What was the last film you watched?

[darkshadows38]

Zero Hour! (1957) it was the Original Airplane (1980) just without the comedy i'm not even making that up they bought the rights to it so they can use dialog from it i also love this look as well of the site

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Terror Train (1980)

I bought this on DVD many years ago and thought it was so terrible I ended up disposing of it. Yet weirdly I had an urge to watch it last night - perhaps to make up for not watching Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween this year for the first time in decades.

Beginning a film with ridiculously low expectations always helps because I quite enjoyed it this time round. I'd also misremembered who the killer was, which was another bonus. David Copperfield and Hart Bochner both had an attractive intensity. I also thought Jamie Lee's prolonged fight with the killer was even more intense than the Laurie/Michael scenes which clearly inspired it (but then I don't know it beat for beat in the way I do Halloween. And her being covered in blood made it more visually shocking).

It's not a true classic in my mind, but its cult/underdog reputation adds to the appeal.

 

[darkshadows38]

i watched this for the first time a few years ago after wanting to see it for years upon years. and i had high expectations for it well it wasn't as good as i thought it would be but i thought it was decent. i have watched it a 2nd time since and my feelings are about the same it's a decent little horror movie that's not on my list of favorite films of all time but it's still a lot of fun. i wish she'd do more horror that isn't just Halloween though.

i watched a couple 1. hell's Final Hours (1958) that was wow a bad one. i'd say 5/10. than after that i watched one called Undersea Girl (1957) that one was pretty bad as well but not as bad. i'd say 6/10. what it really was, was just plain boring it was a better film i think than the last one by far it was just boring that's all

 

[Ome]

thought it was a really good film, not as good as the first Wonder Woman film but still a great piece of entertainment

I never read reviews even after watching a movie. I think it’s because I don’t know the people reviewing the movies. I like to read the reviews on Telly Talk because I get a sense of consistency and an idea on who like what.

I did hear or read somewhere that WW1984 received lots of bad reviews, though I don’t know how many or how terrible it appeared to movie goers.

So, with that in mind I watched with low expectations and sadly it didn’t help. The action was great, the characters enjoyable, but it was the story that didn’t work for me. That’s down to me and not the storyteller, I do not enjoy movies that are based on magic and wishes.

Another major letdown was my expectations from the soundtrack. Foolishly, I checked Spotify for the soundtrack, which had tracks from Donna Summer, Toto, FGTH, Queen and many more great tracks from the 80s.


I wish I hadn’t looked on Spotify.

 

[Ome]

Terror Train (1980)

The title as well as your comments reminded me of two movies from the 80s that I had on VHS. I’m curious if you have come across them.

Stage





Slaughter High.

 

[Angela Channing]

I never read reviews even after watching a movie. I think it’s because I don’t know the people reviewing the movies. I like to read the reviews on Telly Talk because I get a sense of consistency and an idea on who like what.

I did hear or read somewhere that WW1984 received lots of bad reviews, though I don’t know how many or how terrible it appeared to movie goers.

So, with that in mind I watched with low expectations and sadly it didn’t help. The action was great, the characters enjoyable, but it was the story that didn’t work for me. That’s down to me and not the storyteller, I do not enjoy movies that are based on magic and wishes.

Another major letdown was my expectations from the soundtrack. Foolishly, I checked Spotify for the soundtrack, which had tracks from Donna Summer, Toto, FGTH, Queen and many more great tracks from the 80s.


I wish I hadn’t looked on Spotify.

I also read that the film had bad reviews before I watched it but that didn't put me off because I was so impressed with the first film. Wonder Woman 1984 is not Oscar winning material but as a piece of pure escapist action film entertainment it worked for me. I totally get your reservations about films based on magic and wishes, and I'm normally the same (e.g the latest Dune film) but because it was a superhero film I didn't really have much of a problem buying into that. I'm the one that is out of step though because most people seemed to be critical about the film but I loved it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The title as well as your comments reminded me of two movies from the 80s that I had on VHS. I’m curious if you have come across them.

I have watched a film called Stage Fright, but that was the Hitchcock classic.

These are two I haven't seen. I tend to be pretty mainstream with my Eighties slashers and actually haven't seen that many.

