Recently Watched Movies 2022

[imno1]

Not a movie but the series The Offer about the making of the Godfather is really good.

 

[CL82]

The Dark Tower

I’ve never read the books, but it was OK. I imagine if you were invested in it it would be more interesting.

For what it’s worth, it seems like Stephen King has committed to a single unified theme. The man in black, is Randall Flagg is the guy from needful things, etc.. It seems pretty unified or maybe it is just repetitive?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Operation Mincemeat (2022, Netflix) - This is a really good movie with one exception. Colin Firth and Matthew MacFadyen play intelligence offers creating a hoax to fool Germany into thinking the Allies will be attacking Greece instead of Sicily in the summer of 1943. The movie has several interesting twists considering that anyone can look up what happens. No one trusts each other, and even at the end, it is not clear exactly what happened with the operation at the end, which I think is based on real life.

Spoiler

It is not clear if the operation really worked, or they just walked into a sabotage effort by anti-Nazi Wehrmacht officers.

On the downside, there was a pointless and unbelievable love triangle that the movie could have done without.

 

[ZooCougar]

The Dark Tower

I’ve never read the books, but it was OK. I imagine if you were invested in it it would be more interesting.

For what it’s worth, it seems like Stephen King has committed to a single unified theme. The man in black, is Randall Flagg is the guy from needful things, etc.. It seems pretty unified or maybe it is just repetitive?

One of the worst movies ever made. Matthew Mcconaughey’s lines were cringe.

 

[HuskyNan]

The Dark Tower

I’ve never read the books, but it was OK. I imagine if you were invested in it it would be more interesting.

For what it’s worth, it seems like Stephen King has committed to a single unified theme. The man in black, is Randall Flagg is the guy from needful things, etc.. It seems pretty unified or maybe it is just repetitive?

No, he’s not usually repetitive. Hollywood likes bad guys wearing black.

I’m a huge Stephen King. If you want something different, try Dead Zone (book is awesome, movie with Christopher Walken isn’t bad), The Shining (Jack Nicholson in the movie), Christine (unbelievably creepy book), or Pet Cemetery (this book gave me nightmares). It, book and first movie, are awesome. If you have a fear of clowns, It will make you sleep with the lights on for a week I.

 

[storrsroars]

No, he’s not usually repetitive. Hollywood likes bad guys wearing black.

I’m a huge Stephen King. If you want something different, try Dead Zone (book is awesome, movie with Christopher Walken isn’t bad), The Shining (Jack Nicholson in the movie),

Shining the book was much better than the movie, IMHO. Kubrick ruined the ending, which was nothing like the book.

 

[CL82]

One of the worst movies ever made. Matthew Mcconaughey’s lines were cringe.

Lol, I always appreciate your comments. They make my negative comments look mild by comparison.

CL82: Not a great movie, but watchable if there’s nothing else on.

Zoocougar: This is the worst movie of all time! I think just watching it gave me a lesion on my kidney.

 

[CL82]

No, he’s not usually repetitive. Hollywood likes bad guys wearing black.

I’m a huge Stephen King. If you want something different, try Dead Zone (book is awesome, movie with Christopher Walken isn’t bad), The Shining (Jack Nicholson in the movie), Christine (unbelievably creepy book), or Pet Cemetery (this book gave me nightmares). It, book and first movie, are awesome. If you have a fear of clowns, It will make you sleep with the lights on for a week I.

I love the Dead Zone as a movie. The whole concept of how being able to see the future might be more of a curse and a blessing is a real interesting take. Christopher Walken does a great job of underplaying the lead character.

I didn’t like how King recast the It villain/creature in the sequel I liked the whole ancient evil/Chelob vibe. The change in the 2nd was disappointing to me.

Christine is a terrible movie in my opinion, but it is a decidedly better book.

Of course, Shawshank Redemption, and the Green Mile, stand out as two of his best films, in my opinion.

 

[HuskyNan]

I love the Dead Zone as a movie. The whole concept of how being able to see the future might be more of a curse and a blessing is a real interesting take. Christopher Walken does a great job of underplaying the lead character.

I didn’t like how King recast the It villain/creature in the sequel I liked the whole ancient evil/Chelob vibe. was disappointing to me.

Christine is a terrible movie in my opinion, but it is a decidedly better book.

Of course, Shawshank Redemption, and the Green Mile, stand out as two of his best films, in my opinion.

King wrote Running Man as Richard Bachman - the Scwartznegger movie was vastly different . Another Bachman novella, one that’s haunted me, was Thinner. No one can draw characters like Stephen King.

 

[CL82]

King wrote Running Man as Richard Bachman - the Scwartznegger movie was vastly different . Another Bachman novella, one that’s haunted me, was Thinner. No one can draw characters like Stephen King.

Thinner is another movie that the source book is much better. Talk about character development, he flushes out the motivations of everyone well. I love the “curse of the white man from town“ part of the book. The ending is a nice twist and feels appropriate

I had no idea King wrote Running Man! Now I’m going to have to go read that book. I’m working my way through Preston and Childs this summer and really enjoying them so it might not be until August.

