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The Last Movie(s) You Watched... (quick one or two sentence reviews)

mnkykungfu

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Not strictly a "movie", though it feels basically like watching the movie series "Lone Wolf and Cub":
The Mandalorian (2019)
S1 runs about 4h50m and S2 is about 5h20m, so it's about the same length as the 6 Lone Wolf and Cub films. The story also feels like it ends here, or it could anyway. LW+C claimed the Western for Asia and did it in an inventive, gory way you could dig into. Mando claims the genre back and adds more humor and pathos. The best Star Wars since Rebels.

Also not a "movie", though it's related:
Forky Asks a Question: What is 'Love'? (2019)
You know Forky if you watched Toy Story 4, and this series of shorts was made to help promote both that and Disney's new streaming platform. I found them generally well-written and fun, and this one in particular is a masterpiece with a phenomenal cast. More here.

Finally, a holdover from Easter films:
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
I'm on record as being a Scorsese cynic, and I responded to this film about as well as audiences back in '88. I had a lot of fun writing it up as a confession though.
 

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Godzilla vs Kong (2021) Not bad, not great. Lots of good CGI and of course the kaiju fights. There is an attempt at more of a plot and it works, but it's still mostly to get to the fights. I don't know if it's a commentary on the movie or my chosen viewing times (after logging off work), but I kept dozing off watching, I must have watched a few segments 3 times.
 

mnkykungfu

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Three about old people:

Dick Johnson is Dead (2020)
Unlike pretty much every other Letterboxd review I've written, zero people have liked this. Which I take to mean zero people appreciated my take on it: "The real documentary bits between father and loved ones are powerful. The rest of it: so-so." See my least-liked review here.

I Care a Lot (2020)
Directed with a lot of confidence and flair, but like Pete Davidson, all that big D energy is covering up a train-wreck that's best to stay away from. Full thoughts here.

Let Him Go (2020)
Was expecting this to be "Ma and Pa Kent go all Tombstone on the Hatfields", but turns out if you add up the screen time, it's a lot more of "Ma and Pa Kent being old ranch-hands who suffer quietly and worry a lot". Which, hey, I'd watch Lane and Costner read the newspaper over breakfast, but I'm not sure if that justifies the rental fee. Full thoughts here.
 

mnkykungfu

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Apollo 11 (2019)
You really just have to see this on a big TV/projector/screen. The restored visuals of the original moon landing are phenomenal. Full review.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Watched Bobson's Star-Spangled Edit, which was quite good, as always. I left a review for that on its page, but I expound on my love for this film in general here.

Soul (2020)
Yeah, that's right, this is my lowest-rated of these three films. It's not a bad movie, but "lesser Pixar" for me. All the reasons why here.
 

mnkykungfu

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The General (1926)
Why should it be such a controversial statement to say that film has grown considerably in the last 100 years? Yet some people insist on holding this up like it's as good as any modern 5-star film. Sorry, it's just not that compelling.

Making a Killing (2016)
A documentary from Brave New Films, a non-profit organization that releases their films for free. Though most of them tend to feel like 1-hour TV specials, this one is a bit better due to the heartfelt interviews. It's centered around why no substantive restrictions have come on US gun law in nearly 100 years (hint: money, for one.) Full review.

The New Mutants (2020)
This one got really unfairly s**t on due to built up expectations, as it hits a pretty sweet spot between DC darkness and Marvel laughs that not many comic books films do. Also successfully introduces a whole new team of characters in literally 1/3 the runtime of Zack Snyder's Justice League. Not a full blown Horror movie, though some parts creeped me out more than most of those do. Full review here.
 

mnkykungfu

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MST3K: The Movie (1996)
Watched the Extended Edition fanedit by The Butcher. If you love the original, it's good for a rewatch. Thoughts on the film itself are here.

Silent Hill (2006)
Watched the Restless Dreams fanedit by Aztek463. For me, it was an imperfect vision of the film, but much improved. There's a lot to dig into, which I did in full here.

The Endless (2017)
I didn't know this was essentially a sequel to Resolution (2012), but I enjoyed it on its own. More properly called Sci-Fi or Drama rather than Horror, this was less flashy than Vast of Night, but much better structured in my opinion. Full review here.
 

