Shinkai's basic themes and tropes have not changed much over his whole career, so I can see that if one is not really invested in those ideas, one might grow a little tired of his obsessively returning to the same well with more or less the same results each time. I think the only way he's getting closer to Ghibli as you put it is that his budgets are bigger and his productions slightly more conventional - but I don't see the core emotional makeup of the films as having changed much at all. I guess in a sense he's like many other filmmakers who stick to a fairly narrow territory, from Wes Anderson to Ozu to Maddin to... well, really, an awful lot of directors when you think about it. He does happen to hit my own sweet spot though I probably still rank him below the two main Ghibli directors and Yuasa. And of course I'm only minimally knowledgeable wrt anime outside of the few biggest names. But it's very rare that I see a new anime that I don't really like and it's clear to me an area that I need to explore more; perhaps this will give me another shove in that direction.St. Gloede wrote: ↑April 27th, 2023, 1:31 pm I am not as excited by new Shinkais as I used to be, in part for moving a little closer to Ghibli, but I'm still really looking forward to this one. Thanks for the write-up, OldAle.
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It was the truth, vivid and monstrous, that all the while he had waited the wait was itself his portion..
Yeah, pretty much exactly that. I think this is a case where perhaps an outside editor might have helped, I dunno.Onderhond wrote: ↑April 27th, 2023, 1:45 pmTrue that. The "problem" for me was that there's a bit of a false ending around the 90-minute mark, where the film could've stopped and it would've been just fine. But then there's another 30 minutes tacked on. It's not cruft or empty space, mostly focusing on the more personal angle of the film, but I did need to change gears to get back into the film at that point.
It was the truth, vivid and monstrous, that all the while he had waited the wait was itself his portion..
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (John Francis Daley/Jonathan Goldstein)
Another new film in the cinema, and the first of 2023 for me. A much more auspicious debut than usual - for the past several years (leaving aside the Lost Years of the Pandemic) I've typically picked some terrible, schlocky-looking action film as the first thing to get me on the board, and it's usually come in February or March. This time I had to wait all the way until May for various reasons, and while this initially looked schlocky and dumb in it's way, the reviews seemed to belie that notion, and when I actually saw it...
First let me give you a brief background of my complicated feelings about Dungeons & Dragons. I first played the game in the late 70s I think - I'm guessing it was either at Thanksgiving or Christmas, 1978 or 79, or possibly 80, at my grandmother's house, with my cousing C---, 5 years younger than me, introducing me and my brother to it, and DMing the game. It's a powerful memory, if indistinct - powerful because it could well have been the last time I saw this cousin - we only ever saw him on these holidays, and not always then, even though he lived there; he and his parents and sister lived on the floor above my grandmother, and they didn't always join the rest of the family for the holiday - sometimes they went to the mother's family. C--- is still alive, as far as I know, but he's been in prison for the last 30 years for killing his mother and attempting to kill his father. Thankfully they didn't blame D&D for it, though they did try to blame drugs and heavy metal music for his aberrant behavior. Anyway I just remember that he used a module, and we did a dungeon crawl, and all the characters were absurdly powerful, with his paladin character having a bunch of artifacts and magical powers that I found later is not usual for such characters. Flash forward a few years and I start playing the game in college in the spring of 1984, and immediately become a fairly serious gamer, continuing this through the next 10 years or so, making several good friends through it, including my longest-lasting one, my former girlfriend K----, who may visit me this weekend for the second time since I've been out of the hospital. She still plays games 3-4 times a week; I haven't played any since probably around 1999-2000. But it's still in my blood, and I'm actually reading the first Dragonlance series right now, or re-reading it - did I read it before, did I just play some of the modules? It's too wispy in the dim recesses of the brain to be sure. And I saw the first two D&D movies years ago, which were respectively godawful and not very good. So...