 

[ZooCougar]

Lol, I always appreciate your comments. They make my negative comments look mild by comparison.

CL82: Not a great movie, but watchable if there’s nothing else on.

Zoocougar: This is the worst movie of all time! I think just watching it gave me a lesion on my kidney.

Aloha gave me bird flu.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

American Underdog (2021) - It is on Hulu. This is the Kurt Warner biopic with Zack Levi, Anna Paquin and Dennis Quaid. This is a reasonably well done, feel good, sports biopic. If you go in wanting to see that, you won't be disappointed. Spoilers below, but I am assuming no one is watching this movie unless they already know the basics of the story.

This movie could have been a lot more, and if you read deeper into the movie, there are some problems. Kurt Warner is one of the strangest stories of any super successful athlete in history, and Kurt and Brenda Warner are also a very unusual story for a professional athlete couple. The uniqueness of the story is why they made a movie out of this, but I almost feel like somewhere there is a Director's Cut that will make more sense than what I just watched.

Kurt is portayed as partly insanely confident jock, part humble family man, but Levi goes back and forth between the two Kurts without explanation. Brenda Warner (played very well by Paquin, who kind of carries the movie) is in everyone's face and kind of annoying, but also somehow appealing and likable in her single mother focus and semi-desperation. It feels like the Directors (there are two) didn't trust the movie to tell us the story either because the two main characters lapse into telling us how much they love each other rather than showing it. Their faith is never really explained even though it is referred to several times. Kurt's fall and rise is fairly well done, but the movie kind of races through the Greatest Show on Turf season with a montage and a bunch of exposition using clips from Sportscenter at the end to tell you how you are supposed to feel about the movie, All the pieces are there for the Directors to bring the story together but they kind of blow it.

Dennis Quaid sucks as Dick Vermeil. Vermeil has a very distinctive high pitched voice and he has a rapid delivery, but Quaid plays it just like the did with Ben Schwartzwelder from The Express movie, sounding like a 75 year old chain smoker that has the beginnings of dementia. It isn't even close to Vermeil, and kind of undermines the whole third act.

 

[ZooCougar]

American Underdog (2021) - It is on Hulu. This is the Kurt Warner biopic with Zack Levi, Anna Paquin and Dennis Quaid. This is a reasonably well done, feel good, sports biopic. If you go in wanting to see that, you won't be disappointed. Spoilers below, but I am assuming no one is watching this movie unless they already know the basics of the story.

This movie could have been a lot more, and if you read deeper into the movie, there are some problems. Kurt Warner is one of the strangest stories of any super successful athlete in history, and Kurt and Brenda Warner are also a very unusual story for a professional athlete couple. The uniqueness of the story is why they made a movie out of this, but I almost feel like somewhere there is a Director's Cut that will make more sense than what I just watched.

Kurt is portayed as partly insanely confident jock, part humble family man, but Levi goes back and forth between the two Kurts without explanation. Brenda Warner (played very well by Paquin, who kind of carries the movie) is in everyone's face and kind of annoying, but also somehow appealing and likable in her single mother focus and semi-desperation. It feels like the Directors (there are two) didn't trust the movie to tell us the story either because the two main characters lapse into telling us how much they love each other rather than showing it. Their faith is never really explained even though it is referred to several times. Kurt's fall and rise is fairly well done, but the movie kind of races through the Greatest Show on Turf season with a montage and a bunch of exposition using clips from Sportscenter at the end to tell you how you are supposed to feel about the movie, All the pieces are there for the Directors to bring the story together but they kind of blow it.

Dennis Quaid sucks as Dick Vermeil. Vermeil has a very distinctive high pitched voice and he has a rapid delivery, but Quaid plays it just like the did with Ben Schwartzwelder from The Express movie, sounding like a 75 year old chain smoker that has the beginnings of dementia. It isn't even close to Vermeil, and kind of undermines the whole third act.

Was it better or worse than the Costner movie about the Browns?

 

[Palatine]

Was it better or worse than the Costner movie about the Browns?

I kinda liked Draft Day. It's not a good movie, two stars at best. But if you're a football fan who likes the material, it's definitely watchable. The cast is excellent and the performances are good. It's cleanly and stylishy shot. The story is unpredictable with twists and turns. And, yes, a lot of it is silly. It's not realistic from a football perspective. It is in fact, preposterous. But if you are a football fan it's no worse than watching the Jets.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Was it better or worse than the Costner movie about the Browns?

I would watch either if I was procrastinating yard work. That's about it though.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Was it better or worse than the Costner movie about the Browns?

Waterworkd baby! The best Costner movie.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Hustle (Netflix) - Adam Sandler is good in a slightly off formula redemption story. The pacing and soundtrack capture the desperation of a middle-aged never was and a street kid trying to make the League. Unlike most sports movies, in doesn't revert to ridiculous contrivances to keep the plot moving. Lots of cool cameos by NBA players and coaches.

Really good movie, I strongly recommend it.

