What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

Maximum Risk. 1996.

French policeman Alain discovers he had a twin that has died and assumes his identity to try and discover why he was killed and uncovers corruption between the F.B.I and a Russian Mob in America.

JCVD teams with Asian director Ringo Lam in this mid 90s film that begins in France then across to New York and then back France teaming up with Natasha Henstridge who tries to help Alain and keep him alive and shows off her body from the side. This was a decent solid action flick with some good decently choreographed fight scenes and one or two twists added in nicely. This was the start of Van Damme movies to go straight to DVD but this is certainly worth a watch.

I definitely saw this at the cinema, Mr.B. At the time it was of great interest because it was i think Van Damme's first work with a Hong Kong director in Ringo Lam and Lam's first American film as a director as he was seemingly breaking out ala John Woo into Hollywood.

That action sequence and car chase on the streets of Nice was superb at the time and we all thought it was the best we'd seen... then A couple of years later Ronin came along.

I'm pretty sure his subsequent films with Hong Kong directors also had cinema releases too.

Edit - Yeah just checked. Even Universal Soldier The Return had cinema releases. It was Replicant in 2001 that was his first direct to dvd film. Typical seeing as it's not long ago i bought this on Blu.

Edit 2 - Interesting that The Expendables 2 was Van Damme's first wide cinema release in the States since Universal Soldier The Return in 1999. A 13 year gap.

I learn something new every day, not all of it useful i admit.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by J Harker

Ant Man & The Wasp : Quantumania. Peyton Reed. 2023.

Here we go again back into Marvel land. I'm a big fan of the Marvel film franchise, have been since the beginning, where I eagerly awaited each installment. Now, well Disney have overkilled it a bit for me.
I go into these films with wearier more sceptical eyes. Or I'm just an old git...possibly.
Anyway, Quantumania. The third in the Ant Man series sees Scott Lang's now grown up daughter Cassie (played by Kathryn Newton) invent a thingy in a basement. Like all boffin types in Marvel, time, space and resources are never an issue. Next thing we know said thingy has ripped open a portal to the quantum realm, previously explored briefly in the previous film and becoming hugely relevant to the central storyline of the Marvel universe.
This time it is revealed that Janet Van Dyne played by Michelle Pfiefer who had spent 40 years trapped in the quantum realm had conveniently failed to mention that there was a whole world down there with it own people. A people oppressed by the tyrannical power mad Kang the Conqueror.
Cue the usual Paul Rudd humour although I suppose with a more serious edge than before. Loads of effects, many a little ropier than usual. I enjoyed it a lot, its undemanding fun. The plot is absurd with further absurdities every few moments. Culminating in a huge battle that defies even its own internal logic repeatedly and unashamedly. If you don't mind this sort of thing then there's much to enjoy. Dem, stay well well away, the planet chucking is very much a thing here.

I will.

Sadly i liked the first two Antman films because they were so grounded in reality. (Sort of)

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Nordicdusk

I'm working my way through the Mission Impossible films at the moment. I only ever saw the first two not sure why I never got around to the rest.

So over the last two night I have watched 3 and Ghost Protocol. Both films are a lot of fun with Tom Cruise doing so many of his own crazy stunts it always adds that bit more to the fun of the films just knowing he is putting himself on the line for our entertainment. I found Ghost Protocol was a little bit cheesier at times compared to pt 3 but overall it's just a real good time. Rouge Nation tonight and Fallout tomorrow night then I'm starting on Daniel Craig James Bond film I have only seen Casino Royale yeah yeah I know.

Sorry for the not very indept review but my tablet broke and I hate using this stupid phone

Excellent films. For me Mission Impossible:Fallout is by far the best though with some breath taking action. That lengthy helicopter sequence at the end is probably my favourite action sequence in cinema.

Hope you enjoy them, Nordy. Let that Dolby Atmos soundtrack on Fallout flatten your new house.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016)

A sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) although the opening half hour also acts as a prequel to that film which sees Chris Hemsworth's Huntsman along with once thought dead wife Sara (Jessica Chastain) and four dwarves including Nick Frost, Rob Brydon and Sheridan Smith, on a trek to find the dead evil queen Ravenna's (Charlize Theron) magic mirror.

