What was the last movie you saw...? Part IV

[Zzzptm]

The Lion of the Desert (1981)

Anthony Quinn is excellent as Omar Mukhtar, leader of the Libyan resistance to Italian rule from 1911-1931. Oliver Reed is his counterpart as General Graziani, head of the Italian Army. I've enjoyed this film before and enjoyed it again with this watching. Lots of battle scenes, but there is a brutality before and after the battle scenes that moves the film much closer to Come and See in terms of bringing the barbarity of conflict forward. Of the two films set in Libya I've seen in recent days, it's certainly the better of the two. I'll see it again, I expect, as it's a good one.

[Charger]

ARCADIAN

After an alien invasion a father of two teenage sons tries to survive at a farm but the other son is making it hard as he falls in love with a girl from the neighbouring farm.

Nicolas Cage stars in this rather odd monster film...

Director Benjamin Brewer is better known for music videos and it shows, there's way too much hand held shaky camera and the pacing is bit off.

Also there is very little action or horror, most of it focuses on some teenage romance (yuck) and Nick Cage is unconcious for about half of the movie.

The creatures do look pretty great and very different, but they aren't shown nearly enough. The movie does get going in the last 15 minutes, but for a 95 minute movie that's just not enough.

Another movie that showed some promise but falls waaay short in the end.


*  *

[Zzzptm]

El Alamein - The Line of Fire (2002)

Italian film about the battle of El Alamein. Excellent film - it's on YouTube for free with English subtitles. It's a "Band of Brothers" film, dealing with the men at the sharp end of the war - no cuts to the generals planning things out. It's the Italian side of the conflict, so it's a drear tale of undersupplied troops that are outnumbered by an enemy on the move. Through it all, whatever side the soldiers are on, they have their comrades.

[Zzzptm]

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Maurice Jarre's soundtrack is marvelous, the cinematography captivating, the acting top-shelf stuff. It's one of those classic films with laurels that is truly worth it. If you haven't seen it, it's nearly 4 hours in the full cut and it's on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v9Jype6VmU so plan a viewing accordingly. For those who have seen it, well, the opportunity to watch it again is before you, just as it was before me. Go and see it again, treat yourself!

[Charger]

^^^
I have seen parts of it waaaay back when...found it bit boring to be honest...  Waaaaaaaay too long.



HANGMAN

A retired homicide detective is called back because a serial killer is on the lose as has called him and another detective out. The detectives must try to figure out the killer before he finishes his game of Hangman.

Al Pacino and Karl Urban star as the two detectives and both to stellar jobs. Granted Pacino is bit old for the role but he still handles it quite well.
Brittany Snow is a reporter doing a piece on police officers and tags along and gets tangled up in the case. The always lovely Sarah Shahi stars and the police captain.

The story isn't anything special but it is good enough and frankly it is pretty hard to reinvent the serial killer genre. But the movie is well paced and isn't overly predictable. And one thing that the movie has going for it is it's located in Monroe Lousiana. Not a location you see a lot.

Good serial killer film if you like the genre, which I do.


*  *  *  ½

[Charger]

THE ITALIAN JOB

A high end heist crew is betrayed by one of their own who kills their father figure and leaves the rest for dead stealing their 35 million $ score. However they survive with one goal in sight to get even...with the help of the daughter of the murdered member.

Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Seth Green and Edward Norton star in this quite entertaining remake of the 60s classic of the same name.

There's clever heist planning and good characters and good actors and some Minis. What's not to like?

Better than the original? Maybe not, but certainly not worse either.


*  *  *  ½

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
What is "Minis" ?   

[Zzzptm]

^^^^^^
What is "Minis" ?   

Mini Coopers, as they were small enough to wriggle an escape in the tight Italian streets.

[Charger]

^^
The final chase sequence in this one took place in LA rather than Italy though..

^^^^^^
What is "Minis" ?   

[Typhon]

   I should have figured that out.  Especially sense I saw the movie years ago.

[Typhon]

Greenland 2: Migration (2026)

Having found the safety of the Greenland bunker after a comet decimated the Earth, the Garrity family (Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin) must now risk everything to embark on a perilous journey across the wasteland of Europe to find a new home.

