What are you watching?

Cowgirls and Angels 2: Dakotas Summer

Strange Days (1995) with Ralph Fiennes, Angela Basset, Tom Seizmore & Juliette Lewis.  I swear I remember kind of liking this film when it was new... but it blew chuncks this time (don't waste your time, it's like 90 minutes of weak plot crammed into a 2-1/2 disaster of a film).  

The Lobster (2015) Colin Ferrell & Rachel Weisz.  I knew this was an odd film going into it.  Good story line, but I don't think I care for Ferrell as an actor (his performance was not believable). I can't think of any other film I've seen him in where I liked his performance (he was abysmal in the 2003 "Daredevil" as "Bullseye").  Weisz and most of the other actors were good though.  Not a horrible waste of time, but it had a really lame ending.

Staybrite wrote:

Strange Days (1995) with Ralph Fiennes, Angela Basset, Tom Seizmore & Juliette Lewis.  I swear I remember kind of liking this film when it was new... but it blew chuncks this time (don't waste your time, it's like 90 minutes of weak plot crammed into a 2-1/2 disaster of a film).  

I remember that one. A bunch of language and nudity in a bit of a techno thriller. Haven’t seen it it in awhile but can recall enough of it.

I ended up looking it up not too long ago after finding out a bit of info that blew my mind. Ralph Fiennes also plays M in the Daniel Craig era 007 movies.

World Trade Center

Popeye w.Robin Williams
I forgot it was a bit of a musical.

Staybrite wrote:

Strange Days (1995) with Ralph Fiennes, Angela Basset, Tom Seizmore & Juliette Lewis.  I swear I remember kind of liking this film when it was new... but it blew chuncks this time (don't waste your time, it's like 90 minutes of weak plot crammed into a 2-1/2 disaster of a film).  

The Lobster (2015) Colin Ferrell & Rachel Weisz.  I knew this was an odd film going into it.  Good story line, but I don't think I care for Ferrell as an actor (his performance was not believable). I can't think of any other film I've seen him in where I liked his performance (he was abysmal in the 2003 "Daredevil" as "Bullseye").  Weisz and most of the other actors were good though.  Not a horrible waste of time, but it had a really lame ending.

It's been a while, but I do remember really liking Strange Days.  It had a great cast and very good atmosphere, even if it was a bit long...  Ah yes, I watched The Lobster pretty soon after it had been released.  It had some good elements and definitely made you think, though overall not something I'd ever rush to watch again.  I loved how they'd give struggling couples a kid to fix their relationship hahaha.

And speaking of Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, one of my absolute LEAST favorite movies I ever watched had both of them in it: The Constant Gardener.  I despised Weisz's character in it so much that it was years before I could watch another movie of hers. 

kerrick wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Strange Days (1995) with Ralph Fiennes, Angela Basset, Tom Seizmore & Juliette Lewis.  I swear I remember kind of liking this film when it was new... but it blew chuncks this time (don't waste your time, it's like 90 minutes of weak plot crammed into a 2-1/2 disaster of a film).  

The Lobster (2015) Colin Ferrell & Rachel Weisz.  I knew this was an odd film going into it.  Good story line, but I don't think I care for Ferrell as an actor (his performance was not believable). I can't think of any other film I've seen him in where I liked his performance (he was abysmal in the 2003 "Daredevil" as "Bullseye").  Weisz and most of the other actors were good though.  Not a horrible waste of time, but it had a really lame ending.

It's been a while, but I do remember really liking Strange Days.  It had a great cast and very good atmosphere, even if it was a bit long...  Ah yes, I watched The Lobster pretty soon after it had been released.  It had some good elements and definitely made you think, though overall not something I'd ever rush to watch again.  I loved how they'd give struggling couples a kid to fix their relationship hahaha.

And speaking of Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, one of my absolute LEAST favorite movies I ever watched had both of them in it: The Constant Gardener.  I despised Weisz's character in it so much that it was years before I could watch another movie of hers. 

Oh yeah, "If you argue too much we will give you a kid or two to help with that".  I thought that was unitentionally hilarious.  Overall a great concept for the movie, but for some reason it seemed like Ferrell was the weak link... but it could also be he acted exactly the way the director wanted him to.

I will certainly avoid that "Constant Gardener" flick. 

