But it was beautiful! Gorgeously shot, the stunts were amazing, the locations outstanding. Was there a story? I dunno. It had some actors I loved and the lighting and sound were brilliant.
Kind of like the Jason Bourne movies if they had just forgotten about plot and hired someone to make them less gritty and more ethereal. Heck, there are scenes in the John Wick movies that really seem to call back to famous films like The Hunger (which has one of the best starting 15 minutes or so in cinema).
Eat your popcorn, chill out, and remember, they never use blanks, all the shots are CGI. So everyone is safe and having a good time. 
This is a good breakdown:
It would be easier on my brain if they made it a comic book movie (or at least made it clear it it)
I think they do, and have been though? The sequence for me that really nails down what they're doing is Berlin, when John goes after Killa Harkan, and they're fighting it out while everyone in the background is dancing, gorgeously, neon-lit, without a care in the world. It's highlighting how heightened this world is, and also hanging a lampshade on how the elaborate combat choreography is basically elaborate dance numbers.
Anyway, I really like JW4. Probably the best of the sequels for me, and a lot of that is down to the tangents it has the space to go on, and Donnie Yen.
Heck, there are scenes in the John Wick movies that really seem to call back to famous films like The Hunger (which has one of the best starting 15 minutes or so in cinema).
The revolver scene in John Wick 3 was lifted straight out of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly. It makes absolutely no sense in context if you don't recognize that it's an homage.
Watched Causeway because it was nominated for a oscar. It is a very simple slow movie but I liked it. The move is about two people becoming friends while dealing with their trauma. A very natural movie where everyone seems real.
I give it 8 snow cones out of 10.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour among Thieves is solidly fun and entertaining, if maybe not quite as funny as it feels it should be in places.
Still, it understands it subject matter, is quite respectful of D&D lore without letting it drag itself down, and when it is being funny is very funny indeed. Hugh Grant is very much fantasy Phoenix Buchanan though.
Recommend from me.
There's an easter egg for people of a certain age in the maze bit near the end.
I thought it was fun. I recognised some D&D words from video games.
I had a lot of fun with the D&D movie.
My wife felt short changed with her primary reason for going.
I do feel like they captured the druid dilemma well: either they are godly because they can do everything well, or they are milk toast because they can do everything but at best are just average at some of it.
The wizard villain was great!
I had a lot of fun with the D&D movie.
Same here, saw it this afternoon. This movie is waaaay better than it should have been. Easily one of the best, if not the best game movie ever made, IMO. I was totally rolling in the scene with the dragon.
There's an easter egg for people of a certain age in the maze bit near the end.
I knew I saw what I thought I saw.
I liked how it was mostly logically consistent with respect to the spells and magical artifacts. They would introduce a bit of magic with pretty clearly defined rules, and it would work or not work to solve the problem in a sensible way, and often a few scenes later, would be used according to the defined rules to solve a different problem.
The evil sorceress was great - a really interesting and unusual set of acting choices in the portrayal.
There was an owlbear.
Super Mario Bros.
Pros:
Animation was really good.
Chris Pratt didn't suck.
Kids (9 and 6) liked it.
Cons:
Story was ho-hum forgettable Illumination fare.
Seth Rogen remains lame.
Bottom Line:
Jack Black makes everything better.
Watched Fury of the Gods which isn't good. The story is really bad and doesn't really try to make sense. The product placement is almost as bad as the product placement in transformers. The movie is way to long. The bad guys are boring. The jokes aren't funny. The acting is pretty bad.
The best thing about the movie are a few good visuals I give the movie two SHAZAMS out of 10. Six thousand year old women shouldn't be making out with teenagers.
Going to take the fam to Mario this afternoon. Will report back.
Going to take the fam to Mario this afternoon. Will report back.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
UpToIsomorphism wrote:Going to take the fam to Mario this afternoon. Will report back.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
I'm boycotting this movie for racism against turtles. Mario has promoted violence and racism against turtles for years. Every turtle is made out to be a villain out steal the white women or throw a hammer at you. Enough is a enough.
Mixolyde wrote:UpToIsomorphism wrote:Going to take the fam to Mario this afternoon. Will report back.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
I'm boycotting this movie for racism against turtles. Mario has promoted violence and racism against turtles for years. Every turtle is made out to be a villain out steal the white women or throw a hammer at you. Enough is a enough.
Mario X Ninja Turtles incoming.
Watched 65 without knowing anything about it. The name becomes obvious within a few minutes. They literally spell it out. I did think that was odd, with a couple of changes they could have brought out the big reveal much later.
I think only 5 people have lines in this movie and that is counting the computer. Two of the people are in 99% of the movie and one of them doesn't speak English whatever is passing as English.
UpToIsomorphism wrote:Going to take the fam to Mario this afternoon. Will report back.
Good luck, we're all counting on you.
Bulleted thoughts:
-There is a lot of plot, and the movie moves fast. So fast that it doesn't really make sense, tell me again why no one is questioning anything that is happening!?
-Toad is my spirit animal.
