Every film you've watched in 2021

[Professor]

Bloodshot - Came very close to being an inoffensive mindless action film, which are usually fun enough.  Three things bring this down.  The editing and direction being the worst.  Quick cuts for no reason and a camera that is never still made this hard to physically watch.  And then there is Vin Diesel.  This is my first Vin Diesel movie in which he isn't a talking space tree.  I was toying with watching the Fast movies to follow along with a podcast I listen to, but I think I'm good now.

[Dread]

Goddammit! I remembered the movie I forgot last night. Then I forgot it again. Haha! Fuck it! I'm counting it.

• Features: 20
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 2
• Rewatches: 0

[Missy]

On 2/13/2021 at 6:37 PM, Professor said:

This is my first Vin Diesel movie in which he isn't a talking space tree.  I was toying with watching the Fast movies to follow along with a podcast I listen to, but I think I'm good now.

Selecting Vin to play Groot was inspired, because he's one of the most wooden actors out there. He's seemingly uncomfortable in his own skin. Or, at least with the tough guy roles he's been handed. And this is coming from someone who likes him.

19 hours ago, Dread said:

Goddammit! I remembered the movie I forgot last night. Then I forgot it again. Haha! Fuck it! I'm counting it.

Oh no!

[Donomark]

Judas and the Black Messiah: First time directing effort by one Shaka King, who does a very good job. It's an intense, moody presentation of the life and murder of Fred Hampton played wonderfully by Daniel Kaluuya. Lakeith Stanfield plays Bill O'Neal, and the film projects this as more his film, but the movie truly does belong to Kaluuya due to his awesome performance. He was nominated for an Oscar for Get Out, and with efforts like this it's only a matter of time before he clinches it. Honestly there's nothing wrong with the movie, it's only a mostly linear, one-way track to doom so there's little variance or surprises for me. It's a very solid 4/5 film, but I was hoping for a show-stopper.

[Dread]

On 2/15/2021 at 9:50 AM, The Master said:

Oh no!

Yeah, I left it too long. Then I was in the basement watching something else when I remembered. Then I forgot again. 🤷‍♂️

Bliss: This is one of three movies with that name that have come out in the past couple years and are on Prime. This is ANOTHER movie my girlfriend chose as something romantic to watch on Valentine's because she wanted a regular romance or romantic comedy and, of course, like the last one, it is a mindfuck. This one isn't as successful as Palm Springs. 1. It has Owen Wilson. I don't like him. 2. It doesn't pay off. It doesn't make sense. They don't explain things because it's cool to be mysterious, there's a massive flaw in the logic of the rules the film establishes that are breached and no explanation is offered. But, then again, it has Salma Hayak.

• Features: 21
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 2
• Rewatches: 0

[Dread]

A-HA! I remembered it. Untrue: I remembered to look through my "watch it again" thing on Netflix. YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE. This was actually a very good movie, and I really enjoyed it. I've always liked him, and even though he's a dumbass, he's got a lot of passion. If you don't know, this is a documentary about him getting self-retribution for the wrestling stuff, by...wrestling for real.

I know I already counted it, but I'm amending because I counted it as a feature and not a doc.

• Features: 20
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 3
• Rewatches: 0

[Professor]

Alita: Battle Angel - It looked good (in that CGI vs. CGI fight kinda way) and I enjoyed the world that was established.  But the story was a mess.  Somehow this managed to shove 75 different plot lines into one movie, yet still feel like it is missing huge chunks of story and lack a real resolution.  Felt more like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive narrative.

[Donomark]

I Care a Lot: Starring Rosamund Pike

I can't shake the sense that this entire film was inspired and based around the final shot of Gone Girl with Pike looking all creepy and evil, because she does that all throughout this film. It's to the point that she's not just an anti-hero, or a villain protag. As a scam artist who essentially kidnaps elderly people, placing them in to Assisted Care and selling their valuables, she's a fucking monster. And we're beyond irony or subversion with this one, she's an actively horrific human being. The first act is nothing but her gleefully ruining people's lives just to make her lucrative scam keep making her more money. 

So when the movie pits her against gangster Peter Dinklage and it's a battle of wills until things get violent, I keep waiting for the rug to truly be pulled out from under me, because I'm not falling for any of this. Aside from possibly Isiah Whitlock Jr., there's not a single likable character in this entire movie. But it's so plainly apparent of the case, that I spent the whole time searching for the deeper meaning. But by the ending I think the filmmakers just wanted to swerve the audience and imagined the shenanigans that go on in the latter half erases your memories of the first half. Didn't work on me. Acting was good, but this was just repellent to watch. 

[dc20willsave]

The Three Caballeros: A marked improvement over Saludos Amigos!. It's still not the greatest film but has some good (yet trippy) visuals.