Hardkore wrote:

World Trade Center

Popeye w.Robin Williams
I forgot it was a bit of a musical.

Is that the World Trade Center movie with Nicholas Cage?  If so, I remember that being pretty good.

Yeah, Popeye is an odd sort of musical.  It has that weird Robert Altman vibe (director) were cast member's talk even when they aren't shown on screen, and 10-20% of the voices are almost inaudible.  He also directed the MASH film, and it has a lot of that kind of stuff (without the music).

Staybrite wrote:

Oh yeah, "If you argue too much we will give you a kid or two to help with that".  I thought that was unitentionally hilarious.  Overall a great concept for the movie, but for some reason it seemed like Ferrell was the weak link... but it could also be he acted exactly the way the director wanted him to.

I will certainly avoid that "Constant Gardener" flick. 

Oh I figured that was very intentional!  It got a good laugh out of me and my wife either way!  I think all the acting was pretty quirky and stiff in it, probably due to the script.  I know Farrell is often picked on, but I think he's a pretty good actor and generally chooses decent flicks.  I remember really enjoying In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, as well as Ondine (though the first two have a lot of bad language and some violence, plus I think SP might have some brief nudity...).  He does tend to play very similar characters in most of his flicks though it seems.

But yeah, The Constant Gardener was really lame.  You're wise to avoid!

kerrick wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Oh yeah, "If you argue too much we will give you a kid or two to help with that".  I thought that was unitentionally hilarious.  Overall a great concept for the movie, but for some reason it seemed like Ferrell was the weak link... but it could also be he acted exactly the way the director wanted him to.

I will certainly avoid that "Constant Gardener" flick. 

Oh I figured that was very intentional!  It got a good laugh out of me and my wife either way!  I think all the acting was pretty quirky and stiff in it, probably due to the script.  I know Farrell is often picked on, but I think he's a pretty good actor and generally chooses decent flicks.  I remember really enjoying In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, as well as Ondine (though the first two have a lot of bad language and some violence, plus I think SP might have some brief nudity...).  He does tend to play very similar characters in most of his flicks though it seems.

But yeah, The Constant Gardener was really lame.  You're wise to avoid!

I should try that Seven Psychopaths film.  After my post I went through Farrell's IMDB list and realized I've probably only seen him in like 4 or 5 films.  I was also reminded he had a prominent role in that first Fantastic Beasts film, and I remember him being pretty decent in that.  I didn't care for that Total Recall remake he was in a few years ago, but I don't think that was necessarily due to his performance, it was just a poor re-make (they should have called it something else). Could just be I haven't seen him in his best work.  Hard to believe a horrible actor would keep getting decent work... but Kristen Stewart does, so there is no accounting for some people's tastes. 

Oblivion (2013) with Tom Cruise (and Morgan Freeman).  Another film that I was certain I had seen when it was newer.  But as I was watching it I couldn't remember what came next.  It was all very familiar but I didn't know where the plot was heading.  Maybe it's a sign of old age.  So when we get older and have Alzheimer's we will be able to watch the same three films over and over again and have them be fresh and new every time?
This was a pretty decent sci-fi flick

Staybrite wrote:

I should try that Seven Psychopaths film.  After my post I went through Farrell's IMDB list and realized I've probably only seen him in like 4 or 5 films.  I was also reminded he had a prominent role in that first Fantastic Beasts film, and I remember him being pretty decent in that.  I didn't care for that Total Recall remake he was in a few years ago, but I don't think that was necessarily due to his performance, it was just a poor re-make (they should have called it something else). Could just be I haven't seen him in his best work.  Hard to believe a horrible actor would keep getting decent work... but Kristen Stewart does, so there is no accounting for some people's tastes. 

Have to admit, I haven’t seen it either. I have seen 13 of his movies, and that is not including his voice over work in the animated film. 
I may check it out even though the premise sounds a bit…demented.

Staybrite wrote:

Oblivion (2013) with Tom Cruise (and Morgan Freeman).  Another film that I was certain I had seen when it was newer.  But as I was watching it I couldn't remember what came next.  It was all very familiar but I didn't know where the plot was heading.  Maybe it's a sign of old age.  So when we get older and have Alzheimer's we will be able to watch the same three films over and over again and have them be fresh and new every time?
This was a pretty decent sci-fi flick

While I do know that I have seen it ,as various images are in my head, I really couldn’t tell you what it was about.

