TV/Movies Megathread

[Savonarola]

So, nobody cares about the Oscars here? 

I saw Kobe won one; I didn't realize that the #MeToo movement was already over.



I didn't see any of the Splash remake or "Three Billboards".  I did see the majority of the documentaries; Icarus was a good choice.  (Was that Netflix's first winner, or have they won something before?)  I saw the majority of the animated features as well; Coco was the best of what I saw.  I didn't think much of "Remember Me" from Coco; I would have picked "This Is Me" from "Greatest Showman."

[celedhring]

I haven't seen Shape of Water yet. Going tomorrow. Haven't seen Call Me By Your Name or the Phantom Thread either, I'll eventually catch them on domestic release.

3 Billboards is fun, but didn't think it was nothing more than Tarantino-lite. McDormand makes the movie though, not surprised she won.

Dunkirk was a visual feast, but didn't think it had much going for it character or story-wise, so certainly not a "best movie" candidate in my eyes. Wouldn't have begrudged a best director win (again, haven't seen SoW yet).

I loved Get Out, although I think the ending was the weakest part of the film. Glad it got recognition though, great horror is hard to find these days.

Darkest Hour was a formulaic Hollywood biography, and usually the lead is the only thing that can make those movies bearable to me. Oldman succeeded in that. Incidentally, I'd love if they made a Churchill movie/series about his non-WWII times. I.e. His ups and downs during WWI are great material.

Coco is awesome.

I think that covers most of the front-runners. The awards were pretty split which matches my perception of the candidates (again, there's a few I haven't seen yet).

[celedhring]

Finished the first season of Ash vs The Evil Dead. The season finale features some pretty great 1980s-style horror. The whole 3 episodes once they get back to the cabin really feel like Evil Dead 4 and are the best part of the season.

[Savonarola]

There's grit and then there is:

True Grit (1969)

John Wayne's () only Academy Award; the trick must be to surround yourself with people who can't act.  (Actually I don't know if Kim Darby can't act, or was just given lines so stupid no one could have made them sound sincere.  Glen Campbell^1., on the other hand, was wise to stick with singing after this.)  It's been a long time since I've seen this; I had forgotten Robert Duvall was one of the main villains.  He does a good job playing the straight man to Kim Darby.  Dennis Hopper is also one of the villains; and Jay Silverheels has a cameo as one of the condemned in the beginning.

I saw this on the big screen at the revival house.  The scenery came across much better in that format; especially at the final confrontation.

1.)  CB was critical of his horseback riding skills; but that might not be absolutely necessary for a Rhinestone Cowboy.

[crazy canuck]

I am just about through season two of Van Helsing.   At first I thought it was a cheap vampire/walking dead knock off.  But I have come to really like it.  It has good writing and development of the characters that were in early walking dead seasons.  Also, I like how the vampire's point of view is part of the plot rather than just being the bad guys.

[grumbler]

Happy 20th anniversary to The Big Lebowski.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-coen-brothers-big-lebowski-is-20-a8241731.html

The movie's star, Jeff Bridges, one of the finest actors of his generation, is less perplexed. The Oscar winner is on record as saying:

"Someone asked me, 'How would you feel at the end of your career if the role you were most famous for was The Dude?' 'I'd be fucking delighted,' I told him."

[Eddie Teach]

Seems like he got his wish. 

[celedhring]

I hated it when it came out, I was 19 though!   

It's weird the number of films I love that I hated the first time I saw them.

[jimmy olsen]

Thor Ragnarok, despite its somewhat stealthy release and the suckiness of the Dark World.... Was surprisingly good, even despite the lack of Earth bound action.
Feels like there's a Hulk  film missing though.

Only in Tyr land

[jimmy olsen]

I am just about through season two of Van Helsing.   At first I thought it was a cheap vampire/walking dead knock off.  But I have come to really like it.  It has good writing and development of the characters that were in early walking dead seasons.  Also, I like how the vampire's point of view is part of the plot rather than just being the bad guys.

Watch the Hellsing OVAs instead.

[KRonn]

I am just about through season two of Van Helsing.   At first I thought it was a cheap vampire/walking dead knock off.  But I have come to really like it.  It has good writing and development of the characters that were in early walking dead seasons.  Also, I like how the vampire's point of view is part of the plot rather than just being the bad guys.

Agreed on all points. I started watching this show from the start and also really like it. Good characters, good story line, good writing.

[jimmy olsen]

Happy 20th anniversary to The Big Lebowski.

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-coen-brothers-big-lebowski-is-20-a8241731.html

The movie's star, Jeff Bridges, one of the finest actors of his generation, is less perplexed. The Oscar winner is on record as saying:

"Someone asked me, 'How would you feel at the end of your career if the role you were most famous for was The Dude?' 'I'd be fucking delighted,' I told him."

Speaking of Jeff Bridges, Sav should watch his version of True Gritt and compare it to Wayne's while they're both fresh in his mind.

[celedhring]

I'll go and say that I liked the Coen Brothers' version better. Apparently it's more faithful to the book, too.

[Eddie Teach]

I hated it when it came out, I was 19 though!   

It's weird the number of films I love that I hated the first time I saw them.

Yeah, that one improved a lot on second viewing for me too.

[Habbaku]

I'll go and say that I liked the Coen Brothers' version better. Apparently it's more faithful to the book, too.

It definitely is, and is better for sticking to the source material.