I used to know someone who was absolutely obsessed with slashers (disturbingly so, actually) and that was who introduced me to the genre. He had a room full of videos or DVDs of all these films, including lots of lesser known slashers that were rip-offs of the more popular ones (Sleepaway Camp is one I remember him having, but even that is probably quite well known by his standards).

Because I was late to the genre - we're talking late-Nineties - I really struggled with a lot of the Eighties ones he tried to get me to watch, especially the low budget ones with terrible acting and effects. I really did try with them. Even more recently I bought a film that's kind of a Black Christmas rip-off and by halfway through I'd lost the will to live. It made Terror Train look like art.

I may be wrong, but I'd guess the two films you named fit into the less well-known category. Are they worth a peek, do you think?

 

[Ome]

I'm the one that is out of step though because most people seemed to be critical about the film but I loved it.

Often I prefer chatting with others who see movies/TV different from me. If I recall, you mentioned how you didn’t like Grease 11 and I get that because so many people share your view. I often find myself thinking the second one was better than the first. And that puts me in a minority.

I loved WW growing up and I rewatched it all again about 6 years ago. As daft as sone of those episodes, I bought in to them. It’s a shame I didn’t connect with either WW movie because I wanted to. If a third movie comes, I will still watch it at some point.

 

[Ome]

used to know someone who was absolutely obsessed with slashers (disturbingly so, actually)

Haha!! I was obsessed with them growing up and now I find myself quite critical as I get older. It’s always been a strange one for me. I can easily watch slasher movies, but put a medical drama and n front of me and I have to turn away.

Michael Myers or Freddy Kruger could rip people apart? But a doctor inserting a needle and I’m out of here.

may be wrong, but I'd guess the two films you named fit into the less well-known category

Oh yes, and so my next answer will be difficult.

. Are they worth a peek, do you think?

Well. I’d hate to say yes because you could forever ignore any of my future recommendations.

Sometimes with cheap slasher movies I can find myself getting lost in them. Either laughing at the ridiculousness of it all, the acting and the music or enjoying the scares that come along the way.

I know you have enjoyed many shows from 60s through to the 80s and I think you did Prisoner Cell Block H with it wobbling walls and static acting, so there is some potential for you to enjoy them.

It’s been a long time since I watched them so I’m going by my fond memories at that time.

if I saw them on any of the sites I use, I would definitely watch them again.

 

[James from London]

I'm still woefully behind on my Kermode and Mayo's Film Review podcasts, but I listened to this rave review for Eighth Grade from 2019 recently:

and then almost immediately it turned up on the iPlayer so I watched it, and it's really great. Gucci!

BBC Two - Eighth Grade

Wallflower Kayla’s last days of middle school are a minefield of awkwardness.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Often I prefer chatting with others who see movies/TV different from me.

Same here. I view many of my favourites very differently since being here. I like to think it's opened my mind at least a little.

I can easily watch slasher movies, but put a medical drama and n front of me and I have to turn away.

Michael Myers or Freddy Kruger could rip people apart? But a doctor inserting a needle and I’m out of here.

Ha ha. I hear you, Ome.

Well. I’d hate to say yes because you could forever ignore any of my future recommendations.

Oh never. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I know you have enjoyed many shows from 60s through to the 80s and I think you did Prisoner Cell Block H with it wobbling walls and static acting, so there is some potential for you to enjoy them.

You know me far too well.

It’s been a long time since I watched them so I’m going by my fond memories at that time.

if I saw them on any of the sites I use, I would definitely watch them again.

And I've seen that while it's unavailable, Stage Fright is showing on Prime so I've added it to my watch list in case it becomes available at some point.

I listened to this rave review for Eighth Grade from 2019 recently:


and then almost immediately it turned up on the iPlayer so I watched it, and it's really great.

Well in that case, how could I not. I'll give it a go in the next few days - perhaps even tonight.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I watched it, and it's really great. Gucci!

I'll give it a go in the next few days - perhaps even tonight.

As it began I had my doubts, but it quickly swept me up and carried me along and helped me get in touch with teenage me.

I loved it! What a terrific film.

