What's the last or current Movie you Watched ?

[slimjim]

STAR TREK (2009)

Watching Anton Yelchin a few days back in "Odd Thomas" prompted me to rewatch this 2009 re-boot chronicling the early days of Jim; Spock; Scotty; Bones etc. All what you would expect from director JJ Abrams and graet cast including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, Bruce Greenwood, Zoë Saldana, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Winona Ryder and Leonard Nimoy.

You want a couple of hours of pure adrenalin fuelled escapism? well this ticks all the boxes!

 

[slimjim]

GAMER (2009).... No YT trailer due to actor age

Each week Kable, a death-row inmate, battles his fellow prisoners in a violent online game called "Slayers," - not via a control pad but actually "in" the game, as a simulated player and his every move controlled by a young gamer's remote device. If they survive 30 levels "in" the game they have earned their release from prison. But all is not what it seems and there is also a mysterious resistance group that opposes the game's inventor, and as far as they are concerned Kable is a critical component of their plan to end the inventor's form of high-tech slavery.

All sounds a bit confusing I admit and if you grab the trailer you will get an idea of how it looks.... I happened upon it as Kable is played by Gerard Butler. It's not his greatest by a long way, flashy but a bit of mess. It's one of those "straight to DVD" movies

 

[Shelter]

This week away from the office. So today a movie day. And now please don't laugh - it was a 72 years old John Huston film.
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE with Audie Murphy and Bill Mauldin.

Plot centers around how a young recruit (Audie Murphy) faces the horrors of war. Character vascilates between wanting to fight and doubting his own courage. In midst of first bloody encounter, Youth runs away. After seeing dead and wounded, sense of shame leads him back to his unit, where he distinguishes himself in the next battle. Having overcome his fear of "the great Death" he knows e can face whatever comes. Somewhat sentimental "coming of age" tale was pet project of John Huston, who fought MGM over casting of Murphy and Bill Mauldin in lead roles. (IMdB)

It was an b/w film - a story of courage and cowardice during the American Civil War. Surely there will be better movies out there about this theme. But I think in 1951 it was a hit and a milestone in cinematography. The battle scenes have been very realistic and the acting was believable. And today? Yes it was an enjoyable movie afternoon.

 

[slimjim]

A solid follow-up to the 2009 movie but not quite as good imho. Same main cast as before but with the addition of Benedict Cumberbatch

 

[Shelter]

And another action film today - but from 2020 GREENLAND

A family fights for survival as a planet-killing comet races to Earth. John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his estranged wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and young son Nathan make a perilous journey to their only hope for sanctuary. Amid terrifying news accounts of cities around the world being leveled by the comet's fragments, the Garritys experience the best and worst in humanity while they battle the increasing panic and lawlessness surrounding them. As the countdown to global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven. (IMdB)

Gerard Butler again completely in his element. A straight foreward told story - but nevertheless gripping and worth watching. Apocalyptic scenarios normally are not my cup of tea - but I must say: I was riveted by this film - and yes I like Gerard Butler.

 

[slimjim]

Yeah I have seen good reviews of Greenland and it, along with a couple of other Gerard Butler movies, is in my "to watch" folder.
....

6 UNDERGROUND (2019)

Six individuals from all around the globe, each the very best at what they do, have been chosen not only for their skill, but for a unique desire to delete their pasts to change the future. They set out to work outside the law or government control in order to get rid of bad guys such as dictators etc.

So far so good, and it stars Ryan Reynolds and Ben Hardy and I thought, okay I'll grab a copy and give it a go. It's flashy, but borders on brainless and bombastic with a few totally idiotic moments - think Mission Impossible meets Fast & Furious

During the credits I realised why - it's a Michael Bay movie. I might well have given it the swerve if I had known before. Worryingly early on in the movie Ryan Reynold's character explains that there are 9 bad guys he want to get rid of, this movie tells of their removal on No.1 ..... so frightingly there may be plans for 8 more in the franchise.

 

[Shelter]

Yeah I have seen good reviews of Greenland and it, along with a couple of other Gerard Butler movies, is in my "to watch" folder.

If you give this film a try, I'll feel confident that you will not be disappointed.

 

[slimjim]

STAR TREK : BEYOND (2016)

The 3rd in the "modern re-boot" series. With J.J. Abrams in charge agine with the usula castlist - an unrecognisable Idris Elba stars too in this one.

