Originally posted by Spangle@Jun 19 2016, 07:35 AM



The cutest short ever. So good. Really argument as to who's cuter: Piper or Baby Dory? Gotta go Piper, personally, but it's close. The look on their face and their hair after getting drilled by the water was just too much.

Ya Piper easily the cutest character. Them sea otters were close though.


I really really enjoyed Finding Dory. One of those few films where 3D enhances a film

8/10 - A lavishly designed period piece from director Todd Haynes, Far From Heaven is a heartbreaking look at the taboo nature of interracial relationships and homosexuality in 1950s Connecticut. With fantastic performances from Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, and Dennis Haysbert, Far From Heaven is a great take on 1950s melodramas and sports all the expected romance, drama, and tearjerking elements of the genre. The film has fantastic production design and costume design, which both perfectly fit the period. Additionally, the actors have great chemistry with one another and were clearly quite well directed by Haynes as they never overact, as can be the case in melodramas. Overall, Far From Heaven is a tragic, romantic, and incredibly smart period piece that presents great examples of the societal problems of the time.



8/10 - Bullets Over Broadway is a truly hysterical film from writer/director Woody Allen that features great turns from John Cusack, Chazz Palminteri, and Jennifer Tilly. With great production and costume design, Bullets Over Broadway is an elegantly crafted period comedy. Featuring Allen's typical smart, quick, and witty dialogue, Bullets Over Broadway manages to remain funny throughout its entire run time while also bolstering it with a smart plot. With a plot that mirrors the plot of the play in the film, Bullets Over Broadway offers interesting looks at love and how it is to be loved, as well as romance in general. Overall, Bullets Over Broadway is a great film from Woody Allen that is smart, funny, and entirely charming.



8/10 - The Adjustment Bureau is a stylish sci-fi romance thriller from director George Nolfi based on Phillip K. Dick's story. Though I have not really loved previous Dick adaptations, The Adjustment Bureau really worked for me. The ending is a little lackluster, but until then, the film is romantic, thrilling, and really far out there with a fantastically executed and compelling concept. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have good chemistry with one another and really play the role of two people "meant for each other" very well, especially against all of the odds. Anthony Mackie turns in a cool and calculated performance, as does John Slattery as the unflappable agent. While, as I said, the ending falters a touch by being a little too neat, the proceeding hour and a half is so good, it is easy to look past that given the well executed premise that will continue to thrill you in and of itself for the entire runtime.



8/10 - Vertigo can get a little creepy and possessive at the end of the film, but until then, it is an undeniable classic. Director Alfred Hitchcock knows suspense and here, he demonstrates his immense skill. A suspenseful, thrilling, and occasionally scary film that really pulls you in and leaves you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it all plays out. Though, as I said, the ending is not scary, but decidedly creepy instead of being charming like it may have intended. This holds the film back a bit, but aside from this, Vertigo is a phenomenal film that has certainly aged visually, but its story is just as good as when it came out.



4/10 - 9 is an absolute mess of a film. Expanded from a short, 9 appears to have run out of ideas on how to expand on its original length and just tosses in filler. The end result is a poorly paced, poorly edited, and wholly disjointed mess of a film from beginning to end. The character development is poor at best and the film does an awful job of world building. All of this said though, the original premise is very good and the film does have its moments of brilliance. The animation is fantastic, as is the general look and feel of the film. I do wish 9 turned out better and the foundation is certainly there, but the film just lacks general cohesion and scenes just smash into one another. However, I did enjoy it a bit in spite of these faults and I do wish the film turned out better from any aspect aside from visuals and animation. Sadly, this is not the case and instead, 9 brings interesting visuals and an interesting postapocalyptic premise, yet falls apart when it runs out of ideas after the 20th minute.



