I didn't see that movie, but I saw a news story a few weeks ago about how in some major metropolitan city kids keep climbing on top of a moving train and falling off. Its apparently a major safety issue that young people won't stop doing this despite constant injuries and I think one or two deaths.
So yeah I tend to align with DA here.
This is the thread I'm making to list my 2025 movies
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"[Cinema] is a labyrinth with a treacherous resemblance to reality." - Andrew Sarris
Re: This is the thread I'm making to list my 2025 movies
I guess for me it's the supernatural angle. I see a big difference between doing something dangerously stupid even when you know it's dangerous and stupid, and acting like something is just normal or funny when it's obviously a supernatural event.
Also, I just found out that Cruel Intentions is a retelling of Dangerous Liaisons, a French novel from the 1700s. I had heard of Dangerous Liaisons by name before, but had no idea what it was about. A lot of what I was noticing in Cruel Intentions actually makes a lot more sense with that background.
48. The Crazies (2010) - Good movie. Both the "zombie" aspect and the evil military presence aspect worked really well for me. Strong vibes of the first part of The Stand. It did have an over-reliance on jump scares, and it could have gone deeper into the "The Thing" aspect of not knowing whom to trust, but that aside it was overall just a good scary movie.
Also, I just found out that Cruel Intentions is a retelling of Dangerous Liaisons, a French novel from the 1700s. I had heard of Dangerous Liaisons by name before, but had no idea what it was about. A lot of what I was noticing in Cruel Intentions actually makes a lot more sense with that background.
48. The Crazies (2010) - Good movie. Both the "zombie" aspect and the evil military presence aspect worked really well for me. Strong vibes of the first part of The Stand. It did have an over-reliance on jump scares, and it could have gone deeper into the "The Thing" aspect of not knowing whom to trust, but that aside it was overall just a good scary movie.
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49. Ponyo (2008) - I really liked this. Super creative animation, with just whacky and over-the-top visuals. The story was an interesting mix of cute, heartwarming, and super weird. I suppose a lot of Miyazaki is like that; though sadly I haven't seen most of his stuff. I found it really interesting that while he always has themes of nature and man vs nature, with man being a corrupting force, here those views are most strongly held by the main villain. So is the villain a stand-in for Miyazaki himself? Is it a warning that even environmentalism can be taken too far? Or, more likely, am I just way overthinking it? We never get a clear understanding of what the villain was doing or planning. He basically says that he'll wipe out all people once he gets enough power, but then the elixir gets out and wreaks the havoc that he wanted anyway. And what would have happened if Sosuke had trusted him instead of running from him at the end; how would it have turned out different? These things aren't made clear.
50. Child's Play (2019) - lol, terrible. Possibly in the so bad it's good category; I at least had fun watching it. First off, they change the idea of a murderer using witchcraft to make his spirit inhabit a doll, to a person simply turning off the doll's ethics program. Actually flipping the switch from the good setting to the evil setting, just like in The Simpsons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8dcmLscf3g. Then, they go so far out of their way to make sure you hate the boyfriend character before he's killed off. It's so out of nowhere... making him a jerk to the kid wasn't enough? I do think it was a good idea to bring it into modern times with all the technology integration and such. But Child's Play wasn't supposed to be a robot apocalypse movie; it's supposed to be a horror movie. There was definitely nothing even close to scary in here.
50. Child's Play (2019) - lol, terrible. Possibly in the so bad it's good category; I at least had fun watching it. First off, they change the idea of a murderer using witchcraft to make his spirit inhabit a doll, to a person simply turning off the doll's ethics program. Actually flipping the switch from the good setting to the evil setting, just like in The Simpsons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8dcmLscf3g. Then, they go so far out of their way to make sure you hate the boyfriend character before he's killed off. It's so out of nowhere... making him a jerk to the kid wasn't enough? I do think it was a good idea to bring it into modern times with all the technology integration and such. But Child's Play wasn't supposed to be a robot apocalypse movie; it's supposed to be a horror movie. There was definitely nothing even close to scary in here.
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51. Casino Royale (1967) - Well that sure was something. Really weird, overall not bad, but I think Austin Powers did an overall better job at spoofing the genre. I did love the idea that James Bond is so chaste that he drives a woman to become a nun. And the end when every army and fighting force shows up to save the day was classic Bond.
52. Shane (1953) - Pretty good. Great tension buildup throughout, and it was just a good snapshot of life in that time and place. I especially liked the barroom brawl and funeral scenes. I though the child actor was a low-point, which is a shame considering how much of the movie hinges on his relationship with Shane. But Van Heflin and John Dierkes were excellent.