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watching cast away for the first time.
waiting for the part where tom hanks discovers the cannibals. or vice versa.
 

mnkykungfu

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Hamilton (2020)
Several factors interfered with me being able to really enjoy this:
1. I kept thinking "how does this qualify as a movie?"
2. I couldn't agree with all the praise for the two lead performances (supporting cast was great)
3. I couldn't get into most of the music
4. I was really turned off by the twisting of history and presenting it as if teaching the audience. Full gripes here.

Fire and Ice (1983)
Like an animated barbarian Dark Crystal, this really holds up as a kind of lost Savage Sword of Conan tale. Yup, I rated it higher than Hamilton, that's how cool I am.

Take Shelter (2011)
Just about as good as its stunning reputation, this is a film best to watch without knowing much. I spent half the film wondering if I was watching a younger Bryce Dallas Howard or a younger Jessica Chastain. (She was great, whoever she was.) Full review.
 

Elby

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Justice Society: World War II (2021)
Having been a fan od the DC animated films this one did not disappoint, for sure if you are a lover of The Flash. While sad they "rebooted" their animated universe this third film in their new start is a fantastic edition.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Kind of a long title but if you are a fan of the series this is a direct continuation, but can be watched solo. Pretty much other than a few brief moments of rest solid action with a few heartstrings being pulled. The animation was amazingly done.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
In my opinion of the best movies the shaw brothers ever made. While a simple revenge story it plays up to its strength, the training and action. I am not sure there will be many lovers of these old HK movies here, but if I had to recommend one, it would be this.
 
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mnkykungfu

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^The 36th Chamber is probably in the top 10 old skool HK films of all time, top 20 for sure. Respect.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
I revisited this via Bobson Dugnutt's "Defrosted Edition", which makes small but appreciated changes. Like The Empire Strikes Back, it's a near perfect film that capitalizes on all the exposition of the first and moves directly into deeper, more character-driven conflicts. I loved it so much, I wrote up an article here.

Boss Level (2021)
A B-level actioner with A-level talent, this ends up being far better than it had any right to be, especially as about the 6th time loop film in the past two years.
The title sucks because the actual "boss level" is not the real climax...Mel Gibson is great here but is a little underused. However, this was honestly probably the 3rd or 4th most enjoyable film I saw this past year, and certainly one I'll rewatch more than any of the Oscar noms. Full review.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
This viewing was of The Scribbling Man's "Scribbling Cut", which is a fairly conservative edit but a shelf replacer. Overall it's still a very uneven film for me though, and far from what I'd call "essential Hitchcock". For uber-fans, more reasons why here.
 

mnkykungfu

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Building Empire (2006)
Of course I had to watch something Star Wars-y for May 4th. This blurs the line between video essay, commentary track, and documentary, and is a great way to rewatch The Empire Strikes Back for fans. More thoughts and link to view it here.

True Romance (1993)
My 2nd favorite Tarantino film, now with more Tarantino! This rewatch was the old fanedit "The Quentin Tarantino Cut" which, long story short, I really dug the alternate chronology of, but some of the extended scenes and especially the ending didn't work for me. More thoughts on the film and Tarantino here.

Coming 2 America (2021)
Big surprise: this doesn't live up to the original, one of the greatest comedies of all time. Now if you want to judge it fairly instead of holding it to that standard, there's a lot of good in it, although "Coming 2 Zamunda" would've been a far more appropriate title. More thoughts here.
 

The Scribbling Man

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Taffin (1988)
Pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan does barely-action hero style things in a small town in Ireland. Pretty dull.

Lifeforce (1985)
Naked female space-vampire drains energy from unsuspecting Brits. Featuring Jean-Luc Picard. Fun, but stupid.

Star Wars (1977)
People dress up and go pew pew. Pretty good.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker (2019)
People dress up and go pew pew. Not very good.
 

DigModiFicaTion

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13 Hours (2016)
I originally bought this to see if I could make a prequel or continuing story for the Jack Ryan series, seeing that Krasinki's name is Jack as well. After watching and knowing that these are real people makes me question whether I should. I hate glorifying violence and I fear that fictionalizing it through a fanmix would disrespect the lives that were lost. While Michael Bay is present in the camera work and the excessive hormonal dialogue, the movie itself and the actor's perfromances are respectful to those it honors. It leaves you conflicted with the process, but grounds in what is important, going home. 8/10
 

mnkykungfu

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Burrow (2020)
A film about a homeless rabbit that becomes a socialist. I jest, but seriously, if you're going to watch one SparkShort, watch Kitbull over this.

