Rate The Last Movie You Saw.

Did anyone else see The Black Phone this weekend?

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Originally Posted by Tommy

I have not read The Black Phone but the movie was good. I do have a question for someone who has read the book and it's a spoiler so warning given.

Spoiler

Why does the Grabber keep the black phone in the basement? Why doesn't he get rid of it? Is there a reason given in the book?

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Yeah, it's a good story. It's a short story and not a book.

Spoiler:

Not as many kids get on the phone as there are in the film - probably due to the shortened length. There is no practical reason for the Grabber to have left the phone in the basement, other than he knows the room is sound proof and that he has gut the wire so it doesn't work. Like the film, he mentions that he heard it ring once, but there wasn't anyone on the other end. Later, Bruce Yamada mentions to Finney that "Albert hears the phone too...Sometimes when he's down in the basement we prank call him." So I take the Grabber's reluctance in removing the phone as fearful and strange fascination with it, one that keeps his connections to the kid's he has killed. I think he wants to hear their voices again.

That's how I take it.

Saw The Black Phone this weekend and enjoyed it very much. It's very close to its source material and yet there are some excellent additions. Not so much of a horror film, as a suspense film with a couple of jump scares. The story though, as simple as it is, is done very well. A great late 70s feel to it. 7.5/10

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Originally Posted by DoctorZaius

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Originally Posted by Tommy

I have not read The Black Phone but the movie was good. I do have a question for someone who has read the book and it's a spoiler so warning given.

Spoiler

Why does the Grabber keep the black phone in the basement? Why doesn't he get rid of it? Is there a reason given in the book?

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Yeah, it's a good story. It's a short story and not a book.

Spoiler:

Not as many kids get on the phone as there are in the film - probably due to the shortened length. There is no practical reason for the Grabber to have left the phone in the basement, other than he knows the room is sound proof and that he has gut the wire so it doesn't work. Like the film, he mentions that he heard it ring once, but there wasn't anyone on the other end. Later, Bruce Yamada mentions to Finney that "Albert hears the phone too...Sometimes when he's down in the basement we prank call him." So I take the Grabber's reluctance in removing the phone as fearful and strange fascination with it, one that keeps his connections to the kid's he has killed. I think he wants to hear their voices again.

That's how I take it.

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Thanks for that interpretation. Makes sense.

The Black Phone was pretty good in my opinion. If you liked Sinister, you'll like this. Not as creepy, but cut from the same cloth.
There is a teacher in the movie that looked like a King. I don't think it was. If I could have paused the movie I would have. :)

Black Phone:

Tense thriller with nowhere to go.
The audience is a hostage along with the captive boy. Predictable, and thankfully short.
3/6 beers on the RFSRS.

I saw The Black Phone. I think it's a little overhyped. The performances really elevated it. I don't typically give half points outside of Letterboxd, but this is the definition of a 3.5/5 film. It did a out of things right, but I think it could've been so much more with a different approach. This who have read the story, let me know if:

Spoiler:

Did the sister play such a role in the story? It feels like her role was very much a Hollywood convention. The actress was pretty good, but the focus shifting to her took me out of the film. I wish that it just stayed in the basement with him, really let us feel imprisoned too. Ultimately so her dreams served no purpose since they led her to the wrong house...it could be said the ghosts led her to where they were buried, but she didn't save her brother, and once he got free they'd have found the bodies through the killer's home ownership so it all seemed kind of like filler to pad the film out.

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Originally Posted by Mattrick

I saw The Black Phone. I think it's a little overhyped. The performances really elevated it. I don't typically give half points outside of Letterboxd, but this is the definition of a 3.5/5 film. It did a out of things right, but I think it could've been so much more with a different approach. This who have read the story, let me know if:

Spoiler:

Did the sister play such a role in the story? It feels like her role was very much a Hollywood convention. The actress was pretty good, but the focus shifting to her took me out of the film. I wish that it just stayed in the basement with him, really let us feel imprisoned too. Ultimately so her dreams served no purpose since they led her to the wrong house...it could be said the ghosts led her to where they were buried, but she didn't save her brother, and once he got free they'd have found the bodies through the killer's home ownership so it all seemed kind of like filler to pad the film out.

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The sister...

Spoiler:

is three years older than Finney in the book. She is more the stuff of Finney's dreams. Yes, she is connected to the occult and she looks for him in a dream - a phone call suggests Finney's dream is more truth. Overall a much expanded/altered role in the film.

Read it, it's a pretty good tale - all 7250 words of it.

Watched The Lost City tonight. Loved Brad Pitt, but the film is nowhere near as good as the Romancing the Stone, the film it seems to be emulating. Even with my low expectations going in it was not very good. 5/10.

