Rate the Last Movie You've Seen #14

[JCoatsworth]

@JCoatsworth and Fuffy Baith I don't want to spoil this JP lovefest you guys are having (or maybe I do😀) but there seems to be a huge backlash against the film with a lot of people claiming that its potrayal of women is really sexist and very outdated. Your thoughts on that? And don't just say its entertainment so it doesn't matter because being sexist is no more acceptable in a main stream film as it would be in more indie fare, in some ways its worse. Just to point out I have not seen the film yet so can't comment so just wanted to throw it out there.

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. As Mr. Pole pointed out, that's probably mostly Whedon's fault, who pointed out the 70s stereotypes in that one clip they released (completely out of context). Whedon is right, it is actually there in that scene. She's a stiff corporate woman, like princess Leia in the Empire Strikes Back (I know you don't like it, but it's a good example) and Pratt is a more laid-back and casual guy, like Han Solo. However, in the course of the film, they completely dismantle these stereotypes. Pratt becomes a lot more serious and Bryce Dallas Howard's character becomes a badass heroine and starts to care about her estranged nephews. The director Colin Trevorrow went on record saying that she's the real star of the movie. He also said he's not mad at Whedon, because what Whedon saw in the clip is actually there. Trevorrow also doesn't understand why the marketing people chose exactly that clip, as it's easily misunderstood.

Oh, and about the high heels. Apparently, she deliberately never takes them off because they represent who she is as a person or something. She's the manager of the park and carries a lot of responsibility, and even when everything goes to hell, she's not gonna take off her shoes.

 

[Mr Trick]

I think Whedon is to blame for alot of that for his comment he made upon seeing a trailer. I don't think there really is anything in the film that is 'sexist' or 'outdated'
I know people have issue (not sexist related) with her outrunning a T-Rex in her heels, but that was the actress' choice as she went against the directors wishes. So, I don't really see a problem with that either.

There is ALOT more you can complain about this movie than it being sexist.

I don't know about this I mean I was just listening to a film review on Friday quite a few listeners contacted the show to say they found it sexist and the movie critic also thought it was although he also said that he didn't like the film in general and that was the least of its problems, but I guess what I'm saying is that a lot of the people calling it sexist might not even be aware of Whedon's comments. Maybe that's just the way they saw the film.

Yea I've heard some of those comments. But i don't really see how it was sexist. She out runs a t rex in heels, which is nit realistic but the point is she steps up to take action. How is that sexist? Because she's a work aholic? I just thought her character progressed logically throughout the film. I'm not against sexism in movies because it exists in the real world so why can't movies reflect that if it's a part of the story. But like i said i didn't really think there was anything really sexist about the movie. I still enjoyed it.

But there is a difference between the film being sexist and it portraying sexism. JW is being accused of portraying a female character in a sexist way which is demeaning to real life females that is not the same as it having characters who are being sexist towards her the two are different. Like I say I will wait until I see the film before commenting further.

He was excellent in 'Warrior' but other than that he's never really convinced me either.

Not seen that. He was very good Locke which was a totally different roles to the ones he normally plays.

Mrs Dalloway (1997) 7/10

A very strong adaptation of Woolf's ambigious novel. Not all the stories quite gel the one about the Souldier dragged on a bit and was dramatically engaging, but Vanarsa Redgrave is at her icy, brittle best in the title role, and the representations of class and high sociality are effective carried across from page to screen.

Tomorrowland (2015) 7/10

Inventive and visually engaging kids adventure. It has an intelligent plot and is well paced, and I liked that they didn't over do it with the efforts meaning that the humour and characters were able to stand out. Britt Robertson does a nice job in the lead and George Clooney is as watchable as always. Hugh Lurrie was good fun in his camino too.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

JW is being accused of portraying a female character in a sexist way which is demeaning to real life females

When you look at the character as a whole, I dont see how you could consider it sexist.

The fact that the female character was placed in a traditional male position of authority by itself can negate sexism. The fact she wanted nothing to do with kids would negate sexism. The fact she wasn't emotional or the defacto 'motherly influence' would negate sexism. I just don't see it. All of those traits go against the traditional female stereotypes and tropes.

The male character, yes, but not really the female.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

But there is a difference between the film being sexist and it portraying sexism. JW is being accused of portraying a female character in a sexist way which is demeaning to real life females that is not the same as it having characters who are being sexist towards her the two are different. Like I say I will wait until I see the film before commenting further

i feel like real life females demean real life females. Im not really sure anyone was being sexist towards her. Idk I'd have to watch it again. I know in Jurassic Park, Hammond made a sexist remark.

When you look at the character as a whole, I dont see how you could consider it sexist.

i agree. Good examples. So where are the examples that the movie is sexist? I actually want to know why people are saying that.

 

[Mr Trick]

i feel like real life females demean real life females. Im not really sure anyone was being sexist towards her. Idk I'd have to watch it again. I know in Jurassic Park, Hammond made a sexist remark.

i agree. Good examples. So where are the examples that the movie is sexist? I actually want to know why people are saying that.