Pretty standard stuff here, risking life and limb, once again.  7/10

[Charger]

This will be a multi review post.


THE CONJURING

The Perron family moves into a new home but strange unexplained events begin to occur. It soon becomes evident that there is a presense in the house that is not human. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren are called in to help and they discover very dark secrets about the past and finally find out what kind of a threat the family is actually facing.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star as the real life (YES this movie is inspired by TRUE events) paranormal investigator couple Ed and Lorraine Warren and both do amazing jobs.
Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Casswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy and Kyla Deaver as the Perron family also do great jobs.

The atmosphere in the movie is great and it is truly scary which is something one can't say about most horror films. And it's not about quick scares induced by fast edits but it's a building tension. And the fact that it is based on actual events (although heavily dramatized obviously) makes it even scarier.

One of the best horror films of the 21st century.


*  *  *  * ½


THE CONJURING 2

Ed and Lorraine Warren are called into London where a Mother and her 4 children are plagued by an angry spirit of an old man who used to live in the house, however upon further investigation they reveal that something even more sinister might be going on.

Another true story dramatization.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga continue to shine in the lead and Frances O'Connor does a great job as the mother. Child actors here are extremely good as well. Especially Madison Wolfe as the possessed Janet.

This case is one of the most documented and longest cases of actual Poltergeist activity in the world.

Not quite at the level of the first movie but still rather excellent.


*  *  *  *


THE CONJURING 3 - The Devil Made Me Do It

After an exorsism goes horribly wrong the Warrens must try to fight for a young man, who while being possed by a demon killed a man and is now facing murder charges and maybe a far more sinister fate.

This one plays out bit differently than the first two movies, being almost like a supernatural "who Did it?" movie which is a nice change of pace. However the new director Michael Chaves doesn't have the same knack for building suspense and horror as James Wan did.

This again based on actual events and the first ever trial where Possession was used as an actual defence. The real life Arne Johnson was convicted but only of Manslaugher because of mitigating circumstances, so there was atleast some truth and facts supporting the defence.

Great acting again all around and again good atmosphere although maybe not as scary as the previous two films.


*  *  *  ½



All three however were very good to excellent horror movies. And I can say that these might very well be the best supernatural horror films ever made...big part of it ofcourse goes to the fact that these were real events, real hauntings that they are based upon and the stars. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga do amazing jobs. It's been a while since I've seen a brand new movie series that I've enjoyed as much!

And I just found out that the final part of the series found it's way to HBO so I'll be watching that one soon as well!

[Thelemech]

I've seen the Conjuring 1 and 2 and enjoyed both films
They do atmosphere very well especially in the first movie

[Vyn]

Went to the theatre last night with a couple of people. Saw "Obsession". Eh, I don't know...it's a horror movie about a guy who lusts after a co-worker and finds a "One Wish Willow" that claims if he makes a wish and breaks the stick it will come true. Of course, he wishes she would love him. And viola! She is all about him and hijinks ensue.

I thought it was well done, well acted (especially the female lead), and although the storyline was of the Monkey Paw variety, it really wasn't about the wish itself and more about how much of a jackass the male lead character is. It seems to be a movie that is trying to do multiple things at the same time - be a horror movie (which there are parts very well done in that regard), something of a light comedy, and a social commentary. Once the male lead character realizes the wish actually worked, his behavior thereafter starts hitting you over the head with the social commentary part so much that it takes away from the storyline, for me. That's why I said, "Eh, I don't know". I want to really like this movie, and it has all the ingredients. But the heavy-handed (to me, anyway) way it deals with topics of consent and personal agency is frustrating.

It certainly is good enough to warrant a lot of thought, so maybe that indicates I just haven't gone all the way down the thought path yet. But for a low budget independent film it does stand apart from all the others as well as stand tall among the big boy productions.

I recommend it, with the caveat that you may leave the movie theatre wanting to punch somebody.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
I've considered seeing it, it has amazing reviews and word of mouth. In the US the box office takings for the first 3 weekends went UP, that is unheard of these days!