8/10 - 28 Days Later is bloody brilliant. Decidedly British and early 2000s in its look, director Danny Boyle once more conjures up a film that equal parts disorienting, unsettling, and horrifying. Honestly, it reminds me a lot of Trainspotting in the sheer terror it can create and the general atmosphere of hopelessness. Some call this an astute political allegory, but if the only element of that is that scientific experimentation will eventually bite us in the ass and lead to the demise of us all, then it is hardly profound. Despite that, it is an undeniably smartly crafted sci-fi horror film. Really, the film has far more to say on the front that nobody can be trusted in times of danger, especially those entrusted to protect you. With fantastic zombie design and fantastic pacing, 28 Days Later is a thoroughly scary and unsettling horror film that packs a punch emotionally and will leave you entirely on edge.



6/10 - The Fundamentals of Caring is a sweet and charming film that simply gets killed through its conventionality and unwillingness to be anything but predictable. The film really seems to go out of its way to be typical, which kills any chance it has at being a profound look at parenting, birth defects, and life as a whole. Paul Rudd and Craig Roberts both turn in very heartfelt and good performances in the film. It also does have some truly funny and moving sequences that make me wish the film was more daring and less risk averse. Selena Gomez's character is particularly typical and really does nothing for the film, other than reminding me a bit of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl at times for Trevor. That said, The Fundamentals of Caring is entertaining and decidedly sweet, even if typical.



9/10 - A deeply tragic film about falling out of love, Blue Valentine is only tangentially about romance. Instead, it is a larger examination of life and how we are ultimately doomed to become what we do not want to become: our parents and unhappy. A bleak and dark film, Blue Valentine is an uneasy examination of this and what appears to be director Derek Cianfrance's incredibly sad world view. Whether you agree with what the film presents or not, Blue Valentine is undeniably brilliant. With well matched leads in Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, the film consistently presents tough and depressing moments juxtaposed with truly happy and passionate moments to further your heartbreak while watching the decay of this once strong and united couple. The lighting and cinematography are brilliant, as the realistic and truly emotional writing here that helps to craft truly multi-dimensional characters that act like real human beings when confronted with tough situations. Overall, Blue Valentine is not a movie for date night. Instead, it is a good movie to watch after a tough break-up in order to get all the crying out and to say "f*** love".

Read More: http://movieswithkevin27.tumblr.com/post/1.../blue-valentine



7/10 - Blow is certainly an interesting film that paints a good picture of George Jung, both as a man and as a drug dealer. However, it simply feels like it has been done before. This was essentially Ted Demme's take on a Martin Scorsese movie, just minus the guy being an abusive jerk. Instead, the women are jerks, but all the same. The film takes a typical approach to the subject with typical narration and time jumping to tell a more complete story. While George Jung is certainly an interesting man, the film simply does not do much to separate him from other figures and their respective films. That said, Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta do a very good, though their make-up team dropped the ball since they do not age over the course of twenty years aside from their hair. Overall, Blow is a compelling real life tale, but is beat-for-beat what you have come to expect from a biopic about a drug smuggler in the 1970s-90s.



5/10 - Zany, absurd, and completely out of left field, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a weird, yet occasionally funny science fiction film. It honestly feels as though the film often tries to see just how weird it can be and this inclination is a bad one because these moments ruin the film. When it works as a social commentary on bureaucracy and government, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy soars. It is funny, spastic, and laugh out loud funny. In particular, Alan Rickman as a manically depressed robot is the best part of the film with his lines consistently funny. Yet, there is simply not enough of this as the film departs what works and just accepts trying to see if it can make its audience laugh out sheer awkwardness and oddness. Spoiler: it can't. This eventually turns watching the film into a bit of a chore with every great scene countered with an equally bad scene. It is honestly too bad, but the end result is a middling film that does make you laugh, but not nearly enough.



7/10 - A surprisingly compassionate look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the aftermath of the Munich massacre, Munich is an expertly crafted historical drama-thriller from Steven Spielberg. The film really provides moments of sheer thrills at times and is always endlessly watchable. However, similar to his later historical works, Munich suffers from being overlong, emotionally distant, and from occasionally poor pacing. Munich, in spite of its sheer entertainment value at times, can slow down to a drag and be a tough watch. When it is humming, it is a brilliant work, but when it slows down, it is merely a dull look at the situation. Fortunately, these moments are infrequent, but noticeable enough over the course of the nearly three hour film to detract from the overall product. That said, the film is well crafted with good acting from Eric Bana and, obviously, Spielberg knows what he is doing in the director's chair. Overall, Munich could be better, but as it stands, it is a good film.