I was reminded at times of Muriel's Wedding, at others of Fame (the film). Neither of which is a bad thing.


I also watched the Mark Kermode review, and he sums it up perfectly:

Like all great coming of age movies, it's a movie that makes you think it's about you. It's a movie that makes you think "I grew up in a completely different world in a different country in a different culture in a different gender, a different nationality, whatever it is. But I understand what that character is feeling."

 

[James from London]

I loved it! What a terrific film.

I'm so pleased!

I was reminded at times of Muriel's Wedding

Yes, I can see that. I think it could have easily been as "big" or as comedic as Muriel and still worked, but instead it stays small and understated, and is all the more powerful for it.

I also watched the Mark Kermode review

The bit of the review that stayed with me is when he quotes the director as saying "this is a film about a generation ... that have been raised in a culture they did not create, but which demands that they hold themselves up for judgement online." I'd never really considered that before.

 

[Willie Oleson]

A rewatch of this brutal and beautifully depressing movie. The seventies atmosphere is quite convincing, mostly because they didn't overdo it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think it could have easily been as "big" or as comedic as Muriel and still worked, but instead it stays small and understated, and is all the more powerful for it.

Absolutely. Kayla's social awkwardness was treated so realistically that one could easily read it that the differences between Kayla and the cooler classmates she bumbles around are all only her perception rather than the way they see her. It's all very internal and very relatable.

The bit of the review that stayed with me is when he quotes the director as saying "this is a film about a generation ... that have been raised in a culture they did not create, but which demands that they hold themselves up for judgement online." I'd never really considered that before.

Neither had I, come to that.

A rewatch of this brutal and beautifully depressing movie. The seventies atmosphere is quite convincing, mostly because they didn't overdo it.

This has been on my viewing bucket list for ages. I was thinking about it again recently after watching Andrew Garfield's first Amazing Spider-Man film and thinking he's actually quite a decent actor.

 

[9unfold]

Flight Of The Navigator (1986).

This is still a jolly good romp through make believe, 35 years and several viewings later.

What else is there to say other than it's not a great work of cinema,but it is a nice, fun movie.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Unfriended (2014)

If the Blair Witch was into Zoombombing, this is what we'd get. It's a nice idea for a film... told entirely in real time through the screen of the film's Final Girl.

The screens and notification alerts will be very familiar to Mac users or those who use certain applications and actual branding for the biggest tech apps is prominently displayed, which I found really surprising for what looks like a low-budget film. This creates a very subjective - almost disorientating - effect. When characters type, it feels strange because that screen has been embedded in our brain and feels like ours. When notifications pop up on screen, one is drawn to them, almost expecting them to be for the viewer. It's effectively done, and the young characters' interactions feel authentic.

The strengths of the film are also where it falls down for me. After being online for a good part of the day, I don't care to spend an hour and a half reading text being typed on a white screen and picking up noisy notifications. The (mostly unlikeable) characters - as many young people seem to do - not only have a Skype chat, but at the same time ping private messages back and forth to discuss and control the conversation taking place. Our main character does online searches, watches videos, plays music, picks up notifications. There's a lot going on and it demands attention. But as someone who generally does one thing at a time I found it particularly fatiguing to be forced into doing this kind of extreme multitasking.

While the twists aren't as clever and surprising and the formula nowhere near as original as the film promo would suggest, there is an interesting message about cyberbullying, and it also ties in incredibly well with Eighth Grade when I think about the following:
​

The bit of the review that stayed with me is when he quotes the director as saying "this is a film about a generation ... that have been raised in a culture they did not create, but which demands that they hold themselves up for judgement online." I'd never really considered that before.​

 

[Sarah]

It's good and based on a true story. Luke Kirby who plays Bundy is eerily accurate in his portrayal, especially his gestures and facial expressions.

 

[Sarah]

Flight Of The Navigator (1986).

This is still a jolly good romp through make believe, 35 years and several viewings later.

What else is there to say other than it's not a great work of cinema,but it is a nice, fun movie.

Jolly good

 

[Willie Oleson]

I was thinking about it again recently after watching Andrew Garfield's first Amazing Spider-Man film and thinking he's actually quite a decent actor.

I didn't know they were the same Andrew Garfield.