A film that's visually stunning with all the snow white landscapes but it's so very similar to the first film in that it involves a set up then a journey before the inevitable showdown. It's like a baby Tolkien trilogy in one two hour film.

The addition of Emily Blunt's ice queen is fun, two evil queens in one movie? There must be a battle between the two? Surely? Of course there is and it's intriguing watching Theron and Blunt out do each other. Hemsworth is made for roles such as the Huntsman and Chastain proves herself a fine action heroine in a rare ass kicking role meanwhile the four dwarves up the humour levels

The action is fast and frenetic and the film on the whole is very enjoyable however although i've seen this before i don't recommend you watch it soon after seeing the original film as they are essentially the same movie.

[Nordicdusk]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Excellent films. For me Mission Impossible:Fallout is by far the best though with some breath taking action. That lengthy helicopter sequence at the end is probably my favourite action sequence in cinema.

Hope you enjoy them, Nordy. Let that Dolby Atmos soundtrack on Fallout flatten your new house.

Tomorrow night for that one think it's Rouge Nation tonight.

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I definitely saw this at the cinema, Mr.B. At the time it was of great interest because it was i think Van Damme's first work with a Hong Kong director in Ringo Lam and Lam's first American film as a director as he was seemingly breaking out ala John Woo into Hollywood.

That action sequence and car chase on the streets of Nice was superb at the time and we all thought it was the best we'd seen... then A couple of years later Ronin came along.

I'm pretty sure his subsequent films with Hong Kong directors also had cinema releases too.

Edit - Yeah just checked. Even Universal Soldier The Return had cinema releases. It was Replicant in 2001 that was his first direct to dvd film. Typical seeing as it's not long ago i bought this on Blu.

Edit 2 - Interesting that The Expendables 2 was Van Damme's first wide cinema release in the States since Universal Soldier The Return in 1999. A 13 year gap.

I learn something new every day, not all of it useful i admit.

Thanks for the update Dem, Universal Soldier: The Return by all means isn't perfect and Bill Goldberg trying to act and given most of the cheesiest dialogue is a bit of a laugh but its one I do enjoy. Replicant was a decent movie and good teaming of JCVD and Michael Rooker. As for Ronin I definitely need to re-watch that film.

[J Harker]

Ronin is brilliant. First time I watched it a youngster it went over my head and seemed dull. Rewatched it about 18months back and it's a superb thriller.

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

Thanks for the update Dem, Universal Soldier: The Return by all means isn't perfect and Bill Goldberg trying to act and given most of the cheesiest dialogue is a bit of a laugh but its one I do enjoy. Replicant was a decent movie and good teaming of JCVD and Michael Rooker. As for Ronin I definitely need to re-watch that film.

I think i've seen Universal Soldier The Return but couldn't tell you a thing about it.

[Demoncrat]

Kiss Of The Vampire (1963, Don Sharp)

Honeymooning? Feel free to drop into Castle Ravna, we love to have guests, especially ones who want to extend their stay.
Lesser effort or not, I had some fun with this one, what with the novel take on curing bites ahem. For all that, Noel Gilman's performance is a tad bloodless (intentional?) which does lessen the impact. Another one that I thought I'd seen on my travels, you live and learn ...

[MrBarlow]

WAZ. 2007.

After a body is found with the equation of W Delta Z, two detectives try to uncover who is behind the killings when another body is found, and one detective may know something about a previous crime.

Stellan Skarsgard teams up with Melissa George to try and crack the case and the riddle of the equation before more bodies start piling up and dealing with two different street gangs one being led by a very sweaty Tom Hardy. The atmosphere is almost dark and where there is light is only at the police station which sets it up being the only safe place. There is one or two scenes that can be disturbing and that involves a young child, we don't see anything happening but can only imagine it and the after effects and some scenes of torture that may make you cringe. Tough, gritty and entertaining.

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