7/10 - Frenetic and kinetic, The World's End is a funny, off-the-wall, and somewhat unique take on the technology boom and apocalypse sub-genre. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost always work so well together and The World's End is no different, plus it brings them together once again under the direction of Edgar Wright. A fitting end to the "Three Flavors Cornetto trilogy" with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, The World's End is just as funny, even if it does become a little over-the-top at times. Additionally, Rosamund Pike, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, and Eddie Marsan, are a worthy supporting cast that really work well together as a group of friends. Plus, the film is not just debauchery, as it supports its antics with very good looks at growing up, nostalgia, your hometown, addiction, and life in general. In this area, The World's End is surprisingly touching. Overall, The World's End is a good film with good natured humor and an interesting take on life and technology.



7/10 - A thrilling and entertaining piece of modern film, The Shallows features all of the trapping of a cash grab teen scream flick - attractive lead, use of texting, and a bad trailer - but it transcends them all by being a smartly crafted, tight, and taut thriller. While I admit that Blake Lively knows how to wear a bikini, this is certainly not the focal point as she proves doubters wrong by kicking ass from beginning to end. Director Jaume Collet-Serra does a good job creating well crafted thrills, instead of relying on cheap jump scares and like. Instead, a chilly atmosphere and sense of permeating dread is a constant presence in the film. However, Lively takes center stage here as pretty much the only actor we encounter (aside from a few brief side characters). Though she had not done much to inspire hope as an actress with this much screen time, she knocks it out of the park. While not award winning by any means, her performance is quite good and hints at some untapped potential. Additionally, the cinematography is breath taking, resulting in one of the prettiest end credits I have ever seen. Though, from beginning to end, the film has a fantastic look and feel that maximizes on the fantastic setting, even when things turn dire. Overall, The Shallows is not the best film of the year by any means, but is is perfect summertime counter programming. Entertaining, thrilling, and well made, The Shallows delivers.

Finally got around to seeing Deadpool. So fucking good. Gives Guardians of the Galaxy a run for my favorite superhero movie

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

7/10 - Sweet, sentimental, and easy to digest, Chocolat is a thoroughly charming film with a fantastic starring performance from Juliette Binoche. Though the film's villain can be a little much at times and thoroughly over-the-top, the film's mythical and whimsical foundation allows me to write this off. While the film does not present much in terms of uniqueness or challenge to viewers, Chocolat is a thoroughly pleasant experiences that is good, but not my favorite. That said, the acting really does elevate it as Binoche does quite well and Johnny Deep turns in a typical young Johnny Depp charismatic role. Overall, Chocolat is sweet and sentimental, but may prove a little rich to those expecting something more grounded in realism.



9/10 - Brilliant film. Sense and Sensibility is romantic, funny, and fantastically crafted. Flush to the brim with phenomenal acting turns, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Alan Rickman, all stand out the most with absolutely delightful performances in this film. Additionally, the writing is great with well crafted, multi-dimensional characters across the board. The production and costume design here are also pitch perfect, as well as the 18th century medicinal techniques shown in the film. All really capture the period and help to put you into the film even more. In this tale of love and class, Sense and Sensibility does a great job creating realistic romances that really do break your heart when they fail and make you smile when they work. This is ultimately its great success: its authenticity. Overall, Sense and Sensibility is one of the best adaptations of Jane Austen's work.



8/10 - A classic through and through, The Maltese Falcon is mysterious, thrilling, and thoroughly engaging. Humphrey Bogart is typically brilliant in the lead role as the private detective hired for the case. Mary Astor and Peter Lorre match his brilliance with great turns in supporting roles. From beginning to end, it is not hard to see how The Maltese Falcon has become a classic of cinema over the years and even if I prefer another Bogart picture, Casablanca, to this one. That said, this is marvelously crafted and shows all the classic trademarks of film noir and exemplifies them to a tee. There really exists no better example of what the genre is than The Maltese Falcon.