They do and if that's what the film was trying to show then fair enough but I think sometimes these films are in danger of presenting that sort of thing as the norm which is why women get upset because there are plenty of them who are not like that.

 

[JCoatsworth]

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief - 9/10
I have watched several documentaries about Scientology, and this is by far the best one. It shows very clearly the origins of the so-called "religion", how sick of a person and fraud its founder L. Ron Hubbard was, the dirty tricks they used to get it to be tax-exempt, and how this organization abuses its members, screws with their minds to keep them from quitting the church, and flat out destroys lives. Everybody should watch this.

 

[JCoatsworth]

@Blaze I'm not very familiar with the series. Are there similarities between the series and Scientology?

 

[Mr Trick]

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief - 9/10
I have watched several documentaries about Scientology, and this is by far the best one. It shows very clearly the origins of the so-called "religion", how sick of a person and fraud its founder L. Ron Hubbard was, the dirty tricks they used to get it to be tax-exempt, and how this organization abuses its members, screws with their minds to keep them from quitting the church, and flat out destroys lives. Everybody should watch this.

You have!? I mean its interesting and all but I don't know if I would watch that many documentaries on it. Is that because it is your area of interest? You should check out Paul Thomas Anderson's film the Master if you have not already.

 

[Blaze]

@Blaze I'm not very familiar with the series. Are there similarities between the series and Scientology?

Oh, there isn't actually any Scientology on the show, but one of the main character is played by Laura Prepon, who is a Scientologist. Just the title reminded me of Laura Prepon in prison. Interesting though that when the actress didn't sign up for s2 of the show, there were a lot of rumors going around that it was because she was a Scientologist, and therefore it would be against her "beliefs" to play a lesbian character. She's said that it wasn't the case since, but you gotta wonder, to me a lot of the Scientologist kinda just sound a lil brain washed sometimes, but I gotta admit I know nothing of the movement. 
@Mr. Pole, so have you been brain...liberated? 😉

 

[JCoatsworth]

You have!? I mean its interesting and all but I don't know if I would watch that many documentaries on it. Is that because it is your area of interest? You should check out Paul Thomas Anderson's film the Master if you have not already.

Although I'm very non-religious, I am quite interested in religion. I guess my lack of religiosity is kind of why I'm interested in religion and vice versa. Scientology is particularly interesting, in my opinion, because it is so obviously a scam and not a religion in the traditional sense. The church has a few thousand members worldwide but is worth billions, which clearly makes it anything but a nonprofit organization. I find the fact that this organization has so much power very troubling. The majority of the members don't even know what's really going on, and they also don't know that their "god" is an alien called Xenu and was invented by a science fiction author. I stronly feel that this needs to be made known.
I haven't seen The Mater yet, but I definitely will watch it. I enjoyed watching PTA's other films very much.

Oh, there isn't actually any Scientology on the show, but one of the main character is played by Laura Prepon, who is a Scientologist. Just the title reminded me of Laura Prepon in prison. Interesting though that when the actress didn't sign up for s2 of the show, there were a lot of rumors going around that it was because she was a Scientologist, and therefore it would be against her "beliefs" to play a lesbian character. She's said that it wasn't the case since, but you gotta wonder, to me a lot of the Scientologist kinda just sound a lil brain washed sometimes, but I gotta admit I know nothing of the movement.

Huh, that sounds very interesting. And yes, that's absolutely something that Scientology could do.

 

[Mr Trick]

Although I'm very non-religious, I am quite interested in religion. I guess my lack of religiosity is kind of why I'm interested in religion and vice versa. Scientology is particularly interesting, in my opinion, because it is so obviously a scam and not a religion in the traditional sense. The church has a few thousand members worldwide but is worth billions, which clearly makes it anything but a nonprofit organization. I find the fact that this organization has so much power very troubling. The majority of the members don't even know what's really going on, and they also don't know that their "god" is an alien called Xenu and was invented by a science fiction author. I stronly feel that this needs to be made known.
I haven't seen The Mater yet, but I definitely will watch it. I enjoyed watching PTA's other films very much.


Huh, that sounds very interesting. And yes, that's absolutely something that Scientology could do.

The film gets five stars in today's Guardian. And I've seen a couple of films by the same director on Wiki-leaks and Enron both were excellent so I would like to check this out.

The China Syndrome (1978) 7/10

A fairly engrossing political thriller about a cover up at a nuclear plant discovered by reporters who then have to fight to get the story on the air and to get the truth. Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda have reasonable on screen chemistry but they are not given that much interesting to do. Once again Jack Lemmon steals the film as the intense Wistle blower. There are some interesting comments on the gender politics of news reporting too but maybe they could have made more of that. Still the ending is very powerful.

