I’m not saying the worst, otherwise I would need to include the star wars sequels or transformers movies… Just some really dumb movie that somehow got praised.
For me has to be Ready Player One. That movie message is so “uhuh” obvious that is stupid, the whole nerd that saves the world in a thing that otherwise would be useless to know in real life… The so over the top evil gaming corporation. The whole 80s and 90s movies and games references get old after half an hour… And it’s so pandering towards the geeks and nerds, they really want the viewer feeling really cool for knowing that is the Shining hallway, or that is a Monty python reference… Or look a GUNDAM! YOU’RE SO COOL FOR COLLECTING THOSE GUN PLA! Look we have also overwatch and halo in the background! You’re so cool modern gamer!
Also the obviously attractive “nerd” hacker girl that thinks she’s ugly and deformed for having a small hard to see red tint in one side of her pretty face… Cmon man. In no universe anyone would think that actress is ugly.
And the message at the end is so hilarious: Look man, you’re cool for getting these references and being a real gamer is cool, but go outside more!
Is like the creators have no self awareness.
Crash the 2004 hit movie not the 1996 Cronenberg Cult-classic.
to elaborate, IMO it was insincere corporate virtue signalling designed specifically to bait the academy awards by using a multi-character parallel storytelling style that is only ever celebrated amongst industry snobs.
a multi-character parallel storytelling style that is only ever celebrated amongst industry snobs
I’m going to agree with caveats here, because some directors who are actual artists do it for the sake of the film and the challenge of it, as opposed to what I’ll refer to as “industry types”, who do it for the prizes. And some crazy bastards manage to pull it off. Three names come to mind - Robert Altman, Paul Thomas Anderson and Steven Soderbergh.
I’ve never seen “Crash” and never wanted to, from what I’ve read, the bland yet heavy-handed results onscreen, plus the lazy reflexive accolades, made me view the whole thing with a cynical eye, like you.
In fact, Robert Altman had a thing or two to say about those “industry types”, in his triumphant early-90s comeback triumph “The Player”.
Also, do yourself a favor and watch Altman’s “Short Cuts”, to see parallel storytelling at its’ best.“In fact, Robert Altman had a thing or two to say about those “industry types”, in his triumphant early-90s comeback film “The Player”. Also, do yourself a favor and watch Altman’s “Short Cuts”, to see parallel storytelling at its’ best.”
Thanks, I’ll be sure to check those out. I was a little worried I came off too hot with my take. I won’t say it can’t be done well, it’s just that I’ve never seen it done well since I first learned about the storytelling style in my intro to film studies course in college.
crash has like one good scene in the entire film. the rest is total garbage that me and a friend laughed at the entire time we watched it
Short Cuts is amazing. Altman changed the game in many ways. I believe he changed the entire way we record dialogue because the way we did it before just didn’t work for him.
Altman came in throwing punches with the noisy background and chaotic dialogue wafting every which way, right from the outset, on MASH and McCabe & Mrs Miller, which is why it’s a good idea to watch his films with English subtitles turned on.
I don’t remember the cacophony being as intense in some of his other early works, like Brewster McCloud, California Split and The Long Goodbye.
But in Nashville, it’s most certainly there, front and center and in your face.I’ve only ever seen Short Cuts (loved it), the Player (liked it a lot), and McCabe and Mrs Miller (ehh…). How do you think I’d feel about his other films?
My recommendations to you are as follows:
My favorite Altman film overall probably might have to be The Long Goodbye. Check out how the camera is always moving, if even slightly; there are no static shots. Midway through the movie, the great Sterling Hayden steals the show. And keep an eye out for a very, very young Ahnold Schwarzenegger in a bit role as literal and figurative muscle for the batshit insane bad guy.
Brewster McCloud is a bonkers twisted fantasy that caught me by surprise by how much I enjoyed it, it’s about a kid who:
- Lives in the Astrodome in secret, in a forgotten construction nook, a big one, between walls and floors.
- Wants to be able to fly.
- Is being encouraged by an older woman, who might actually already know how to fly.
Also, there are people being killed all over town, and it might have something to do with all this.
Thanks, I’ve saved your comment and I’ll add them to the list.
I’m reliably informed there are people who like Michael Bay’s Transformers movies. The most interesting part of the entire series to me was watching a Camaro get into a literal fist fight with a Mustang. Otherwise my memories of the movie were having eye rollingly childish catch phrases boomed down at me, or visuals that are basically just technicolor television snow.
I thought the first one was at least fun, but had some obviously annoying parts that should have been cut from any sequel.
Then the second one comes out, and the annoying parts of the first are the entire movie of the second.
Transformers for me was pretty much Megan Fox and nothing else.
There were other people in that movie?
The hilarious thing is that, in the script, Megan Fox’s character is actually really interesting and multidimensional. And Bay films her as just some T&A.
