MovieChat Forums > MinaVladimir > Replies
MinaVladimir's Replies
Vicious Fun (2020) davodikum recommendation
Joel accidentally crashes a serial killer support sesh. Like AA, but for murderers, and they don’t actually want to quit. Good thing Carrie is there to save Joel’s ass, cuz she’s a murderer’s murder see. Carnage ensues, cops are dumb, fun times are had. Evan Marsh was a liiiiiittle too goofy for my liking, did not like his performance one bit. In contrast, Ari Millen gives us the full Canadian Psycho (wink, wink). Maan, he’s great, I loved him in Orphan Black as well. Julian Richings is always great. Is it like a law in Canada that he must be in any horror thing? Because I would support a law like that. Amber Goldfarb as Carrie was standard tough hot chick, very pretty though. I’m a sucker for neon and synths, no complains on that front. Over all, I enjoyed it.
The Tunnel (2011)
A news crew goes into the tunnels under Sydney so investigate just what the hell is happening down there with the homeless people going missing, and a new water recycling plan being scrapped. Turns out there’s something down there, and it’s weird and pissed off, whatever it is. I’m not much of a fan of the Dumb Woman getting everybody killed trope, but besides that, it was a solid faux-cumentary/found footage movie. It took its time setting everything up, it was tense, the performances I thought were good and believable for the most part. Rating – Boo!
...
Becky (2020) SK recommendation
Turns out I _could_ take Kevin James, and so could Becky! Nazies break out of a prison, and invade Becky and Dad’s holiday home looking for a very important Macguffin that does… something. Who cares, a 13 year old girl takes them all out. This is perfect evidence that girls mature faster than boys. I imagined it would have a lighter tone. I liked the second half more, the first was too family drama, surly teen for my liking, and probably killing off Joel McHale helped lol. Lulu Wilson was great in the role, and Kevin James wasn’t half bad. Also, wtf is happening on this movie’s board here? Gross.
The Wrath Of Becky (2023) I recommended this to myself
The Becky Returns. And this time she has trained and prepared to deal with any Nazi life throws her way. She has traps, backpacks, weapons, a boiler suit. She. Is. Prepared. So when plot happens, she goes to stalk a group of would be insurgents, and takes them out, again, one by one. The Macguffin returns, still no idea what it does. This stars Seann William Scott as the main bad guy (kinda), and honestly, much better than Kevin James. Lighter tone, they didn’t make a carbon copy of the first one. Some more fun things in terms of presentation were added. Liked it more than the first one, by a mile.
...
Stigmata (1999)
Mothers mean the best, but sometimes they shouldn’t gift us rosaries bought by shady street merchants containing the angry spirit of a disgruntled Catholic priest in hiding from the Vatican… So Frankie has stigmatas galore to deal with, along with a leaky roof. Good thing she has the help of the OG Hot Priest, Father Andrew (well, I guess the OG Hot Priest would be the guy from Thorn Birds, but you catch my drift). This film has all of the editings, transitions, cuts, jumps, slow-mos, like ever. Soundtrack is SOOOOO 1999. Enrico Colantoni made a CHOICE with that accent. Features Pope Francis, back in his Cardinal years, in a very prominent role (I can’t be the only one that thinks Pope Francis and Jonathan Pryce look very alike). 13 year old me thought this movie was the coolest back in the day, now… idk. It is very much a film fully of its era style-wise - the editing, the music, the costumes. I think I like the second half of it better now, with the conspiracy to maintain the status quo of the Church and not make known to the world the supposedly containing the true words of Christ texts. All the stigmata things are a little dated now in terms of how they were edited/shot/etc. imo. Rating - 4 bleeding wounds and kiss from a priest.
The Hot Flashes (2013)
Beth f*cked up with some paperwork, and now has to assemble a ragtag team of middle-aged, menopausal women to help raise money for the towns mobile mammogram unit, by playing 3 games of basketball against a bunch of teen girls. Gift of gabs, obstacles and overcoming insecurities happen. This almost fell into the Hallmark TV Movie category, but managed to stay just above the line. Except for Eric Robert’s performance, that was pure TV Movie acting. Surprisingly well known cast, typical underdog sports thing movie story. It was fun for the most part, perfectly serviceable, but not great by any means. Still, I had a good time and I’m not mad I saw it. Rating – Ladies, go for your annual check-up.
..
Was sick last week, lots of time to watch MOVIES!
