Movies 2: Electric Boogaloo

I'm seven years late to the party, but I saw Rise of the Planet of the Apes of the Dawn of the War for the Planet of the Dawn of the Apes of the Apes AKA the first one.

I really enjoyed it! The mocap performance from Andy Serkis was a real treat - it's stunning how far digital performance has come over the last couple of decades and I think Gollum was a big part of it. Great stuff.

You seen his Unreal Engine Tech Demo?

That was cool! It looked a bit mechanical at points - I suppose that'll be down to not having the accuracy of a proper mo-cap suit - but video games have really benefited from Hollywood's progression with digital performance. I wonder when we're going to hit the uncanny valley in full force... can't be long now.

Their is a Star Wars Ray Trace Tech Demo which I thought was real to begin with, it's that good. I'm on my phone now otherwise I'd put a link in.

I absolutely loved Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The two sequels are good, though nowhere near as good, but that first is a magnificent film.

I've found the Star Wars Tech demo

That's cool! Visually, that's tough to distinguish from the film itself. I think the animations give it away though - there's a slight unnatural jerkiness to their motion, especially when the Stormtroopers get a shock when they see Phasma, that shows we've still got work to do before nailing that level of true realism.

I had plans for a big hike to the mountains today, but it was absolutely pissing down with rain. I walked to the cinema to see if i could prepurchase tickets for Infinity War on Friday . . . and ended up watchinf Pacific Rim Uprising.

Was it clever or revolutionary? No. Was it good, cheesy, popcorn fun with a likeable cast, emotional beats and some entertaining twists? Yep. Did it use a popular meme in a way that was funny but also appropriate and didn't take me out of the moment? Haha, no! Did it have a cute little homage to Gundam which seemed like a heartfelt acknowledgement to an obvious inspiration without undermining the film's own story or trading on borrowed affection? Yep. Is John Boyega as effortlessly cool as Idris Elba? Obviously not. Did I get to watch a big Kaiju film where monsters smash up Tokyo and fight on Mt Fuji while I'm actually in Japan? Hell yeah!

I saw Solo on Thursday, I saw all the stuff on how it was a box-office flop and stuff like it's the worst Star Wars film, that I went in with zero expectations but came out really enjoying it and I would say it's better that than the Last Jedi at least.

I've not been in a rush to see, but the somewhat positive critical reception to it has me interested. I might pop along this weekend.

I haven't found a decent cinema local to my new place yet, but when I do I want to check out Solo and Deadpool 2.

JayMoyles wrote:

I've not been in a rush to see, but the somewhat positive critical reception to it has me interested. I might pop along this weekend.

I didn't like Last Jedi that you might want to take my views with a pinch of salt.

The Last Jedi is the only good Star Wars film.

It is my favourite.

Drunkalilly wrote:

The Last Jedi is the only good Star Wars film.

Yeah, as Star Wars, Empire, Return are all brilliant not just good.

masofdas wrote:

JayMoyles wrote:

I've not been in a rush to see, but the somewhat positive critical reception to it has me interested. I might pop along this weekend.

I didn't like Last Jedi that you might want to take my views with a pinch of salt.

I mean, it's not my favourite Star Wars movie by any stretch of the imagination so I'd imagine your take on Solo will probably be close enough to my eventual take.

I was planning to go last weekend but my work's in the process of renegotiating their sale price with Odeon and have suspended us from buying Odeon vouchers in the meantime, which has put a spanner in the works.

I watched Blade Runner last night in 4k which is the final cut version. Brilliant transfer and the film is still so good but I'm sure I'm seeing things for the first time and thought it might be the version I've seen in the past but nope the Blu Ray is also the final cut.

Like was Rachel raped?

I went and saw Godzilla: City on the Edge of Extinction at the cinema yesterday. Sure, it was an anime and not a live action one with suits and stuff, but it still counts. I saw a Godzilla film in the cinema in Japan!

This is the middle entry in a trilogy, the first one already up on Netflix. This one is a lot more action packed than the first, and tenser as well. Just lots of monsters and mechs and danger, with far less of the first's pontificating. Looking forward to the finale now.

masofdas wrote:

Like was Rachel raped?

Yes. Yes she was. Which kind of kills most of the sympathy I had for Deckard in the rest of both films.

It's a strange thing as I reckon at the time people wouldn't have thought that (also might be different in different cuts) and in 2049 it's talked about there love etc which part of the plot.

Watched Tomb Raider (2018) last night which was good for a video game movie but was basically shot for shot of the 2013 game.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about the bicycle chase scene in London in the 2013 Tomb Raider, silly me.

You win this round Jay

So, I rented A quiet place last night and my god is it the most tense film I've seen in a long time........just fantastic performances from the entire cast as well.