TV/Movies Megathread

[Sheilbh]

And I always think of the Matrix which I think hage a huge impact on loads of other films - and people seem guardedly optimistic about the new film (I think the trailer's just come out). I think all of that is on the basis of the first film alone

Also the Inception horn.

Edit: And now I've watched the Matrix trailer I think we can see the massive cultural impact of the John Lewis Christmas advert in the emergence of melancholic, slowed down versions of popular songs as the background music for everything.

[crazy canuck]

Matrix had some cultural influence - the red pill - but I think you had to experience the impact of Star Wars to fully understand it.  Everyone was talking about the force.

[Barrister]

I was only 2 when Star Wars came out so it's hard for me to talk about the impact the movie had at the time of it's release.  But the movie did help to spawn both the idea of a summer blockbuster movie, which may have been started by Jaws in 1975 but was cemented by Star Wars.  It also spawned Industrial Lights and Magic which had a huge impact on special effects.  It also brought back Sci-Fi as a legitimate genre for movies.

Avatar... well I think the amount and quality of CGI in the movie was ahead of its time, but that was certainly part of an ongoing trend.  It did a lot to popularize 3-D in movies for awhile, but really it's been years since a movie came out that was purposely made with 3-D in mind.

[Barrister]

And I always think of the Matrix which I think hage a huge impact on loads of other films - and people seem guardedly optimistic about the new film (I think the trailer's just come out). I think all of that is on the basis of the first film alone

Also the Inception horn.

Edit: And now I've watched the Matrix trailer I think we can see the massive cultural impact of the John Lewis Christmas advert in the emergence of melancholic, slowed down versions of popular songs as the background music for everything.

Just watched the new Matrix trailer.  It certainly touches on all the nostalgia points you'd kind of hope it would.  And I really did love the first movie.

But I can't honestly think of a sequel to a 20+ year old movie that was honestly worthwhile on its own merits*, and the two sequels were such major disappointments, so I think it unlikely I go to see this movie unless the word of mouth reviews are off the charts.


Also after googling "John Lewis Christmas advert" I think using slow, melancholic versions of pop songs must go back further than that.  Just off the top of my head (and using google) the first John Lewis Christmas ad was in 2007, while I remember a slow, melancholic version of Mad World being used in a video game ad from 2006.  But I'm sure there are earlier examples.



* Edit: I did just remember Mad Max: Fury Road exists and was good on it's own merits.

[Valmy]

Matrix had some cultural influence - the red pill - but I think you had to experience the impact of Star Wars to fully understand it.  Everyone was talking about the force.

As Bill Murray said in 1978: Star Wars! Nothing but Star Warssss!

https://youtu.be/ljiVRV5B5i8?t=353

[Syt]

In hindsight, Star Wars seems much more encompassing than Avatar or Matrix ever got (and Matrix was IMHO much more influential than Avatar was). From the merchandise, to the music, to a bunch of copycat movies that were inspired by it. And with the toys and comics it sort of cemented its staying power with kids growing up to have a lifelong fondness for the movies.

[Sheilbh]

Just watched the new Matrix trailer.  It certainly touches on all the nostalgia points you'd kind of hope it would.  And I really did love the first movie.

But I can't honestly think of a sequel to a 20+ year old movie that was honestly worthwhile on its own merits*, and the two sequels were such major disappointments, so I think it unlikely I go to see this movie unless the word of mouth reviews are off the charts.

* Edit: I did just remember Mad Max: Fury Road exists and was good on it's own merits.

I'd say Mad Max, Blade Runner, the recent Halloween sequel and, arguably (not my cup of tea but people love them) the Planet of the Apes films. I also actually really like the new Ghostbusters film but I think that was more re-booty, although maybe so was Mad Max

I think the original Matrix just changed the way action movies were - I think it's the inflection point from 80s/90s style action films to more modern ones up to and including the superhero franchises. Partly it may be bullet time but I think it's sort of aesthetic and style as much as anything else

Also after googling "John Lewis Christmas advert" I think using slow, melancholic versions of pop songs must go back further than that.  Just off the top of my head (and using google) the first John Lewis Christmas ad was in 2007, while I remember a slow, melancholic version of Mad World being used in a video game ad from 2006.  But I'm sure there are earlier examples.