8/10 - I am not sure why audiences were lukewarm to War of the Worlds. For me, this shows Steven Spielberg at peak Spielberg. Heartwarming and built around family with childlike wonder, the film also shows Spielberg's great ability to create thrills and scares along the way. Tom Cruise is great in the lead role and really does a great job as the deadbeat dad tasked with saving his kids who do not really like him too much. Dakota Fanning does very well as his daughter, though she does become annoying a few times. The special effects and creature design are incredible, while also demonstrating why everybody is so paranoid. The film also does a great job drawing parallels with historical occupations (French in Algeria, Britain in the United States), while capturing the paranoia of post-9/11 America all in one swoop. Overall, War of the Worlds is a fantastic science fiction film that really is a testament to Spielberg's skill in the director's chair.



4/10 - I really do not know what to say. Falling Down is a good look at a man who spirals out of control after losing his job. Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall turn in prototypical good performances in this thriller from director Joel Schumacher. However, like many of Schumacher's films, something just feels "off". There is an element out of place here, which causes the film to simply feel far too distant. The at making the film relatable fails when every social critique it offers is ham fisted and shoved down your throat repeatedly with Schumacher seemingly screaming at you, "DO YOU GET IT YET? WE ARE F****D!" It simply gets aggravating. The character also loses relatability when he starts shooting people and loses his mind. No one can relate to a psychopath unless you too are a psychopath. This is all a bummer because, otherwise, the film is well crafted and can be truly intense and thrilling at times. Yet, the film is too focused on force feeding us its agenda than being a good film.



5/10 - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is an undeniably well acted and well made film. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, and Marisa Tomei's boobs (probably the leader for screentime), all turn in great performances. The film is also a phenomenal look at a broken family led to the point of desperation to lift themselves up, but winds up tearing them apart even more. As a crime thriller, it is solid and wholly entertaining. However, the film undoes itself with its non-linear structure. Annoying and useless in this film, the non-linear storytelling distracts more than it entertains. Even worse, the way in which it is told makes no sense with it jumping all over the place with little aim. The thrills the film could have produced are killed through the same means as the film's climactic parts come far too early to actually carry any weight. After this, we are stuck watching these people we do not like come to grips with what happened and reveal more dealing with it, but since we know how it turned out, it all feels pointless because then we can assume how they will all react to the results. There is tension, merely predictability. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead presents good acting, but shoots itself in the face repeatedly with its curious use of non-linear storytelling.



8/10 - In contrast to the bad reviews, I thought The Good German was actually quite brilliant. Director Steven Soderbergh incorporates so much period detail to this 1940s noir throwback, it almost hurts. Aside from the actors (who make it obvious the film is from the 2000s), the film looks entirely like a film from the 1940s. The lighting, quality, editing, and story structure, are 100% 1940s noir. Additionally, the costume and production design are very good and are quite period accurate for 1940s Germany. In terms of acting, Cate Blanchett steals the show. She is absolutely brilliant as usual. Clooney also does a good job here. Much criticism was placed on the characterization, but I thought the characters were fine. They had well explained pasts, goals, and characteristics. I could not really ask for much more on that front. In terms of the story, it was wholly engrossing. The mystery was truly mysterious and I did not know how things would wind up or what the big reveals would actually state. To me, the film's plot almost threatens to steal the show over the style because it is that interesting and engaging. It can be hard to follow at times, but things do clear up and you are able to catch up no problem. Overall, The Good German was criticized heavily upon its release, but I would argue it is in need of a critical reappraisal.