Three films for Mother's Day that form a sort of "bad moms" trilogy:

Lady Bird (2017)
I knew this would have to work hard to win me over, because I generally don't share the sentiments of The Academy, or indie darling films, or Baumbach & Anderson's overwritten twee, and Saoirse Ronan has yet to win me over. Well, this film was exactly all that, but there are just so many talented performers that you can't outright hate it. More thoughts here.

I, Tonya (2017)
Pretty ballsy to reference one of the greatest autobiographical accounts in history ("I, Claudius"), but I suppose that matches with Tonya Harding's inflated sense of martyrdom. As a relation of the real story, this film could be infuriating, but as pure pop confectionary, it's better than it has any right to be. More here.

Postcards From the Edge (1990)
I remember when this first came out HBO ran it on a loop and it seemed like a wildly-acclaimed tearjerker akin to Terms of Endearment or Steel Magnolias. I wanted nothing to do with it, but I'm glad I finally came around because it's so much better than those. This is rarely sappy, much more engaging, and terribly clever. I've never been the hugest fan of director Mike Nichols, but he got some great performances here. Full review.

Of the three moms, it was hard for me to not just outright hate the first two. Shirley Maclaine's "Doris Mann" is far less toxic and has a lot more redeeming qualities in Postcards. I'm still happy I had my mom instead of her, but she's a character I wouldn't mind spending another 2 hours with, unlike the other two films. Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day...tell your moms how much you love them! ;)
 

mnkykungfu

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Wrapped up the Captain America Trilogy with
Civil War (2016)
The long and short of it is that when you watch these three films in a row, this one clearly gets hijacked and made into an Avengers film. It's the first case of the Russos trying to do a bit too much in one movie, which I really respect Joss Whedon for pushing back against Marvel on. This ends up as a better film than Age of Ultron, but in part because it's capitalizing on so much of the character dynamics and events built up by Whedon's two films and the two previous Cap movies. More thoughts here.

Two more Mother's Day alternatives:
The Piano (1993)
A mute mother in the Victorian age manages to find a man to marry and take in herself and her 8-year-old daughter. No small feat. But the New Zealand landscape she has to ship off to is as harsh and foreboding as her new husband. Her only release is in playing her piano, which actress Holly Hunter really plays in a gorgeous accompanying soundtrack to this complicated and controversial film. More here.

Away We Go (2009)
So in between Revolutionary Road and Skyfall, Sam Mendes directed this little hipster jam, and you could not have put together a stranger filmic sandwich than that. It's a bit of a precious, self-aware indie in the vein of Juno or The Meyerwitz Stories. There's a lot to like, including a fantastic ensemble, though not all of it seems like it meshes together tonally. More here.
 

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Stargate (1994)
Ancient Egypt found on the other side of the known universe via travel from a ring buried deep in the desert. Fun romp, good action, and fun performances by some good actors in an instant classic from a director who quickly flamed out following a few hit films.
 

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Yeah, somehow Brad Wright, Jonathan Glassner, and Robert Cooper understood what was good about the idea way better than Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin ever did.
 

mnkykungfu

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Been working my way through select films I hadn't seen from Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock....

Lifeboat (1944)
This is a real under-appreciated gem, and it makes my Top 10 Hitchcock list. I generally really appreciate films that limit the players to a single, enclosed location (a WWII lifeboat in this case) because it allows the film to focus on the psychology of the characters. Full breakdown here.

Zelig (1983)
This early mockumentary might have been a technical marvel, but it's basically a one-joke film. I only chuckled the first time you see the joke, so seeing it stretched didn't do much for me. There's not much icky in this film, (if you can get over '80s racial humor) but also not much to the story or characters. Meh.

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)
French film with early Depardieu that's worth tracking down. Based on a real case of potential identity theft in late Middle Ages rural France, this turns into a courtroom drama period piece. I don't know many films like that, except some versions of Joan of Arc, so this held my attention quite well. More here.
 
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