Firestarter Bad!!!! :deadhorse: :bkick: :emot-flame: :bkick::Ball Kick:

Top Gun: Maverick gets a 4/5 from me. It's been a long time since I watched the original, but I recall the romantic aspect being more prominent. It was basically reduced to about 4 scenes in this movies and it made me feel nothing. Who even was she? I know she owns a bar and likes sailing and I guess she did Maverick before. Was she even related to the first movie at all? A total dud of a subplot there. The actual flying sequences were awesome and the main plot itself was sparse yet still focused on the task, which I enjoyed. There wasn't too much forced conflict for the sake of drama and it mostly stuck to the mission.

I also noticed how politically correct the film was. We have no idea who where this reactor is, who built it, why, and they are nebulously referred to as "the enemy." Is this just an attempt not to rely on a tired red or foreign menace, or a clever jab that anyone that isn't America is "the enemy".

Spoiler:

That last scene of the film make me vomit. What kind of person pulls up in front of a hangar and says to her tween daughter, "Go inside there and look around until you find Maverick and then suggestively stare into his eyes so he will somehow understand that he is supposed to stop what he is doing and walk outside where I will be waiting for him whoreishly leaning up against my sports car all sexy-like?" Honestly, this was the most unrealistic scene in this film. Maverick could've avoided a missile by doing 17 consecutive backflips with such speed and force it causes him to ejaculate at such an unheard of speed it become divine and it flies into the troposphere and miraculously gives Iceman a facial that cures him instantly and simultaneously brings Goose back to life, and then Maverick could shoot down 26 fighter jets blindfolded and I would've thought that ending with Jennifer Connelly was still the most unrealistic thing in the film. What the fuck even was that?

Matt

1. Yes, the romantic subplot was the most undercooked element in TG:M, honestly the film could have gone without it and nothing changes
2. I was curious about the 'enemy' as well; figured they were just being PC, and not wanting to name nations given the sensitivity of things going between Russia and Ukraine etc.,

THOR.
What a Psychedelic trip. Colourful and fun. Bale is always on his game. Really enjoyed it. I think Ragarock was better But not by a lot. Im really waiting to see the big Thanos level threat and also ready for the properties they bought from FOX to start becoming the major part of the MCU. It’s ready…


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I'm catching Thor tomorrow, matinee. Can't wait to join the discussion(s)! :biggrin:

That I hear it isn't as good as Ragnarok is kind of turning me off checking it out. I liked Ragnarok, but I only gave it a 3/5. The Asgard stuff bored me to tears. Gladiator Planet and Goldblum was very fun though. If people who loved Ragnarok don't think this one is as good then I'll wait to watch on streaming.

Thor: Love and Thunder is a really fun ride. Lots of humor mixed into acts one and two and a rousing act three. Bale continues to show why he's the best in the business right now. Like many have noted, not as good as Ragnarok, but still in the top half of Marvel films. 8.5/10

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Originally Posted by Mattrick

That I hear it isn't as good as Ragnarok is kind of turning me off checking it out. I liked Ragnarok, but I only gave it a 3/5. The Asgard stuff bored me to tears. Gladiator Planet and Goldblum was very fun though. If people who loved Ragnarok don't think this one is as good then I'll wait to watch on streaming.

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Honestly it pains me to say this cause I love Waititi and Ragnarok, but L&T is a bit of a mess - tonally, structurally. There's just too many contrivances and half baked ideas. It has some funny bits and cool visuals, but as a whole it's just not cohesive.

Enjoyed my time with it in theaters and glad I got to see it, but I won't be in any kind of rush to watch it again. I'll give it a generous 3/5 stars.

I stumbled upon a little gem (IMHO) called "The Man Who Invented Christmas". Stars, Christopher Plummer (maybe not his best work but hey, he's Christopher Plummer!! lol). It's a loose biography on the writing of "A Christmas Carol". I found it enjoyable and somewhat thought provoking speculating on his 5.5 beers out of sixand the process and such. I thought it was a solid 4.5 beers out of six on the RFMRS. Give it a go and see what you think. It's currently available on, Showtime.

EDIT: Man, I'm sure a site chock full of book collectors can appreciate it, imagine holding a true first edition of that tome!! I wonder if the original hand written draft is under museum glass somewhere. Fucking awesome. lol

This film loosely reminded me of another very good, and personal favorite, "Immortal Beloved". It's a drama/biography on the life of, Ludwig Von Beethoven. Of special note are the scenes shown whilst the 9th Symphony/"Ode to Joy" is playing. The film stars, Gary Oldman and Isabella Rossellini. Like I said it's a personal favorite so that may be worth a half a beer. I rate it a 5.5 beers out of six on the RFMRS.

