Let’s Talk Movies! #31: Pandas, Zombies, Male Models, Superheroes, Greeks and…Caesar!

[BigB08822]

I don't think I posted my thoughts on 10 Cloverfield Lane. I don't want to give spoilers but it was not as good as I was hoping. I did have high expectations but this felt they just had this movie and in order to bring attention to it they added Cloverfield in the title. I actually found out the movie came from a script that had nothing to do with Abrams or the Cloverfield team. They took the movie and changed the ending slightly to try and connect it to Cloverfield. I think with a future movie they can make the connection a lot more solid but for now this made me feel like they scammed me and tricked me into seeing it.

 

[PeterG]

We haven't seen Bette Midler on the big (or small) screen since 2012's Parental Guidance (with Billy Crystal and Marisa Tomei). Strange, since the movie cost 25 million to make and made over 120 million worldwide. Luckily, she has a TV Movie comedy called The Third Coast in pre-production and a big screen drama that will be out either this year or in 2017 called Freak Show which also stars Abigail Breslin, AnnaSophia Robb and Laverne Cox. Imdb.com's description: "Follows the story of teenager Billy Bloom who, despite attending an ultra conservative high school makes the decision to run for homecoming queen."

Until then, we will just have to make do with Midler's tweets. How about this one about Kim Kardashian's latest nude pic...?

Kim Kardashian tweeted a nude selfie today. If Kim wants us to see a part of her we've never seen, she's gonna have to swallow the camera.

 

[agalisgv]

Saw 10 Cloverfield Lane---I recommend it. Very well paced and novel storyline. It doesn't replicate the found footage you see in Cloverfield, so it's easier to watch IMO. I'd give it an 8.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I saw Zootopia last night. Really good and enjoyed it very much. Animation is so good these days. An original story, great characters and few really genuine laughs (particularly with the sloths).

 

[Jay42]

I saw Zootopia last night. Really good and enjoyed it very much. Animation is so good these days. An original story, great characters and few really genuine laughs (particularly with the sloths).

I just saw it today and I enjoyed it a lot as well. I laughed a lot and my brother and I spent a lot of time afterwards talking about all the actors voices we recognized from other things. We both didn't realise it was JK Simmons doing the voice of Mayor Lionheart until we saw it in the credits. As we have both played Portal 2 we were very disappointed in ourselves for not recognizing the voice of Cave Johnson.

I loved the reference to Alan Tudyk as the weasel being named Duke Weaselton when his character in Frozen got called the Duke of Weaselton instead of Weselton.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I recognised the name Alan Tudyk. Then checked IMDB and realised he had been in the film Oddball which is an Australian movie.

 

[Artemis@BC]

I definitely plan on seeing Zootopia, I'm just not sure if I'll see it in the theatre. With other people's children. Ugh.

The voice I'm most looking forward to hearing is the cameo by Peter Mansbridge -- as Peter Moosebridge.

 

[watchthis!!]

O. M. G. ….

Blake Lively Faces a Great White Shark in First Teaser For Jaume Collet-Serra’s ‘The Shallows’
http://thefilmstage.com/trailer/blake-lively-faces-a-great-white-shark-in-first-teaser-for-jaume-collet-serras-the-shallows/

The article mentions that this movie could be this generations “Jaws”. And from the look of the trailer, I’m already peeing myself a little!! The trailer in the article didn’t work for me, so here’s the link from youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPOpE-_42as

 

[Jay42]

I definitely plan on seeing Zootopia, I'm just not sure if I'll see it in the theatre. With other people's children. Ugh.

The voice I'm most looking forward to hearing is the cameo by Peter Mansbridge -- as Peter Moosebridge.

Hearing Peter Mansbridge was so great. Apparently they changed the newscaster depending on the country the movie was in. I'm kind of curious to know if they actually used Mansbridge in the States or if they changed the voice to someone more recognizable for them. It doesn't say on IMDb.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

O. M. G. ….

Blake Lively Faces a Great White Shark in First Teaser For Jaume Collet-Serra’s ‘The Shallows’
http://thefilmstage.com/trailer/blake-lively-faces-a-great-white-shark-in-first-teaser-for-jaume-collet-serras-the-shallows/

The article mentions that this movie could be this generations “Jaws”. And from the look of the trailer, I’m already peeing myself a little!! The trailer in the article didn’t work for me, so here’s the link from youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPOpE-_42as

I'm not sure how I feel about computer generated imagery. To me, the mechanical shark in Jaws stands the test of time. That and the way Spielberg alluded to it without actually showing it.