Hardkore wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Oblivion (2013) with Tom Cruise (and Morgan Freeman).  Another film that I was certain I had seen when it was newer.  But as I was watching it I couldn't remember what came next.  It was all very familiar but I didn't know where the plot was heading.  Maybe it's a sign of old age.  So when we get older and have Alzheimer's we will be able to watch the same three films over and over again and have them be fresh and new every time?
This was a pretty decent sci-fi flick

While I do know that I have seen it ,as various images are in my head, I really couldn’t tell you what it was about.

That was my exact same situation.  I felt like I could remember flashes of it, but kept thinking I was confusing the plot with the movie Wall-E. 

Prager U

Staybrite wrote:

Oblivion (2013) with Tom Cruise (and Morgan Freeman).  Another film that I was certain I had seen when it was newer.  But as I was watching it I couldn't remember what came next.  It was all very familiar but I didn't know where the plot was heading.  Maybe it's a sign of old age.  So when we get older and have Alzheimer's we will be able to watch the same three films over and over again and have them be fresh and new every time?
This was a pretty decent sci-fi flick

Love that movie. Tom did some great stuff around that time.
Oblivion had a good storyline, with a few twists, and even though it wasn't that well received in the cinema, I loved it (even have it on DVD)
Edge Of Tomorrow came out the following year, and is probably (scratch that, is definitely) my favourite TC movie.  Love time travel movies that redo the same event over and over.  Groundhog Day was awesome, and the best Harry Potter movie was no. 3, which went back in time, but EOT beats them all.
Mission Impossible 5 came out the following year, and that was brilliant too.

Fundy, have you seen Triangle?  I think it'd be right up your ally!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187064/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5

I recommend NOT watching the trailer due to possible spoilers.

A movie with a similar feel, though not explicitly time travel is Coherence.  You might like this one too.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2866360/?ref_=tt_sims_tt_t_1

Fundy wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Oblivion (2013) with Tom Cruise (and Morgan Freeman).  Another film that I was certain I had seen when it was newer.  But as I was watching it I couldn't remember what came next.  It was all very familiar but I didn't know where the plot was heading.  Maybe it's a sign of old age.  So when we get older and have Alzheimer's we will be able to watch the same three films over and over again and have them be fresh and new every time?
This was a pretty decent sci-fi flick

Love that movie. Tom did some great stuff around that time.
Oblivion had a good storyline, with a few twists, and even though it wasn't that well received in the cinema, I loved it (even have it on DVD)
Edge Of Tomorrow came out the following year, and is probably (scratch that, is definitely) my favourite TC movie.  Love time travel movies that redo the same event over and over.  Groundhog Day was awesome, and the best Harry Potter movie was no. 3, which went back in time, but EOT beats them all.
Mission Impossible 5 came out the following year, and that was brilliant too.

Yeah, I think the Oblivion movie was panned critically, but it did really well at the box office (IIRC).  So the people who watched it liked it well enough to tell (or suggest) that others watch it.
Edge of Tomorrow is a fantastic movie and likely my favorite Cruise film as well (although The Outsiders is fantastic, but I don't consider that an actual "Tom Cruise movie").  I really liked Emily Blunt's character in it as well.  The marketing department really dropped the ball though.  They used the tag line "Live, Die, Repeat" but IMO that should have been the name of the movie (mostly because I struggle to remember the actual title) 
Mrs Staybrite really digs the time-traveling theme thing as well. So we have seen quite a few movies like that.  What is odd is she hates "non-linear" movies (ones that jump back and forth in time, like in flashbacks).  I caught her watching a netflix series that did the "jumping back in forth" in time with the main characters (although not a "time-travel" movie....just a flashback thing).  I asked her why she was watching it (they did so much jumping around I couldn't keep track and didn't watch it with her).  Turns out she had read the book and was forcing herself to watch the series despite the flashback stuff.

I watched a Kerrick type flick two nights ago called Nocturnal Animals (2016) (by Kerrick type I mean odd, quirky, and somewhat unpredictable).  However it was so disturbing that I almost turned it off.  Glad I didn't though because it was quite good.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone bothered by nudity, language and horrific violence and depraved criminal behavior.  Actually gave me a nightmare.  But it was a very well done film.

kerrick wrote:

Fundy, have you seen Triangle?  I think it'd be right up your ally!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187064/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5

I recommend NOT watching the trailer due to possible spoilers.