52. Shane (1953) - Pretty good. Great tension buildup throughout, and it was just a good snapshot of life in that time and place. I especially liked the barroom brawl and funeral scenes. I though the child actor was a low-point, which is a shame considering how much of the movie hinges on his relationship with Shane. But Van Heflin and John Dierkes were excellent.
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R19. Midsommar (2019) - Man this is such a great film. Particularly the first 12 minutes; it so perfectly sets up the characters and tone. Also the character of Christian is so well written and acted.
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53. Friendship (2024) - I love weird movies, and this one is for sure weird. Weirdest movie I've seen since Dave Made a Maze. It's also a great unreliable narrator story; especially shown in the Paul Rudd's character and acting. I love how Rudd starts off as some kind of over-the-top eccentric weirdo, but pretty quickly is shown to just be a mostly normal guy.
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I haven't been watching much because of Silksong. But it's on hold this week, so...
54. The Way Way Back (2013) - Wow what a film! I'm always been a huge Sam Rockwell fan, but he just beyond nailed it here. And Steve Carell was just perfect also, playing against type. Aside from the wonderful performances, it was a wonderful heartwarming coming of age story that really makes you root for the characters.
55. The Abyss (1989) - Very well made with a great atmosphere and cinematography. The story was a bit all over the place; I'm not sure how well it blended the sci-fi, mystery, action, and adventure all together. For what it's worth, I watched the Special Edition, and I can't believe how much it changes at the end... I watched the ending of the theatrical version as well, and it's crazy. It's a very sudden shift into becoming The Day The Earth Stood Still. With just the story being told in the theatrical version, it's not clear why the sci-fi/alien elements are even needed as part of the story.
56. Romancing the Stone (1984) - Good, but as a pretty big Zemeckis fan, I don't think this lived up to his better stuff. It was a pretty typical adventure/romance story. The leads were charismatic and likeable; as were the villains.
57. Winchester '73 (1950) - A very interesting idea, and executed pretty well. Takes what could have been a standard revenge tale and puts a unique twist on it by putting the rifle at center focus. Good acting all around.
58. The Running Man (1987) - Loved it. Great combination of clichéd 80's action and dystopian futuristic thriller. Schwarzenegger has a lot of great one-liners, and there was just a lot of creativity in the overall setting and characters.
54. The Way Way Back (2013) - Wow what a film! I'm always been a huge Sam Rockwell fan, but he just beyond nailed it here. And Steve Carell was just perfect also, playing against type. Aside from the wonderful performances, it was a wonderful heartwarming coming of age story that really makes you root for the characters.
55. The Abyss (1989) - Very well made with a great atmosphere and cinematography. The story was a bit all over the place; I'm not sure how well it blended the sci-fi, mystery, action, and adventure all together. For what it's worth, I watched the Special Edition, and I can't believe how much it changes at the end... I watched the ending of the theatrical version as well, and it's crazy. It's a very sudden shift into becoming The Day The Earth Stood Still. With just the story being told in the theatrical version, it's not clear why the sci-fi/alien elements are even needed as part of the story.
56. Romancing the Stone (1984) - Good, but as a pretty big Zemeckis fan, I don't think this lived up to his better stuff. It was a pretty typical adventure/romance story. The leads were charismatic and likeable; as were the villains.
57. Winchester '73 (1950) - A very interesting idea, and executed pretty well. Takes what could have been a standard revenge tale and puts a unique twist on it by putting the rifle at center focus. Good acting all around.
58. The Running Man (1987) - Loved it. Great combination of clichéd 80's action and dystopian futuristic thriller. Schwarzenegger has a lot of great one-liners, and there was just a lot of creativity in the overall setting and characters.
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59. The Game Designers (2019) - Documentary made by a local filmmaker. A really good look into the overall process behind make modern euro-style board games. Lots of interviews with well-known designers, as well as smaller name ones I didn't know who were working to break into the space.
60. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007) - Pretty good. Mostly just an episode of the show but longer; though it feels like they made good use of the extra time.
60. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007) - Pretty good. Mostly just an episode of the show but longer; though it feels like they made good use of the extra time.
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61. Brazil (1985) - Like most Terry Gilliam, weird and good. It presents a very interesting world; one that is so completely insane, yet most of the characters don't seem to notice just how insane it is. The cinematography fits the world well, and there's a great cast.