NOW CLOSED ; List some movies you've watched recently. Theatre, rental, TV... and give a */10

Page 937 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Status
Not open for further replies.

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
18,659
11,412
136
The Equalizer (2014)

File it under 'John Wick', ie. assassin with supposedly not superhuman abilities but seems to have them anyway goes on some kind of rampage for whatever reason. This movie is a bit more overblown with regard to the protagonist's abilities than John Wick 1. The protagonist has an odd tendency to pick inefficient tools for the job for no apparent reason when more efficient tools are available. I guess it's meant to give him more of a "I'll kill you with my teacup" feel, but I wasn't particularly sold on it. It's watchable though IMO, but I prefer JW1.

I liked the main antagonist in this one, ie. I thought the actor did a good job with the role.

The Equalizer 2 (2019)

I thought this film was better than its predecessor. It focused more on character background and less on superhuman fisticuffs (while still being in the same category as the first film). I thought the antagonist could have been either better acted or more fleshed out though, the performance seemed a bit wooden.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,316
10,814
136
Does that video need a spoiler tag? I don't want to watch it and find out that it does :)

It almost 100% certainly does. :confused:

As a general rule if I'm interested in paying to see a movie (freaking rare these days!) I make it a point to watch zero YT video's about it until afterwards.

Problem is that even if those vids promise "no spoilers", giving away even "small" plot-details like showing a character alive at a certain point in the storyline or an otherwise innocuous piece of dialogue can prove to be HUGE ones!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muse

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
38,494
8,764
136
It almost 100% certainly does. :confused:

As a general rule if I'm interested in paying to see a movie (freaking rare these days!) I make it a point to watch zero YT video's about it until afterwards.

Problem is that even if those vids promise "no spoilers", giving away even "small" plot-details like showing a character alive at a certain point in the storyline or an otherwise innocuous piece of dialogue can prove to be HUGE ones!
I NEVER watch even a trailer unless I've seen the movie already. Makes deciding whether to see a movie something of a mystical experience. I have to go on hunches. I'm not averse to trying the first 10-20 minutes and gauging my reaction with the proverbial finger on the eject button. That's worked out for me lots of times, I believe. There are movies I've intended to revisit, partially or totally seen, many of which I haven't followed up on yet. Like the saying goes, "you can do anything but you can't do everything."
 
Last edited:

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,782
2,284
126
i think it's generally hard to spoil a film. Even if you say
"greaty scene when Boromir dies"
that spoils absolutely zero of the film. It's not a surprise when it happens, there's no different appreciation for the character's initial behaviour knowing he will die.

Ofc if you say
"he was a ghost all along, thats why he never touches anyone"
the you are being a dick.

Or
"who knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father"

It's the secrets you must not reveal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: igor_kavinski

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
18,659
11,412
136
i think it's generally hard to spoil a film. Even if you say
"greaty scene when Boromir dies"
that spoils absolutely zero of the film. It's not a surprise when it happens, there's no different appreciation for the character's initial behaviour knowing he will die.

Ofc if you say
"he was a ghost all along, thats why he never touches anyone"
the you are being a dick.

Or
"who knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father"

It's the secrets you must not reveal.

If you know that a character dies in the first of three movies, then you know that their role in the story is mostly or completely inconsequential. Therefore, for a first-time viewer foreknowing Boromir dies, there's no interest/anticipation of where the story might go with that character. The first-time viewer therefore loses a positive aspect of film viewing as a result.

I'm really not a fan of saying "it's ok to spoil x but not y" and trying to rationalise what's a 'secret' and what's a non-key plot point. It's based on an assumption of what everyone else might enjoy about a movie, what they might assume will happen (or not at all expect) based on past experience with fictional material. It's also potentially highly debatable whether say dropping Darth Vader being Luke's father to a newbie will actually affect their enjoyment of a film. From my personal experience for example, there's a film called 'The Sixth Sense' where learning what you might call a 'secret' makes me utterly uninterested in watching the film a second time because IMO the film lacks anything beyond the surprise of the 'secret'. However, 'The Empire Strikes Back' IMO is not at all spoiled, I have seen it many times. One could go one further and ask who on this planet could possibly see ESB for the first time without that point already being spoiled, but the fact of the matter is, there will always be someone's first time in the future.

'The Sixth Sense' is the film that makes me feel a little conflicted about reviewing a film and mentioning it has a twist, let alone actual content.

IMO, don't spoil anything, no matter how old the film is. There are some exceptions like ESB where popular culture has spoiled it millions of times over, but IMO it's a good general rule. Otherwise people start rationalising along the lines of "oh, this film is x years old, everyone has seen it", where x is reliant on the person's definition of 'ancient'. Is the person 95 or 15?