A movie with a similar feel, though not explicitly time travel is Coherence.  You might like this one too.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2866360/?ref_=tt_sims_tt_t_1

I almost watch "Coherence" once or twice.  I was set back by the fact that it was an indie budget film stuck in the "SciFi" genre.  It looked almost like a complete dialog driven thriller based on the trailer.  So I passed.  Might give it another try... if it stinks I'll just blame you.

^Ha, fair enough!  I liked Coherence and definitely recommend it.  It's not perfect and there's not a lot of action, but it's well done and I didn't find it boring at all.

However, I did watch Nocturnal Animals and found it to be pretentious and generally un-enjoyable, so there!  

kerrick wrote:

^Ha, fair enough!  I liked Coherence and definitely recommend it.  It's not perfect and there's not a lot of action, but it's well done and I didn't find it boring at all.

However, I did watch Nocturnal Animals and found it to be pretentious and generally un-enjoyable, so there!  

I did find many of the character's in Nocturnal Animals to be pretentious (especially Amy Adams and her current husband and circle of friends/colleagues.).  I think that was kind of transparently intentional so that you as the watcher would find those people annoying/foreign/reprehensible and not want to ally yourself with them.  But the idea of dedicating a "revenge" novel to your ex-wife and the interplay of reality verses the story in the book was something I found intriguing. I also liked Michael Shannon's character in the film.  I mean it was no "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" (which I would certainly watch again), but it didn't feel like a complete waste of my time. (still not going to watch it again though)
See,  I can be artsy fartsy too! 

kerrick wrote:

Fundy, have you seen Triangle?  I think it'd be right up your ally!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1187064/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_5

I recommend NOT watching the trailer due to possible spoilers.

A movie with a similar feel, though not explicitly time travel is Coherence.  You might like this one too.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2866360/?ref_=tt_sims_tt_t_1

Never heard of either of those before.  May have to check them out.  Thanks for the recommendations!

Staybrite wrote:

I watched a Kerrick type flick two nights ago called Nocturnal Animals (2016) (by Kerrick type I mean odd, quirky, and somewhat unpredictable).  However it was so disturbing that I almost turned it off.  Glad I didn't though because it was quite good.  I wouldn't recommend it for anyone bothered by nudity, language and horrific violence and depraved criminal behavior.  Actually gave me a nightmare.  But it was a very well done film.

I think I'll give that a miss. 

In the UK we have a rating system...
U - Universal
PG - Parental Guidance
12 - For only those over 12
15 - For only those over 15
18 - For only those over 18

I have the stomach for 12 and under.  Anything above 12 I have to be really careful with.  I've got a few 15's (Hacksaw Ridge, The Matrix etc.) but beyond that I can't enjoy the movie.

Other time travel movies I enjoy...
Back To The Future I, II and III
Planet Of The Apes
Source Code (underrated and really enjoyable, even if it feels a bit small budget!)

Fundy wrote:

In the UK we have a rating system...
U - Universal
PG - Parental Guidance
12 - For only those over 12
15 - For only those over 15
18 - For only those over 18

I have the stomach for 12 and under.  Anything above 12 I have to be really careful with.  I've got a few 15's (Hacksaw Ridge, The Matrix etc.) but beyond that I can't enjoy the movie.

I don't pay too much attention to ratings anymore, just because the only thing that really bothers me is blasphemy and nudity (I usually avert my eyes and have my wife tell me when the nude parts are over).  You're probably familiar with the rating system in the U.S.

G - General (or universal)
PG - Parental Guidance Suggested
PG13 - (nobody under the age of 13 should see this... but they can with a parent)
R - (nobody under the age of 17 should see this... but they can with a parent)
NC17 (absolutely nobody under the age of 17)

It seems like most rated R movies are rated that way for language (excessive profanity), excessive or explicit violence, or nudity (or all three).
I personally think NC17 movies are really just softcore pornography.  I don't think I have seen any except for a horridly bad film called "Showgirls", and it was basically pornography.

Source Code was a great flick. I love time travel movies