Ginger Snaps is a favourite. I think I was around the age of the characters when I first saw it, and re-watch it every few years. I don't know what you're talking about with their look, it was fine lol, they were weirdos, and that's why I liked them haha. If you're interested, the is a sequel - Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed, _and_ a prequel - Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning. The second one follows Brigitte, and it's also worth a watch imo - same werewolf, different metaphor. For the third one they go back to old time-y times, I don't remember much about it, except it was set in a fort...
One from the Heart(1981)
Didn’t catch the beginning of this one (as I oft do when watching TV), but apparently it was a 2003 restoration. Hank and Frannie are very cranky with each other and explore other potential relationship avenues, on a night in Las Vegas, soundtracked by Tom Waits and his very distinctive voice. This is the summary from IMDB, and are they copying my style?: “A couple has a fight after living together 5 years in Las Vegas. They go out and celebrate 4th of July, each with a new partner. Breakup?”… Breakup? Lol. Aaanyway, Google says this wasn’t well received at time of release. And I can see how it wouldn’t be, cuz it’s weird. I didn’t much care to the main characters, though the performances weren’t bad, but I enjoyed the supporting cast more. Now, this film is visually stunning, so interesting, so many inventive shots and cinematographies. Shot I believe almost entirely on a sound stage and it gives it a real fantasy like quality. As I mentioned, the soundtrack is by Tom Waits, with whose music I am not super familiar, and it’s a bit droning, but at the same time kinda works and contributes to the atmosphere, I can’t tell if I liked it or not haha. Just for the visuals it’s worth a watch in my opinion.
...
Peak Carpenter aged well, he does have some stinkers in his filmography though.
Box office isn't indicative of quality, just of what the majority of the average viewer goes out to see (but as Studios are businesses, they care about the money obviously). Same as those Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB ratings imo (but that's another topic altogether).
Maybe his movies were just weird enough not to be able to attract a large audience at time of release. Probably marketing, release dates and distribution play a role. I was always under the impression that he was more of a cult guy, not really a mainstream guy (maybe I'm wrong).
Home video, cable, and now streaming are probably large contributors for his longevity. When I was growing up we had a VHS of Starman, I remember seeing Prince of Darkness and Escape from L.A on cable (L.A. was on all of the time, and everytime I'd watch it, and it was the coolest when I was 11/12 lol). As time went on, I liked his style, I sought more of his stuff. Some are faves, some I don't care for all that much.
I honestly think he's a niche filmmaker, mostly liked and praised by movie people. And a lot of his movies are on the cynical side, which... most people might like more optimism and happy happy feelings in their movies.
I don't know what his feelings are about his movies finding their audience as time goes by, but I think he would've liked if they _were_ more financially successful, because that would've brought more opportunities and bigger budgets. The man never did get to make his Western :(
Can you share what your exact issue with make up is? Not what scientists say, or how women wear various amounts of it for various occasions, or what better does or doesn't mean. What *your* precise issue is with it.
As well as, do men by and large like women who wear heavy make up more or less than women who don't?
It must have been a different cut. I watched this on Amazon, and Sheen extinguishes his cigarette in the hamster, throws it in the fireplace (the hamster that is) and then says it bit him.
I wonder if the cut you saw also removed the nude scene that was supposed to be Foster.
I mean, she should've locked the door, yes.
But considering what she had in the cellar for half the film, calling the cops would've been just as dumb.
Plus, she had a lifetime supply of cyanide and almond cookies to deal with anyone who dared walk through that door.
I didn't really know what this movie was about when I clicked Play, and oh boy, I was ready to stop it from that first scene, because he was so very creepy. I physically balled up.
I'm glad I didn't stop it, because it was an interesting watch, but man, the 70s were something else, weren't they!
Both Sheen and Alexis Smith were abominable. Great performances, top tier creeps.
Wtf is "lesbian makeup" and what's its role? lol
I actually think I enjoyed this one more than the original! It's rare that a sequel maintains the quality or even surpasses it!
❤️
I missed writing these little pieces of non-sense, glad you like them!
I might have a surprise for this week's thread too!
This fall, in theaters near you, Timothée Chalamet and Dame Judi Dench* in... Good Looking Man.
I'd like to know how you'd work the obligatory feature (for nostalgic purposes) of *the dress* in this film.
But hey, if they managed to make Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, I'm sure a Pretty Woman gender swap cound have a chance.
