Movie Monday Free Talk

Saw quite a bit this week, but I'd like to highlight a few,
Hulk(2003): I...quite enjoyed this? It's got an abysmal reputation, at least in my circles, yet seems to be undergoing a small reconsideration phase in those same circles. I think Eric Bana's performance is a bold choice, it seems bland and empty at first, but I thought it did a great job of showing someone who's not quite comfortable in their own skin because of past trauma. The ideas in play of trauma, abuse, internal power, the twisting of Hulk as a figure that gives Banner the autonomy and ability to declare himself a whole person to his abuser, I thought it was all really compelling. The ending battle is rushed (from a thematic perspective, it serves its purpose fine as a 2003 CGI action scene), but there is an excellent conversation between Banner and his father, the villain, before the fight that's probably the best scene in the movie. The editing fails more often than it succeeds, and I do wish it had been toned down, but I'm willing to overlook it for the fact that this is a really intriguing time capsule, a time in which superhero film wasn't quite its own genre and someone was allowed to take Hulk and make an introspective personal story with very rough edges.
Lord of the Rings [Fellowship of the Ring(2001), Two Towers(2002), Return of the King(2003)]: I watched the theatrical versions, hoping to also see the extended cuts soon to compare. Fellowship has some odd camera angles and wide angle zooms, Two Towers seems meticulously shot, and Return I think relies too much on CGI for its battles before it was truly ready. Fellowship is the best paced of the bunch though, as I think the crosscutting between climatic battle and slow talking Ents in Two Towers was an interesting but sort of unfulfilling choice. Return I think throws its "ace in the hole" moments from both sides too close together in its Minas Tirith battle. I also think the general concepts in the trilogy of the draw of evil vs. the constant vigilance being good demands contrasted with the power of actually caring about the world you inhabit and understanding the far reaching consequences of war and existence in an imperfect world is best explored in Two Towers, even if they sell the repeated "it's hopeless" motif that precedes Helm's Deep a little too hard. I do, however, think the journey of Samwise brings Return up a good few notches, and is perhaps the best character evolution in the series (rivaled only perhaps by Merry). If I had to rank them, I think I'd say Two Towers, then Fellowship, then Return of the King.

Moving my recent post on last week's thread to this week's instead:

• The Great Beauty (2013)
  • An aging socialite in Rome analyzes the emptiness of his lavish lifestyle, while searching for "The Great Beauty" (my interpretation was it was a pure and innocent embrace of life in the current moment). Humorous, consistently engaging, and great cinematography. It feels like an homage to La Dolce Vita (1960)
• Waking Ned Devine (1998)
  • A comedy about a small Irish town that has a lottery winner's winnings bickered over by the townsfolk. Charmingly absurd at times, it's a heartwarming tale whose characters are the main feature.
• Talk to Her (2002)
  • A comedy/drama about two women in comas, and the men that struggle to love them. It's a story about dealing with heartbreak / loss, and accepting the cards life has dealt you.
• Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
  • A Coen Brothers' film I've been meaning to see for a while. It depicts a struggling musician bumming around Greenwich Village in the 60s folk scene. The best part is Oscar Isaac's melancholic/self-destructive character, which you can see him reprise in Life Itself and Ex Machina.
• The Endless (2018)
  • An indie film that follows two brothers as they venture back to an alien death cult they escaped from years prior. The story unfolds piece by piece, making you question what is true, and touches on themes of community and religion which keep your mind wondering.
• Ikiru (1952)
  • A meditative piece by Akira Kurosawa about a bureaucrat who finds out he has cancer and questions what his life has all been for. It has humorous elements about the kafkaesque job he has, as well as some more poignant thought on the meaning of life.

I am a bit late to the party, but I've just finished watching the MCU movies, up to an including Avengers: Endgame. Started watching the movies at the beginning of this year, and it took me until now to finish everything. Before I started I thought that I am not really going to like it, based on my to-date movie preferences, but after watching it ... I must say I enjoyed every single moment. There is obviously a lot that has changed since the first movies, CGI being the prime example, but every movie is special in their own right. I liked actor choices, I liked costumography and scenography, I liked the story ... But the thing that I liked the most is the music. Being an audiophile I am, I already enjoy good soundtrack as is. But this ... This was a special experience. Hearing each of the scores, the expertly crafted themes blending together, hearing them repeat throughout the series ... And when the Avengers theme starts blasting again during the final battle in Endgame, it's simply incredible.
I'd say that all of the hours I've sunk into the franchise are well worth it, if for nothing else for the amazing score. But also for the other stuff. My overall rating would be 86/100.
So, are there any movies that have simply outstanding soundtrack?