Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I'll never again put down money to see an M Night Shamalamadingdong film. The guy's a one-trick pony and it isn't much fun once you know the trick.
Box Office Films
- Status
I'll never again put down money to see an M Night Shamalamadingdong film. The guy's a one-trick pony and it isn't much fun once you know the trick.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I saw the Martian last night and it was very entertaining while being mildly thought provoking. Some plot holes here and there, and some very one-dimensional characters (the Jeff Daniels character could have been played by anyone), but also some really good performances by Damon and Chiwetel Ejiofor and terrific seamless CGI landscapes.
Probably not a film I'll watch more than twice (unlike Blade Runner, where I'm in the hundreds at this point), but a good flick. Nice to see Ridley with a hit.
Speaking of Blade Runner, I also saw Ex Machina over the weekend. What a ride! Similar territory in certain respects to Blade Runner, while being a completely different film. Highly recommended.
Probably not a film I'll watch more than twice (unlike Blade Runner, where I'm in the hundreds at this point), but a good flick. Nice to see Ridley with a hit.
Speaking of Blade Runner, I also saw Ex Machina over the weekend. What a ride! Similar territory in certain respects to Blade Runner, while being a completely different film. Highly recommended.
Ridley was due for a hit.
Going along with your point on Jeff Daniels' character, I felt Kristin Wiig was out of place. She was a nice addition to the cast and she's shown she can handle herself in a serious role ("The Skeleton Twins"), but to use your phrasing, her character in The Martian could have been played by anyone.
I thought Donald Glover was perfectly cast in his young, mad (and manic) scientist role.
Ex Machina was wonderful. The CGI in that film blew me away.
Hoping to catch "Sicario" this weekend.
It's been a fantastic year in film and Oscar season is right around the corner. Comparatively, it reminds me of the quality in 2012.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
Big Donald Glover fan (as musician, actor, comedian, and person), so was happy to see him succeed in a well-cast role. Hope he continues to grow as an actor and gets some bigger parts.
Is this Glover dude Danny's son?
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
No. That was the first question my wife asked too. She had never watched Community so had no clue who he was.
Thanks, never seen Community either. Someday perhaps.
I just watched The Hunt with Mikkelson because I had remembered someone on here recommended it. Excellent movie!
Mads is a wonderful actor. The Hunt was incredible. I remember the pit I had in my stomach when watching it.
Going to check out Sicario today. Will report back!
Sicario was very intense. Benicio del Toro delivered some very memorable one-liners and his character was equal parts menacing and intriguing. Rumor has it they are making a sequel focusing on his character. Not quite as good (in my amateur opinion, of course) as the director's previous offering, Prisoners, but tense thriller worth the price of admission.
3.5/4
3.5/4
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
So....the full trailer for "The Force Awakens" (Star Wars ep VII) came out last night. Even though it gives almost no hint as to the plot, I'm very excited to see this film. I'm also very disappointed at the media for propping up the #BoycottStarWarsVII ridiculousness. Bigots be bigots, don't give them exposure.
FeelYourPaign
- So Cal
Went to see Terminator Genysis last night.
Pretty confusing if you haven't been there for the predecessors. But who would that be, anyway?
A big sense of watching the Matrix over again, same effects, etc.
Really, just a big shoot 'em up with great special effects.
If it wasn't the Terminator series, it wouldn't do very well at all.
I'll give it 2.5 stars.
Pretty confusing if you haven't been there for the predecessors. But who would that be, anyway?
A big sense of watching the Matrix over again, same effects, etc.
Really, just a big shoot 'em up with great special effects.
If it wasn't the Terminator series, it wouldn't do very well at all.
I'll give it 2.5 stars.
Caught Crimson Peak over the Halloween weekend. Beautifully shot (as expected with a del Toro film), but there were enough plot holes to drive a sane person mad and the main characters were particularly one-dimensional.
I personally wouldn't recommend it.
1.5/4
I personally wouldn't recommend it.
1.5/4
Who else is excited about Spectre? Seeing it this weekend
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Looking forward to it. Waltz should be excellent as the main villain. Bautista should be good also.
I have to fault the filmmakers in criminally underutilizing Christoph Waltz.
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Serious Late
- Peoria via Denver via Ann Arbor via Albuquerque vi
I was disappointed in Spectre. Felt slow to me. Skyfall was a lot more fun, imo.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
I saw it in IMAX this afternoon. While Walz was definitely underused, it wasn't nearly as bad as the limited screen time for the DB10. That car was HOT--too bad Aston Martin isn't going to make it a production vehicle.
Anyway, I thought it was a good Bond, falling behind Skyfall and Casino Royale in the Craig era, and probably better than any of the Brosnan films save Goldeneye. Unfortunately it was probably my least favorite theme song since License to Kill. Something about Sam Smith's voice makes me want to break things.
A couple of neat little nods to some Fleming stuff, like the Hildebrand Rarities shop and putting the DB5 back together. The production values were top-notch, and the story itself was pretty good and left some decent bread crumbs for a follow-up if Craig chooses to suit up again. If not, my vote is for Tom Hardy (really looking forward to seeing Legend later this month).
You make some excellent points, R.S.
That DB10 was fierce. I'm probably dealing with some primacy effects, but that was the coolest Bond car I've seen in some time.
Never was a fan of the Brosnan era, and the only true blemish of the Craig era is Quantum of Solace. To me there seemed to be a little extra of the Bond-ian humor in Spectre. I liked that.
You completely nailed it on Sam Smith. If he's trying to serenade someone, sure, I understand his appeal. But what a step down from Adele in Skyfall.
Tom Hardy would make a great Bond. The trailer for Legend had me quite intrigued. Hoping it doesn't peak at a great trailer. He's having quite the 2015 to remember. Mad Max, Legend, AND The Revenant (cannot wait...)?
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Have not seen the movie yet but have heard the song-underwhelming to say the least. But c'mon, Ransom, how can you not like Gladys Knight singing "License to Kill?" One of the best Bond themes. :hand:
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
FWIW, a couple of things I would like to see in the new Bond movies are a re-occurring henchman like Jaws (but not as cartoonish) and a heavyweight actor with some real chops willing to do cameos in each film as Felix Leiter. Jeffrey Wright has been OK in a couple of the recent films but I'm thinking of someone like Matt Damon or Chris Pine. However it doesn't look like the writers have been interested in having Leiter in the films recently. I don't know what happens to Bautista's character in this film but he might be good as a re-occurring bad guy.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
The 80's were not good for Bond theme songs. The 70's weren't much better, but Live & Let Die makes up for almost everything else.
Bautista might be good as a re-occurring bad guy. But you should see the movie and then decide.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
Ransom, I can't believe what I'm reading. "Diamonds are Forever" and "Moonraker" by Shirley Bassey, "Nobody Does It Better" by Carly Simon, "Four Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton, "All-Time High" by Rita Coolidge, "View to a Kill" by Duran Duran, "License to Kill" and "Live an Let Die," and all the great orchestra work by Jon Barry, the 70s and 80s were great for Bond music. C'mon, man!
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
- Status