 

[PeterG]

I saw 10 Cloverfield Lane with some friends yesterday and I really liked it! So did my friends. I won't say too much as I'd have to do tons of spoiler tags, so I'll just say that I knew this was made on a low budget and so most of the movie would be like a filmed play, with all the action happening in a small space. So I was very pleasantly surprised with the movie doing/being a lot more than I expected. Like @BigB08822 posted earlier, I had also read about certain details about the movie's past/origins...and that didn't affect me at all. I loved how everything was handled. It's a movie that I'd be happy to watch again in a couple of years when somebody says, "hey wanna watch this?" and I'll say, "I've seen it, but I'd be happy to watch it again".

I like Peter's point about a film being told slowly and, in unraveling slowly, is told well.

Sorry for my late posting, as always trying to get caught up with responses from a while back. This comment was in regards to The Godfather and I might not have worded myself as well as I should have. Instead of saying that I thought the film was told "slowly", I should have said something like "leisurely" or better yet, "purposefully relaxed". I've been made to think about this because I'm currently halfway through a different movie which IS told...ssslllooowwwlllyyy. Every scene in The Godfather was rich in it's careful, thoughtful telling. The movie I'm watching now is dirge-like at time, almost excruciatingly so. I'm especially irked because the DVD has some damage, so I can't watch it at double time. So a BIG difference in the direction of this movie and that of The Godfather!

I'm kind of excited for the Wonder Woman movie. I'm definitely not going to get too excited until we actually see a trailer for it.

I'm hating how dark the Superhero movies are getting and I'm hating how it's the "in" thing to have them battling one another. I purposefully had decided not to watch any more of them (well, not Ant-Man 2!!), but I saw an article about Batman Vs. Superman that had enough info about the Wonder Woman character, that I find myself thinking, "I've got to see Wonder Woman"!! And then there was an article about the new Captain America movie. Of course they mentioned Chris and Robert and Scarlett and then they mentioned Marisa Tomei and Paul Rudd and Martin Freeman and Jeremy Renner and Frank Grillo and Leslie Bibb and Gwyneth and Chadwick and Tom and Sebastian and Paul and Anthony and Don. And Elizabeth Olsen and Emily VanCamp and William Hurt and Daniel Brühl...I mean seriously - like any human being could say to a movie with this cast? What, am I supposed to have superhuman powers or something??!!

 

[Jay42]

I'm hating how dark the Superhero movies are getting and I'm hating how it's the "in" thing to have them battling one another. I purposefully had decided not to watch any more of them (well, not Ant-Man 2!!), but I saw an article about Batman Vs. Superman that had enough info about the Wonder Woman character, that I find myself thinking, "I've got to see Wonder Woman"!! And then there was an article about the new Captain America movie. Of course they mentioned Chris and Robert and Scarlett and then they mentioned Marisa Tomei and Paul Rudd and Martin Freeman and Jeremy Renner and Frank Grillo and Leslie Bibb and Gwyneth and Chadwick and Tom and Sebastian and Paul and Anthony and Don. And Elizabeth Olsen and Emily VanCamp and William Hurt and Daniel Brühl...I mean seriously - like any human being could say to a movie with this cast? What, am I supposed to have superhuman powers or something??!!

I'm also hating how dark the Superhero movies are getting and I'm hoping there is an actual point to Batman VS. Superman because the trailers don't seem to indicate why they are actually fighting besides Batman being unhappy about all the destruction from Man of Steel.

I do sort of have an idea of where they might be going with Civil War (vague enough for you?) because I've read the Civil War comics. I'm trying to be vague because I could be venturing not just into heavy speculative territory, it could be very spoilery if the movie goes the way the comic did. I was very glad to see the most recent Civil War trailer not making it look like Captain America and Iron Man were fighting over Bucky. The first trailers all made it seem like they were fighting over Bucky instead of the Registration Act which makes very little sense.

Part of why I'm really enjoying Supergirl so far is because it is so different from the current slate of Superhero movies and the CW TV* shows. It's not dark or making me relive my memories of a 00's emo kid. It's bright and there's a lot of hope in it and I love that. I don't love how far behind I am but I'm working on catching up .

*As a disclaimer in relation to the DC CW shows, I don't consistently watch them so if they are less dark than I think they are, please tell me. I may be persuaded to give them more attention.