I’m not complaining tbh.
No like is the wrong word. I love them. Don’t know why thou, they are fucking stupid.
I mean its clearly an ad for the military where cars beat up cars. Buuuut Its hilariously epic and very comforting in its shallowness. Normally I am more of a weird indie movie guy. But every time optimus calls out all autobots in the end I cry.I like them because they’re stupid. I do have a problem seeing irony where there is none though.
Transformers: Dumb blockbuster movie that somehow received high praise. I think I understood the assignment.
Cloverfield. It was a monster movie where you barely saw the monster. Instead, we get the story of 4 characters with a camera trying to escape the monster but then going back to rescue their friend and may or may not have been killed by the monster. I don’t know, the movie had no beginning or end and yet it managed to spawn a couple of sequels.
I spent most of that movie feeling like I needed to throw up.
Lol, we still refer to movies shot with a shakey nauseating camera as “filmed Cloverfield-style”
“Filmed on a canoe” is how I put it.
I think the mundane perspective and ordinary characters were meant to ground the movie. Most kaiju movies follow elite scientists or squads of soldiers so it’s a bit easier to relate to regular people just bumbling around (and a lot cheaper to film). Found footage stuff seems to be real hit or miss for people though. I definitely understand the desire for more spectacle and a more likeable cast.
I think the mundane perspective and ordinary characters were meant to ground the movie. Most kaiju movies follow elite scientists or squads of soldiers so it’s a bit easier to relate to regular people just bumbling around (and a lot cheaper to film).
See, this is what got me into the theater for Cloverfield, I wanted this movie. It’s a bummer I got it in the form of some particularly jittery found footage. I was hoping for something more akin to those goofy disaster movies, but the disaster is a kaiju; not just in tone, but in how it was shot. As you say, some more spectacle would have gone a long way. That, or to really drill down and get into the “human horror” aspect and maybe make the military/authority figures more antagonistic.
All in all, I guess I’m glad Cloverfield succeeded despite my personal feelings because we got 10 Cloverfield Lane which, while not without problems of its own, I enjoyed much more
Barbie.
I like Margot Robbie. I like Ryan Gosling. I like fun movies. But idk, it just didn’t really appeal to me, and the plot felt predictable. I don’t regret watching it necessarily, but I also have no interest in watching it again.
I love the idea, to change the gender and show how it would look if women was the dominant sex
I don’t think what they made was plausible. I know, it’s barbie, but I don’t find this version of “woman power” plausible without it changing the gender expressions. Like, how masculinity and being formed by masculinity being an expression of dominans, and therefore changes how men dress, behave and express themselves would change a lot Also, this is not a matriarchy, it is a patriarchy but where the women have the power. I’ve read several books where they flip the sexes, and I’ve found the concept interesting because it points out how much of our society is formed by the patriarchy, for all genders, which makes a lot of fun and interesting situations
I love the idea, to change the gender and show how it would look if women was the dominant sex
Watch the movie “I Am Not an Easy Man.”
Barbie movie Predictable
Were you expecting a post-modern masterpiece?
No, but with all of the hype and excitement around it, I thought there was something extra-special about this movie. Like an interesting/unexpected story.
it was unexpected for a Barbie movie
I’m with halfeatenpotato here. I went into it expecting something that had spawned this whole Barbieheimer thing, and was a billion-Plus-dollar movie that excited the nation for a while.
That’s not what I saw. It was hot garbage. It wasn’t even fun.
You fell for the marketing
Yes I did.
I thought it was fun and I get why it’s been so exceedingly popular but they tried a little too hard to make the concept of Barbie and the concept of womanhood out to be the same thing. For a lot of people that really worked and I think that’s made it harder to criticize.
There are some really top tier moments though which made it easier to forget and forgive all the boring bits.
The constant attack towards men ruined that movie, it wasn’t even a clever attack just dumb feminism
While I do agree that it, at times, definitely stepped into ‘dumb femminism’ as you put it. I also acknowledge that it was a movie and to do a discussion on feminism justice it would require a lot more than 2 hours. So a lot got simplified, sometimes too much. I disagree with you that it was a constant attack towards men. The movie went wayyyyy out of its way to make it clear they were attacking patriarchal systems, not men in general. That’s Ken’s whole arc, he’s suffering under patriarchy too. He just also gets the benefits of the patruarchy while he’s suffering. If I had any criticism about the film it was how much it tried to avoid criticizing capitalism and corporate culture’s role.
Nah I’m sorry but it was an aimed attack. The speech about what society expects from a woman is such bullshit. As a man that is very old school I don’t need woman to look great for me but not enough for other men, or being delicate, or earning less and all that stupidity. The men were the villain in the movie and the butt of the joke…
And the Ken character was fine. Only at the very end was almost shoehorned the “oh actually the system is the problem” and wtf didn’t he got Barbie at the end, she even wanted him at first. Now that he was a better person or whatever why they went separate ways? There’s no satisfactory ending for neither of the characters.
