TV/Movies Megathread

[Ideologue]

Saw a midnight showing of "Big Trouble In Little China" last night, walked in without knowing what to expect.  Oh boy.

It was weird seeing Kim Catrall before she replaced her entire body with a Ghost in the Shell like total body prosthesis.

Glad someone appreciated that.

It was good.

The hot one was Charlotte.  Miranda comes in second.

Anyway, almost caved to Habbaku's stupid pressure and gave First Avenger a C+, but I resisted.  No, I haven't watched it since last year, but it went off of Netflix Instant.  Great timing, jerks.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) (and also Captain America: The First Avenger [2011] and a dash of Captain America [1990])

If Captain America: The First Avenger gave us half of one of the best superhero films ever made and half of one of the dullest, Captain America: The Winter Soldier can certainly claim to be more even.

First Avenger:  B
Winter Soldier: C+

Long version, super-spoilery:

http://kinemalogue.blogspot.com/2014/04/william-sadler-is-number-one.html

P.S.: for Money--

[The film] has fully three big ideas, any one of which could have easily carried a highly successful superhero narrative.  (And there's even a fourth!  That is, if you count Steve Rogers' ongoing inability to get along in modern life, newly reframed as a metaphor for the difficulties of soldiers returning to the civilian world, instead of as a metaphor for the disappearance of Greatest Generation gentility in the face of hippies.)  All of these ideas are pretty great (although Cap as an old man unable to get kids off his lawn and unsure if he wants them to remains more interesting than a vet who hasn't figured out how to use his points on USAJobs).

[Ideologue]

Actually, I say "spoilery," but there is only literally one real surprise in the film, and that's only because they don't set up that such [spoiler]Mission: Impossible[/spoiler] technology exists, and I don't even mention that scene, being too concerned with my bitching about how a movie called "The Winter Soldier" is in no way, shape, or form actually about the Winter Soldier.

[Josephus]

Saw a midnight showing of "Big Trouble In Little China" last night, walked in without knowing what to expect.  Oh boy.

That's an awesome pick for a midnight showing.  Better than running Rocky Horror for years.

I went to a Rocky Horror midnight show. Bleh.

product of its time, I'm sure.

[Queequeg]

I love Rocky Horror to death. 

[Ed Anger]

Saw a midnight showing of "Big Trouble In Little China" last night, walked in without knowing what to expect.  Oh boy.

That's an awesome pick for a midnight showing.  Better than running Rocky Horror for years.

I went to a Rocky Horror midnight show. Bleh.

product of its time, I'm sure.

Hey, I'm a hep cat.

[mongers]

Quick, 'Michael Clayton' or 'Cross of Iron', you decide.

[Queequeg]

Clayton.

[Ideologue]

I love Rocky Horror to death. 

What of: Phantom of the Paradise?

[Admiral Yi]

Michael Clayton, no question.

[mongers]

Michael Clayton, no question.

Too late I went with 'Cross of Iron'.

Great up until James Coburn walks out on Senta Berger. 

[Queequeg]

If anyone ever has an appetite for a cheesy 80s horror movie, there are much better options than Children of the Corn.  F.

[Queequeg]

Like Fright Night, which is great.  B+

[katmai]

If anyone ever has an appetite for a cheesy 80s horror movie, there are much better options than Children of the Corn.  F.

But, but pre Terminator Linda Hamilton!

[CountDeMoney]

Michael Clayton, no question.

Too late I went with 'Cross of Iron'.

Great up until James Coburn walks out on Senta Berger. 

Dummy.  Michael Clayton is pretty damned close to being a modern masterpiece.  Wonderful dialogue.

[Queequeg]

I think it's the same year as Terminator.