The Official Last Movie You Saw Thread (Part 2)

[Catatonic]

I thought the first half of Us was fantastic. I liked the characters and bought them as a family, which is already better than 90% of horror movies. But when it started to explain everything the movie sort of took a nosedive. It's ok to leave some things a mystery, Mr. Peele.

It reminded me of how I felt after seeing M. Night Shymalans second movie. "Oh, is he just gonna do this every time?"

[KCKUKFan]

The last thirty minutes of "Us" was a huge exposition dump, which wouldn't be so much of a problem if the explanation wasn't complete dogshit nonsense in service of "social commentary."

[George]

It was one of those movies that quietly hypnotizes you. About an hour into it I was wondering what the hell I was watching... then I slowly became entranced. By the end, I was all in.

On the other hand, I thought Ari Aster's previous movie "Hereditary" was terrible. Pure misery porn.

I’ve watched MidSommar probably half a dozen times now. I really can’t get enough of it. “Hypnotizing” is very accurate.

Not that this is important, but it might include the most accurate depictions of mushroom trips ever filmed. Very subtle stuff, like the way the wood grains sort of drip and run, and the flowers bloom and pulsate — all spot on.

These days, if I see A24’s name on a movie, I’m willing to give it a shot without knowing anything else. They’re cranking out so much stuff that’s right up my alley. Have you heard about Eggers’ next one, The Northman? It’s a 10th c. “Viking revenge film,” which I imagine he’ll nail.

Then there’s this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJc2tH3WBw

And, you aren’t the first to tell me to steer clear of Hereditary. It sounds interesting, but everyone I talk to says there’s just nothing enjoyable about it.

[KCKUKFan]

I’ve watched MidSommar probably half a dozen times now. I really can’t get enough of it. “Hypnotizing” is very accurate.

Not that this is important, but it might include the most accurate depictions of mushroom trips ever filmed. Very subtle stuff, like the way the wood grains sort of drip and run, and the flowers bloom and pulsate — all spot on.

These days, if I see A24’s name on a movie, I’m willing to give it a shot without knowing anything else. They’re cranking out so much stuff that’s right up my alley. Have you heard about Eggers’ next one, The Northman? It’s a 10th c. “Viking revenge film,” which I imagine he’ll nail.

Then there’s this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJc2tH3WBw

And, you aren’t the first to tell me to steer clear of Hereditary. It sounds interesting, but everyone I talk to says there’s just nothing enjoyable about it.

If you like "Midsommar," then you should probably give "Hereditary" a shot. It's obvious that Aster is an extremely talented filmmaker; I just wasn't on the "Hereditary" wavelength. Misery porn is being generous. Also, where "Midsommar" stuck its climax, the end of "Hereditary" is a head-scratcher.

Eggers is another guy who makes really accomplished films that leave me cold. "The Witch" was a bore, and "The Lighthouse" was weird to the point of being offputting. Both films look great, but I'm not sure if I enjoyed either one. My wife, who generally enjoys strange movies, gave "The Lighthouse" a shot when I told her it reminded me of Lynch's "Eraserhead." She made it thirty minutes in.

[George]

Wife and I just watched mother! and I don’t think I could have liked it any less.

[KCKUKFan]

Wife and I just watched mother! and I don’t think I could have liked it any less.

One of the most unpleasant movies I've ever watched. I walked out of the final fifteen minutes, when I felt like I was about to have a panic attack in the theater. I can't remember ever having such a visceral reaction to a movie.

If that's what Aronofsky was going for, he succeeded.

[Joneslab]

I respected the weirdness of mother! but I don't know if I can say that I "liked" it. I'm not sure it's a movie anyone could possibly like or enjoy.

That Green Knight thing looks crazy as hell and I have to see it.

[Catatonic]

I watched the Chernobyl miniseries over the weekend. A very different situation, but the Soviet government's inept trivializing of a disaster in real time is infuriatingly familiar. Very well made series.

[George]

I respected the weirdness of mother! but I don't know if I can say that I "liked" it. I'm not sure it's a movie anyone could possibly like or enjoy.

That Green Knight thing looks crazy as hell and I have to see it.

I’m very excited about The Green Knight. Checks a lot of boxes for me.

[Blue Heaven]

I watched the Chernobyl miniseries over the weekend. A very different situation, but the Soviet government's inept trivializing of a disaster in real time is infuriatingly familiar. Very well made series.

GREAT series, imo.

[Blue Heaven]

I’m very excited about The Green Knight. Checks a lot of boxes for me.

Looks pretty good. Never heard of it till this thread. I like King Arthur movies. Was a HUGE Excalibur fan when I was a kid. I loved that movie.

[George]

Looks pretty good. Never heard of it till this thread. I like King Arthur movies. Was a HUGE Excalibur fan when I was a kid. I loved that movie.

I’ve never felt like Arthurian legends have been adequately presented in film. Everything about King Arthur and Co. seems chock full of theater potential, but every attempt that comes to mind seems cheap and corny.

The Green Knight may buck that trend.

[Joneslab]

I'm assuming The Green Knight is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which if you were an English major you likely ended up absolutely hating by the time you graduated college. I think I read Sir Gawain like three times at Centre.

The movie looks nothing like I imagined it in my head.

Maybe A24 will do a version of The Canterbury Tales next.

[George]

I'm assuming The Green Knight is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which if you were an English major you likely ended up absolutely hating by the time you graduated college. I think I read Sir Gawain like three times at Centre.

The movie looks nothing like I imagined it in my head.

Maybe A24 will do a version of The Canterbury Tales next.

Yeah, it’s the Gawain story. As an English major, I actually wrote a pretty decent paper on it in a British lit class.

I’m with you, though, in that I never pictured anything like this film when I read it. This appears to be a weird, psychedelic take, and I’m here for it.

Spare me The Canterbury Tales, though. Ugh.

[Joneslab]

Wife and I watched 365 Days on Netflix last night, which has become a kind of bizarre sensation on Netflix.

This movie is spectacularly terrible. It reminded me a little of the Shannon Tweed NC-17 stuff we used to rent back in high school when my friend worked at the local video store. But you get the feeling with 365 Days that the filmmakers were going for something earnest, and it takes you a bit--at least 30 minutes of running time--before you realize that you're in the hands of maniacal idiots. This movie is a cross between a '90s music video, softcore Beauty and the Beast, the worst mob movie you've ever seen, with a little 50 Shades of Gray shamelessly thrown in. It has at least eight inexplicable scenes that make absolutely no sense at all, spends at least 1/4 of its running time with the camera hovering disturbingly on the lead actress's face as she stares off into the middle distance, and its ending arrives like the screenwriter just gave up. It's almost historically bad and arguably one of the three or four worst movies I've ever seen...but damnit I recommend it for couples who might want to just stare at the screen for a couple of hours and laugh a bit before bed.