Movie Monday Free Talk

When I was younger I really wanted to dive into films and all they had to offer. Anytime a movie was referenced in pop culture (which happens a lot if you ever pay attention to it) that I hadn't seen before, I'd add it to my DVD queue-- or if I read the trivia about a movie and the director'd say they cast so-and-so because they saw them in X, or they stole a shot from Y, etc., I'd add it to my queue. It had gotten to a point when my Netflix queue had been maxed out (the cap is 500, in case anyone's curious).

As I've gotten older and seen more things, my rating system is essentially:

• 1 star is it was terrible/waste of time
• 2 stars is it was almost good, just got a few things wrong
• 3 stars is it was fine, but if you ask me about it a few years from now, I probably won't remember much about it
• 4 stars is it was great! I enjoyed it for what it was
• 5 stars is it was either a powerful experience that really moved me, or it was so flawless/fun I'd easily go out and buy it when it's available

Having watched as many movies as I have, they've sadly mostly blended together with the 3-star rating and I've forgotten a lot of the ones I've seen. Coupled with that, a lot of the stories are so similar in some manner or another that my jaded brain eventually checks my phone or watch, and I guiltily admit I use the Play 2x Speed to get past some of the slower parts of the film. It is a rarity that they successfully keep me from checking my phone, and keep me engaged enough to stick with it.

I've since whittled down my list to 70 movies after a combination of deciding which ones looked like they'd just be OK, and the MeToo movement highlighting actors/directors I don't really feel like indulging in (I recognize some might say it's throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but it's not an all-or-nothing approach, there's no dearth of entertainment to consume, and I'd rather try my best to support non-assholes whenever possible)

Aside from that, I've been having a hard time finding unique, fun movies that are up my alley. Some of the Palme d'Or movies are super pretentious (like The Square, which I really didn't care for), and the Academy Awards/movies made for Academy Awards have just felt kinda tone deaf.

So... all of that said, the latest movies I've seen that've stood out have been:

• The Farewell: This is just a delightfully charming story that really explores a culture gap that I was completely unaware of. I went in unprepared/had no idea what it was about, and the odyssey was well worth the watch. It dips into darkness but has a comedic tone alongside it that keeps you cozy the entire time, which is very fitting given the story. I'd heavily recommend it.
• Son of Saul: A relentlessly claustrophobic story told from a concentration camp that hit me like a ton of bricks. I recognize there are a lot of Holocaust movies out there, but I find myself seeing one every other year on account I feel it's important to hear stories of sadness and the darker side of history every now and again.
• Enduring Love: I've actually already seen this movie and love it, I just wanted to watch it again to make sure it stood the test of time, and it did-- at least to me. If you enjoy Mindhunter, I'd recommend this as it's one of the lead writer's earlier films. It's a very slow thriller with some disjointed or pacing issues, but an overall captivating experience. And at the very least, you get to see one of the most impressive stunts ever recorded in the first 20 minutes of the film.

Last week I saw Ace Venture: Pet Detective for the first time in a decade or so. Some say it hasn't aged well, and sure, there's some pretty heavy transphobia in it, but starring Jim Carrey at his prime, I still found it absolutely hilarious. That man is a genius when it comes to both physical comedy and delivering funny lines. I'm genuinely looking forward to Sonic the Hedgehog because it will star Carrey as moustache-twirling villain Dr. Robotnik.

There are a few films I'm looking forward to seeing.

• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has received good reviews, and I like Tarantino's films in general, so I'm going to the theatre Thursday to see it.
• Askeladden - I Sorie Moria Slott looks like a solid sequel to the shockingly good first film in the fairy-tale franchise.
• Someone much more excited than me has already bought me a ticket to It Chapter Two, which will probably be decent.
• Toy Story 4 starts playing soon, but I'll read a couple more reviews before I decide to see it or not. I'll need to rewatch the previous films first if I decide to see it.

I recently rewatched Joe Johnston's Jumanji (1995) and was impressed by how well it holds up today. The story is coherent and exciting, the comedy is pretty well-executed too. It was fun to see a preteen Kirsten Dunst and of course Robin Williams acting the hell out of one of his many memorable roles.

When the movie came out it was considered a visual effects spectacular... by today's standards the CGI looks pretty bad. But that's offset by excellent use of practical effects that keep the whole thing feeling grounded — with two exceptions that come to mind: the puppets used for the lion and poison flower close-ups are laughable. I'm not sure why they didn't just film a real lion for those shots, it would've been more expressive than the faux-taxidermy thing they built. But watching the mansion overtaken and destroyed by vines, animal rampage, flood, and earthquake was a treat to behold. The attic floor becoming quicksand and hardening again was also a favorite scene of mine.

One thing I never noticed watching this movie as a kid was Jonathan Hyde's dual role as both Alan's father and his dogged hunter Van Pelt. The movie never calls attention to this but I thought it was a nice touch considering Alan's arc with both characters is similar. It's reminiscent of the way Captain Hook and Mr. Darling are often played by the same actor in productions of Peter Pan. Hyde stole the scene whenever he was on-screen too, both of his performances are underrated.

I've seen the 2017 Jumanji and it was better than I expected it to be. I'm intrigued by the concept of the sequel, the idea that the actors are all the same but are just virtual avatars of a new cast of characters. Not sure how Kevin Hart's going to do with that but I think the other three can handle it. All in all, this newer series has almost nothing in common with the '90s movie apart from the name, so it doesn't feel right to compare them, and maybe it's just nostalgia speaking but I do prefer the older one. I'm also prompted now to revisit Chris Van Allsburg's children's book that inspired all these films. When I was young I adored its open-ended story and lush illustrations.

• Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive. An interesting take on vampire movies, some good shots but was too pretentious for my taste.

• Debra Granik's Leave No Trace. A man with shell shock lives with his daughters in the woods. Pretty solid movie, worth a watch.

• Fritz Lang's Moonfleet (1955). It's a bit for the kids and hasn't aged very well but was still enjoyable.

• Bresson 's Quatre nuits d'un rêveur (1971). An adaptation from Dostoyevsky's White Nights. Very strange like all Bresson's movies but there was some good bits (good music, and a nice NSWF scene).