Yes - although I wonder if we should separate out the Mad World as the soundtrack to everything moment from Donnie Darko in 2001 for about five years

On the other hand I love the idea that the John Lewis Christmas ad is maybe a relic of Donnie Darko's influence

[Barrister]

I'd say Mad Max, Blade Runner, the recent Halloween sequel and, arguably (not my cup of tea but people love them) the Planet of the Apes films. I also actually really like the new Ghostbusters film but I think that was more re-booty, although maybe so was Mad Max

I think the original Matrix just changed the way action movies were - I think it's the inflection point from 80s/90s style action films to more modern ones up to and including the superhero franchises. Partly it may be bullet time but I think it's sort of aesthetic and style as much as anything else

New Ghostbusters?  You mean the all-girl one, or the one coming out later this year?

The all-girl Ghostbusters was kind of emblematic of what I'm talking about.  I enjoyed it as a nostalgia-fest - lets see which actor pops up in which cameo!  Lets see which element, or which joke, gets re-worked in which way!  But as a movie on its own it fell flat.

Not super excited about the one coming out later this year for just this reason.

[Sheilbh]

The all girl one - though I feel Chris Hemsworth deserves an honourable mention

And it's weird because I sort of had the opposite feeling. I didn't think it was too much into nostalgia - clearly in the modern world with the cameos as a sort of blessing from the original cast - and then they'd move on in the next film.

The one coming out later this year just seems almost solely nostalgic.

[Barrister]

The all girl one - though I feel Chris Hemsworth deserves an honourable mention

And it's weird because I sort of had the opposite feeling. I didn't think it was too much into nostalgia - clearly in the modern world with the cameos as a sort of blessing from the original cast - and then they'd move on in the next film.

The one coming out later this year just seems almost solely nostalgic.

Chris Hemsworth was good.  And I like all of the actresses in general even if I didn't much like the film.

But there was huge nostalgia all over the place.  Ecto 1 is just a more modern hearse.  Realtor shows them a firehall (which they can't afford).  Slimer is back.  Stay-Puft Marshmallow man is back.  Heck there's a "Zuul" reference.

[Sheilbh]

This may be a sign of me being less of a fan of the original (I am a huge fan of Ghostbusters 2 because Vigo of Carpathia terrified me as a kid) - because I get the references like the firehall but I wouldn't notice anything referencing a plot point or a big character (genuine question: what happened to Rick Moranis). But as I say they felt like touchpoints/passing on the mantle not the main point of the film - to me it was a bit like a new Batman rather than nostalgia.

I've definitely seen the original Ghostbusters but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, unlike Ghostbuster 2

[Savonarola]

(genuine question: what happened to Rick Moranis).

He quit acting when his wife died in order to raise his kids.  He's had a couple roles in recent years.

[Sheilbh]

(genuine question: what happened to Rick Moranis).

He quit acting when his wife died in order to raise his kids.  He's had a couple roles in recent years.

Oh I had no idea - understandable. He was just everywhere when I was a kid and then not in any films, but that makes perfect sense.

Glad he's dipping his toe in the waters again though.

[Barrister]

This may be a sign of me being less of a fan of the original (I am a huge fan of Ghostbusters 2 because Vigo of Carpathia terrified me as a kid) - because I get the references like the firehall but I wouldn't notice anything referencing a plot point or a big character (genuine question: what happened to Rick Moranis). But as I say they felt like touchpoints/passing on the mantle not the main point of the film - to me it was a bit like a new Batman rather than nostalgia.

I've definitely seen the original Ghostbusters but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, unlike Ghostbuster 2

Moranis's wife died and he basically stopped acting for a really long time to look after his kids.  In recent years he's popped up doing a few things.

Perhaps an age thing, because Ghostbusters came out when I was 9 and was a huge movie part of my childhood.  GB2 was okay, had some nice jokes and scenes, but no where near the influence the first one had.

[viper37]

Yeah I have a sense of what the film is. But there's like zero memory of any single moment that I watched, if you know what I mean? I don't remember anything that actually happened in the film at all.

Flying beasts rode by blue creatures?  Primitive technology of the locals vs the advanced guns of the Earthlings?  Does not ring a bell?