 

[storrsroars]

Hustle (Netflix) - Adam Sandler is good in a slightly off formula redemption story. The pacing and soundtrack capture the desperation of a middle-aged never was and a street kid trying to make the League. Unlike most sports movies, in doesn't revert to ridiculous contrivances to keep the plot moving. Lots of cool cameos by NBA players and coaches.

Really good movie, I strongly recommend it.

Good story, credible acting, tons of cameos from NBA and street hoops legends. I have no idea if that's what goes into training for the combine, but that part of the film was intense. I'd put it in top three hoops films I've seen.

 

[ZooCougar]

I kinda liked Draft Day. It's not a good movie, two stars at best. But if you're a football fan who likes the material, it's definitely watchable. The cast is excellent and the performances are good. It's cleanly and stylishy shot. The story is unpredictable with twists and turns. And, yes, a lot of it is silly. It's not realistic from a football perspective. It is in fact, preposterous. But if you are a football fan it's no worse than watching the Jets.

It has a Lifetime movie feel to it.

 

[nomar]

Operation Mincemeat (2022, Netflix) - This is a really good movie with one exception. Colin Firth and Matthew MacFadyen play intelligence offers creating a hoax to fool Germany into thinking the Allies will be attacking Greece instead of Sicily in the summer of 1943. The movie has several interesting twists considering that anyone can look up what happens. No one trusts each other, and even at the end, it is not clear exactly what happened with the operation at the end, which I think is based on real life.

Spoiler

It is not clear if the operation really worked, or they just walked into a sabotage effort by anti-Nazi Wehrmacht officers.

On the downside, there was a pointless and unbelievable love triangle that the movie could have done without.

The Germans fell for it!

 

[Palatine]

It has a Lifetime movie feel to it.

In lifetime movies the husband is always killed. Costner survived in Draft Day.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I shoulda listened. Despite some bad reviews, I was still curious about "The Northman." How bad could it be, I wondered? Well, it was just so slow and drawn out, rather dull, none of the characters were particularly interesting. Anya Taylor-Joy couldn't save this. I didn't realize it's the same director as "The Witch." That's two strikes against him, I think he goes on my permanent avoid list.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The Germans fell for it!

Kind of, although the German officers who were undermining Hitler definitely helped it along, which the British had no idea was going to happen.

 

[ZooCougar]

I shoulda listened. Despite some bad reviews, I was still curious about "The Northman." How bad could it be, I wondered? Well, it was just so slow and drawn out, rather dull, none of the characters were particularly interesting. Anya Taylor-Joy couldn't save this. I didn't realize it's the same director as "The Witch." That's two strikes against him, I think he goes on my permanent avoid list.

Yeah. I’ll never watch the movie again. But it wasn’t that bad. The audience reviews and critical reviews were not aligned either.

I really didn’t have any sympathy for the protagonist because he lived his life as a Berserker who just murdered and captured humans to be slaves.

Yeah he was wronged as a boy but how many times did he destroy lives on his raids? I was hoping for the girlfriend to wait for him to be close to his goal and then she would betray him as punishment. But the movie is based on some Norse legend.

 

[CL82]

The Germans fell for it!

Good story about the use of conformation and the invasion of Italy. There was a island outpost that was going to be bypassed by the main invasion force. An enlisted officer was instructed to take a small group of troops with him to gain intelligence about what they were going to do as the main fleet bypassed it. If possible they were authorized to contact operations to disrupt command-and-control on the island. The guy in command was a Sicilian speaking enlisted man who was given temporary officer rank.

As the main fleet pulled into sight on the horizon, he landed under a white flag and asked to talk to the commanding officer. This allowed him to get valuable intelligence of the defenses of the island, command control etc. he went to the commanders office and said he wanted to negotiate their surrender. Of course the island commander scoffed at him talked about how many troops they had how fortified the island was, etc. the American just smiled and walked out onto the balcony of the commanders office pointing at the armada sailing over the horizon. He told the commander that this island was going to be their focal point where they could get a foothold in the full might of the allies was going to come crashing down on him. He went on that he understood the commander was an honorable man and that his forces would undoubtedly put up a good fight, but they were horrifically overmatched and would be destroyed. He told him this was the only opportunity he would have to save his men’s lives and that the end result was going to be the same way regardless of his decision. By the end of the day the allies were going to be in control of the island.

The German commander thought about his options and decided it was foolish to sacrifice his men for no strategic advantage. He agreed to surrender the island. His men marched out on a road which was lined by American soldiers and in front of the dock they surrendered their weapons. what he didn’t know is that the allied forces on the island were actually so small that they were insufficient to line the highway, so as his soldiers passed the guys at the back of the line with sprint down to the front of the line to make it appear that there were more Americans on the island. After his men had surrendered he realized that the allied force that had landed was much smaller than he had been let to believe, and further, he saw the rest of the Armada sailing by his island and he realized he had been had. He turned to the American and said “you sir have no honor“ the American replied “Maybe, but you have no island.”

The American enlisted man who orchestrated the taking of the island without firing a single shot was actually a Middletown Connecticut native by the name of Corso.