*I know she's 88.
Have not seen it. IDK if I can handle both Joel McHale _and_ Kevin James, but I might give it a watch.
And I saw on the IMDB that it has a sequel, The Wrath of Becky. Double feature maybe?
I haven't seen it, but it looks good! I'm always on the look-out for a good horror comedy.
IDK what a clonkerdunker is, but it sounds fun!
The Purge 1 is the biggest waste of potential I've witnessed in recent years. I know I've seen the second one too, but I have literally no memory of any of it. I recently saw the The First Purge was on one of the streaming things, desided to give it a try, watched 5 mins, remembered I've seen it, and turned it off.
No One Will Save You(2023)
Brynn goes about her life, being the town’s shunned person/recluse, and then aliens happen, a lot. No dialogue in this one, which is an interesting concept, but it did feel a little gimmicky. And no speaking means a lot of very audible breathing and just general people sounds, which I got tired of fairly quickly. The story was told well, that the lack of verbal exposition wasn’t really needed (film is, after all, a visual art). It did get a bit repetitive towards the end too. But, acting was fine, it was shot well, the aliens were the standard Grays, but there was some variation between the different “guys” and I liked the designs, and especially the sounds _they_ made. They main character wasn’t passive, even if she didn’t use that damn knife she used to chop peppers with, to defend herself from an alien! A little bit of Signs, a little bit of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a little bit of Stepford Wives-ish. Rating – 6/12 Owls.
Saint Maud (2019)
Maud is hot for God. No, really. She starts work as carer for a dying dancer, and finds her purpose, which is to save this woman’s soul. She gets a bit crazy, and things end badly. I’d say it’s a better all around film that NOWSY. I enjoyed the performances, the story. But I’ll have to re-watch sometime, because I got a bit distracted after the mid-point. A thumb up.
Both feature a character named Maud/e, and both feature main characters with a dark past. Uuuh, a theme.
Did also see the first 3 and a half episodes of the new AHS. Boring.
I hope you'll enjoy it more too!
But if you don't, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, The Final Girls or Freaky are all excellent imo, if you're in the mood for slashy horror comedy.
...
Plan 75 (2022)
Hey old people, forget about enjoying your twilight years, why not euthanasia? In the near future Japan introduces a new policy, where anyone over 75 can voluntarily be euthanized, in order to deal with the problem of an ageing society. It was certainly a film that gives some food for thought. I am not Japanese, so I don’t know if the film would be viewed differently if I was of that culture, but it was a somewhat sad watch. The main elder heroine was still working at 78 (I think) and through happen stance has little choice but to enter the “campaign”. And it makes you wonder, is this an actual future my generation would face, as Europe also has an ageing population. IDK, I liked it, even if it threw me into an existential crisis for a day or two. There are also two other characters that we follow, with their own journeys. I think it’s a recommend from me.
Yo! Better late that never lol
None of yours this week for me, SK.
Hair (1979)
A bunch of hippies jump around New York singing about their horoscope and how they have a butt. I didn’t enjoy some parts of the film as much this time around, but I did enjoy still a large percentage of the songs. The ending, yet again, broke my heart. Lots of movies have sad endings, but this one is seared in my brain forever. And it just dawned on me this time around that not only did Berger go to war by mistake, but he also had 0% training. Anyway, I liked that Forman put the scenes in the real world instead of on a sound stage, and made me miss the days where filmmakers would put actual extras in their movies, instead of CGI crowds. There were so many people in this film!
Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
Katnip is back at it with the love triangles and burning gowns and murders in an arena filled with creatures (and people) with silly names. Like the first one, but with monkeys. It’s ok, I wasn’t offended by it. Jena Malone is always a pleasure to watch. But oh boy, if Hair was lots of real people, in the real world, this was a very sharp contrast in that regard. Also, why were we so into braids in the 2010s?
Totally Killer (2023)
A modern teen is transported to the 80s to try to stop a slash-y killer from killing everyone and her mom. Eeeerm, nope, did not like it, did not have fun. Watch Freaky instead.
Ennio (2021)
Didn’t catch the beginning, but it was an informative film about the career, work and influence of Ennio Morricone. Pretty standard format of interviews, and photos/movie clips. I enjoyed it.
...
I don't think being a girl is the biggest issue haha. 9 PM EST is 4 AM EET. A little early for me, I have to be honest haha.