The only other facet that makes me feel conflicted about dropping a potential spoiler is that sometimes revealing an interesting plot element in advance becomes the reason why someone wants to see that film for the first time. Film trailers are an obvious example of this done well, and yet sometimes film trailers do a very poor job of this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muse

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,316
10,814
136
i think it's generally hard to spoil a film. Even if you say
"greaty scene when Boromir dies"
that spoils absolutely zero of the film. It's not a surprise when it happens, there's no different appreciation for the character's initial behaviour knowing he will die.

Ofc if you say
"he was a ghost all along, thats why he never touches anyone"
the you are being a dick.

Or
"who knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father"

It's the secrets you must not reveal.


You sound like my buddy who feels like he's able to filter out story-critical plot details from movies .... newsflash: he's not. (and neither are you)

I've reached the point where when he opens his mouth regarding a movie I plan to see, I abruptly shut him right down.

If you watch a lot of YT vids for a movie, you will have likely watched nearly EVERY "key" scene multiple times prior to even setting foot in the theater.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muse

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,782
2,284
126
i love you both, even if you are dumb.

1. telling someone that the minions are going to say BANANA a lot
2. telling someone that kevin spacey is really Keiser Soze

See, in one of these two, you, the viewer, is under a false impression, because the film specifically wants you to be. When Sixth Sense (which, funny enough, i have never watched) shows you Bruce Willis Bruce Willis doing stuff, the film is actively trying to deceive you into believing something which is then, at a later time, used as a platform to surprise you by providing a plot twist.

I understand that you don't feel this way but, taken to a logical conclusion, one of us is wrong. I'm not the one setting himself up in a situation where literally anything could be construed as a spoiler. Sharkando is a story about sharks and tornadoes OH NO, on no, noo DigDog why, WHY DID YOU have to spoil that Sharknado is a story about SHARKS and torNADOes. You really ruined my life.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,316
10,814
136
i love you both, even if you are dumb.

1. telling someone that the minions are going to say BANANA a lot
2. telling someone that kevin spacey is really Keiser Soze

See, in one of these two, you, the viewer, is under a false impression, because the film specifically wants you to be. When Sixth Sense (which, funny enough, i have never watched) shows you Bruce Willis Bruce Willis doing stuff, the film is actively trying to deceive you into believing something which is then, at a later time, used as a platform to surprise you by providing a plot twist.

I understand that you don't feel this way but, taken to a logical conclusion, one of us is wrong. I'm not the one setting himself up in a situation where literally anything could be construed as a spoiler. Sharkando is a story about sharks and tornadoes OH NO, on no, noo DigDog why, WHY DID YOU have to spoil that Sharknado is a story about SHARKS and torNADOes. You really ruined my life.


IF you've never read Lord of the Rings, being told that Boromir dies in the movie is 1000% a MAJOR spoiler.

A "spoiler" is ANYTHING that gives away part of the story in advance thus "spoiling" the experience.

That other stuff you mentioned above does NOT count as a "spoiler" since it's all blatantly obvious -OR- not of significant importance to the plot.


EDIT: Note I didn't call YOU dumb... you took care of that on your own. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muse

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
18,659
11,412
136
i love you both, even if you are dumb.

1. telling someone that the minions are going to say BANANA a lot
2. telling someone that kevin spacey is really Keiser Soze

See, in one of these two, you, the viewer, is under a false impression, because the film specifically wants you to be. When Sixth Sense (which, funny enough, i have never watched) shows you Bruce Willis Bruce Willis doing stuff, the film is actively trying to deceive you into believing something which is then, at a later time, used as a platform to surprise you by providing a plot twist.

I understand that you don't feel this way but, taken to a logical conclusion, one of us is wrong. I'm not the one setting himself up in a situation where literally anything could be construed as a spoiler. Sharkando is a story about sharks and tornadoes OH NO, on no, noo DigDog why, WHY DID YOU have to spoil that Sharknado is a story about SHARKS and torNADOes. You really ruined my life.

For someone who accepts that dropping spoilers is bad and being a dick is bad, you seem to have arrived at the conclusion of "but what if I could drop spoilers AND be a dick?". Enjoy your serving of reducio ad absurdum.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Captante

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 1+2) 9/10

Whole season 1 released today. Binging...

This is the new series on Netflix based on the DC comic series from the 90s.
Many many many years people have tried to put it on the screen and finally succeeded.

Great sfx and imagery.
Like the curveball the creators threw at the audience at the end of ep 1.
hm... Constantine is female in this show.
I guess the tiny Gargoyle is the power left over unspent?

Would be 10/10 if the show explained how Dream's gear can extend one's life?
 
Last edited:

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 1+2) 9/10

Whole season 1 released today. Binging...

This is the new series on Netflix based on the DC comic series from the 90s.
Many many many years people have tried to put it on the screen and finally succeeded.

Great sfx and imagery.
Like the curveball the creators threw at the audience at the end of ep 1.
hm... Constantine is female in this show.
I guess the tiny Gargoyle is the power left over unspent?

