Rate The Last Movie You Saw

Ugh. Both very lame.

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I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.

Good indie movie. Both leads excellent. I enjoyed it.



Another indie movie. Nothing happens in this movie, but I liked it for what it is.

Gladiator II (2024)

As a film on its own it's a bit overblown and the story is creaky as hell. TBH I didn't understand Denzel Washington's character and his motivations at all. Mescal is ok but far from inspiring. Some of the CGI is very iffy and the final confrontation is flat. But it is watch-able

i've been getting into ICP recently so figured i'd give this a watch. it has some moments.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

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[ J ] - [ S ] - [ F ]

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)


Jane Fonda, Red Buttons, Susannah York, Michael Sarrazin, Bonny Bedelia & Bruce Dern

I'd heard this title most of my life and just assumed it was some "Black Beauty" type movie about horses.

Boy was I wrong!

This is one unique move that pulls no punches. I won't post spoilers, but will say that when you think of the various ways this story could play out and believe they won't go there when it comes the most negative of extremes... they go there.

It's almost hard to believe there was a time when the country was so desperate that people would risk their health & their lives (and in one case even their unborn child's life) to engage in a competition just for the promise of a little money (or that such deadly contests were ever allowed). But the depression-era "dance marathon" depicted in this movie descends into something reminiscent of ancient gladiatorial games where crowds would gather to watch the debauchery of contestants dropping dead from exertion or exhaustion (if not from actual combat).

At times, I got the same feelings from this movie as I got from watching Rollerball (1975). This isn't a sports movie, but since it involves a physical competition with a last-couple-standing type of contest, it bears many similar aspects.

An eclectic cast with Gig Young stealing the show as the ethically-questionable Master of Ceremonies who will go to any lengths for the equivalent of ratings (which in this case translates into sponsor & spectator dollars as he continually ups the ante for the suffering contestants with various types of elimination derbies).

Al Lewis & Gig Young

As bleak & almost sickening as this movie is, I loved it because it hooked me & really caught me off guard with how it ended.

Now THAT was weird!

By http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/tra...oxtrot-trailer, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48846390

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - (2016)

You could wince at the fact that this movie about embedded journalists in Afghanistan during that "Operation Enduring Freedom" period has been given the Tina Fey comedy treatment - but to be fair, Kim Barker's non-fiction book The Taliban Shuffle, on which this is based, had a comedic slant to it. There's only so far you can go though, and as such this film is constantly thudding back down to Earth as serious matters keep arising - you can't avoid that in a story like this. I did enjoy watching the talent on display though - namely Fey herself and the high standard ensemble that included Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Christopher Abbott, Alfred Molina and Billy Bob Thornton. That's enough to ease any discomfort related to a film set in such a troubled land. Being a female reporter is an especially challenging assignment for anyone in Afghanistan, even with the temporary ousting of the Taliban - and I have to admit that I am curious about Kim Barker's book now, so I have to at least give this a rating that reflects that it's not a total pile of rubbish. It just struggles as far as tone is concerned. It's not really a comedy. It's not really a serious film, or a war film. It never settles into one particular groove. There's a deleted scene where Kim Baker [sic] (Fey) accidentally bumps into a couple of fellow reporters at a notorious prison, and starts giggling and laughing with them as dead bodies are being dragged into a pile - somewhat resembling a Nazi concentration camp. You get the contrast there - and how uncomfortable it feels to acknowledge just how numbed these reporters become to horror and tragedy. That's the strongest theme here, but it's not explored with artistic panache, which is a shame. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa had only ever made lighter fare - silly comedies and kid's films, and that it exactly where this went awry.

5/10


By Neon - IMP Awards, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73526403

Sanctuary - (2022)

Looked forward to this one, and it didn't let me down - exceeding my expectations. It would make an interesting double feature with Dogs Don't Wear Pants, and I mean that as the highest praise. Full review here, in my watchlist thread.

9/10

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Yesssss. Sanctuary is excellent and I hope more people check it out.

I am excited to watch it. But the Dogs Don't Wear Pants reference makes me a little nervous!

No need to worry about that - Sanctuary isn't like DDWP in that kind of way. I just thought it would make an interesting double feature in the sense of the kind of things they explore in their own different ways.

It was the (Dogs Don't Wear Pants spoilers)

Moana 2





Gorgeous movie. It's well written, with extremely likable characters. I enjoyed it a lot.


However, it simply isn't necessary or original, from a story perspective. We're essentially repeating the first movie over again, with a couple new characters. And they even tease another sequel. Where they will most likely do the same thing a third time.


It's still a lot of fun. And Matangi (bat lady) is my new crush.

There was so much of Dogs Don't Wear Pants that I found right on the edge of "have to look away" territory.

I watched a documentary on the art of D&D called Eye of the Beholder: Art of D&D this evening. It took a bit of time because of dinner and children. I thought it was neat, although there were some slow spots in the first half. It was fun learning about D&D art. I think it helps that I'm a huge D&D nerd so it is right up my alley.

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I destroyed the dastardly dairy dame! I made mad milk maid mulch!
He hid in the forest, read books with great zeal
He loved Che Guevera, a revolutionary veal
Cow Tse Tongue

SF = Zz

Viewed: Amazon Prime



[Snooze Factor Ratings]:
Z = didn't nod off at all
Zz = nearly nodded off but managed to stay alert
Zzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed
Zzzz = nodded off and missed some of the film but went back to watch what I missed but nodded off again at the same point and therefore needed to go back a number of times before I got through it...
Zzzzz = nodded off and missed some or the rest of the film but was not interested enough to go back over it

MacArthur (1977)

The Apartment- A+
Polyester - B

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