Despite the good reviews and comments from some here, I was just about blown away by how awesome this was. Not only did it actually hit most of the notes I'd want as an old-school gamer, not only did it have just about the right balance of humor and seriousness, but it was incredibly well-paced, the action scenes were just the way I like them - intense but fairly short, even the climactic battle, no 45-minute endless slogs here, the photography and art direction were some of the best I've seen in an American genre film in the past few years - colorful and vibrant without being over-the-top, and communicating a world of fantasy and pseudo-medieval earthy splendors that seemed to jump right out of those modules and books from 40 years ago (and later, I suppose). So many of the spells and beasts were familiar to me, and so many of them were used with a real sense of fun or purpose - I liked the way timestop was employed in particular, and I LOVED the use of the owlbear - which my friends and I all used to think was absolutely the stupidest creature in the books - as one of the heroes' saving gambits. The cast was pretty terrific - Chris Pine as the mostly comic (but tortured - just a bit) Bard/Thief, Michelle Rodriguez as the tough no-nonsense Fighter/Barbarian, Regé-Jean Page as the literalist Paladin (I've played with characters EXACTLY like him), Justice Smith as fumbling Mage, and Sophia Lillis as shape-changing Druid. For once the villains were pretty good too - often a weakness in fantasy films, and a lot of action films generally - with Daisy Head cool and merciless as an evil Red Wizard and Hugh Grant as the obvious turncoat, playing-both-sides con-artist. I really can't think of many complaints here; perhaps there was a bit too much of old hoary psychological cliches in the makeup of some of the characters - the only thing to fear is fear itself, you can't live your life in regret, etc, etc, particularly in a scene or two in the second half - but overall this was just an enormous bit of fun, with a real sense of adventure that didn't rely on pure fighting and running and explosions for most of it's length. The most fun such film I can think of since.... shit, I have no idea. Maybe since the 80s, which is the era that certainly was brought back for this old-school AD&D fan.
I do wish we'd gotten to see a Beholder at the end though.
Another new film in the cinema, and the first of 2023 for me. A much more auspicious debut than usual - for the past several years (leaving aside the Lost Years of the Pandemic) I've typically picked some terrible, schlocky-looking action film as the first thing to get me on the board, and it's usually come in February or March. This time I had to wait all the way until May for various reasons, and while this initially looked schlocky and dumb in it's way, the reviews seemed to belie that notion, and when I actually saw it...
First let me give you a brief background of my complicated feelings about Dungeons & Dragons. I first played the game in the late 70s I think - I'm guessing it was either at Thanksgiving or Christmas, 1978 or 79, or possibly 80, at my grandmother's house, with my cousing C---, 5 years younger than me, introducing me and my brother to it, and DMing the game. It's a powerful memory, if indistinct - powerful because it could well have been the last time I saw this cousin - we only ever saw him on these holidays, and not always then, even though he lived there; he and his parents and sister lived on the floor above my grandmother, and they didn't always join the rest of the family for the holiday - sometimes they went to the mother's family. C--- is still alive, as far as I know, but he's been in prison for the last 30 years for killing his mother and attempting to kill his father. Thankfully they didn't blame D&D for it, though they did try to blame drugs and heavy metal music for his aberrant behavior. Anyway I just remember that he used a module, and we did a dungeon crawl, and all the characters were absurdly powerful, with his paladin character having a bunch of artifacts and magical powers that I found later is not usual for such characters. Flash forward a few years and I start playing the game in college in the spring of 1984, and immediately become a fairly serious gamer, continuing this through the next 10 years or so, making several good friends through it, including my longest-lasting one, my former girlfriend K----, who may visit me this weekend for the second time since I've been out of the hospital. She still plays games 3-4 times a week; I haven't played any since probably around 1999-2000. But it's still in my blood, and I'm actually reading the first Dragonlance series right now, or re-reading it - did I read it before, did I just play some of the modules? It's too wispy in the dim recesses of the brain to be sure. And I saw the first two D&D movies years ago, which were respectively godawful and not very good. So...