The Beautician and the Beast: Still don't know if I liked it or not though

Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella: Definitely one of the best adaptations and was definitely ahead of its time. I'm not usually a Rodger and Hammerstein fan but definitely has some of their better music!

Crazy Rich Asians: I was in a rom-com mood so sure, what the hell. It's a nice film and I would watch Michelle Yeoh in anything.

Make Mine Music: It's another package film. They do some interesting things here and there but, overall, it's definitely a case where the parts are better than the whole.

One Night in Miami: Regina King is a phenomenal Director and her cast scores a touchdown! I know what I'm currently cheering for at the Oscars.

Nosferatu: German Expressionism at it's finest! Lots of striking uses of shadow. As for the acting, it's Silent Film acting. Their expressions have to do the talking.

Fun and Fancy Free: It's like someone at Disney said, "Hey, we have this Mickey and The Beanstalk film but we need to pad the runtime. Anyone got anything?" "Yeah, I got a cartoon about bears showing love through physical abuse!" "Perfect!"

Films: 34

[Dread]

Pale Door/Queen of Black Magic: reviews forthcoming

Date Night: not bad. Fun date movie.

Going, Going Chumbawamba Live at Leeds 2012: this performance film is the final performance from a band who began as anarcho-punks, moved to aggressive pop rock and then to A Mighty Wind-style folk music. Fantastic

Brian Regan On The Rocks: better than his last special, but still, I'm not feeling Regan like I used to.

• Features: 23
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 5
• Rewatches: 0

[Dread]

Becky: this movie is fucking rad.

Coming To America: the boys and I finished Wandavision, so it's back to movies. With the sequel now out, I wanted to rewatch the original. I haven't seen it since it first came out (I was 8). It holds up pretty well. This is the first movie that Eddie Murphy played multiple characters ( and Arsenio Hall, too), but I was totally duped by one character in the movie until the credits outed it. Crazy. I had to explain to my sons that two of the peripheral characters were played by Murphy and Hall, but we were all blown away by one. Looking forward to watching the sequel in the next few days.

• Features: 25
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 5
• Rewatches: 0

[Dread]

Oh yeah, UPDATE: the movie I ACTUALLY forgot was Pale Door. But in my torment, trying to figure out which movie I forgot, I actually remembered a different movie I'd forgotten I'd watched instead.My count hasn't changed because math.

[Professor]

Power Rangers (2017) - Not so random re-watch.  To continue my endless saga of catching up on podcast, I listened to Will review the movie.  4 years ago.  I don't think I have ever disagreed more with someone reviewing a film but still come to the same conclusion.  It's a perfectly fine movie.  Flawed to be sure, but in no way ruined the franchise. 

[Donomark]

Ooh I'll have to re-listen to that to remember. Yeah, I enjoyed the 2017 Power Rangers movie. The whole revenge porn thing with Kimberly...I mean, that never bothered me. That seems to be everyone's go-to "And for This reason..." I liked all the characters.

One Night in Miami: Directed by Regina King.

Based on Kemp Powers 2013 play of the same name with him on screenplay, this story is about Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown and Cassius Clay discussing their careers and responsibilities as high profile black men in the 60s. Kemp Powers wrote "Soul" which I loved, so I was meaning to get to this sooner. I was with my girlfriend watching, and we distracted each other during the slow parts. It's almost two hours, so it takes its time getting to what is essentially a few arguments in a hotel room. I did enjoy it, but I wish I loved it. I may need to see it again though, undisturbed. I thought Malcolm X's actor was channeling Obama half the time, which was a choice. 

[dc20willsave]

I honestly can't remember what I said if I'm being honest.

[Donomark]

Zack Snyder's Justice League: Directed by Zack Snyder

It was alright.

[Dread]

Coming 2 America: Not as funny as the original, but it absolutely can't be expected to be. It's fun. New prince was annoying at first, but I ended up enjoying the younger generation by the end.

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot: darkly comic biopic about an alcoholic quadriplegic cartoonist. Joaquin Phoenix is amazing in it. So is everyone else. Never saw this on anyone's year end list podcast-wise a few years back, so I'm to assume it's very underrated. Great movie.

Black Mountain Side/High Moon/Outcast/Open 24 Hours/Sword of God/Landmine Goes Click/Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker: reviews forthcoming.

 

• Features: 34
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 5
• Rewatches: 0

[Dan]

On 3/18/2021 at 4:16 PM, Donomark said:

Zack Snyder's Justice League: Directed by Zack Snyder

It was alright.

Yeah, it was what it was. It truly did hang together as a story better then the Whedon version, but shit was FOUR HOURS LONG and entirely joyless.

[batguy10]

Zack Snyder's Justice League

I might be in the minority on this site, but I surprisingly really enjoyed this. I really didn't think I would as I was not a fan of BvS, but this felt like a natural continuation as well as a vast improvement. It is not perfect and if you aren't a fan of Zack Snyder's directing this will do nothing to change your mind, but I came away from this having had a really great time. Everything that worked for me about the theatrical cut is still here, and the things that didn't are gone. 

