Topic: Movie thread.

Eh, my main problem with most of the MCU is how it's mostly interconnected, which means I'd feel like I have to watch 10 films or more before the latest 1 ....
They're the ones that seem to get most publicity, so that makes it seem like there's little else around, I guess

That means she's a keeper in my book.

It's good that Marvel/Disney know when to shake things up and keep it entertaining for their audience. They have to be doing something right to keep it going like it is, especially when Star Wars and DC aren't replicating the same results.

@BruceCM ditto. I have a short list of Marvel movies that caught my attention for one reason or another, and I dont doubt that there are more. However, due to my lack of interest/knowledge and an overwhelming amount of material (a Google search told me there are 28 Marvel movies right now) it seems difficult to pick only a movie or two and get a complete story and/or character arch. Especially when what I see amounts to "person in a stupid outfit beats up people they dont agree with".

I see you're less of a fan than I am, @Losermagnet .... I've seen some of the films, most recently Shang Chi, which was great, though
But I never read the comics, @Link-Hero & the films are intended to appeal to me as well.

Yesterday I did a double feature of Purple Rose Of Cairo and The Aviator (1985) , I really enjoyed both films. I liked Purple Rose Of Cairo a bit more than The Aviator (1985) and personally I've enjoyed the handful of Woody Allen films I've seen (I like his films not the person). The only other ones being:

Midnight in Paris (my favorite one of his films)

Manhattan Murder Mystery

Radio Days

Purple Rose Of Cairo

Now the The Aviator (1985) felt like a 50s adventure novel (it was based on one so duh). All the flying shots were great and Christopher Reeve did a good job with what was given.

Some other stuff I watched over the weekend: Once upon a Crime, Delirious, Throw Momma from the Train and Rockshow!

@BruceCM yeah I’m not a fan in the least, of the movies or the comics. I think the idea of serialization is a gimmick to get people to buy the next installment, and more often than not hurts the storytelling. In that regard though I feel like he MCU has done an excellent job in emulating the sensation of reading comic books.

Move over Grand Tour, this looks way better than you.

Well, I think it probably happened in the natural course of things originally, @Losermagnet .... & I expect most of the fans are quite happy with the way it's done
I liked Shang Chi, that 1 isn't really too connected yet, although I'm sure the sequel will bring in more of the other characters
But there are actually plenty of other films around as well! I hardly watch many of any kind, anyway

Yesterday I saw Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and I am quite disappointed.

@Zuljaras I didn’t read what you said as I have not watched it yet, but it sucks to hear your disappointed gonna have to see what I think about it.

Ticked two movies off my list that I wanted to watch for a while; two Studio Ghibli films particularly. This morning I watched My Neighbour Totoro, which has this really cool blend of childish magic and innocence (then again all Ghibli films have those), plus some urban fantasy. Ghibli films have excellent human elements and this film is no exception. Did you know Shigesato Itoi voiced Satsuki's dad?

Then I watched Kiki's Delivery Service, which is even more urban fantasy. But I honestly like this one over Totoro because of how relatable it is. Finding independence and purpose in a foreign land that at first doesn't welcome you. It has such fish-out-of-water elements that... man... it hits. I love Kiki's awkwardness around Tombo too. It was nigh-on heartbreaking at times, like when she couldn't understand Jiji (voiced brilliantly by Phil Hartman posthumously), and he just... disappeared.. As good as Spirited Away by virtue of not faltering in its pacing.

Next I plan to watch When Marnie Was There (heard it was excellent), plus The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (that got 100% on RT).

_{I don't like Spirited Away...} ^{but I do like Secret Life Of Arrietty}

I watched King Kong (1976) on Pluto TV this morning.

Don't think I've seen this version before. Definitely feels like a proto version of a modern blockbuster at times, albeit still a bit B-movie in others. A bit slow to get going, although it picks up near the end. Kong gives Dwan (the kidnapped woman) these absolutely goofy grins from time to time that are unintentionally (?) funny which I thought was amusing, and being the 70's, they seemed to push showing as much of her skin as possible while still being a "PG" film (thought I even noticed a blink & you'll miss it nudity shot).

Interesting curiosity of the time.

I watched Rat Race, I didn't really like it... Well it had some neat moments but other than that I didn't really like the film, to me it kinda felt short and too cynical at times. But it's quite heavy inspiration from It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Cannonball Run are very obvious.

Now, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is one of my favorite films ever, when I first watched it I knew pretty much everyone on the cast and even the cameos. To be honest I don't think many people my age would even know half the cast. Putting that aside this film deserves all the Mad*s in the title, it really is this *Mad... so go watch it lol

Given that summer is upon us, I figured it was about time to take my annual road trip with the Griswolds in National Lampoon's Vacation.

At this point it's just one of those comfort food movies for me. I've probably said all of this at some point in the past, but it rides the line between zany adventure & relatable road trip just perfectly, and reminds me of the road trips my family used to take as a kid each summer (although we never held up an amusement park, lol). It's really giving off a really classic Americana vibe at this point as well.

I really think the mcu should have ended after endgame. It felt like a natural stopping point, with a satisfying conclusion. Now the films seem to lack direction. Even in the early days of the mcu it was building towards things. First to the avengers, then Thanos. But phase 4 seems to have no clear direction. The most buildup we have is that something happened far off in the universe at the end of Shang chi, and that the multiverse is now open. It just seems like Disney is milking marvel for profit instead of making engaging stories. The best film of phase 4 was essentially just a reboot of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. I think back to the dark knight trilogy. They could have made more films. Fans would have flooded the theaters to see another dark knight movie. But they knew that Bruce Wayne’s story was over. I feel like the story of the mcu was over with endgame. But of course Disney couldn’t accept the thought of losing out on the cash cow that is the mcu.

@RR529
A quest for fun!
That bit with the dog..!

Watched Dead Silence again ... what an awesome movie!!! It will make you look in the dark corners of your room and feel fear of what might come from there. Ahh and also you will start hating creepy dolls even more

"Beware the stare of Mary Shaw. She had no children, only dolls. If you see her in your dreams, be sure you never, ever scream or she'll rip your tongue out at the seam."

@Zuljaras... I read that and heard bohemian rhapsody in my head...

I watched Belle... this film might be my favorite animated thing ever (second being UPA animation stuff) I'm not going to go into detail why I love it because that could be 6 posts long.

In short I loved Belle!!!

@blindsquarel If you're unhappy with Marvel films then you can just stop watching them. Just because they released Shang Chi it doesn't somehow change Endgame.

Marvel films are lot more fun when you stop obsessing over and rewatching them and expecting spoilers for the next 20 films. I'm a comic reader and I'm not sick of Marvel films myself but I am sick of people talking about them non-stop. lol

@jump
I talk about them a lot because superhero films are what I am into. I do like some of phase 4. No way home, Shang Chi, and WandaVision are great. Multiverse of madness and moon knight are solid to. But my problem is that nothing seems to matter with these films. No way home was basically a reboot of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, moon knight had no long term effects, Wanda vision just led to Multiverse of Madness, which didn’t really effect much, other than I guess confirming the multiverse exists? Shang Chi possibly teased galactis so props to that. But endgame felt like a natural stopping point. Now these movies just feel like cash grabs.