 

[orbitz]

Fan's reviews from the premier of "Batman vs. Superman" are positive. Official critics' reviews are released tomorrow after 6pm.

http://collider.com/batman-v-superman-reviews-premiere/

http://moviepilot.com/posts/3830325

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/batma...the-batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-a132330

 

[watchthis!!]

Daisy Ridley Confirms Talks About Playing Lara Croft in 'Tomb Raider' Reboot
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daisy-ridley-tomb-raider-talks-876986

No offer just yet apparently, but now that Ridley has Star Wars under her belt, I bet that's giving her a bit of leverage for a heftier paycheque!

I'm not sure how I feel about computer generated imagery. To me, the mechanical shark in Jaws stands the test of time. That and the way Spielberg alluded to it without actually showing it.

I had to re-read the article to see where it mentions CGI. I didn't see that, so I guess you figure that CGI will have to be used? To me, CGI has gotten to the point that I don't even notice it. Unless it's a movie with a budget of two million and they're using CGI artists just out of school using sub-standard equipment in a limited time frame. The movies this director has done have all been top quality, so I figure I'm goinng to be on the ride of my life!

 

[Johnny_Fever]

I'm also hating how dark the Superhero movies are getting...........

Tim Burton started that trend with the first Batman in '89. Burton's just a dark dude.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

Daisy Ridley Confirms Talks About Playing Lara Croft in 'Tomb Raider' Reboot
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daisy-ridley-tomb-raider-talks-876986

You mean they're going with someone who can actually do a British accent?

I had to re-read the article to see where it mentions CGI. I didn't see that, so I guess you figure that CGI will have to be used? To me, CGI has gotten to the point that I don't even notice it. Unless it's a movie with a budget of two million and they're using CGI artists just out of school using sub-standard equipment in a limited time frame. The movies this director has done have all been top quality, so I figure I'm going to be on the ride of my life!

Special effects aren't done without CGI anymore. I might get caught up in the movie as well. In the old days when we saw a 25 foot shark swim by we'd ask ourselves, "How did they film that?"

 

[orbitz]

To me, CGI has gotten to the point that I don't even notice it. Unless it's a movie with a budget of two million and they're using CGI artists just out of school using sub-standard equipment in a limited time frame.

Max Kanata and Supreme Leader Snoke were very obviously 100% CGI characters in The Force Awakens, and the director used state of the art technology provided by Lucas's special effect company.

 

[Johnny_Fever]

I still like the first Star Wars best, before Lucas went back and added all that extraneous eye candy.

 

[lmarie086]

I bought Gattaca the other day - found it at FYE for $3! Last time I saw it was in high school when my biology teacher was out and the sub didn't feel like doing anything lol, but I remember thinking it was really good. Planning to watch it sometime this week, and hopefully it's as good as I remember it!

 

[BigB08822]

I saw Room last night. Oh my, what an emotional wreck I was after that one. I was completely choked up a few times during the movie. Jacob Tremblay was completely robbed of an Oscar nomination. It is really inexcusable. Larson was very deserving, I love how she chose to portray the character. She was numb yet loving at the same time, the only way I imagine she could protect herself (numb) and her son (loving).

Spoiler

I do wish they had shown her reaction as the police broke into the room. I would have loved to have seen the sense of relief as she realizes her plan worked. However, it may have not been as moving when she is first seen running to the police car looking for her son.

 

[Artemis@BC]

... Room

Spoiler

I do wish they had shown her reaction as the police broke into the room. I would have loved to have seen the sense of relief as she realizes her plan worked. However, it may have not been as moving when she is first seen running to the police car looking for her son.

I'm guessing that at least part of the reason they didn't show that particular scene is that the book is told exclusively from Jack's POV, so anything he doesn't see, we don't see. They maintained that for the film, at least in terms of the fact that ever scene is shown around Jack, not Joy -- but the film also manages to expand the view because we can see and hear what's happening without filtering it through Jack's understanding.

 

[BigB08822]

Thanks. I did not read the book so did not know that. Great point.

 

[PeterG]

Weekend Domestic Chart for March 18th, 2016

Zootopia reigns supreme. The Divergent Series: Allegiant debuted at #2 with 29 million on a 110 million budget. Bad news, except....the movie made 53 overseas. So breathe easy, everyone! Miracles from Heaven debuted at #3, making almost 19 million on a 13 million budget.

