[Movies] Watch Edge of Tomorrow. Bitch about it. Repeat.

Astaereth

Y'all did not overhype John Wick. Although it misses greatness by a hair (the movie overexplains just slightly, and is a shade too repetitive in one subplot), this is definitely a very good action movie. The action scenes themselves are quick, clear, and brutal--exemplary. But other movies in the genre should also learn from the way the film parcels out information, telling us exactly what we need to know right before we need to know it--and often demonstrating visually, rather than dumping exposition on us. Moreover, John Wick is a reminder that world building isn't just for fantasy and science fiction movies; half the joy of the story is the way our understanding of the movie's stylized criminal underworld unfolds, revealing a whole hidden society with its own private excesses, eccentricities, and etiquette. Although it ultimately buys into its antagonist's grandiose attitude towards crime and vengeance a little too strongly, John Wick is still a smart, involving movie where a boatload of dudes get shot all up in their faces. Thumbs up, guys, and thanks for the rec.

Houn

I also just got done watching John Wick. I largely agree with Astaereth, but would like to add on top of that:

HA HA HA HA OH MY GOD FUCKING AMAZING HA HA!!!!

Uncle PK

Astaereth wrote: »

Hey, everybody, great new horror movie It Follows is now out in limited release. If you care about independent film and supporting good, smart horror movies (about people who feel like actual teenagers, no less), get out and see this movie.



Here's my original review after seeing it at a film festival late last year:

The third and final film of the night was a midnight horror flick, It Follows, directed by David John Mitchell as the follow-up to his non-horror teen piece The Myth of the American Sleepover. I haven’t seen that film, but now I very much want to, because It Follows is one of the best horror films of the last five years. Maybe ten.

Thrillingly, It Follows creates a brand new monster, and uses it both to chilling effect and to explore the double-edge sword of sex, which connects us to others even as it ushers in a terrifying new adulthood. You should really go in as blind as possible–the movie takes it time revealing its premise, and I wish I hadn’t known it before watching. As vaguely as possible: protagonist Jay, a 19-year-old girl living in the Detroit suburbs, has sex with a boy while on a date, only to be told later that something has been “passed” to her. It, whatever “it” is, is coming for her. And it won’t ever stop.

Stylistically, the movie gives off a gorgeous 1980s feel, drawing from Blue Velvet and especially Carpenter’s Halloween (autumnal suburban streets, a pulsing synth score), but is designed to feel timeless, with an Archer-like mix of periods in the technology, costuming, and production design. Every frame of the movie is committed to exploring the physical and emotional ramifications of its story, and there are moments here as fine and as scary as any I’ve seen. The film shoots its menace with strict adherence to directional movement within the frame, with the basic composition and staging combining in a vision that will creep you out utterly the next time you see it in real life (it happened to me in the parking garage after the movie! *shudder*). And the young actors in the ensemble exhibit a strong bond and resolve as they try and help Jay out of her situation, providing counterpoint to the main plot’s regressive message–sex and love can be deadly, but they’re also what helps you keep going.

It’s hard to talk about this movie without spoiling it, so I’ll leave off for now. But take it from me, It Follows is a great horror movie. Go see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX38jXwnRAM

Also, this movie has a pretty goddamn amazing soundtrack by Disasterpiece (who also did the music for indie game Fez):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxfQEZXRPNQ

Gonna see if I can watch this

DasUberEdward

Uncle PK wrote: »

Astaereth wrote: »

Hey, everybody, great new horror movie It Follows is now out in limited release. If you care about independent film and supporting good, smart horror movies (about people who feel like actual teenagers, no less), get out and see this movie.



Here's my original review after seeing it at a film festival late last year:

The third and final film of the night was a midnight horror flick, It Follows, directed by David John Mitchell as the follow-up to his non-horror teen piece The Myth of the American Sleepover. I haven’t seen that film, but now I very much want to, because It Follows is one of the best horror films of the last five years. Maybe ten.