The Man Who Invented Christmas is great - great cast (Plummer as Scrooge, Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens, Jonathan Pryce as Charles' father John), great story (it was a bit of a miracle that the book was written, finished, and published on time), and great way of telling that story (I think many who haven't seen this would enjoy it).

While I certainly don't own a first edition of A Christmas Carol, I've been in the room with a few of them, and touched one that had been rebound (around 1903) in green leather with gems embedded in it (I think it was available for $30k).

I can't help anyone seeking a first edition (maybe check in with Alec), but you can buy a decent replica from the Charles Dickens museum: https://dickensmuseum.com/collection...museum-edition

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Originally Posted by Mattrick

Top Gun: Maverick gets a 4/5 from me. It's been a long time since I watched the original, but I recall the romantic aspect being more prominent. It was basically reduced to about 4 scenes in this movies and it made me feel nothing. Who even was she? I know she owns a bar and likes sailing and I guess she did Maverick before. Was she even related to the first movie at all? A total dud of a subplot there. The actual flying sequences were awesome and the main plot itself was sparse yet still focused on the task, which I enjoyed. There wasn't too much forced conflict for the sake of drama and it mostly stuck to the mission.

I also noticed how politically correct the film was. We have no idea who where this reactor is, who built it, why, and they are nebulously referred to as "the enemy." Is this just an attempt not to rely on a tired red or foreign menace, or a clever jab that anyone that isn't America is "the enemy".

Spoiler:

That last scene of the film make me vomit. What kind of person pulls up in front of a hangar and says to her tween daughter, "Go inside there and look around until you find Maverick and then suggestively stare into his eyes so he will somehow understand that he is supposed to stop what he is doing and walk outside where I will be waiting for him whoreishly leaning up against my sports car all sexy-like?" Honestly, this was the most unrealistic scene in this film. Maverick could've avoided a missile by doing 17 consecutive backflips with such speed and force it causes him to ejaculate at such an unheard of speed it become divine and it flies into the troposphere and miraculously gives Iceman a facial that cures him instantly and simultaneously brings Goose back to life, and then Maverick could shoot down 26 fighter jets blindfolded and I would've thought that ending with Jennifer Connelly was still the most unrealistic thing in the film. What the fuck even was that?

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Penny Benjamin is actually mentioned in the original film, so it's not like she was completely fabricated for the sequel.

She’s brought up by Meg Ryan, who said Goose told her about "the time you went ballistic with Penny Benjamin." I believe she's mentioned another time as well.

NOPE.
Got up early here in San D and went to a 4DX to catch a film I really wanted to see. It’s good. Well done but I have more questions now than I did before and I cannot tell if that’s a good or bad thing with this film. Some very good scenes here…. Very well shot too. I’d give it a 8/10


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Originally Posted by webstar1000

NOPE.
Got up early here in San D and went to a 4DX to catch a film I really wanted to see. It’s good. Well done but I have more questions now than I did before and I cannot tell if that’s a good or bad thing with this film. Some very good scenes here…. Very well shot too. I’d give it a 8/10


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I am still processing this one, having just gotten home from a 7PM viewing. There is a lot to process as the underlying meanings of Peele's films. I found the film to be a little too slow in it's first act, but I gradually gave myself over to it. Peele has become one of those directors that people who love movies go out to see, and with that comes a heightened anticipation. In the end, it didn't quite live up to my self-imposed hype. 7.5/10

Saw Nope. I give it a 3/5 though it gets the bump to 3.5/5 on letterboxd. You can read my thoughts here: https://letterboxd.com/mattrickbt/film/nope/

Watched The Gray Man last night.

Ryan Gosling basically plays Jason Bourne/John Wick and Chris Evans goes 180 from his usual roles and plays the asshole bad guy. Also Billy Bob Thornton is in it as well as a 12-year-old girl with a pacemaker for reasons.
That's pretty much all you need to know about the movie.

I did LOL at one point when Chris Evans character said something like "How hard is it to shoot somebody?" when like 30 guys are trying to shoot one single guy but all seem to have the aiming skills of Star Wars storm troopers. Of course the good guy has the aim of Legolas.

It was an OK action movie but nothing really groundbreaking. Gosling can actually be pretty funny with some of his dead-pan delivery. Seeing Evans play a really bad guy that has no issues shooting/killing people was definitely a change.

I'd give it about a 6.5/10 overall.

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Originally Posted by Iwritecode

...the good guy has the aim of Legolas.

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Good one; I will have to remember this.