Despite the good reviews and comments from some here, I was just about blown away by how awesome this was. Not only did it actually hit most of the notes I'd want as an old-school gamer, not only did it have just about the right balance of humor and seriousness, but it was incredibly well-paced, the action scenes were just the way I like them - intense but fairly short, even the climactic battle, no 45-minute endless slogs here, the photography and art direction were some of the best I've seen in an American genre film in the past few years - colorful and vibrant without being over-the-top, and communicating a world of fantasy and pseudo-medieval earthy splendors that seemed to jump right out of those modules and books from 40 years ago (and later, I suppose). So many of the spells and beasts were familiar to me, and so many of them were used with a real sense of fun or purpose - I liked the way timestop was employed in particular, and I LOVED the use of the owlbear - which my friends and I all used to think was absolutely the stupidest creature in the books - as one of the heroes' saving gambits. The cast was pretty terrific - Chris Pine as the mostly comic (but tortured - just a bit) Bard/Thief, Michelle Rodriguez as the tough no-nonsense Fighter/Barbarian, Regé-Jean Page as the literalist Paladin (I've played with characters EXACTLY like him), Justice Smith as fumbling Mage, and Sophia Lillis as shape-changing Druid. For once the villains were pretty good too - often a weakness in fantasy films, and a lot of action films generally - with Daisy Head cool and merciless as an evil Red Wizard and Hugh Grant as the obvious turncoat, playing-both-sides con-artist. I really can't think of many complaints here; perhaps there was a bit too much of old hoary psychological cliches in the makeup of some of the characters - the only thing to fear is fear itself, you can't live your life in regret, etc, etc, particularly in a scene or two in the second half - but overall this was just an enormous bit of fun, with a real sense of adventure that didn't rely on pure fighting and running and explosions for most of it's length. The most fun such film I can think of since.... shit, I have no idea. Maybe since the 80s, which is the era that certainly was brought back for this old-school AD&D fan.
I do wish we'd gotten to see a Beholder at the end though.
It was the truth, vivid and monstrous, that all the while he had waited the wait was itself his portion..
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Good_Will_Harding
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Ahh, glad you enjoyed it! 
And that you felt well enough to go to a theater again.
I didn't post on here immediately after seeing it, but I enjoyed it a fair bit myself, though I don't have the strong emotional connection to the property that you do. Oh, I've played a few games in my time, most recently around 2015-16, but I don't think I was introduced to it at a young enough age for it to resonate fully, though of course I completely understand the appeal and there's even a few coworkers of mine who play it regularly. Anyhow, fun movie, and one of the rare current blockbusters that I wouldn't mind seeing continue into a franchise.
And that you felt well enough to go to a theater again.I didn't post on here immediately after seeing it, but I enjoyed it a fair bit myself, though I don't have the strong emotional connection to the property that you do. Oh, I've played a few games in my time, most recently around 2015-16, but I don't think I was introduced to it at a young enough age for it to resonate fully, though of course I completely understand the appeal and there's even a few coworkers of mine who play it regularly. Anyhow, fun movie, and one of the rare current blockbusters that I wouldn't mind seeing continue into a franchise.
Oh come on, are you going to nag about the current blockbuster landscape ag-OldAle1 wrote: ↑May 3rd, 2023, 12:13 pm Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (John Francis Daley/Jonathan Goldstein)
This time I had to wait all the way until May for various reasons, and while this initially looked schlocky and dumb in it's way, the reviews seemed to belie that notion, and when I actually saw it...
Despite the good reviews and comments from some here,
Oh wow!
Yeah, I just saw D&D yesterday, having no background in that and being rather surprised at the good reviews, and it's just FUN.
If I had to nag, there's maybe a bit too much comedy in two scenes of the film or so (the graveyard), although it's at least funny all the way through, and as always, I think a film such as this works perfect at 1:50h length, not 2:15h. But it's still a mix of adventure, fantasy/effects, comedy and thrill/action which the couple latest Marvel films promised (e.g. Thor 4) and didn't return even in bits, while D&D delivered all the time.