 

[slimjim]

PRESSURE (2015)

So the story is group of men are trapped in a small pod on the sea bed, after diving down to fix an oil pipeline and becoming separated from their ship. Pretty good performances from the cast but a few big plot holes and slack direction fail to keep the tension up. Not one to keep and watch again. I only grabbed a copy as Joe Cole is in it..... mmmm Joe in a confined space (a deep sea capsule) getting all tense and needing help de-stressing Oooh suits you Sir!

 

[slimjim]

OFFENDER (2012)

When Tommy Nix loses his girlfriend and unborn child as a result of a brutal attack by an armed gang, he vows revenge. His uncontrollable rage driving him on, his quest for vengeance will burn all those who get in his way. But with the men responsible for the attack now in prison, he has no option but to follow them there.........

The main lead is starring in his first major break-out role and his intense portrayal of the brooding, revenge fuelled Tommy carries what is otherwise a run-of-the-mill (but very violent) prison drama - and Tommy is played by Joe Cole..... mmmmm Joe in a confined space (a prison cell) all tense and needing help de-stressing Oooh suits you Sir!

 

[slimjim]

SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL (2020)

I'm amazed I managed to see it through to the end. This supposed comedy action movie had very few laughs but lots of stereotypes - the excop out of jail who wants to take down a bunch of corrupt cops who framed his friend blah blah blah - add in a heavy rock/rap soundtrack and some lame editing (at least 25 mins of totally unecassary stuff should have been cut) actually they would have been better cutting the other 90 mins too. Even more worrying is than the last minute sets things up for a sequel

 

[slimjim]

THE OUTSIDERS (1983) .... no YT clip due to actor age

Essentially the story of the rivalry between the Socs, the rich kids from the middle/upperclass side of town and the Greasers from the poor workingclass part of town, the wrong side of the tracks. It's not the only time this kind of story has been told, and this is probably not the best version of that story - even if it is directed by Francis Ford Coppola. However this is a film that has it's own story - about the cast.

The main cast were pretty much all in the early days of their careers and most were aged between 17 and 20 (hence no trailer, you will have to go find it yourself. The performances are pretty good so Coppola obviously saw something in Matt Dillon; C. Thomas Howell; Emilio Estevez; Partick Swayze; Lief Garrett; Diana Lane; Rob Lowe and Ralph Macchio to cast them along with some kid called Tom Cruise (whatever happened to him?) Nicholas Cage and Johnny Depp have "blink-and-you'll-miss-them" cames too. Oh and Stevie Wonder wrote and sings the closing song for the movie ...... but apart fom them, no major names at all.

 

[Shelter]

THE OUTSIDERS (1983) .... no YT clip due to actor age

Essentially the story of the rivalry between the Socs, the rich kids from the middle/upperclass side of town and the Greasers from the poor workingclass part of town, the wrong side of the tracks. It's not the only time this kind of story has been told, and this is probably not the best version of that story - even if it is directed by Francis Ford Coppola. However this is a film that has it's own story - about the cast.

The main cast were pretty much all in the early days of their careers and most were aged between 17 and 20 (hence no trailer, you will have to go find it yourself. The performances are pretty good so Coppola obviously saw something in Matt Dillon; C. Thomas Howell; Emilio Estevez; Partick Swayze; Lief Garrett; Diana Lane; Rob Lowe and Ralph Macchio to cast them along with some kid called Tom Cruise (whatever happened to him?) Nicholas Cage and Johnny Depp have "blink-and-you'll-miss-them" cames too. Oh and Stevie Wonder wrote and sings the closing song for the movie ...... but apart fom them, no major names at all.

nonetheless I think it is a great film! Some months ago we have watched it. And surely you are right: it is not the first time and it will be not the last time that such movies will be produced. This one is coming from a long time ago and will show us that the so called "good old time" has had as well it's sites of fractures.

 

[Shelter]

JOHNNY - a Netflix film from 2022 from Poland.

Love for the world and other people and about the fact that everyone deserves a second chance. When Patryk receives it from a priest Jan Kaczkowski does not even suspect how it will change his life. (IMdB)

It is the true story of the Polish priest Jan Kaczkowski who died in 2016 in the age of 38. The film started a little slow but very soon you get involved in the story. Very moving and worth watching! Give it a try and you will not be disapppointed.