Debuts down lower on the chart of note are the Michael Shannon sci-fi flick Midnight Special at #29 where it made $38,002 per theatre. And the John Hawkes drama Too Late debuted way down at #72, where it played at only one theatre where it made $7,000 on that on screen. Only four movies on the chart had a better per theatre average.

 

[made_in_canada]

I watched The Big Short last night. I still don't actually understand what happened.

 

[Cachoo]

Loved "The Big Short" and understand about not understanding. At least the filmmakers tried to explain the terminology in interesting ways but it was a lot to take in. HBO ran a documentary about Nora Ephron tonight. Her son created it and it was well done. The more I learn about this woman the more I admire her.

 

[watchthis!!]

I watched Woman In Gold on the weekend. I expected to like it and I'd go as far as to say that it exceeded my expectations. Not sure if the directing or Helen Mirren was more the star, but both were amazing. Good script of course and Ryan Reynolds did well considering he was starring opposite The Queen! Tatiana Maslany was pretty wonderful as well as a young Maria. Always nice to see Daniel Bruhl on screen, but the role didn't demand much of him. Same for Jeremy Iron's son Max as the young Maria's husband. But they were both good. I'm not sure why this movie didn't get more attention when it came out. I can't imagine anything to improve on it, maybe someone other than Katie Holmes as Reynolds' wife? She seemed pretty bland, but it was probably the most thankless role in the whole movie. She probably took this role only because she thought the topic was important...and that she'd get to meet Helen Mirren - good enough reason! So no big awards for this movie (or even any major nominations). That's a shame/crime. At least it made a decent profit at the box office, which means the audience liked it.

Special effects aren't done without CGI anymore. I might get caught up in the movie as well. In the old days when we saw a 25 foot shark swim by we'd ask ourselves, "How did they film that?"

I thought Mad Max last year was heralded for doing effects the old-school way (non-CGI) but in a new, state of the art way.

Max Kanata and Supreme Leader Snoke were very obviously 100% CGI characters in The Force Awakens, and the director used state of the art technology provided by Lucas's special effect company.

Do you mean "obviously" in that you screamed FAKE!!!! at the movie screen in the middle of The Force Awakens? Because when either character appeared on screen, I didn't have that kind of reaction for even a second.

You mean they're going with someone who can actually do a British accent?

Aww, go easy on our poor Angie. I was standing in line at the supermarket the other day and The National Inquisitor said she and Brad are about to divorce!!

 

[orbitz]

Do you mean "obviously" in that you screamed FAKE!!!! at the movie screen in the middle of The Force Awakens? Because when either character appeared on screen, I didn't have that kind of reaction for even a second.

Yes. Snoke, in particular, stood out like a big sore thumb for me in a film that tried very hard to adopt the old style of filming, ie small scale models, location shootings.

 

[jenny12]

Looks like a lot of bad reviews for Batman v. Superman. Not a fan of Synder so I'm not surprised. I find his work mostly muddled and joyless. Hope Suicide Squad is better.

 

[orbitz]

37% approval so far from the official critics on rotten tomatoes for B vs S. But if you look at the fans' reviews page on RT then you'll see more 4 stars rating.

I'll wait until the end of next month to see it. I have no desire to sit 2.5 hrs in a dark room to see any movie, but I am very interested to see how WW is introduced and to see her fight like one of the guys.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I watched Woman In Gold on the weekend. I expected to like it and I'd go as far as to say that it exceeded my expectations. Not sure if the directing or Helen Mirren was more the star, but both were amazing. Good script of course and Ryan Reynolds did well considering he was starring opposite The Queen! Tatiana Maslany was pretty wonderful as well as a young Maria. Always nice to see Daniel Bruhl on screen, but the role didn't demand much of him. Same for Jeremy Iron's son Max as the young Maria's husband. But they were both good. I'm not sure why this movie didn't get more attention when it came out. I can't imagine anything to improve on it, maybe someone other than Katie Holmes as Reynolds' wife? She seemed pretty bland, but it was probably the most thankless role in the whole movie. She probably took this role only because she thought the topic was important...and that she'd get to meet Helen Mirren - good enough reason! So no big awards for this movie (or even any major nominations). That's a shame/crime. At least it made a decent profit at the box office, which means the audience liked it.

Glad you liked it. I though it was very good.

Helen Mirren is always worth watching. My favourite performance of hers was in Reds and Reds 2. You could tell she had been dying to make an action film and just had a blast making it. Helps that they are really good and fun movies. And loved the mad queen when trying to get into the mental hospital.