What's the last or current Movie you Watched ?

[Shelter]

THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011)

In Jakarta, Indonesia, Lieutenant Wahyu organizes the invasion of an apartment building that is the safe house of the powerful and cruel drug lord Tama and his gang. The SWAT team breaks in the building but one lookout sees and warns the gangsters and the police force is trapped on the seventh floor. They learn that Lt. Wahyu has not informed his superiors about the operation. Now the police officers have to fight with limited ammunition against the armed and dangerous gangsters. Imdb

This is a movie featuring the indonesian martial-arts Pencak Silat and starring Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim and I think they should have named it Raid: Relentless 'cos the fighting and violence is brutal and pretty much non-stop, check out the clip for a 4 min example of what the rest of the 100min movie looks, and sounds like. As to plot; script and character developement - there's no room to fit any of that in.

It is a pure action movie no more no less. Please watch THE RAID 2 from 2014. You may say a sequel mostly isn't very good, but this one is better then the first! More action - no more no less!

 

[slimjim]

It is a pure action movie no more no less. Please watch THE RAID 2 from 2014. You may say a sequel mostly isn't very good, but this one is better then the first! More action - no more no less!

I have a copy of RAID 2 so will be giving it a watch - maybe later this week.
......................................

FAST CHARLIE (2023)

Charlie Swift is a fixer with a problem: the thug he's whacked is missing his head and Charlie will only be paid if the body can be identified. Enter Marcie Kramer, the victim's ex-wife and a woman with all the skills Charlie needs. Imdb

So this stars Pierce Brosnan as Charlie (and until the credits I hadn't realised James Caan was in it too.) It's a breezy pulp crime thriller with some dark humour along the way. It's ok, well crafted and acted - easily watchable but ultimately forgettable.

 

[slimjim]

THE RAID 2 (2014)

......not for the faint-hearted


Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force. Imdb

Iko Uwais returns in another 2hr 30mins of stylish high-octane choreographed mayhem. It's better then the first one it's brutal bloody butchery. An atmospheric and at times percussive soundtrack coupled with some very stylish editing lifts this to a new level. Check out the clip which covers 3 separate fights at the same time, cutting between the tube train (with Hammer Girl); countryside (with The Assassin) and street scene (with Baseball Bat Boy) this is 80mins in so not even in the last hour and Iko isn't even in any of them.... but later he fights Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Boy together and then has to deal with The Assassin and others.

 

[Shelter]

MAESTRO (2023)

Maestro will tell the complex love story of Leonard and Felicia, a story that spans over 30 years-from the time they met in 1946 at a party and continuing through two engagements, a 25 year marriage, and three children: Jamie Bernstein, Alexander Bernstein and Nina Bernstein Simmons. (IMDb)

The one say they love this film and the others say they hate this film. I really can say I'm a person from the first ones! Bradley Cooper at his very best! He didn't act the person of Bernstein, he is - no HE IS - Bernstein! For everyone who likes bio-pics: don't let this film go by. It is a very honest portrait of a GREAT artist! Very recommended!

 

[slimjim]

THE HUNGER GAMES : THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (2023)

The story of Coriolanus Snow, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. He is young, very determined and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, Coriolanus sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor a girl tribute named Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12. Imdb

I hit the Play button hoping this would be as entertaining as the first film and not have the bloated feeling of the last 2 Mockingjay episodes. At about 1hr 10mins one of the characters says to Coriolanus Snow "You have had enough of the Games tonight I see" and I thought " Yeah just about " ..... but I kept going for another 25/30mins or so but even with a major plot shift I realised I just didn't care about anyone or how it ended so hit the Off button. - on the plus side it's 2.42Gb of storage freed up.

 

[Shelter]

DARKLAND - THE RETURN (2023)

Zaid is doing time in prison, but gets a chance to get out and see his son if he assists the police. (IMDb)

A Danish action stunner with good action and with tension. 2017 was the first film only called DARKLAND. It was as good as this one. The Danes and the Swedes know really good how to make a good action film. Mostly made better than Hollywood. If you like action movies Slimjim, I think here you will sit entranced until the end and you will have forgotten for what the OFF BUTTON is needed.

 

[slimjim]

REBEL MOON Pt 1 : A CHILD OF FIRE (2023)

When a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, a mysterious stranger living among its villagers becomes their best hope for survival. Imdb

Does the synopsis above sound familiar? As a movie it's okay but it "borrows" far too much from other space-based-movies. I won't be holding my breath for Part 2

 

[Jase]

Home Alone

 

[slimjim]

SILENT NIGHT (2023) ....no trailer due to actor age

From legendary director John Woo and the producer of John Wick comes this gritty revenge tale of a tormented father (Joel Kinnaman) who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang's crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering from a wound that costs him his voice, he makes vengeance his life's mission and embarks on a punishing training regimen in order to avenge his son's death.. Imdb

An action movie for everyone - with no issues on subtitles or dubbing as there is pretty much NO dialogue during the whole movie, just the odd radio DJ, TV news report or police radio. I thought it worked pretty well for the first hour or so but then it just got a bit silly, then very silly!. Still worth a watch, but in a forgettable way

 

[Shelter]

SALTBURN (2023)

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton, who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family's sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
(IMDb)

A very controversial discussed film, with a great twist! You may like or hate this movie and there are many things to hate it - but nonetheless why not watch such a controversial film. Try it. I would be very interested what have been your opinions!

