classics as well, and hidden gems aplenty

Top 5 Nic Cages? Films or characters, I supose. Whichever is easiest. I'd probably find it hard to make a list, but i'll just say everyone should watch Raising Arizona right now, as that is definitely one of my top Cage films. But there's going to be quite a few to choose from 😅

@Ravix waoh, you didn’t capitalize the Y, yet it still pinged.

Yes liking nic is required by law.

Hmmmm top 5 probably vampire kiss, ghost rider, bringing out the dead, face off and… it could happen to you!

@Yousef- We need to know the rules of ping!

@Hogs-of-War-General PREY is well worth a watch, I would love more movies where they drop into different time periods to go hunting!

Just finished watching Puppet Master: The littlest Reich. My wife and I had a good laugh, watching that one. Some inventive gory kills. Just love the fact that people, aren't too messed up, about the fact marionettes are going around butchering folks 🤣.

Watched It's What's Inside on Netflix. It was sold me as a horror movie, but that is stretching the definition a bit, in my opinion. Still, despite being a bit slow at times, it was a fairly entertaining body-swap... comedy?

@MightyDemon82 Dan Trachtenberg is working on a sequel to "PREY", but details are a bit confusing. It's been said that it would take place in a different time period, but Amber Midthunder is also rumoured to return, so I'm not sure what's up with it at this point. I only know that I'm there for either one

Anyone got strong feelings on the Resident Evil movies? I just watched the first one with my roommate a few days ago, and I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed it. I fully expected trashy 2000s action shlock, and while it definitely was that to some degree, it had a lot more qualities to it than I expected. I'm not at all a fan of action movies to begin with though so I took it very much just for what it is and didn't have any high hopes or expectations, haha. I know they introduce some of the actual characters from the games in the next few. Any of them worth giving a shot?

P.S. The Red Queen having this random posh British girl voice was genuinely hilarious. That alone made the movie about twice as entertaining as it would've been otherwise.

@Tjuz I've always been a Resident Evil apologist Always thought it was a fun ride. The later movies are less so. Been too long since I saw them, so I don't really remember which is which, but there's one with Ali Larter in a desert that I found enjoyable (though this may be influenced by my deep and abiding love for miss Larter )
I do remember that I thought the second one was an incoherent mess.

@Ravix @Yousef-
Last year in the run up to Haloween one night I watched a full night of Nic Cage horror films. Starting with Renfield, Willys Wonderland, Color out of Space and finishing with Mandy. It was a very entertaining way to spend an evening!

I'm another who would happily watch anything he turns up in.

@sorteddan "Color Out of Space" and "Mandy" are both ace; for my favourite Cage performances it has to go to "Raising Arizona" and its unofficial sequel "Con Air" - both thoroughly hilarious though perhaps for different reasons.

I've just watched the recent Scream Factory release of "Robocop 2" on an imported 4K blu-ray. It's an absolutely beautiful transfer of a remarkably nihilistic (if slightly underrated) movie - it cannot be understated how much it lacks the satirical edge (writer Frank Miller never understood the concept) that was baked into the classic original at every level - from the script to the performances to the direction from the resolutely un-American Paul Verhoeven.

PS After being completely apathetic towards the prospect of seeing "Joker 2" , the comments here in the topic have pushed it to the top of my must see list. I tend to love movies that actively try to antagonise their audience.

@FuriousMachine I can see why you'd be an apologist! Having only just player and finished my first Resident Evil (2 Remake), I can't say I have enough of an investment in the franchise to be upset about any particular choices they made in its adaptation or anything. I can imagine it's probably not what a lot of people were hoping for, but it was definitely a fun enough time in its own right.

I was wondering why they decided to set this as a prequel to the game's narrative and write their own protagonist however. The easier decision would obviously have been to do a straight up adaptation. To me, they seemingly pulled it off fairly well, though it'd be hard for me to recognise any plot inconsistencies with the video games. I'm interested to see how they end up bringing the beloved characters into the fold and how they've translated them onto the big screen!

@Tjuz Me neither, had never played a single RE game before seeing the movie, but I did know the absolute basics (Umbrella Corp: Bad, Evil, Up to No Good, there was a bad dude named Wesker, etc). I've yet to play a significant portion of any of the games (played RE4 a bit on the Wii), but I do want to and I own 1 and 2. Just need to get around to it.

I understand that the recent "Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City" from 2021 is a lot more faithful, though I wouldn't know for sure how successful it is at adapting the source material. I didn't enjoy it all that much; had more fun with the first one.

Today's viewing was Exhuma from South Korea. One of the best films I've seen in a really really long time. Words do not do this one justice. Loved it.

@FuriousMachine Resident Evil 4 on the Wii of all places, haha! I'm sure that was an interesting experience. I don't think I ever played a game on the Wii that wasn't some kind of party game or game specifically designed to be played with those controllers. Did you also watch the TV show Netflix put out a few years ago? I heard it was... not very good, but hey, you can never go wrong with some Lance Reddick (RIP) at least.

@Pizzamorg I've actually been wanting to watch that for a while now! I saw Kim Go-eun in the KDrama adaptation of Little Women in 2022, and she was amazing there. I've been following up on what she's up to ever since and that movie sounded up my alley ever since I found out about it. I was actually pissed when I realised it screened at Berlinale here earlier in the year, but I found it out too late to get tickets. How's her role in this movie? Thanks for the reminder. I'll have to look it up on demand later today.

@Tjuz Yeah, it was actually quite excellent! It was essentially a light-gun experience with the Wii controller. Fantastic stuff! Shortly thereafter, I sold the Wii and when I tried playing RE4 with a regular controller later, it just wasn't the same

Kim Go-eun is great in the movie @Tjuz - she plays a shaman called Hwa-rim, and the way her abilities are represented are pretty cool. She starts off quite cold and distant, but the movie takes her places and I enjoyed her arc a lot.

I dunno what the aesthetic is called, like lo-fi urban fantasy, but I always like stories like this that present people with abilities in a really matter of fact way that can turn every day things into magical armaments. Big CG spectacles are fun, for sure, but there is something about the narrative problem solving that comes from characters having abilities that aren't for direct confrontation forced to face off against beings far stronger than them.

@Pizzamorg I'm happy to hear that she has a good part! Like I said, I'll definitely be checking it out and reporting back to you about it.

Have you watched Incantation on Netflix by any chance? It's doesn't really present people with abilities or anything, but it very much has that grounded horror feel where instead of big CG moments it's all just more... unsettling and seemingly bigger than them. It's a Japanese found footage flick and I found it to be very good. Judging from what you're telling me, I think you might get a kick out of it as well if you haven't yet watched it.

Thank you for the rec @Tjuz - hadn't heard of this one before, I'll add it to my list.