 | Because the only game I'm playing right now is one I'm trying to write a review for. |
Obligatory spoiler-esque warnings.
The Last Stand
Decided to check this one out after hearing on one of the Super Best Friendcasts that it wasn't that bad of a movie. Not gonna lie, within the first few minutes, it was weird seeing an older Arnold on screen, but I got over it pretty quick. I was also surprised by the direction of the movie, often times focusing on another area of the plot, and about Arnold's lack of screen presence because of it. The focus on the car chase was weird, considering it felt like those scenes were just padding the movie. The gunfight in town was the highlight of the movie, even if it was a bit lacking in places.
I completely zoned out at the very last fight on the bridge, because the whole thing felt forced and fake... especially since it was obviously in a studio with a green screen. Not a good movie, but I was expecting way worse. So, that's a compliment, I guess?
The Thing (2011)
I wanted to pretend this movie was never made, and tried to avoid it at all costs, but after revisiting John Carpenter's fantastic 1982 film on Christmas night, my curiosity finally got the best of me. Going in, I tried to keep an open mind, and I read some reviews saying to judge on its own value, but that was IMPOSSIBLE; the 2011 prequel borrows heavily from its source material, that I couldn't help but make the comparisons. I also couldn't believe how incredibly stupid the characters, even the creature, were acting in this movie, especially since the characters from the 1982 film faced very similar circumstances and immediately acted sensibly in contrast.
Probably the worst thing I felt the movie did wrong was the pacing and atmosphere. Things just... sorta happened unceremoniously once the "tension" picked up, bouncing from scene to scene as if to end the movie as soon as possible. Once the paranoia was amongst the group, the movie quickly defused the situation by immediately holding everyone hostage in one room, then when you think things started shaking up... everyone gets held hostage again in the same room. There's no breathing room! There's no time for the actors to shine with finger pointings, accusations, and guesses! Then the spaceship segment happened, and by then, I was out of the film. That whole sequence should've been scrapped due to how boring and cliched it was.
The special effects also sucked, everything looked too clean, a typical problem with CGI. However, I was surprised to see what was practical and what was fake when combing the special features. The audio commentary was actually intriguing to listen to, as well, hearing them talk how little production time they had with planning in comparison to Carpenter's time.
You know you screwed up a movie when the audio commentary is more entertaining than the actual movie itself. Also, the ending credits sequence is the best part of the movie, which is an accomplishment, since it has less to do with the 2011 movie, and more to do with the 1982 film.
Non-Stop
Liam Neeson on a plane with a mysterious threat. The mystery is actually handled quite nicely, as it does a good job keeping you guessing the "whodunit" throughout the plot. The way they handle text messaging is clever, too, considering it could've gotten old quick. It's not really a fresh premise, but Liam Neeson acting angry on a plane is entertaining.
Fistful of Dollars/For a Few Dollars More/The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Haven't watched these in ages, and figured now's a good time for a return. I know people will disagree, but after watching all three... I genuinely believe For a Few Dollars More is the best of the trilogy. I will say, though, that Eli Wallach in TG,TB,aTU is wonderful, and pretty much carries most of the film.
Other movies I watched that I don't feel like typing about:
-Looper
-White Fang
-The Outlaw Josey Wales
-Every Which Way But Loose.
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honestgamer - January 11, 2015 (12:20 AM) You're clearly on a Clint Eastwood kick... I only recently saw The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, which I felt ran quite long. It just felt a little too unfocused for my liking. |
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JoeTheDestroyer - January 11, 2015 (09:10 AM) The Thing 2011 was supposed to be much better, visually. Amalgamated Dynamics (one of the effects companies involved with the movie) came up with a ton of practical creature effects, including suits and hydrolic animatronics, that ended up being digitized over in post production. In response, the company began their own crowd-funded practical monster movie, which should be out later this year, called Harbinger Down. |
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dementedhut - January 11, 2015 (10:36 AM) I haven't watched any western movies in some time, so I figured I start with some of Clint's... don't ask me why I watched Every Which Way But Loose. As for Good/Bad/Ugly, I understand drawn out scenes are Sergio Leone's thing, and I actually do like some of the drawn out moments, but some segments had me going, "Was it really necessary to drag this out for 20 minutes?" I heard about ADI's woes about the movie, but I was unaware of Harbinger Down! Really hope it's good, or at the very least, has some cool practical effects in it. |
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joseph_valencia - January 11, 2015 (12:17 PM) You should check out "Rio Bravo". That's one of the all-time greatest Westerns. "The Wild Bunch" is also awesome. In terms of more recent movies, "3:10 to Yuma" is a favorite of mine. I also recommend both versions of "True Grit". That scene where John Wayne/Jeff Bridges dual-wields shotguns on horseback is one of the most bad-ass moments in the genre. |
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dementedhut - January 11, 2015 (06:21 PM) Thanks for the suggestions. I keep forgetting about more recent ones, so thanks for those, too. |
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