What film did you watch last night?

[AndyRM]

Knowing. 3/10.

A mashed together disaster featuring the Nicholas Cage in full am-dram mode. It's a bit like The Number 13 crossed with Mothman Prophecies seen through the eyes of Shyamalan. That is to say, confused and very poor. I added a point for the unintentional laughs.

I will never understand how Cage is capable of genuine quality (Lord of War, The Rock, 8MM, Face/Off, Con Air, National Treasure, Bad Lieutenant, Adaptation, The Weather Man) and yet still appear in cinematic atrocities (Wickerman is all I need to say here).

 

[benb]

I will never understand how Cage is capable of genuine quality (Lord of War, The Rock, 8MM, Face/Off, Con Air, National Treasure, Bad Lieutenant, Adaptation, The Weather Man) and yet still appear in cinematic atrocities (Wickerman is all I need to say here).

How could you omit Leaving Las Vegas from that list?

Sometimes a film will look great on script, and then turn out to be cack.

 

[AndyRM]

How could you omit Leaving Las Vegas from that list?

Sometimes a film will look great on script, and then turn out to be cack.

I forgot about Kick Ass as well.

I take your point about a script, but I cannot imagine that anyone involved with Wickerman looked at it and thought it would turn out well. Or Ghost Rider. Or Windtalkers. Or Bangkok Dangerous. I could go on...

 

[benb]

I forgot about Kick Ass as well.

I take your point about a script, but I cannot imagine that anyone involved with Wickerman looked at it and thought it would turn out well. Or Ghost Rider. Or Windtalkers. Or Bangkok Dangerous. I could go on...

Some of those probably suffer from studio-driven rewrites during filming. Some of them have a good core idea, but badly written and badly executed.

I'm not surprised crap films like that are made, but I do agree that it's odd that good actors take roles in films that are obviously going to be crap.

 

[AndyRM]

Some of those probably suffer from studio-driven rewrites during filming. Some of them have a good core idea, but badly written and badly executed.

I'm not surprised crap films like that are made, but I do agree that it's odd that good actors take roles in films that are obviously going to be crap.

True. I read Bruce Campbell's autobiography last week and there was a bit devoted to how a studio totally butchered the Raimi/Coen effort Crimewave. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as I've had people over my head introduce baffling ideas into my life as a graphic designer.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I will never understand how Cage is capable of genuine quality (Lord of War, The Rock, 8MM, Face/Off, Con Air, National Treasure, Bad Lieutenant, Adaptation, The Weather Man) and yet still appear in cinematic atrocities (Wickerman is all I need to say here).

The Coen brothers Raising Arizona is also worth a mention. Cage's best fim IMVHO, helped having a superb cast, the chemistry between Cage and Holly Hunter was excellent.

 

[welsh dragon]

I have just watched the 3rd installment of the Alien films. Ife come to the conclusion that I havnt seen any of them. Its beginning to get boring now. Im getting the hang of it. They all end and start the same way. Rather predictable

 

[swee'pea99]

Dirty Harry. Do you feel lucky, punk?

 

[Gravity Aided]

I have just watched the 3rd installment of the Alien films. Ife come to the conclusion that I havnt seen any of them. Its beginning to get boring now. Im getting the hang of it. They all end and start the same way. Rather predictable

The second one was the only sequel I really liked from that series. James Cameron got a lot out of that project. I almost liked it better than Ridley Scotts' first in the series, but that one was great also. And suspense in the first film was built a lot better due to the unknown nature of the menace. I just saw Aliens again on Sunday.

 

[AndyRM]

I have just watched the 3rd installment of the Alien films. Ife come to the conclusion that I havnt seen any of them. Its beginning to get boring now. Im getting the hang of it. They all end and start the same way. Rather predictable

You should have stopped after Aliens. For the love of all that is unholy, don't bother with Resurrection. Or the mash up with Predator.

 

[John the Monkey]

You should have stopped after Aliens. For the love of all that is unholy, don't bother with Resurrection. Or the mash up with Predator.

Although Alien vs Predator is superb compared to Alien vs Predator Requiem. And as for Predators, eurgh.

Aliens works, I think, because Cameron realised that retreading the suspense ground covered by the first wouldn't work - essentially, he made an action film that happened to have Giger's creatures in it.

The following films, even Resurrection, have interesting ideas in them, and some likeable bits, but seem to have suffered from the success of the first two (and in the case of Alien 3, certainly) a degree of risk aversion on the part of the studio, as well as unrealistic release schedules.

 

[John the Monkey]

Anyway, "The Billion Dollar Brain" - very '60s, but pretty enjoyable.

 

[Crackle]

Man On a Ledge - Terrible

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Part of (the first Chris Hemsworth) 'Thor' again

It was an effort to start to explain Norse mythology to my daughter, however it was spoilt by;

1. SWMBO asking what was happening/who was?..../what is that????.......
2. Mother-in-law say "Ooh isn't it great/brilliant!" (in a sarcastic voice all way through, despite her enjoying an equally fantastical James Bond film or two)


I gave up, & went down into the basement TV room to watch M*A*S*H instead

 

[John the Monkey]

Part of (the first Chris Hemsworth) 'Thor' again

Shame the audience were unappreciative, as I think it's one of the more enjoyable Marvel adaptations, really good fun.