Correcting a blind spot in my classic cinema history.
Somehow I never got around to watching this until now.
It is quite the trip! I loved a LOT of it, but I do think that even though it is barely over an hour long, it could use a snip here or there.
The cast is phenomenal! Ernest Thesiger and Eva Moore especially. Their quirky performance as Horace and Rebecca made the film for me.
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Charles Band puts some of his kinks on film and calls it a movie.
Having your antagonist date r@pe a woman and then having her “love him” afterwards so he can be released from some curse… I’m sorry, that is a BAD premise. It is now, it was then.
The Invite is frequently laugh out loud funny, but I'd never just say "Oh you should see The Invite; it's so funny!" without additional context. It is probably my favorite execution of the anxiety/stress-inducing thing that is popular right now.
I'm a Taylor Sheridan hater but an Elizabeth Olsen lover, so I reluctantly gave this a shot. It's pretty good. It's exactly what you think it'll be, but pretty good anyway.
<I>The Collection</i> is a very strong follow-up to 2009's <I>The Collector</i>, once again written and directed by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.
<blockquote>Read my first review of <I>The Collection</i> <A HREF="https://boxd.it/7WPngV">here</A>.</blockquote>Josh Stewart's "Arkin" is a strong character who is forced to help a group of mercenaries rescue a woman who was kidnapped at a club by The Collector. While this abduction was witnessed by Arkin, he promises to lead the group to her location, an abandoned hotel that is rigged with traps, drugged-up captives, and other surprises, and then leave. Unfortunately for him, the mercenaries have other plans for Arkin, and he is once again forced to (potentially) endure another round with The Collector.
<I>The Collection</i> is a darker film that continues where we left off from the first film, which had Arkin being "collected" by The Collector. The body count is higher (way higher!), accompanied by more traps, and has a more elaborate and darker setting that's more aligned with The Collector's charm (traps, beautiful decor). The film's budget was put to good use as it's distracting how beautiful this film turned out to be. My LG OLED TV knows how I like to watch Dunstan's films (dark and how they want their viewers to watch them), so two features, Perfect Black and Hyper Radiant Color Tech, made for an incredible experience (although I also recommend Filmmaker Mode).
My, what a bloated load of nonsense.
Far from the worst movie, but wow… truly a “b” movie, pardon the pun, despite the all star cast. (Many of whom looked like they REALLY didn’t want to be there, Caine especially.
Antonio Banderas doesn't bring his "Puss In Boots" best to <I>Security</i>, a film that <A HREF="https://letterboxd.com/arrowvideo/film/security-2017/">Arrow Video</A> best describes as "<I>Die Hard</i> in a mall</i>". He takes his time to get points across, often formulating long sentences under risky situations. Basically, he should've taken advice from Kevin Malone from 'The Office': <A HREF="https://www.tiktok.com/@theoffice/video/6909543713299565830">"Why say lot word when few word do trick.</A>" Unfortunately, the same goes for Sir Ben Kingsley (<I>Species</i>, <I>Schindler's List</i>), an incredible actor who looks like he'd rather be shopping in this mall than acting. He does have the ability to portray an evil leader of a group of henchmen, but his role was diminished to mostly slow talking points and occasional stares, both which did not work out in the end.
The rest of the film is filled with clumsy side characters and a clunky script. With the setting, you would think it'd be incredibly easy for a group of 50+ henchmen to storm or surround a mall and take everyone out, but our antagonists take their sweet time while the protagonists, including the young girl, a government witness they're protecting, lack direction and brains. This could've been over in minutes, not hours. Also, the film ends quickly, just like the snapping of your fingers, and the credits roll.
I’m a sucker for any Kaiju with their own theme tune, so 2nd to Mothra, King Caesar is the top, um… dog? Lion? Lion-Dog!
Another favorite entry in the series.
The most charming and rewatchable MCU movie. I might have also said that about Antman, but it's more true here.
The weirdest film in the Godzilla series.
From the Laugh-in/James Bond-esque opening credits to the animated segments.
Everything about this film is a severe left turn from everything that came before, and they turn back for the next film to bring it back into what we were used to.
A true outlier.
That being said, I actually really like it! I like its bizarre nature and its darker themes. A WHOLE lot of on screen death in this one, and that is also something that we had really not seen before. Not even in the ‘54 film.
It’s isn’t a film I’ll watch often, but it is one that I enjoy visiting every now and again.
A “space amoeba” (Lots of blinking lights) take over earth creatures and turn them into monsters.
Why? Why not, I guess. Using giant monsters to take over the world has always been a questionable tactic, IMO.
Why this alien intelligence turns squids, crabs, and turtles into giant beasts but has no physical effect on the man they end up inhabiting is anyone’s guess.
FX ARE impressive! Though the giant walking squid comes across as being kind of adorable rather than scary. LOL
This could have been an email, which is a crazy thing to say about a movie with either Jesse Plemons or Jason Segel, but here we are with both of them.
