TV/Movies Megathread

[Savonarola]

Dr. Strange (2017)

T-R-I-P-P-Y

While the plot doesn't offer a lot of surprises and the villain is one dimensional; the MC Escher action scenes more than make up for it.  I had written in my review of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" that:

Wizards really need a better way of resolving conflicts than pointing wands at each other and making angry faces.  They should teach magical karate at Hogwarts.

This film delivers on that count.

I read that Scott Derrickson made the ancient one a young woman in order to avoid the cliche of an ancient Chinese master.  Then he decided to make her white, rather than Asian, in order to not exploit an Asian fetish or create a fanboy's dream girl.  Once again Hollywood has failed this generation of young men.   

[celedhring]

That looks like a major spoiler, is it?

Only in the sense that you don't expect a US city to get nuked in a movie.

Well, it's just Baltimore.

I meant the new one with James Kirk playing Ryan though. Just remembered the Affleck one is the one that got the nuclear 'splosion.

[Admiral Yi]

I meant the new one with James Kirk playing Ryan though. Just remembered the Affleck one is the one that got the nuclear 'splosion.

Asoka.  Dinnae see.  Dinnae really notice.

[CountDeMoney]

Well, it's just Baltimore.

And it was beautiful.  Only thing better would've been if the Steelers were in town.

[celedhring]

Finished it. It's pretty unremarkable, but there's way worse. The villainous plot is pretty far-fetched even for movie standards. [spoiler]The Russkies plan to tank the American economy by selling 2 BILLION DOLLARS!!! of treasuries after a terror attack. I hope it's European billions, at least.[/spoiler]

[Admiral Yi]

[spoiler]That's just retarded, sir.[/spoiler]

[viper37]

Finished it. It's pretty unremarkable, but there's way worse. The villainous plot is pretty far-fetched even for movie standards. [spoiler]The Russkies plan to tank the American economy by selling 2 BILLION DOLLARS!!! of treasuries after a terror attack. I hope it's European billions, at least.[/spoiler]

they were copying Austin Powers

[celedhring]

Another great part is when the UN takes a vote to allow the building of an oil pipe in Turkey that would bypass Russia and crash their oil income. I was like "this is not how the UN works, this isn't how ANYTHING works" 

[Syt]

Well, it's just Baltimore.

Make Baltimore great again!

[Malthus]

Well, it's just Baltimore.

Make Baltimore great again!

That's almost a work of modern art. 

[Malthus]

Another great part is when the UN takes a vote to allow the building of an oil pipe in Turkey that would bypass Russia and crash their oil income. I was like "this is not how the UN works, this isn't how ANYTHING works" 

That sounds almost stupid enough to be amusing. 

[Ed Anger]

Weak. We know how to set rivers on fire.

[celedhring]

Another great part is when the UN takes a vote to allow the building of an oil pipe in Turkey that would bypass Russia and crash their oil income. I was like "this is not how the UN works, this isn't how ANYTHING works" 

That sounds almost stupid enough to be amusing. 

The film felt very 90s-like, when the ridiculousness of the premise was kinda almost a requirement to the proceedings in all these action thrillers. But the film should've been a bit more over the top if they really wanted to go that route, and it was rather low key. Not a single memorable action or spionage scene in it. The cast was very charismatic so it wasn't totally unwatchable, but the film can't be safely ignored.

[Josquius]

Dr. Strange (2017)

T-R-I-P-P-Y

While the plot doesn't offer a lot of surprises and the villain is one dimensional; the MC Escher action scenes more than make up for it.  I had written in my review of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" that:

Wizards really need a better way of resolving conflicts than pointing wands at each other and making angry faces.  They should teach magical karate at Hogwarts.

This film delivers on that count.

I read that Scott Derrickson made the ancient one a young woman in order to avoid the cliche of an ancient Chinese master.  Then he decided to make her white, rather than Asian, in order to not exploit an Asian fetish or create a fanboy's dream girl.  Once again Hollywood has failed this generation of young men.   

The reason I read was more about the original being Tibetan. Not too many Tibetan actors out there and its better not to cast another sort of East Asian.
Plus the issue of whether Tibet is a place or not

[Duque de Bragança]

Silence 2016

In an arthouse, by the Arc de Triomphe, since it had a short commercial cinema run.
I did not find it slow-going but an interest in the period or in Japan is advised, not to mention a decent attention span. Plus, I have survived most Manoel De Oliveira's movies and in some case enjoyed (NON or the Vain Glory to Command) .
If you only swear by CGI-fueled blockbusters, stay away, but that goes without saying. There is some CGI though. 
[spoiler]The New Christian persecution in reverse theme was there except it was not explicitly mentioned cf. Kirishtan crypto-christians who end up drifting from the mainstream catholic creed.
Not enough to fuel Siege's Schadenfreude. Great inquisitor though. [/spoiler]
Very good Scorsese I would say, but not his best.

Caveat: I did not watch the original Japanese movie, nor read the novel which inspired it.


[spoiler]Kylo Ren dies![/spoiler]