What Movies Have You Seen Lately?

Quote: ams288

Just a minor cameo as a stormtrooper. 99% of people would have no idea it was him.

They don't normally count cameos.

Before his third James Bond film, Daniel Craig was paid $17M to star in three films, with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo " clearly the one they hoped would be a trilogy. Box office in all three films was anemic.

Casino Royale (2006) $3,200,000
Quantum of Solace (2008) $7,200,000

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) $6,000,000
Cowboys & Aliens (2011) $6,000,000
Dream House (2011) $5,000,000

Daniel Craig is making a film with Channing Tatum, Seth MacFarlane, Katie Holmes. It isn't obvious which one of them is being paid the most. In contrast, Craig is being offered $150m to make two more Bond films.

Although Craig might follow Sean Connery into the stratosphere, odds are much higher that his collective salary for the rest of his life won't add up to $150m.

Quote: Nareed

Exactly.

That's when Rey uses the Force, deliberately and on purpose, for the first time. That's the scene that contains the movie's title.

Spoilers (but who hasn't seen this by now?!)

I watched Mel Gibson's new WWII bio pic, "Hacksaw Ridge" last night. If you enjoy old school "hero" war films, you will enjoy it. The film follows the traditional plot line, following the hero as he grows up in a small town, signs up for the Army after Pearl Harbor, goes to basic training where we meet his compatriots (who, of course, represent a cross section of America in the 40's, and have nicknames like "Ghoul", "Hollywood", and "Corn Stalk"), then follow them into battle where the training and teamwork pay off as they perform heroic deeds.

What makes this film really interesting is that this is a true story. Desmond T. Doss was a devout Seventh Day Adventist who wanted to serve, but refused to carry a weapon. The movie does an excellent job framing his dilemma: Choosing to stick to his "no guns" conviction, or compromising in the face of mounting pressure from the Army, his family, and his fellow soldiers in life or death situations.

A warning: the battles are blood and guts gruesome, even more so than "Saving Private Ryan". However, we are so far removed from the horror of Okinawa in WWII, that we think "war" is black and white newsreel footage of Allied troops marching marching into Paris, or watching grainy video of a laser guided missile blowing up a bridge. The reality was so much worse, and I think Gibson revels in educating his audience about how really bad it was with graphic depictions of just about every WWII battlefield horror story you have ever heard.

Andrew Garfield plays the lead. His goofy charm, which was showcased in his title role in 2012's "The Amazing Spiderman" serve him well here. Comedian Vince Vaughn steals attention, and subtly the best lines, as the drill sergeant.

I give this film 8 shots of morphine out of 10. Highly recommended.

Arrival

It was good. But I don't think it's this masterpiece that the reviews are making it out to be.

Amy Adams gives a good performance, as always.

Now that I'm thinking about it... the movie shares some similarities to Interstellar.

Massive spoilers follow



Anyway, I will be interested in seeing how audiences respond to this movie.

Quote: ams288

Arrival

It was good. But I don't think it's this masterpiece that the reviews are making it out to be.

Amy Adams gives a good performance, as always.

Now that I'm thinking about it... the movie shares some similarities to Interstellar.

Massive spoilers follow

Show Spoiler

The aliens are here to help us and get us to work together. They want to give us the gift of their language. Once you can understand their language you can comprehend that time is not linear - and basically see into the future. The aliens will need our help in 3000 years which is why they are helping us now.

Interstellar dealt with the whole non-linear time concept as well, although there were no aliens in that movie.

Anyway, I will be interested in seeing how audiences respond to this movie.

It looked like it would be really slow from the commercials i have seen. Has a "Close Encounters" meets "2001: A Space Odessey" vibe.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Has a "Close Encounters" meets "2001: A Space Odessey" vibe.

Close Encounters suffered from a build-up as big as the universe with a payoff smaller than an anemic neutrino. a regular neutrino for the "expanded" edition.

2001 plainly stopped making sense once HAL begins to misbehave. I've read the book. But it remains the most realistic depiction of space travel in film to this day. Clarke really should have stopped at "The Sentinel."

Arrival, though, is on here right now. I'd expected a non-Marvel, non-Disney movie to be seriously delayed. I may go see it tomorrow.

Quote: ams288

Arrival

It was good. But I don't think it's this masterpiece that the reviews are making it out to be.

Amy Adams gives a good performance, as always.

Now that I'm thinking about it... the movie shares some similarities to Interstellar.

Massive spoilers follow

Show Spoiler

The aliens are here to help us and get us to work together. They want to give us the gift of their language. Once you can understand their language you can comprehend that time is not linear - and basically see into the future. The aliens will need our help in 3000 years which is why they are helping us now.

Interstellar dealt with the whole non-linear time concept as well, although there were no aliens in that movie.

Anyway, I will be interested in seeing how audiences respond to this movie.

Just saw it
I enjoyed it
Good science fiction for a change
give it 4 out of 5

In movie or trivia news or both, Carrie Fisher revealed she had 3 month affair with Harrison Ford during the original Star Wars. She was 19 and he was 33 and married.

She ran the book past Harrison so I guess it's more than a rumor.

Quote: rxwine

In movie or trivia news or both, Carrie Fisher revealed she had 3 month affair with Harrison Ford during the original Star Wars. She was 19 and he was 33 and married. She ran the book past Harrison so I guess it's more than a rumor.

An affair from 4 decades ago is hardly hot news. Harrison Ford's marriage to Mary Marquardt broke up a few years later, so she probably knew about it.

I don't care for these kiss and tell stories/rumors particularly when they are accompanied by negative comments about skills.

I know nothing about this Force Awakens film, but I do think the girl in Snorgtees Tshirts modeling the May The F=ma Be With You is beautiful.