Thank you for projecting your experience as an individual man, on the experience of all women re what society expects of them.
Fucking Bravo.
Sorry to break it to you, but everyone projects their own experience. A man’s experience is just as valid, even if you disagree with it.
I’m using me as an example, especially since I’m not a gen Z, but do you really think the average dude feels much different about women? Cmon
The Barbie movie isn’t attacking men, it just lampoons society using the Barbies and Kens as silly caricatures.
Maybe it has a slight vapid girl power message but the real message is “hey remember this Barbie doll? Give us money”
Wow fuckin’ wooosh with you and that one hey? Only a very weak beta would feel even remotely attacked by that movie. Good luck Chuck!
:(
I like Margot Robbie.
:)
but I also have no interest in watching it again.
:(
Watch me several times now and then I’ll watch you several times back
You’re a great dude, Margot Robbie.
That’s esteemed Academy Award nominated great dude Margot Robbie to you!
(Dude is gender neutral now)
I watched this one as a bit of a joke really, kind of left going what the fuck? I usually like it when a movie leaves me feeling like that, but I don’t know it was a bit weird and silly. Would the world magically be better if it were only women running things? Unlikely, all humans are humans there are women on both sides of the political spectrum. Just like men you can’t say that women feel a certain way. I don’t know it was just a bit weird that’s all.
I wanna be clear all of the weird, sexist and political responses aren’t something I support. At the end of the day though is was just an ad for a doll which apparently is responsible for the achievements and ambitions of women in the latter half of the 20th Century. I’m not a woman so I don’t really know
I was so confused about the message… Ken went full patriarchy, but then demonstrated that it wasn’t really that bad (also, no horses). So compared to barbieland the real world is absolutely paradise. Then they flip the full-on matriarchal barbieland to complete patriarchy, find that the women don’t like that, do a bit of gender war and go mostly matriarchy because reasons. And than a bitter remark that women have it hard in the real world so men will have it hard in barbieland. It’s all over the place.
The weird pacing, jokes that fall flat and at one point goes all 3 stooges just left me feeling… Empty, afterwards. All that hype, all the people rooting for and against it, people complaining that it didn’t win all the awards… I thought it was a vapid, low quality summer movie.
Inglourious Basterds - One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. About 2 very good scenes, the openeing and then another one in a bar and the rest was some kind of ridiculous Zionist porn garbage.
Zionist porn garbage
How is a movie about killing nazis zionist?
Yeah I don’t want to come across as someone who’s complaining about the brutalisation and killing of Nazis or something like that. I just meant that throughout I had the impression the the movie was written to pander to the Zionist demographic that runs Hollywood. It had nothing interesting to say.
Sounds like the usual “Jews run Hollywood” spiel but with extra steps
Zionists, and that’s fewer steps.
Everything everywhere all at once. The hype made this a let down, it wasn’t even that good and I love weird thought provoking sci fi. This was just a goofy movie that is forgetable
Dark Knight trilogy. I firmly think between Nolan and Bale, Batman is forever scared. Every version I’ve seen of Batman sense has been this dark brooding boring character. Oh and that ridiculous voice. “The Batman”, kept dark and brooding but at least he was a detective again. But that trilogy was terrible beginning to end. The slight glimmer of hope is Heath Ledger’s performance which was great but still not enough to carry a trilogy.
What’s it’s like to be so fucking wrong?
Man you’re on fire haha
Sorry you like garbage
Batman has been dark and broody decades before the Nolan trilogy.
There have been lighter versions but dark and broody are basically core qualities of the character
Yeah no. I think you’re confused because Batman Begins came out in 2005 which was decades ago.
If you forgot he’s actually also known as Bruce Wayne and he knows how to smile and have a good time. Any actually cared about the various villains that he fought against. He used to be a clever detective.
Post Nolan he is has lost a lot of complexity. That complexity of the character offset his serious side when the cowl came on.
Look me dead in the eye and tell me Nolan’s Batman is better than BTAS. Or is even in the same ballpark.
Yeah no. I think you’re confused because Batman Begins came out in 2005 which was decades ago.
I’m talking about Batman the character, you know? The one first published in 1939. There have been multiple versions but “dark and broody” has been a pretty common trait
If you forgot he’s actually also known as Bruce Wayne and he knows how to smile and have a good time
No, it’s been well established he cannot get past the trauma of having his parents murdered in front of him. Actually, it has been well established he is now Batman and Bruce is the disguise… So no, he doesn’t really know how to have a good time
Post Nolan he is has lost a lot of complexity. That complexity of the character offset his serious side when the cowl came on.