Would be 10/10 if the show explained how Dream's gear can extend one's life?
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 3+4) 7/10

Ok, the show is starting to show it's cracks. ie: Plot holes
Why wont the Amulet of Protection extend his life him like hers?

She wasted away like Sand was meth.
But if Sand was the only reason why she was still alive, then how did she pay her rent if she was high on Dreams all the time?
Or was Sand left at her place only recently?

wait.. if she was wasting away/incapacitated in bed, then who let Constantine in?

Like i said, plot holes...

And his new sidekick is annoying.
Besides, the show already has Able as comedy relief.

The battle in Hell was stupid...
 
Last edited:

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 3+4) 7/10

Ok, the show is starting to show it's cracks. ie: Plot holes
Why wont the Amulet of Protection extend his life him like hers?

She wasted away like Sand was meth.
But if Sand was the only reason why she was still alive, then how did she pay her rent if she was high on Dreams all the time?
Or was Sand left at her place only recently?

wait.. if she was wasting away/incapacitated in bed, then who let Constantine in?

Like i said, plot holes...

And his new sidekick is annoying.
Besides, the show already has Able as comedy relief.

The battle in Hell was stupid...
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 5) 4/10

WTF is this mess?
Also, this feels like a good point to end the season.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 5) 4/10

WTF is this mess?
Also, this feels like a good point to end the season.
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 6) 6/10

Interesting.. no more action.
Now it's just metaphysical bs.
Death incarnate talking her brother, Dream, while on Earth walking among the humans.

And what was the point of Death's experiment that's still on going?
Metaphysical beings have feelings?

Also, another of Dream's sisters is plotting against him?!

Beginning last eps, This series has taken a turn to the cerebral.
As if another director took over and did an abrupt change to the direction of the series.
Maybe this was how it was in the comics?

And what happened to the nightmare guy with dark glasses?
Figured he would have shown up last eps to helping that guy kill Dream.

but nope..
spend time developing this character only to be MIA in the conclusion of the Symbols of Power arc.
 
Jul 27, 2020
20,040
13,737
146
Bullet train 6.5/10

They spend way too much time explaining the motives/backstories of the characters. Parts of the movie feel slow as molasses. But action is good. There is quirky humor. Some cameos. Decent visual effects.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 6) 6/10

Interesting.. no more action.
Now it's just metaphysical bs.
Death incarnate talking her brother, Dream, while on Earth walking among the humans.

And what was the point of Death's experiment that's still on going?
Metaphysical beings have feelings?

Also, another of Dream's sisters is plotting against him?!

Beginning last eps, This series has taken a turn to the cerebral.
As if another director took over and did an abrupt change to the direction of the series.
Maybe this was how it was in the comics?

And what happened to the nightmare guy with dark glasses?
Figured he would have shown up last eps to helping that guy kill Dream.

but nope..
spend time developing this character only to be MIA in the conclusion of the Symbols of Power arc.
Sandman, Season 1 (eps 7-10) 8/10

This series is all over the place.
Now it's campy with a serial killer convention under the moniker of Cereal convention.

Reminds me of the old Cereal killer meme:
1659839583987.png

Anyway, the remainder of the season was decent.
The only major flaw was Dream being mad at Lucienne and reminding her that her duties is the Library.

Made no sense why he would chastise her.
seems forced to move the plot along, and sloppily done.

Don't understand Desire's desire to hurt her brother.
More background on her hatred for him is definitely needed for Season 2
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,736
126
Bullet train 6.5/10

They spend way too much time explaining the motives/backstories of the characters. Parts of the movie feel slow as molasses. But action is good. There is quirky humor. Some cameos. Decent visual effects.
thx.
trailer looked good.

guess i wont waste my time
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,014
3,179
136
The Bank Job (2008) 10/10 with Jason Statham

There's also Saffron Burrows. She looks so familiar but I don't think I've ever heard that name before. Good at keeping her private life private I suppose. Good for her.

Really good movie. Lots of tension throughout and a mostly happy ending (no, not that kind). It's hard to believe this is really based on a true story but now I'm starting to see what all the fuss about the "royals" is. In the epilog, it seems at least one of the deaths actually happen. It was a bit inartful in the way it merged the various story arcs. It probably should have been a longer movie. And it may well have been. I watched on tv so who knows how much they cut.
 

Charmonium

Lifer
May 15, 2015
10,014
3,179
136
Cowboys and Aliens (2011) with Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde - 7/10

From the title, you'd probably expect some sort of scifi spoof like maybe Spaceballs. But nope. They are dead serious about making this a scifi drama. And they do a decent job of pulling that off. It's a legit Western with aliens. Bit of a slow start but it gradually develops into a pretty good shoot 'em up. The aliens make a very satisfying splat.

There are also a bunch of other actors you'll recognize like Keith Carradine, Abigail Spencer, etc. So the acting is quite good - sometimes a bit too good for certain contexts. I really think it might have been better if they'd thrown a few bones to the 4th wall - but maybe not.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.