I absolutely agree on the colors, settings - looks brilliant!, and also thought somewhere after the half that I totally would like to see another adventure of this quality, and I am very skeptical about sequels, you know. But .. did the film make "only" 200 million on a 150m budget?
Yeah the box office/budget numbers on D&D are... crazy and depressing. Crazy, because nobody should have ever thought that spending that much money on an untested property (and I'm being generous here - you could say it was "tested" with the earlier schlock films which went nowhere, or even the animated series - which was nearly 40 years ago), given that the fantasy genre as a whole has had mixed box-office success outside of titles that were universally well-known (LOTR, Harry Potter). And depressing because good reviews and word-of-mouth just aren't enough to overcome such a ginormous budget - the younger kids I guess would rather watch Super Mario, and older teens or adults are going to John Wick. Or, of course, just not going to the cinema at all. So in a climate like this care in budgets is more important than ever and I'm afraid the huge amount doled out on this is likely to sink any chance of a sequel, and that's pretty sad says the guy who rarely gives a fuck about sequels at all.
Still, the money is on the screen, and for my own tastes and nostalgia I suppose I'd rather have one really well-done and professional film than a series of cheap corner-cutting products.
Still, the money is on the screen, and for my own tastes and nostalgia I suppose I'd rather have one really well-done and professional film than a series of cheap corner-cutting products.
It was the truth, vivid and monstrous, that all the while he had waited the wait was itself his portion..
Looking forward to Suzume.St. Gloede wrote: ↑April 27th, 2023, 1:31 pm I am not as excited by new Shinkais as I used to be, in part for moving a little closer to Ghibli, but I'm still really looking forward to this one. Thanks for the write-up, OldAle.
Seen Persona but i'm going to apologize because I really prefer movies with a more tangible storyline or plot a lot more, so i'm afraid i won't give points to it next year either. Though good use of cinematography and audio, i'll give it that. Citizen Kane was a much tougher watch for instance because I really couldn't give a damn about that one, while Persona was at the very least interesting, but not the type of film I prefer to watch.
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Good_Will_Harding
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Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3
Before I even get into my thoughts on the film, let me first issue what the young'uns call a "content warning" to all my fellow animal lovers. It's alluded to in the trailers that part of Rocket Raccoon's origin would be explored here, and boy howdy is it ever. My initial impression was that it would be just a prologue or maybe one flashback, but it actually takes up a decent chunk of the runtime here. Off the top of my head, I would say about 1/3 of this film consists of the most innocent, cutest animals a Marvel CGI budget can conjure up, being dismembered and tortured to the tune of the most gothic, funereal musical score this side of the Exorcist films. Don't get me wrong, it's all very effective and does achieve its intended purpose - I just doubt that's what anybody was expecting for the sendoff to the most famously lighthearted Marvel joints, previously beloved by general audiences for their irreverence and lightweight tone.
Anyhow, having said all of that, I actually liked this one quite a bit. I enjoyed the first two as well, but as I mentioned, this one does feature some heavier sections, but also maintains the feel of the previous two as well, mainly due to the very likable ensemble cast of characters. Of course, this does lead to some pretty jarring tonal shifts, but I do appreciate the ambition of some of the larger swings this one takes, in particular an extremely impactful usage of Henry Purcell's "Dido's Lament" from the Opera Dido and Aeneas during a pivotal moment. If anything, this is the first Marvel film to release post-COVID to actually have a soul, a personality, and sense of visual confidence and staging. A tonal grab bag overall, but it's playful, dark, and sweet.
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OldManFaceTattoo
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Watched Crimes and Misdemeanours by Woody Allen. Everyone seems to agree it's one of his best, if not the best (I'd have to put Husbands and Wives at top). I really enjoyed it. Wonderful how much the woodman holds back, not using overly forceful music cues and camera movements to emphasise an emotional beat. Judah gets a call to his house from Dolores and the reaction is completely nonchalant, it leaves so much up to the audience to feel how they want to. I don't feel like films do this anymore, everything I watch in cinemas now feels like a barrage of emotional instruction, not for me. I don't want to be told how to feel.
