What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[gag]

Was Just saying to wife yesterday I don't think I've actually seen any of the new star wars films, so I need to rewatch them all from beggining and then watch all the new ones.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Wuthering Heights (1992)

A truly dire and disjointed adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic Gothic novel. Ralph Fiennes lacks the brooding qualities that say, Richard Armitage brought to Elisabeth Gaskell's North and South, and comes across as just miserable as Heathcliff whilst Juliette Binoche struggles with her English and is utterly unsuitable to the role of Cathy. Worst of all the pair lack any kind of screen chemistry.

I can see the West Yorkshire moors where this film is set from my kitchen window, so this being such a rushed and badly directed mess was a big disappointment.

[iank]

Originally Posted by gag

Was Just saying to wife yesterday I don't think I've actually seen any of the new star wars films, so I need to rewatch them all from beggining and then watch all the new ones.

I'd just stop at ROTJ if I were you...

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

It is. However you need a higher level of Midi-chlorians to detect it and become one with it. Which us normal folk don't have.

I didn't know that because all my Star Wars knowledge is from the films, from The Phantom Menace to The Last Jedi and the spinoffs (Rogue One and Solo), plus the commentaries. That's why I've only just learned it's unusual for Anakin Skywalker to begin training with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan rather than Yoda, who would usually oversee the training of 'younglings' until they are old enough to be assigned to a Jedi master, usually about age 8.

As they weren't a childhood favourite and I never became a fan, I've probably seen the Star Wars films more times in the last few years than in the 30 to 40 years prior to that. I'll probably learn much more about them in the remaining days of this year as I listen to the other commentary tracks and watch the documentaries.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by gag

Was Just saying to wife yesterday I don't think I've actually seen any of the new star wars films, so I need to rewatch them all from beggining and then watch all the new ones.

Originally Posted by iank

I'd just stop at ROTJ if I were you...

I think Rogue One is an excellent self-contained film and a good extension to the other films, and Solo is also a good piece of Star Wars-related entertainment. If you don't own the prequel trilogy, I wouldn't consider it essential viewing and there are much better uses of your time and money.

In my opinion, the two Star Wars Story films are as good as Return of the Jedi, which, as I said earlier, suffers because of the Ewoks and Jim Henson background characters. Narratively, Jedi is a decent story and a satisfying denouement to the Luke Skywalker-Darth Vader/Emperor Palpatine story.

[nicholasrope]

No Retreat, No Surrender

When Mobsters injure his Father after he refuses to join them and after moving to Seattle. A teen gets trained in Karate by the spirit of Bruce Lee. When the Mobsters try to gain control of a local Karate Club, he attempts to gain revenge on the man who injured his Father.

Very Cheesy with overacting galore however Jean-Claude Van Damme shows his star quality as the Russian Heavy.

[Nordicdusk]

I loved Rogue One and I had a lot of fun with Solo I really rate both films the less said about the new trilogy the better I still have that bitter taste in my mouth from them.

[Nordicdusk]

Has anyone seen the Street Trash remake yet? I have heard great things about it and the trailer looks fun with plenty of colorful gore.

[Frankie Teardrop]

Pre-xmas splurge. Not all of them are v christmassy, soz santa

SILENT NIGHT - Steve Miner's loose remake of 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' can't quite pack the ruthlessly schlocky punch of the original, but there's plenty to like - pretty visuals, nice gore and a tone that manages to juggle black comedy with a slightly oppressive dourness without dropping any balls. An at times faltering pace is countered by barking Malcolm McDowall and that all-important Santa with a flamethrower.

MANHATTAN BABY - Fans still flock to the ultraviolence of 'The Beyond' etc, but do those zombie movies ever get as weird as some of Fulci's other stuff? Though theoretically it should be easy - archaeologist's daughter scores a haunted Eye Of Horus type pendant in Egypt, then encounters supernatural events and laser effects back home in the big apple - I've yet to make sense of a film in which most of the cast mangle the plot every few minutes by walking through a door and either vanishing or wandering off into an alternative reality. Inspiringly 'huh?' all round, with added stuffed birds who shred faces.

DAWN OF THE MUMMY - Nostalgia, this time of year's nominated emotion, has a lot to answer for when we're talking about early eighties dreck. I would say that I have lovely, warm memories of every murk-filled frame of 'Dawn Of The Mummy' from back when I had it on VHS in the early nineties, but careful scrutiny reveals that in fact my experience of same was deadeningly shite, not to mention curtailed by the BBFC. However... sat here on the cutting edge of 'the now', watching this lovingly restored version of what was once an ill-defined home-viewing headache, I find enjoyable trash that gifts us flesh-ripping, Italian-esque mummies, frantic overperformances and even a moment or two that feel genuinely atmospheric. Tis the season.

BLUE VENGEANCE - I loved this, a film so scummily 'eighties New York' that you expect Joe Spinell to walk on halfway through and stand around looking a bit clammy. That doesn't happen, but what DOES happen is that a deranged rocker breaks out of his high-security forensic unit to stalk the ex-members of a Kiss-esque rip-off band whilst suffering D&D inspired combat hallucinations; all that stands between him and total carnage is a cop who looks a bit like a pissed-off accountant. A movie of endless moments of low-key craziness, and actually quite difficult to frame as it feels a little like someone making a parody of a Cannon film, perhaps unintentionally. I digress, but, a total blast.

[nicholasrope]

Twisters

Daisy Edgar Jones looses 3 friends when testing a method to shrink Twisters, after a few years, she is brought back into the mix where she encounters a rival crew led by Glenn Powell. Not a direct sequel to the original 1996 version but this is a really entertaining effort. Powell does have that boyish charm which comes off well. It's in the sales, so it is worth a pick up, if interested.

No Retreat No Surrender 2

Nothing to do with the 1st one, Loren Avedon's finance is kidnapped in Thailand, so he gets his friend to help him get her back from a Russian Army led by a fantastically maniacal Mattihas Hues who demonstrates his strength many time. Cynthia Rothrock co-stars also. Love this film, it's right up my street and is quite violent.

Apparently Cynthia Rothrock has done a commentary for a film called Raging Thunder, which is the subtitle for this release and original title. Really hope so. a nice Blu-Ray release would be awesome.

Maxxxine

Mia Goth is back in one of her roles from X and she is a Adult Film star who is being stalked from a Serial Killer. Kevin Bacon stars as a sleazy Private Eye. Much better than I remembered it being originally. Some nice kills, a good cast and soundtrack.