 

[slimjim]

GREENLAND (2020) ... no YT Trailer due to actor age

So a comet which has broken into multiple pieces is heading for the Earth but unlike the majoity of such "disaster movies" which focus on the impact; tsunami; earthquakes etc this one focusses more on what people do to save their families - in this case Gerard Butler and his wife & child. Well worth a watch

 

[Shelter]

GREENLAND (2020) ... no YT Trailer due to actor age

So a comet which has broken into multiple pieces is heading for the Earth but unlike the majoity of such "disaster movies" which focus on the impact; tsunami; earthquakes etc this one focusses more on what people do to save their families - in this case Gerard Butler and his wife & child. Well worth a watch

Thank you - so I'm not alone with my opinion.

 

[slimjim]

A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN (2017)

Based on the true story of Billy Moore, an english heroin addict living in Bangkok, where he fights bare-knuckle in the local gyms for money. He is arrested and sent to Klong Prem jail for selling drugs. There, unable to speak the language it's a matter of daily survival as he is forced to live in unimaginable unsanitary conditions forever fearful of beatings from guards and other prisoners. It's only when Billy takes up Muay Thai boxing that he is able to see a way out of this hellish environment.

As you may have spotted from the YTube still Billy is played by Joe Cole who puts in an outstanding performance. Apparently he spent months training as a kick boxer before filming and the fights are for real. It was shot inside a Thai prison and most of the inmates are ex-inmates. It's uncompromising, brutal, visceral, difficult to watch at times in it's ugliness..... I don't mean Joe of course, who spends just about the whole 2 hours in just his shorts. Mmmmmm sweaty Joe Cole locked up with 50+ Thai boys - Ooooh Suits you Sir!

 

[Shelter]

THE THIN RED LINE a war film from 1998

U.S. Army Private Witt (AWOL) is found and imprisoned on a troop carrier by his company First Sergeant, Welsh.The men of C Company,1st Battalion,27th Infantry Regiment,25th Infantry Division have been brought to Guadalcanal as reinforcements in the campaign to secure Henderson Field and seize the island from the Japanese. They arrive near Hill 210, a key Japanese position. Their task is to capture the hill at all costs. What happens next is a story of redemption and the meaninglessness of war. Regardless of the outcome. (IMdB)

I've watched in the past many war films - 1917, All Quiet on the Western Front and so on. Each of these films have been great but this one was overwhelming. I've had the mental feeling as if I experienced it at close quarters. Sometimes I must look away because I couldn't bear it anymore. It was sheer horror! No wonder that many soldiers came back from the battlefields with a mental disservice. This film runs 170 minutes - it is a very long time - but for me/us it was no minute too long. Very recommended - if you like war films without "flag throwing heroes".

 

[Shelter]

A PRAYER BEFORE DAWN (2017)

Based on the true story of Billy Moore, an english heroin addict living in Bangkok, where he fights bare-knuckle in the local gyms for money. He is arrested and sent to Klong Prem jail for selling drugs. There, unable to speak the language it's a matter of daily survival as he is forced to live in unimaginable unsanitary conditions forever fearful of beatings from guards and other prisoners. It's only when Billy takes up Muay Thai boxing that he is able to see a way out of this hellish environment.

As you may have spotted from the YTube still Billy is played by Joe Cole who puts in an outstanding performance. Apparently he spent months training as a kick boxer before filming and the fights are for real. It was shot inside a Thai prison and most of the inmates are ex-inmates. It's uncompromising, brutal, visceral, difficult to watch at times in it's ugliness..... I don't mean Joe of course, who spends just about the whole 2 hours in just his shorts. Mmmmmm sweaty Joe Cole locked up with 50+ Thai boys - Ooooh Suits you Sir!

Again a GREAT and amazing film which is recommending to all of you! Very riveting!

 

[slimjim]

HERE ARE THE YOUNG MEN (2020)

Dublin graduates Matthew, nihilistic Rez, and crazy Kearney, switch from education to a social vacuum of drink and drugs, falling into acts of vandalism and petty crme. Sadly, although the performances are good I couldn't get into it and the fantasy sequences showing a garish American TV show used to show Kearney's state of mind I thought was lame.

As to the cast well the main ones are played by (left to right in the s/shot above) Ferdia Walsh-Peelo; Dean-Charles Chapman (who accompanied George MacKay in 1917) and Finn Cole who also starred in Peaky Blinders & Offender along with his brother - Joe Cole. The female lead is Anya Taylor-Joy and she is also in Peaky Blinders....

...... I wonder how many movies have 3 out of 4 stars with hyphen-ated names?

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