Not really Nolan’s fault and not what you claimed first either. Batfleck for example was not dark and broody, he was just a fumbling idiot who claimed his superpower was money
Look me dead in the eye and tell me Nolan’s Batman is better than BTAS. Or is even in the same ballpark
Again moving the goal post … What does BTAS have to do with your comment that Nolan made Batman dark and broody??
So you just like the new lazy writing. Got it.
Because I know you didn’t just draw a straight line from the 1939 Batman to the current Batman and was like ‘these are the same!’
I’ll go watch my Adam West to Kevin Conroy versions. Where he was a multi-dimensional character. And you can enjoy the more modern one where he glares at people and had been reduced to ‘I’m Batman’. And this is where we part ways. Cuz this is a threat about opinions I gave mine and you are clearly mad that I don’t like your favorite version of Batman.
So you just like the new lazy writing. Got it.
No idea where you are drawing this from
Because I know you didn’t just draw a straight line from the 1939 Batman to the current Batman and was like ‘these are the same!’
Oh I see, you lack reading comprehension. To make it extra clear, having a common trait (what I actually said) does not mean “these are the same”
And this is where we part ways. Cuz this is a threat about opinions I gave mine and you are clearly mad that I don’t like your favorite version of Batman.
I’m not mad at all… Disagreeing with you does not make me your enemy… You care confusing me with yourself lol
Multi dimensional Adam west? LMAO he was either a corny ass rich dude or a corny ass hero. With bad jokes even for the era.
If anything Nolan had by miles the best live action Bruce Wayne, the whole billionaire airhead mask he created Bruce, the character in that universe is perfect. Nobody would believe that asshole rich dude that showers with top models in a pool inside a restaurant and buys the place in that instant is Batman. It works.
Later version like that hulking dumbass Batfleck or extremely emo Battinson don’t work as well. Also I don’t see what’s so great about Keaton batman, he’s so boring and quiet, with no contrast between Bruce and batman. Then the one scene with emotion is the LET’S GET 🥜 scene but that’s it.
Doctor Who
Which movie are you talking about? Peter Cushing or Paul McGann? I don’t know that I’d call either one a blockbuster.
La La Land. Musicals are already on thin ice, but a musical about some arrogant, self obsessed people complaining about how hard it is trying to be (and ultimately succeeding in being) successful?? UGH. Shut it all down.
Right?! “Oh no we are so brilliant and talented and smoking hot, but the world won’t just give us success on a silver platter and now that we made our dreams come true we miss being together”.
More importantly, >!they just gave up on their relationship because one of them was leaving the country? For what, less than a year? After all that, they just threw it all away because they didn’t want to deal with FaceTime for a couple of months? Bet they felt real fucking dumb when the pandemic hit.!<
I did not get the hype for ‘Don’t Look Up’.
Yo! That movie sucked. I have a theory the only reason Leo starred in it was so that he could be called a sexy scientist or whatever he was.
I thought It was a pretty solid critique of mainstream American culture of the moment. What didn’t you like about it?
It’s not subtle enough with its critique. Either that or it’s not ridiculous enough. It’s sitting in the middle zone that just doesn’t work well.
I absolutely agree, felt like they didn’t know what kind of movie they wanted to make and just kinda threw whatever they could think of into it.
Probably hit too close to home.
Badum bum
The hype was for its star studded cast. The movie itself was also a chuckle but was really obvious for its critique and satire.
I still haven’t finished it. So many stars are just unlikable and the pacing (of the half I saw) is just not enough to keep it entertaining enough to overcome the cringey ‘just look at how awful everyone in power is’ caricatures.
I think that Ready Player One was terribly ported from the book format to the movie. The book went so much more over the top than the movie did, the latter turning down on a lot of nerd aspects. Having said that, different formats need different ways for conveying the same idea. The main character would literally get a “+1 blazing sword” in the book. +1. As if it were an MMO or something.
Having said that, Dune (book and movie) were terrible. The movie felt plagued with references to stuff I didn’t get. Only recently did I read the book just to find it was as uninteresting as the movie.
I’ll never forget those opera singers singing right to my ears when a ship would land… Now that’s a way to startle a person.
On the bright side, reading the book has allowed me not see the second part of the movie.
Anything from Marvel ever. Except maybe Guardians of the Galaxy, but it’s all way too long and just boring, I don’t know I always find fight scenes to be extremely boring in films, I’m more interested in the progression of the story over some dragged out fight
Marvel civil war
Jurassic World. It seemed like the definition of color by numbers reboot.
Mad Max Fury Road. I honestly don’t understand how people like it. The storyline is paper thin to the point of being almost missing. I guess the steampunk motif is good if you’re into that, but the rest of the movie was just trash.