Jackie Brown (1997) 10/10

Tarantino's most mature, focused and narrative satisfying film. The big difference is that in Pam Grier's title character there is a character who is likeable and who the audience can relate to and invest in over the course of the film. She has depth and is strong, so a much better treatment of a female character than in any of his other films. The cast all add something, but the scenes and relationship between her and Robert Forster's bail bondsman are really quite charming. The merge of music and vision are seamless and it is nice to have Tarantino film which doesn't relie on swearing and gore every five minutes. 
@The Bronze Yes it can😉

 

[Taake]

Sorority Row 4/10 - predictable and a bit silly, but good enough to start an evening with when you feel like watching something crappy.
Zombieland 9/10 - love it, just love it! Had to show it to my brother to make sure he'd love it as well 🙂
Kill theory 6/10 - it was pretty good actually, I didn't have any hopes and wasn't sure what it was about when we started it but all in all (though maybe it's cause SR was so bad) I really enjoyed it.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

Sorority Row 4/10 - predictable and a bit silly, but good enough to start an evening with when you feel like watching something crappy.
Zombieland 9/10 - love it, just love it! Had to show it to my brother to make sure he'd love it as well 🙂
Kill theory 6/10 - it was pretty good actually, I didn't have any hopes and wasn't sure what it was about when we started it but all in all (though maybe it's cause SR was so bad) I really enjoyed it.

Haha. I've seen Sorority Row. Very predicatabe and I don't remember if any of the deaths were even that good. But yea it's just one of those terrible horror/slasher movies. Something to put on in the background. I do love Zombieland though, that's a fun and funny movie. Great cast too, although I'm not a big Jesse Eisenberg fan, I think he works well here.

 

[white avenger]

Max 10/10

(Yes, I do occasionally watch a new movie)

Every dog lover should see this movie. That says just all that needs saying here, except to say that, if you leave the theater with dry eyes, something is WRONG with you!

 

[Fuffy Baith]

From Hell - 8/10
This is a good mystery thriller with a different take on Jack the Ripper. Johnny Depp is really good in it. Heather Graham plays another hooker but I liked her in this role. I also enjoy these 1800 London period pieces.

 

[Mr Trick]

From Hell - 8/10
This is a good mystery thriller with a different take on Jack the Ripper. Johnny Depp is really good in it. Heather Graham plays another hooker but I liked her in this role. I also enjoy these 1800 London period pieces.

Its not as good as I remember but I do agree its really solid. Love the atmosphere and period details, and despite their dodgy accents the cast do a good job.

@Fuffy Baith Yeah but its a different story when someone butchers an American accents! But don't worry us brits really all do sound like Mary Poppins or Dick Van Dych😀

 

[Mr Trick]

A Girl Walks Home Alone (2015) 7/10

Interesting Iranian take on the Vampire genre. Think I need to see it again to make a proper judgement. At times it feels a little too stylized, like some of the music becomes too distracting. But it is nicely shot, has a tense atmosphere, strong performances and some oddly romantic moments too. Really worth seeing but I not as good as the hype has suggested.

 

[Taake]

Haha. I've seen Sorority Row. Very predicatabe and I don't remember if any of the deaths were even that good. But yea it's just one of those terrible horror/slasher movies. Something to put on in the background. I do love Zombieland though, that's a fun and funny movie. Great cast too, although I'm not a big Jesse Eisenberg fan, I think he works well here.

Haha, yeah the deaths weren't that good but mostly it was frustrating because the plot relied heavily on the characters acting deeply stupid, which is never really a good thing. But it was kind of what I wanted that night so... there's clearly something to those movies I enjoy even when I think they're bad. 🙂

 

[thetopher]

Magic Mike: 7/10.
So yeah I watched this and was left with the overwhelming urge to do lots of crunches afterwards. 😛
All-in-all this was okay, the dance scenes where pretty darn impressive even for me and this is probably Channing Tatum's best film performance yet. It is kinda shallow and unoriginal as a film though- the conclusion that it comes to is that apparently male stripping isn't something you should make a career out of. Shocking. 😉

Mockingbird: 6/10
A strange little Jason Statham movie, not really an action movie (not that much action besides a lot of one-sided fight scenes) and not really a thriller, I'd say that's its more of a drama-with-punching (is that a genre?), JS does some actual acting and he's reasonable successful here. There's a nice nun in it, some Chinese tong types, lots of charity to homeless people. It didn't really leave much of an impression even though it wasn't 'bad' exactly, hence the low score.

 

[Mr Trick]

Magic Mike: 7/10.
So yeah I watched this and was left with the overwhelming urge to do lots of crunches afterwards. 😛
All-in-all this was okay, the dance scenes where pretty darn impressive even for me and this is probably Channing Tatum's best film performance yet. It is kinda shallow and unoriginal as a film though- the conclusion that it comes to is that apparently male stripping isn't something you should make a career out of. Shocking. 😉

Mockingbird: 6/10
A strange little Jason Statham movie, not really an action movie (not that much action besides a lot of one-sided fight scenes) and not really a thriller, I'd say that's its more of a drama-with-punching (is that a genre?), JS does some actual acting and he's reasonable successful here. There's a nice nun in it, some Chinese tong types, lots of charity to homeless people. It didn't really leave much of an impression even though it wasn't 'bad' exactly, hence the low score.

Would say that your rating is about right. And I did think the performances are good. I guess it is an unique film because it is putting the male side of this industry under the spotlight for a change, but I agree that there could be more of a story.