Loved Sorry to Bother You (2018)! (Yes I'm late to the (block) party))
When I saw that in a theater, it was the final screening before it was pulled and I didn't realize it until later.Torgo wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2023, 11:19 pm Loved Sorry to Bother You (2018)! (Yes I'm late to the (block) party))
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kongs_speech
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I've never seen it.
Based and estrogen pilled (she/her)
First to check CODA (2021)JLG wrote: Photography is truth ... and cinema is truth 24 times a second.
Yeps, it's fun, though I also understand why it never became a bigger hype. (also, why the RT link?)Torgo wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2023, 11:19 pm Loved Sorry to Bother You (2018)! (Yes I'm late to the (block) party))
My Top 925 (2023 Edition) on: Onderhond | ICM | Letterboxd
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outdoorcats
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It's an amazing, criminally underrated film. One of the best films of the decade, IMO.Torgo wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2023, 11:19 pm Loved Sorry to Bother You (2018)! (Yes I'm late to the (block) party))
A lie ain't a 'side of the story.' It's just a lie.
Odd choice, right?
Maybe I didn't like the look of the IMDb score on that page - because, you know, it's the first and foremost parameter for determinating the quality of a film ..
And it just didn't say that much; on rare occasions I also go for a Letterboxd link, or Metacritic. In this case, with the steaming hot & fresh 93%, it gives one many raving reviews to get curious .. or not.
Well, RT means you can get 93% without receiving a single 7/10 or higher. It's a terrible, terrible site.
My Top 925 (2023 Edition) on: Onderhond | ICM | Letterboxd
Yeah that's true, it can lead to VERY questionable scores. But it's practical for giving a collection of short (more or less) 'professional' ~100 character reviews.
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pitchorneirda
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Hyped to be able to go watch the 2nd re-release (and restored version) of Höhenfeuer in a theatre tonight 
"Art is like a fire, it is born from the very thing it burns" - Jean-Luc Godard
The Cabin in the Knocks
M. Night is so easy to hate - and people LOVE doing that - but he's quite the figure. The one true mainstream mystery auteur, so to speak. I somehow even enjoy his worse films while realizing everything that's lacking. (And try not to think too much about all that after the screening
)
Good_Will_Harding wrote: ↑February 3rd, 2023, 3:59 am extremely well polished thriller from one of the few studio filmmakers that's still able to make films solely on their own terms. If nothing else, it works as a pretty tremendous acting showcase for Dave Bautista, who really gets a lot to do here as he's playing against type, and continually proves that he's the most talented from the current crop of wrestlers-turned-actors by a pretty sizable margin.
Yup!
M. Night is so easy to hate - and people LOVE doing that - but he's quite the figure. The one true mainstream mystery auteur, so to speak. I somehow even enjoy his worse films while realizing everything that's lacking. (And try not to think too much about all that after the screening
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Good_Will_Harding
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Spider-Man:
The latest list-topping darling of both IMDB and Letterboxd, the sequel to the 2018 surprise Oscar-winner which I liked (mainly for the animation style and humor) but didn't love like many others seemed to, but even I have to admit that this one tops its predecessor in just about every possible way. Of course, it's expected for sequels to go bigger than whatever came before, although given the multiversal premise of these animated Spidey flicks, that impulse actually feels like the right way to go for this puppy. Therefore the characterizations, concepts, and especially the animation/art styles are all expanded upon here, all of which adds up to a pretty exhilarating and satisfying overall experience. Maybe not something I'd rush to place at the top of every film website's official user-voted top list, but as far as current release blockbusters instantly adorned with rapturous praises, this is at least among the more narratively creative and aesthetically distinct ones.