Thrillingly, It Follows creates a brand new monster, and uses it both to chilling effect and to explore the double-edge sword of sex, which connects us to others even as it ushers in a terrifying new adulthood. You should really go in as blind as possible–the movie takes it time revealing its premise, and I wish I hadn’t known it before watching. As vaguely as possible: protagonist Jay, a 19-year-old girl living in the Detroit suburbs, has sex with a boy while on a date, only to be told later that something has been “passed” to her. It, whatever “it” is, is coming for her. And it won’t ever stop.

Stylistically, the movie gives off a gorgeous 1980s feel, drawing from Blue Velvet and especially Carpenter’s Halloween (autumnal suburban streets, a pulsing synth score), but is designed to feel timeless, with an Archer-like mix of periods in the technology, costuming, and production design. Every frame of the movie is committed to exploring the physical and emotional ramifications of its story, and there are moments here as fine and as scary as any I’ve seen. The film shoots its menace with strict adherence to directional movement within the frame, with the basic composition and staging combining in a vision that will creep you out utterly the next time you see it in real life (it happened to me in the parking garage after the movie! *shudder*). And the young actors in the ensemble exhibit a strong bond and resolve as they try and help Jay out of her situation, providing counterpoint to the main plot’s regressive message–sex and love can be deadly, but they’re also what helps you keep going.

It’s hard to talk about this movie without spoiling it, so I’ll leave off for now. But take it from me, It Follows is a great horror movie. Go see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX38jXwnRAM

Also, this movie has a pretty goddamn amazing soundtrack by Disasterpiece (who also did the music for indie game Fez):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxfQEZXRPNQ

Gonna see if I can watch this

I attempted tonight. Cannot be found until later this month it seems.

Astaereth

Yeah after I posted that I learned it's only in super limited LA and NY release. Buuuuut in like two weeks it's out wider AND on VOD so you guys should be able to watch it soon.

Apothe0sis

Not being able to watch Disney movies is going to be the millennial and post-millennial's version of "my parent's wouldn't let me watch the Simpsons".

And future children will make fun of them for being melvins, and when they are adults they will miss out of a swatch of cultural references, bonding and jokes.

shryke

Apothe0sis wrote: »

Not being able to watch Disney movies is going to be the millennial and post-millennial's version of "my parent's wouldn't let me watch the Simpsons".

And future children will make fun of them for being melvins, and when they are adults they will miss out of a swatch of cultural references, bonding and jokes.

Only for millennials and post-millennials?

Fencingsax

Also, Disney movies are (in general) great movies that reflect the status quos of their times, and with relatively few tweaks (mostly in inviting minority representation) could be great movies period.

Apothe0sis

shryke wrote: »

Apothe0sis wrote: »

Not being able to watch Disney movies is going to be the millennial and post-millennial's version of "my parent's wouldn't let me watch the Simpsons".

And future children will make fun of them for being melvins, and when they are adults they will miss out of a swatch of cultural references, bonding and jokes.

Only for millennials and post-millennials?

Disney as problematic is more of a concern of the parents that are parents now.

Whereas it was primarily the domain of religious zealots in times past and those kids were always going to be melvins.

davidsdurions

Astaereth wrote: »

Yeah after I posted that I learned it's only in super limited LA and NY release. Buuuuut in like two weeks it's out wider AND on VOD so you guys should be able to watch it soon.

It's going to end up being the first movie I every buy VOD for myself. It's also the first horror movie I've ever been actually excited to see. I may have propped it up too high in my mind already.

ElJeffe

Anybody wanna make a new movie thread? I'm both lazy and on my phone. Mostly lazy.

shryke

Apothe0sis wrote: »

shryke wrote: »

Apothe0sis wrote: »

Not being able to watch Disney movies is going to be the millennial and post-millennial's version of "my parent's wouldn't let me watch the Simpsons".

And future children will make fun of them for being melvins, and when they are adults they will miss out of a swatch of cultural references, bonding and jokes.

Only for millennials and post-millennials?

Disney as problematic is more of a concern of the parents that are parents now.

Whereas it was primarily the domain of religious zealots in times past and those kids were always going to be melvins.

Disney as problematic has been around for awhile and was far from just the domain of religious zealots. I mean, there's a reason they are trying to have more active female characters and such.

Astaereth

New thread is up.