-They are really cramming in every possible reference to 30-some-odd years of video games they can. It isn't as much of a plot as a series of references.
-Having said that, I love the sound and musical cues. Someone should win an Oscar for the Foley work.
-On the other hand, why did someone put the GTA Vice City soundtrack in the game?
-Seriously, there are so many minor character references, but my son's favorite character doesn't show up at all!?
Lakitu
-BLUE SHELL! BLUE SHELL!!! BLUE EFFING SHELL!!!!!
-Mario Odyssey is strong, except for not having the hat.
-Like Super Mario Bros. 2, Peach is appropriately OP.
This is a fun movie that is more a series of references than anything resembling a movie. But it was fun. I laughed, my wife laughed, and my son thought it was hilarious. If you have kids or an over-developed sense of nostalgia, you may want to see it in theatres. Otherwise, it is definitely worth checking out on streaming in a few weeks when it hits there.
Watched Fury of the Gods which isn't good.
That's a shame. The first one was surprisingly good and I was hoping the sequel would live up to it.
Walked into the Drafthouse this morning and asked for a ticket to the pipe movie. Paid my matinee ticket price and ran into the theater right as the final trailer was playing. By the time I realized I wasn't in the Mario movie, the theater doors had already been locked from the outside, and the deep thrumming techno bass had kicked in.
Well, I murmured to myself, I guess I'm watching How To Blow Up A Pipeline.
The opening paragraph is a goof, of course - this looked like a cool flick and I figured the blockbusters like D&D & Mario will be in theaters for a few more weeks, whereas this one may not see the same length of residency, so I opted to see the more indie pick.
And I'm glad I did, HTBUAP was fantastic. If you're unfamiliar, it's based off the non-fiction book/manifesto of the same name by Andreas Malm, which argues for sabotage as a legitimate & necessary means of climate activism (versus pacifism or outright fatalism). The film adapts the book's philosophy into a thriller flick plot about a group of like-minded individuals from around the US coming together to, well, blow up a pipeline, each with their own motivations & reasons for going as hard as they are.
This film gripped me from start to finish. From Gavin Brivik's pumping bass-heavy electronic soundtrack, to the huge heist energy the film courts, to the unfolding of the personal stakes woven throughout, I was rapt for the full 2-hour runtime. It starts strong, ends stronger, and left me energized walking out of the theater. If you've even a bit of climate anxiety or frustration with the fossil fuel industry, this film has something for you. If you just like a good clock-ticking thriller w/ crafty editing and great jams, there's something here for you too.
Finally, for good measure, The Appeal to the Gamers:
How would you like to watch a movie about AVALANCHE going through the nitty-gritty details of putting together and pulling off the Mako Reactor bombing mission? Sounds great? Then check out How To Blow Up A Pipeline.
Finally saw Avatar: The Way of Water
Bro, so many Bros, bro
Should have gone to the theater for it but alas I couldn't be bothered, visually it is outstanding and the action is top notch, though the final act conveniently transforms a massive conflict into a spec-Op infiltration without explanation, couldn't the water navi help the sullys in the last segment? made no sense at all why they would suddenly leave.
Still enjoyable, If I ever meet James Cameron I'll make sure to Bro him up, as he is clearly a Bro preaching the Bro message to all the Bro's that ever bro-ed
My Mario review: worth it if and only if you can enjoy it vicariously through your kid.
Otherwise it's a 90 minute technicolor commercial for something you already own.
My Mario review: worth it if and only if you can enjoy it vicariously through your kid.
Otherwise it's a 90 minute technicolor commercial for something you already own.
This is spot on.
It made a killing, but I wonder how much of that is parents who just want to take the kids to the theater and eat some junk food and have (relative) peace/quiet for 2 hours (hey, that's a-me!)?
Saw John Wick 4. I had a good time. It was much better than 3 for me.
I mean, Donnie Yen... (and the guy that was in 47 Ronin with Keanu, I should remember his name because he is awesome!)
The stunts with mixed CG and practical were pretty incredible. Especially most of the car scenes. At this point, I am going to assume that both John and the table are metaphors for something because well, I guess John could be auditioning for Wolverine with infinite ammo guns instead of claws. Ian McShane is awesome as always. Some great new characters as well.
edit: ZOMG it had Tonks/Osha in it. I knew I recognized her but couldn't put my finger on it.
Jonman wrote:My Mario review: worth it if and only if you can enjoy it vicariously through your kid.
Otherwise it's a 90 minute technicolor commercial for something you already own.
This is spot on.
It made a killing, but I wonder how much of that is parents who just want to take the kids to the theater and eat some junk food and have (relative) peace/quiet for 2 hours (hey, that's a-me!)?
Also of note, if you wear the Mario costume you had leftover from Halloween a couple years ago to accompany your adorable 9 year old daughter to the screening, strangers will point at you and smile a lot, making you question whether they're laughing at or with you.
Definitely WITH.
Lots of full families dressed up at our showing.
The theaters I frequent, it's 100% "At."
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