The four hours didn't bother me at all, given that this is separated into chapters and felt more like a well made mini-series. Even still, it just reminded me of watching Ben-Hur, Lawrence of Arabia, or the Ten Commandments with my parents growing up, or LOTR with friends. Given that this was finalized for streaming and you can pause anytime I don't have an issue with the length. More scenes of my favourite heroes interacting - sure, why not?

On a final note, it was nice to see that so many roles of POC that were significantly diminished or removed from the theatrical cut were restored. I can't mark this as a spoiler for whatever reason so proceed at your own risk, but off the top of my head these are the characters removed/diminished in the theatrical cut that stood out:

• Ryan Choi (completely removed)
• Cyborg Backstory (almost entirely removed)
• Silas Stone (almost entirely removed)
• Elinor Stone (completely removed)
• Waitress in Cyborg Backstory (completely removed)
• Iris West (completely removed)

I can understand why many of these were axed if they were attempting to make a 2 hour runtime, but c'mon - it is not a good look. 

[Donomark]

I'll agree with that. Silas Stone's entire role in the movie was I think completely reshot. Not a single scene in either versions were the same, and as a result Ryan Choi - who has a decently meaty supporting appearance - was excised without a trace.

[Dread]

Justice League The Snyder Cut: it contains all my favourite parts of the theatrical and more. Hangs together as a film WAY better. Though, there's no way this would have been his original vision, because WB wouldn't have gone for a four hour theatrical release. I'll be grabbing this on blu ray to see it in widescreen.

• Features: 35
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 5
• Rewatches: 0

[Davedevil]

Zack Snyder's Justice League: I don't get what made this supposedly "unwatchable". I watched this in two sittings and it flowed; I'm sure the inevitable 3 hour or less version that would have come out would've been even snappier. While three character introductions is still a bit unwieldy for a team-up movie, I can't think of much material that I would prefer to be gone.

Like everyone else said, it had the parts I already enjoyed from the original, and more. I still think Miller's take on Barry is, strange but his arc was convincing enough. Aquaman was the opposite, where I liked him on-screen but he seemed to just drop in and out. Cyborg was great, Fisher was right to be mad about what they did to his character.

The climax was pretty damn spectacular. I can't think of many others that were as effective (definitely not WW84, much as I actually like that movie). And the Flash's scene...whoa. The funny thing is being reminded that the idea is pretty much right out of the Reeve Superman films.

But while I'm glad to be able to watch this now, I don't think I would've traded what happened for this and the probably sequels it would've spawned at the time. I think DC's on a good trajectory right now with its standalone films, and I'm not sure if they would've happened they way they did otherwise.

[S-T]

Recently re-watched Beverly Hills Ninja. It was as funny as it was 23 years ago, but I was sad after watching it. Chris Farley was at the top of his career and died way too young.

[Dread]

Uncle Peckerhead: review forthcoming

Sorry to Bother You: I wish I'd seen this sooner. I was under the impression this was bitingly satiric (which it is), but not that it would be a nightmarish sci-fi/horror film. What a wild fun ride this movie is. Great acting by actors I already loved, and a few of the wildest moments I've ever seen on screen. I loved it. Also, continuing the trend of my girlfriend and I not being able to pick out a movie that doesn't turn out to be super fucking weird.

The Dirt: man, I'm bad at keeping track of movies this year. This is decent for what it is. They change the timeline around from what actually happened, but it makes sense. Iwan Rheon and Machine Gun Kelly in particular did a great job. And oh lordy, I don't know who the actress is that played young Heather Locklear but holy 😍

 

• Features: 38
• Shorts: 0
• Documentaries: 5
• Rewatches: 0

 

[Donomark]

Promising Young Woman: Dark "Comedy" (?) starring Carey Mulligan about a woman who purposefully fakes being inebriated at clubs to entice "nice guy" men into assaulting her, only for her to shock them with her total coherence and agency. That's the set-up in progress before the actual plot happens. I thought this was quite solid. It's a neat little done-in-one movie with a dark yet somewhat theatrical ending, but the writing was very good. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire: French romance period film that was VERY slow, but quite artistically filmed.

Godzilla vs. Kong: As someone who's not seen the 2014 Godzilla movie, King of all Monsters or Skull Island, this was never confusing for me. I understood characters like Kyle Chandler and Millie Bobby Brown came from previous movies, but I didn't really care about them so it never bothered me. This actually is one of those action movies that's weirdly kid-friendly. By that, I don't mean it's childish or kiddie, but it gets to the point so intently that there's no room for any other modern-day bullshit. It's like of the Michael Bay Transformers films' characters weren't obnoxious. And the action is really good, especially in the final act.