Happy Christmas

 

[slimjim]

SALTBURN (2023)

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton, who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family's sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.
(IMDb)

A very controversial discussed film, with a great twist! You may like or hate this movie and there are many things to hate it - but nonetheless why not watch such a controversial film. Try it. I would be very interested what have been your opinions!

Happy Christmas

Thanks for the review. I very nearly watched it last night but instead chose Silent Night.

Now I have three big decisions coming up for Xmas Eve; Xmas Day & Boxing Day. Do I risk new movies that might turn out to be duds or make sure that my holiday movies are 100% full-on enjoyable by choosing to go for rewatches from the likes of The Banshees Of Inisherin; Everything Everywhere All At Once; 1917; RRR; Bones & All; Rye Lane or Hero???? It's to soon for a rewatch of the superb The Holdovers, which I think will find itself up there with It's A Wonderful LIfe; Home Alone and Die Hard as the perfect Christmas movie.

edit - My possible new movie choices would maybe come from these - Saltburn; They Cloned Tyrone; Asteroid City; The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry; Renfield; Plane; The Great Escaper; The Creator ; Landscape wih Invisible Hand; Allelujah - and I just spotted I still haven't got around to watching Red White & Royal Blue either..... Decisions decisions?

 

[slimjim]

DIE HARD (1988)

So this wasn't planned but after mentioning it in the earlier post about christmas movies I happened to go to the home page of the All4 streamer here in UK and what was there "Available for a limited time in our movies section" so what the heck, change of plan and spend the afternoon with Bruce and the late great Alan Rickman doing what they did best - making damn fine movies especially when they need to get english actors to play german bad-guys. The great lines are still great "Now I have a machine-gun, Ho Ho Ho" "Yippee yay ay motherfucker" and of course the classic " Mr. Takagi... won't be joining us for the rest of his life"

 

[Jase]

Violent Night

 

[slimjim]

SALTBURN (2023)

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton, who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family's sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten. Imdb.

Technical point - the movie is shot in 4:3 ratio (a.k.a 1:33:1 or Academy ratio) which means you should have black edges (like in the trailer) so if you are watching on a modern widescreen TV re-set your ratio otherwise you will end up with the movie being stretched across the whole screen

Where to start? It's beautifully filmed and lit. The cast, lead by Barry Keoghan; Jacob Elordi; Archi Madekwe; Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant are all very good, particularly Keoghan who is superb as Oliver and Richard E Grant steals every scene he is in as Sir James, the eccentric aristocratic owner of the Saltburn country estate and head of the family. It's beautifully paced - a slow burn of a movie. It's a gleefully dark satire, shocking and hilarious in equal measures, not one of the characters is likeable. In terms of tone and plot think Bridehead Revisited meets the Adams Family meets The Talented Mr Ripley. There are a few jaw-dropping moments and I don't just mean Barry's naked dancing! In fact it says much about the movie that the 3 scenes getting most talked about does not include the naked dance scene, that's nowhere near taboo enough!

I liked it and I'm sure it's one of those movies that will benefit from a second watch in a few weeks to fully appreciate all that was going on but I can see why it has split audiences between those that absolutely loved it and absolutely hated it.

 

[cfisher1999]

The M@rvels

 

[slimjim]

HERO (2002)

In ancient China, before the reign of the first emperor, warring factions throughout the Six Kingdoms plot to assassinate the most powerful ruler, Qin. When a minor official defeats Qin's three principal enemies, he is summoned to the palace to tell Qin the story of his surprising victory. Imdb


I was going to re-watch either RRR or Everything Everywhere All At Once but had to change plans as I was running late and they had too long running times so I went for another look at this 90min cinematic feast and was blown away just as much as the first time. The editing and cinematography, especially the use of colour palletes with all blue ; all red; all white is stunning.

 

[Bryan]

Home Alone

 

[Shelter]

YOUR CHRISTMAS OR MINE? (2022)

It's Christmas Eve-Eve. After waving goodbye in Marlyebone Station, new lovers Hayley and James can't bear to be apart for Christmas, so both decide to surprise each other and unwittingly swap trains by mistake. The snow begins to fall and with it they realise they are trapped with each other's family for the whole of Christmas. Will their love survive as their secrets get unwrapped? ( IMDb)

YOUR CHRISTMAS OR MINE? 2 (2023)

In the sequel, Lord Humphrey invites the Taylors to Christmas in a luxury ski resort in the Austrian Alps so they can meet his new American girlfriend. But Hayley's dad Geoff insists on handling his family's side of the booking and something got lost in translation. After a mix-up with transport at the airport, the two families end up at each others accommodation on different sides of a valley and opposite ends of the Tripadvisor ratings scale. "They've swapped Christmas - again. Can Hayley and James' relationship survive another turbulent family Christmas or has their future together gone off-piste?!" (IMDb)

We wanted to watch a Christmas movie. So wie found both of this. What is a Christmas movie?: multicoloured, corny, predictable ---- but simply adoring and amazing! Perhaps this films will be forgotten in the next days but nonetheless wie loved it. It has had the right feeling for Christmas! And - what is the most important - I'm a fan of Asa Butterfield!

 

[Jase]

Make the Yuletide Gay

 

[slimjim]

LIFE OF BRIAN (1979)

My afternoon matinee presentation......