3/10 - Some people are allergic to peanuts. Some to pollen. Allergies are endemic in our society. Zack Snyder is allergic to making movies that are not complete s**t. Gratuitously violent and bombastic, Watchmen is an interesting little neo-noir film that gets bogged down by Snyder's lesser sensibilities. His desire to go completely over-the-top kills the film with pointless sexuality, excessive violence, and random diversions into the absurd that makes you wonder how much acid Snyder indulged in whilst making the film. I have never read the comic this is based on, but this one is really odd. Why do they keep going to Mars? Why? Why must he keep showing us this blue guy's penis? The existential questions of life, which we may never get. If the film were not as violent as it is (the arm cutting scene being the most visceral offender), it would still be bad. Watchmen is simply aggressively dumb. Snyder was criticized for Batman v Superman where critics claimed it looked as though it was put together by some kid smashing his toys together. Watchmen suffers from the same problem. Instead of purposeful and impactful events, Snyder has the sensibility of a 12 year old boy who includes scenes and effects because they look cool instead of actually having any cinematic value. If this is truly a faithful adaptation of the comics, Watchmen must be one hell of a painful read.

(somehow still better than Deadpool though)



5/10 - The BFG is a decisively middling effort from directorial legend Steven Spielberg. Packed with breathtaking special effects and good performances from its leads, Ruby Barnhill and Mark Rylance, The BFG is a splendor-filled film that just falls flat. The film has Spielberg's trademark childlike wonder blended with more adult themes and plot elements. The special effects, again, are phenomenal. When it comes to the dreamcatching sequence, I get the sense that it will not be topped for a bit when it comes to sheer beauty. Unfortunately, the film's plot simply falls flat. Once the queen comes into play, things really take a turn for the worse. However, before that, things are not much better. The film completely lacks a sense of adventure (awful for an adventure film) and has no sense of stakes or danger. It tries to create some, but things constantly are threatened but the film never comes near following through on them, which begins to be aggravating. The BFG simply does not work. It is an odd blend of things expected in a children's film (the lack of stakes being one), yet the darker elements that make it decidedly too scary for many kids. Tragically, The BFG just does not work.

I would say Spangs reviews are accurate and correct


But then I remember him saying Andre Drummond would be nothing in the NBA


Watchmen and Deadpool are great, you just hate fun.

Originally posted by JayTee@Jul 2 2016, 11:46 PM
I would say Spangs reviews are accurate and correct


But then I remember him saying Andre Drummond would be nothing in the NBA


Watchmen and Deadpool are great, you just hate fun.

I don't even know who Drummond is.

I don't hate fun. I just don't like those movies. Deadpool is exclusively LOL SO EDGY comedy. Watchmen is a fun movie for a good portion of it, but can't stay focused and becomes dumb. I wish they were fun, instead they were painful experiences.

EDIT: We apparently have different definitions of fun. Independence Day is fun. I like that movie. It's loud, dumb, and silly, but it knows what it is. Watchmen thinks it's really smart. It's not. Deadpool thinks it's a great critique of superheroes, but is just another superhero movie. Doesn't help I don't dig superhero movies too much to begin with. I could ride with it if it were funny (like Ant-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy), but it's annoying and grating. Deadpool's persona is so off-putting it ceases to be funny. It's like spending two hours with annoying middle schooler with ADHD.

EDITX2: I also don't really appreciate movies that do stuff just because it looks cool. Watchmen did this a lot with scenes that are not needed, but they throw in because they think it looks cool. Civil War loved doing this too (like with the helicopter scene). I thought it was the stupidest scene ever, but people ate it up because it looked cool. To me, it looked like it tried to be cool and, thus, was simply unneeded. I'm just not a fan of action movies. To my point about fun, they're not fun to me.

Agreed on Chronicle. Right as I was saying "fuck this movie is one of the best I've seen this year", the last 30 minutes happened.

It Follows was one of my favorite horror movies, along with The Conjuring, so I'm gonna try The Witch.

Originally posted by GCool@Jul 3 2016, 12:06 AM
Agreed on Chronicle. Right as I was saying "fuck this movie is one of the best I've seen this year", the last 30 minutes happened.

