Super Sweet Movie Discussion Thread

From looking at it, it's a prequel; so I'll give it a chance. Plus the original is 17 years old now. Just accept it, we're getting old.

Not sure if I misunderstand, but check out Tomb Raider 2013 videogame cut scenes If you haven't seen them already. Not sure a near reality video efx and a highly brutal game will get justice on the big screen. I agree with both side of this. If the vg franchise takes a hit it should sue Hollywood.
 
Thanks to @Frank S. 's recommendation, I finally finished watching Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker. It was a unique movie experience, and well worth the effort it took me (who struggles to sit still) to finish. It took 5 sessions at roughly ~30 mins each to get to the end.

The start was slow, confusing and oppressive for me. When the wife was writhing and agonizing on the floor, I gave up trying to figure it all out and wiki-ed the plot. Intrigued by what I read, I stopped the first session before the group entered the Zone. I decided to return with fresh eyes because I expected things to ramp up.

The second session was watched on the cross trainer. With a better appreciation of the director's methods, I can't argue the camera work, the sound work, the acting and the scenery created a fascinating and immersive experience. I found myself growing tense from the sense of a subtle, undefined horror. It got too much, so I had to take an interval break and watched a music vid. When I got back into the film, the creepy tension built up all over again.

For the third and fourth session, hubby indulgently kept me company. He immediately fell asleep on both occasions. I also had to nudge him a couple of times when he started to snore because it ruined the sound effects.

Regardless of Andrei Tarkovsky's genius, the film took great viewing stamina that I didn't have. By the fifth session, I decided to watch it in bed. I leaned my iPhone against my husband's pillow, right next to his ear, and watched the remainder. Normally, this would drive him nuts, but he just went straight to sleep!

I'm so glad I persisted. In addition to the artistry behind the filmmaking, I remain ponderous of the themes covered. I certainly don’t claim to get it, and having since read a lot of commentary on the film, I’m not the only one. Apparently, even the writers of the screenplay didn’t know exactly what they were writing. Only that they wrote multiple versions of it until Tarkovsky approved. It was sad to read that the death of the director, his wife and one of the leading actors might have been related to filming at a toxic location. I was wondering what the fluffy stuff floating in the air was...

5 Stars from me. It was an excellent change of pace from the usual Hollywood stuff.

If anyone is interested, you can watch it on this YouTube link I found. Just remember to switch on the subtitles.

 
Actually make that 4 star - the start was problematic for me. Had I not been determined to watch it to the end, I would have given up. I read that the director wanted to make it longer, to give people who wouldn't be interested more time to leave! It would have been a shame.
 
@Serenity, congrats for staying with it. After some time, you may find the 'experience' provided a glimpse into the less interesting aspects of military life, like manning an Observation Post in enemy territory, not knowing if or when, for days on end.
Russians are good at translating this on film. There is a series by I think Sokurov, a disciple of Tarkovsky, about Russian troops on the Turkmenistan border. It is drab, depicts outpost life very well and in detail.
And although those experiences may be less interesting, they remain formative. I got to learn a lot about insect life, for one thing. Unsurprisingly, "let the ants try" is one of my favorite Pohl's stories.
 
Just made my fiancee suffer through the first one last night so that we can go see it.
I’ve never seen the first one. I wanted to recently, but there were like 5 different versions and Director cuts. Didn’t know which one to watch.
 
Looking forward to this on August 18th.......need something to laugh at, with all this crap going on in the world.


Between Baby Driver and Hitman's Bodyguard I am 2 for 2 on movies. HB was a good mix of serious and funny and at times outrageous. Gary Oldman stole scenes as usual, always excellent. Ryan Reynolds even throws a line about Samuel L Jackson and his pervasive use of motherfucker in the movie. Good times, fun movies.
 
Went to see Blade Runner 2049 tonight - watched the original today to get ready. I thought it was great! It's very long, very atmospheric - focused on visuals and letting you understand what's going on with the characters. Not a lot of action but a good amount of suspense. I recommend it to any fan of the original.
 
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