The Foreigner

broderic on October 27, 2017

The Foreigner was advertised (if one had seen its commercial) as a vehicle for an old Jackie Chan to become the Chinese Liam Neeson — old man out for revenge on those who took his child. The reality is that it was a political action thriller about the Irish IRA.

Hunh?

Jackie Chan did kick butt, but it was mainly Pierce Brosnan trying to terrorize the U.K. for the sake of ancient Irish grudges.

HUNH.

All I’m trying to say is that it must’ve been a bait and switch on Jackie Chan, too.

Anyway. Meh. I’ve seen worst.

3 of 5 stars.

Blade Runner 2049

broderic on October 25, 2017

I’m giving Blade Runner 2049 a decent star count because I love the first one from the 80s. I watch that one and know that every anime derives from that film. Yes, even K-ON! LOL!

Anyhow, this version hews very close to the Philip K. Dick story, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It’s a sadder L.A. A more empty place where those who got off world did. And those left in the detritus of the world. Dark and somber.

The film didn’t make any money like its predecessor. So in 10 years, we’ll look back and call it genius.

4 of 5 stars.

American Made

broderic on October 23, 2017

American Made stars Tom Cruise and was directed by Doug Liman. They look to be a combination that’s up and coming. I wonder if Liman can work well with Cruise. They seem to like each other as this is their second go the first being Live, Die, Repeat.

3 of 5 stars.

“Why did we go to Hawaii together?” “That was a dream.” “Oh… Wait a minute, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.” “All right then. How was it?” “Not that good, actually.” “I’m sorry.”

broderic on September 30, 2017

I should’ve posted this when I first started writing it. Now the opening doesn’t run right. But so what here we go…

While the world was watching football, I caught In This Corner of the World at The Charles. A second movie in the theatre this weekend? Yo!

The film is an anime set in Japan around the time of the second world war. It’s main protagonist gets married and spends her time in Kure, the main naval base. It’s around the mountains from Hiroshima. World War 2 and Hiroshima? You know where the story is leading.

The film is slice of life like. Following her travails as she copes with her new family and new life. She also dodges bombs and the war as America bombs her city. Finally, the Bomb is dropped and it really messes up her life.

That’s the film.

Not bad. I liked it. But I like all kinds of anime. YMMV.

3 of 5 stars.

“You know I thank God everyday that we’re not a TV station.”

broderic on September 22, 2017

Link of the Day [9.22.17]

I had usually let my off Fridays be the days I watch a movie. If I was in Japan, I know what I would be watching… Asuhinagu 「あさひなぐ」。　 A film featuring members of Nogizaka46. It’s related to a manga of the same name about a naginata club and the girls who practice it.

Nishino plays the lead. Shiraishi is the beautiful senpai. Ikuta is their rival.

They also had it as a stage play this summer. Perhaps a different story, and it had different Nogizaka members.

Anyway I haven’t seen it yet. But I’ll give it 5 of 5 stars because of Nogi members!

http://asahinagu-proj.com/

“Best sandwiches in the city. They’re an acquired taste, but like wine and cheese, a good sandwich needs to be aged properly. In the olden days, a pheasant would be aged for weeks before it was suitable for consumption.”

broderic on September 20, 2017

Link of the Day [9.20.17]

Continuing.

It’s easy as a fan of classic films to watch them now — what with streaming and niche DVD makers. It’s not so easy to become a fan of classic films because there’s not one place to start. Maybe TCM. Yes.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/10/19/13314670/tcm-turner-classic-movies-film

“How did your meeting with Paul Simon go?” “Oh, not so good. I guess the world will have to wait for a hazy shade of whitewalls.”

broderic on September 20, 2017

Link of the Day [9.19.17]

Movies are dying. No one goes to the theatre. We like to stay home and watch on our streaming service. But we are only watching the new stuff. Classic films are already dead, but they are dying a second time. Not too many movie watchers want to watch something from the 70s let alone the 40s. Not too many streaming sites want to carry these old films.

Is there nothing to be done? All we can do is lament their passing. Long live classic films.

http://www.newsweek.com/2017/09/22/netflix-streaming-movies-classics-664512.html

“Hey Dave, last chance for Chock.”

broderic on September 12, 2017

It is not a horror movie. It is more an adventure with horror overtones — sort of a “Goonies” with Sloth being a very scary, creepy clown. The merry band of kids go on this adventure to rid the town of frightening Pennywise. They lived happily ever after. End Part One. Afterwards, I wasn’t scared to go to sleep with the lights off.

I’ve never seen “Stranger Things,” but one of the casts of It is from there. This film had a feel of that television show. First, because of the setting in the 80s. Next, because it seems to find kids who are free to roam around their town. Finally, because I have a feeling that It was modeled after the show. I’m sure I’m wrong, but in other ways I’m sure I’m right.

Not a bad film. Over the weekend I also caught the 90s version of It on television. Very, very different. Now I know what to look forward to in the second part.

3 of 5 stars.

“Don’t mind Dave. His callous mask hides his grief. You know what they say, little man, big emotion.”

broderic on September 5, 2017

I watched Annabelle: Creation. Maybe “watched” is a strong word, because I watched it from behind my fingers. Was it too scary? Not really, but I always watch scary movies from behind a veil of fingers. It’s a habit.

Not sure why I like too, but I do.

Scratch that I like to watch the scary movies because of the heeby-jeebies it gives me. I like the goosebumps up my arm. I like going home in the dark and wondering if I should leave the lights on. I like sleeping to the glow of the television if not to the light on. It’s weird but it’s fun.

Anyhow. Annabelle is a prequel to the first Annabelle film which itself was a prequel to the first Conjuring film. It wasn’t stupid scary like The Conjuring was and it doesn’t have the evil character like the Nun from the second Conjuring. She’s there but in a great cameo. LOL.

There were a few things that bugged me. There always is. Like that damn scarecrow. Why even have that? Then there’s the Demon. There’s too much of it.

Overall, that doll is still the scariest thing out there.

3 of 5 stars.