It Follows was one of my favorite horror movies, along with The Conjuring, so I'm gonna try The Witch.

The Witch is very slow, I must warn you. It's not outright scary or anything like The Conjuring. The Conjuring is more modern horror in the sense it has jump scares and is more outright scary. I love it, but it's certainly reliant on jump scares to a degree. It Follows even more faster than The Witch. If you like something like Rosemary's Baby (that is more psychological thriller and thoroughly unsettling and definitely slow), then The Witch will be for you.

Originally posted by Spangle@Jul 2 2016, 10:08 PM


The Witch is very slow, I must warn you. It's not outright scary or anything like The Conjuring. The Conjuring is more modern horror in the sense it has jump scares and is more outright scary. I love it, but it's certainly reliant on jump scares to a degree. It Follows even more faster than The Witch. If you like something like Rosemary's Baby (that is more psychological thriller and thoroughly unsettling and definitely slow), then The Witch will be for you.

Hmm. Noted - I'll still see it because I do enjoy those "definitely slow" films.

Have you seen The Conjuring 2 yet?

Originally posted by Spangle@Jul 2 2016, 08:00 PM


I don't even know who Drummond is.

I don't hate fun. I just don't like those movies. Deadpool is exclusively LOL SO EDGY comedy. Watchmen is a fun movie for a good portion of it, but can't stay focused and becomes dumb. I wish they were fun, instead they were painful experiences.

EDIT: We apparently have different definitions of fun. Independence Day is fun. I like that movie. It's loud, dumb, and silly, but it knows what it is. Watchmen thinks it's really smart. It's not. Deadpool thinks it's a great critique of superheroes, but is just another superhero movie. Doesn't help I don't dig superhero movies too much to begin with. I could ride with it if it were funny (like Ant-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy), but it's annoying and grating. Deadpool's persona is so off-putting it ceases to be funny. It's like spending two hours with annoying middle schooler with ADHD.

EDITX2: I also don't really appreciate movies that do stuff just because it looks cool. Watchmen did this a lot with scenes that are not needed, but they throw in because they think it looks cool. Civil War loved doing this too (like with the helicopter scene). I thought it was the stupidest scene ever, but people ate it up because it looked cool. To me, it looked like it tried to be cool and, thus, was simply unneeded. I'm just not a fan of action movies. To my point about fun, they're not fun to me.

YOU KNOW WHO HE IS THERE IS PROOF IN THE NBA THREAD.

Deadpool and Falling Down >>>>>>>>>>

Independence Day and War of the Worlds <<<<<<<<<

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

I think what Ive learned most from reading the majority of Spangs reviews is, if the movie has over the top violence or is a super violent film add between 2-3 to his overall score and you get what pretty much everyone else will score the film at.

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

Originally posted by JayTee@Jul 3 2016, 12:23 AM




YOU KNOW WHO HE IS THERE IS PROOF IN THE NBA THREAD.

Don't remember. Maybe I knew then, but I don't have the faintest clue now. Don't watch the NBA.

Originally posted by Maxy@Jul 3 2016, 07:48 AM
I think what Ive learned most from reading the majority of Spangs reviews is, if the movie has over the top violence or is a super violent film add between 2-3 to his overall score and you get what pretty much everyone else will score the film at.

Eh, not for every movie, but definitely for ones that I am not loving. Watchmen was pretty good until they cut off the guy's arms. The ending being solely focused on sci-fi didn't make me change my mind though. The crime portion of it was far better.

And I can't win lol! Whenever I don't like a movie, everybody gets mad at me. When I like a movie and give it an 8, I get random jokes that I give everything an 8. Can't win lol. Do y'all at least like me posting these?

Originally posted by GCool@Jul 3 2016, 12:15 AM


Hmm. Noted - I'll still see it because I do enjoy those "definitely slow" films.

Have you seen The Conjuring 2 yet?

For sure, definitely worth a look. Hope you like it because I, obviously, loved it!

And no I haven't yet. I'll catch it when it comes out on DVD probably. Definitely want to see it though.